What will I need?

[hallux]

I ordered a base model refurb Mini yesterday. My intent is to use it as a media "server", replacing a gaming desktop that I built and will sell to offset the project. I'm pulling every drive from the desktop and selling it with no storage devices. One of those drives is a 120 GB SSD that I plan on installing in the Mini and making it the boot/apps drive.

What will I need for installing the SSD? Should I just grab the kit off ifixit.com? I have no problem taking it apart, I'm actually an ACMT, I've just been focused on the laptops as I don't need to support Minis at work.

 

[COrocket]

I ordered a base model refurb Mini yesterday. My intent is to use it as a media "server", replacing a gaming desktop that I built and will sell to offset the project. I'm pulling every drive from the desktop and selling it with no storage devices. One of those drives is a 120 GB SSD that I plan on installing in the Mini and making it the boot/apps drive.

What will I need for installing the SSD? Should I just grab the kit off ifixit.com? I have no problem taking it apart, I'm actually an ACMT, I've just been focused on the laptops as I don't need to support Minis at work.

You need at minimum a torx T6 and T8. There are a couple hex screws but the torx bits work for those too. It is also useful to have or make the logic board removal tool.

 

[hallux]

You need at minimum a torx T6 and T8. There are a couple hex screws but the torx bits work for those too. It is also useful to have or make the logic board removal tool.

Thanks, but what will I need in terms of additional hardware? The videos I've seen about this have indicated screws and grommets, will I just need to get a kit from someplace to install the drive?

 

[COrocket]

Thanks, but what will I need in terms of additional hardware? The videos I've seen about this have indicated screws and grommets, will I just need to get a kit from someplace to install the drive?

If you are pulling out the original hard drive and replacing it with an SSD, then the mounting holes are all the same and no additional hardware is required. However, if you want to add the SSD in the second hard drive slot, you need an additional hard drive cable, grommets, and four screws to secure the drive in place. The easiest way to get these parts is in a kit, like this one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AN5PUSE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1408337885&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40

 

[VirtualRain]

I ordered a base model refurb Mini yesterday. My intent is to use it as a media "server", replacing a gaming desktop that I built and will sell to offset the project. I'm pulling every drive from the desktop and selling it with no storage devices. One of those drives is a 120 GB SSD that I plan on installing in the Mini and making it the boot/apps drive.

What will I need for installing the SSD? Should I just grab the kit off ifixit.com? I have no problem taking it apart, I'm actually an ACMT, I've just been focused on the laptops as I don't need to support Minis at work.

If you are pulling out the original hard drive and replacing it with an SSD, then the mounting holes are all the same and no additional hardware is required. However, if you want to add the SSD in the second hard drive slot, you need an additional hard drive cable, grommets, and four screws to secure the drive in place. The easiest way to get these parts is in a kit, like this one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AN5PUSE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1408337885&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40

This is correct, but there are different kits (different SATA cables) depending on which drive bay you're fitting the new drive into. You'll have to open your Mini up and look through the perforated WiFI shield to see if your factory drive is installed in the lower bay. If it's not visible, it's in the upper bay. You need the cable kit for whatever bay is vacant ("Lower" is visible through the perforated shielding from the bottom - "Upper" is not visible from the bottom as it's where the optical drive use to be in earlier models).

EDIT: according to the OWC website, you can determine the drive location through Disk Utility...

NOTE: A small number of 2012 units were shipped with the drive mounted in the upper drive bay rather than the more typical lower bay shown in this video. If you have a 2012 or later model, you will want to determine the configuration of your Mac mini's drives prior to ordering. To do this, open Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app and click on the grey drive icon at the left-edge of the window. If you see "Lower" after the "Connection ID" at the bottom-left corner of the window, you may proceed using the standard installation instructions. If you see "Upper" then you have a special configuration which will need additional components, and you will need to also refer to the Addendum video.

Here's their kit for adding a drive to the lower bay...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2B/

Here's their kit for adding a drive to the upper bay...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/

 

[Neodym]

will I just need to get a kit from someplace to install the drive?

Besides the bay issue be careful that "cheaper" cables may lead to problems with a modern SSD. Those cables can't handle SATA-6G correctly. Mitigation strategy could be to connect the spinning HD to the new cable and the SSD to Apple's original cable. Or just get a more expensive cable/kit where SATA-6G is officially supported.

 

[blanka]

I got a cheap kit of Ebay, and it works great.
Things that I did not use:
- MOBO removal tool
- Grommets
- Screws

Just slide in the SSD after removing the wifi antenna, and if you like, put it in tight by adding a SSD spacer on top (often in the SSD package).

Thing missing from every kit (including iFixit ones): a 2mm hex bit. They suggest to use the mini torx for the hex screws. You will get things done with it, but it is a bit of a dirty trick.