Trying to upgrade my iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)

[Adam1988]

Hello Everyone!
​

Hi!

I got an old machine is an iMac 21.5 inch, Mid 2010. I am trying to upgrade its internal HDD to an SSD, is this possible?
I already installed the latest MAC OSX system, which is macOS High Sierra, and made a time machine backup.
Is it possible to install a new internal HDD as an SSD drive? Is it possible to upgrade it?
Also is the SSD compatible with external outputs for faster Time Machine Back ups?

The main reason why i am trying to upgrade is because i will be moving to japan and i want to take a machine for working at home since i do not know the how long i will live there for.

Will anyone know the limits of internal SSD, will it even be able to read?

I just want to know if its possible to install it and make the internal drive or STORAGE faster to whatever the machine can with-hold.

Thank you i did already investigations and research as well. Yet, no answers for 2010. Only for 2011 27" or 21.5" iMac no concrete answers for a Mid 2010, 21.5 inch iMac .



This is the system is use.

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)
Processor 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3
Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4670 256 MB

 

[Roman78]

You can just use a SATA SSD in that mac and replace the original hard disk. You can clone the hard disk to the SSD using Carbon Copy Cloner, therefore you need an USB enclosure.

 

[Adam1988]

You can just use a SATA SSD in that mac and replace the original hard disk. You can clone the hard disk to the SSD using Carbon Copy Cloner, therefore you need an USB enclosure.

Cool! Do you recommend any? and will it be able to to connect to the same cables that the imac came with? or do i have to buy new component cables? that are compatible? USB Enclosure?

(i,e. you mean an external way of it? or will it be all internal method?)

 

[Roman78]

The Brand of the SSD is irrelevant. Samsung and Crucial are the most mentioned, but i also installed Kingston or el cheapo Intenso stuff. The connector is the same, you just replace the internal hard disk.

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2389 Hard Drive Replacement

Use this guide to replace or upgrade your hard drive. This guide also includes steps to upgrade your iMac's hard drive with a SSD. It describes how...

www.ifixit.com

You'll need an 2.5" enclosure (see step 18) and maybe a Temperature sensor (step 22), but you can also use software like MacFanControl to control the fan.

And if you want to use the old harddisk as an external Hard disk you'll need an USB enclosure . You also need this to clone the hard disk to the SSD. Something like this: https://www.ebay.de/itm/USB-3-0-2-5...249465?hash=item2acb1c3379:g:GQUAAOSwufFdYJeQ

The SSD must be internal, because the 2010 iMac only has USB 2 and you just don't want to boot from that all the time. USB2 now a days is slow.

 

[ArmouredBear]

I commend buying the upgrade kit with temp sensor cable plus SSD 2.5" convertor bracket from OWC.
I used both and upgraded a 2009 iMac and 2010 iMac, you'll be amazed at how fast the machine is, just take your time with the upgrade.

 

[BrianBaughn]

An "enclosure" isn't really necessary unless you want to use the drive that way in the future. I prefer these types of connectors for loose 2.5" drives:

Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-Inch SATA I/II/IIIHard Drive Adapter (EC-SSHD)

Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-Inch SATA I/II/IIIHard Drive Adapter (EC-SSHD)

www.amazon.com

 

[Roman78]

An "enclosure" isn't really necessary unless you want to use the drive that way in the future. I prefer these types of connectors for loose 2.5" drives:

Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-Inch SATA I/II/IIIHard Drive Adapter (EC-SSHD)

Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-Inch SATA I/II/IIIHard Drive Adapter (EC-SSHD)

www.amazon.com

Or that, but thats is only for the 2.5" SSD, it won't power the 3.5" harddisk. So first clone it to the SSD.
[automerge]1588829549[/automerge]

 

[Iammetaldave]

I did it with my 2013. Getting the screen off is a little sketchy, but once that's off it's a walk in the park. This is the drive I got - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2072933?clickSR=slp:term:1tb ssd:1:6:1

 

[mbosse]

Hello Everyone!
​

Hi!

I got an old machine is an iMac 21.5 inch, Mid 2010. I am trying to upgrade its internal HDD to an SSD, is this possible?
I already installed the latest MAC OSX system, which is macOS High Sierra, and made a time machine backup.
Is it possible to install a new internal HDD as an SSD drive? Is it possible to upgrade it?
Also is the SSD compatible with external outputs for faster Time Machine Back ups?

The main reason why i am trying to upgrade is because i will be moving to japan and i want to take a machine for working at home since i do not know the how long i will live there for.

Will anyone know the limits of internal SSD, will it even be able to read?

I just want to know if its possible to install it and make the internal drive or STORAGE faster to whatever the machine can with-hold.

Thank you i did already investigations and research as well. Yet, no answers for 2010. Only for 2011 27" or 21.5" iMac no concrete answers for a Mid 2010, 21.5 inch iMac .



This is the system is use.

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)
Processor 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3
Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4670 256 MB

(Almost) everything you need to know about the process is covered here: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2389+Hard+Drive+Replacement/6284

Note the following:

1. You will need a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter bracket to mount the smaller 2.5" SSD in place. Those are cheap and often come with the SSD.
2. Apple has special firmware on its hard drives with allows the 2009 - 2011 iMac to correctly read the temperature. If you mount a non-Apple drive (or the SSD), the fans will likely blow at full speed. You can use software like Mac Fan Control or a dedicated sensor cable to bring fans 'under control'. Specialist accessory companies like OWC offers such (this is also used in the guide I linked above), but the cheap trick for 2009 and 2010 iMacs is to simply get an optical drive thermal sensor cable - works wonderfully, and costs close to nothing on eBay.
3. Since you already have a Time Machine backup, no need to by an external enclosure or adapter cable - just hook your backup on the machine before you install the new macOS (from Internet Recovery), and then migrate from the backup.

Good luck!
Magnus

 

[MultiFinder17]

I use the same machine in my classroom as my main computer. I removed my optical drive and swapped it for an SSD; that gave me a quick SSD for my main drive, and I got to keep the original HDD inside there for Time Machine and other storage.