Upgrade iMac Fusion Drive: Processes for Late 2015 27" and Late 2013 27"

[swanky1]

Hello Folks,

First time poster here and relative newb. Please be gentle

I'm looking to upgrade the fusion drives in two (2) imacs...a Late 2015 27" and a Late 2013 27"

Please take a look at the processes I come up with:

Upgrade iMac Fusion Drive: Process Late 2015 27”

1. Change Permissions for Macintosh HD in order to move folders from Fusion to PCIe SSD
2. Backup / Clone existing fusion drive to new (ish - pulled from MacBook Pro 2015) 256gb PCIe SSD card
3. Split Fusion set to separate 24gb PCIe SSD card, 1TB SATA HDD
4. Format new SATA SSD
5. Install newly cloned 256gb PCIe SSD card and newly formatted SSD SATA drive with Heat Sensor Cable and 2.5/3.5 inch adapter
6. Move Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library (?), Movies, Music, Pictures, Public to SATA SSD
7. Enable TRIM


Upgrade iMac Fusion Drive: Process Late 2013 27”

1. Change Permissions for Macintosh HD in order to move folders from Fusion to PCIe SSD
2. Backup / Clone existing fusion drive to newly formatted SATA SSD
3. Split Fusion set to separate 128gb PCIe SSD card and 1TB SATA HDD
4. Clone 1TB SATA SSD to existing 128gb PCIe SSD card
5. Format new SATA SSD
6. Install newly formatted SSD SATA drive with Heat Sensor Cable and 2.5/3.5 inch adapter
7. Move Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library (?), Movies, Music, Pictures, Public to SATA SSD
8. Enable TRIM

Ignoring the specifics behind changing permission, cloning, splitting the fusion set, formatting, physical installation, moving folders, and enabling trim... my questions are as follows...

1. Procedurally, am I missing anything crucial or otherwise?
2. Is the Library folder better in my PCIe SSD drive or in my "storage" SATA SSD
3. Do you think I will increase disk speed (esp in late 2015 - its a real dog)

Finally, please don't suggest using an external SSD drive...

Thank you!

 

[swanky1]

Ok, so I did it...and I love them, especially the Late 2015...so in the interests of paying forward, here's the steps with links for tools, what I bought, and vids on how to. Enjoy..

Tools:

https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/iMac-Opening-Wheel/IF145-219-4

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0733B73SV/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Showpin-Magn...37066294&s=Home+Improvement&sr=1-4&ref=sr_1_4

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-T25-Torx-Shockwave-Insert-Bit-2-Pack-48-32-4436/203392996 (Late 2015)

https://www.amazon.com/Kingsdun-Pre...s=kingsdun&qid=1537066486&sr=8-10&ref=sr_1_10




Upgrade iMac SATA HDD Drive to PCIe SSD Card & SATA SSD: Process Late 2015 27”

I. Change Permissions to Read/Write for Home Folders in order to move folders from Fusion to new PCIe SSD

https://support.apple.com/kb/ph25287?locale=en_US

II. Backup / Clone (using Carbon Copy Cloner) existing fusion drive to new 256gb PCIe SSD card using PCIe external enclosure

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-256gb-SSD-Samsung-MZ-JPV2560-0A4-SSUBX-MacBook-Pro-Retina-2013-2015/292700302854?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TQWKFSA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://bombich.com/ (use free trial)

Here’s the how to:

III. Format new SATA SSD to GUID Partition Map, MAC OS Journaled (extended)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077SF8KMG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR9ZYYQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here’s the how to:

IV. Install newly cloned 256gb PCIe SSD card and newly formatted SSD SATA drive with Heat Sensor Cable and 2.5/3.5 inch adapter


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005PZDVF6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F42PLCK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J42D5MK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here’s the how to:

V. Reboot using Option Key (select 256gb PCIe card)

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2015/08/24/how-to-use-mac-startup-manager/


Vi. Set 256gb PCIe SSD Card as Default Boot Disk

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202796

VII. Copy Home Folder(incl. Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library, Movies, Music, Pictures, Public, Etc) to SATA SSD

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2017/01/25/how-to-move-mac-user-folder-to-another-drive/


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Upgrade iMac Fusion Drive With Existing 128GB PCIe Card and New SATA SSD: Process Late 2013 27”


I. Change Permissions to Read/Write for Home Folders in order to move folders from Fusion to new PCIe SSD

https://support.apple.com/kb/ph25287?locale=en_US

II. Backup / Clone existing fusion drive to newly formatted SATA SSD using Carbon Copy Cloner and external enclosure

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077SF8KMG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR9ZYYQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://bombich.com/ (use Free Trial)

Here’s the how to:

III. Split Fusion set to separate 128gb PCIe SSD card and 1TB SATA HDD

https://www.lifewire.com/split-fusion-drive-apart-2260166


IV. Clone 1TB SATA SSD to existing 128gb PCIe SSD card using Carbon Copy Cloner and external enclosure

Same as above except Source is 1TB SATA SSD and Destination is 128GB PCIe SSD Card (still installed in computer)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcbYunO9CRw


V. Format new SATA SSD to GUID Partition Map, MAC OS Journaled (extended)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR9ZYYQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucqa02iJnMc

VI. Install newly formatted SSD SATA drive with Heat Sensor Cable and 2.5/3.5 inch adapter

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005PZDVF6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F42PLCK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J42D5MK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here’s the how to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl_4kW76ElI


VII. Copy Home Folder(incl. Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library, Movies, Music, Pictures, Public, Etc) to SATA SSD

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2017/01/25/how-to-move-mac-user-folder-to-another-drive/