Worth it to Upgrade to SSD on Mid-2011 iMac (21.5")?

[glenthompson]

Is there any practical advantage/disadvantage to cloning the HDD versus just doing a Time Machine Backup and Recovery after freshly installing OSX?

Advantages:

System is exactly as you had it. All settings are in place.
Less chance of licensing issues with things like MS Office
Easier restoring multiple users.
Clone drive is an excellent backup

Disadvantages:

Any issues are still there.
Any apps that weren't properly uninstalled hang around.

 

[Lankyman]

How hard was the upgrade? I watched the video and it seems relatively easy if you take it slow and follow the directions to remove the screen, etc.
[doublepost=1457359130][/doublepost]Also, would there be any advantage/disadvantage to using an external SSD drive as a boot drive (assuming you can do this) over Thunderbolt?

I would rate it as moderately difficult depending on your hand size. Do remember the videos you watch online are enlarged to show you detail. Everything is much smaller and more delicate in reality. If you strip the outer covering off an ethernet cable the wiring in the iMac is very similar to those with connections to match.

Allow yourself plenty of time and put the screws for each area in small containers and mark the container where they belong with a post-it or similar. Also a good set of tweezers is a must. I stripped mine down to the logic board and used the SATA connection on the rear and mounted the SSD behind the OD. Like many other converters I kept the HDD in situ and use that for my data and rely on symlinks to tie it all together - it works really well.

 

[MistrSynistr]

Installed a SSD in a 2008 iMac for my parents and it operates quicker than my 2013 with 7200 HDD.

 

[Robdmb]

Thanks everyone. I purchased a Evo 850 and will be trying the install this weekend. Do you enable TRIM on these drives?

 

[mund]

worth every penny
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[doublepost=1459058044][/doublepost]

worth every penny
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Well, not THAT fast... but it will do I guess! It's an EVO

 

[ControlALTDelete]

Hi,

I've had a Mid-2011 iMac for a few years now and recently have noticed its become a bit slow in some tasks. I have already upgraded the ram (think i have 24gb) and was wondering if it would be worth it to upgrade the HD to a SSD? I see that OWC has upgrade kits. I realize the machine is getting old now so I dont want to just throw money away, but it still seems to run well otherwise. Also, the machine is just for general usage (internet, office, etc.). No gaming or other high performance items.

Any opinions are appreciated. Thank you.

You don’t need a bugotti to pick up the mail and run errands around town with, despite what your inner 12 year old advises you. So why do that with your computer?

REALLY STUPID QUESTION: Articulate Slow. Are you surfing the web wireless or on Ethernet? I’m Ethernet @ 30MBS vrs 915KBS Wireless!!! As for your Ram, 24 is good enough.

My gut instinct is for you to simply suck it up and forgo the HD upgrade...for what you have described, you won’t see that much of an appreciable increase in performance.

I recently acquired an iMac 21.5” (12.1) Mid 2011 with a quadcore i5 2.5gzh, 2400S/Sandy Bridge Chip Set with 20GB DDR3 1333mhz/s PC3 1060mbs that I have tethered to the Ethernet and I couldn’t be happier for the price I paid for it (+~ $150.00 excluding Office 360). I plan to do light video Editing, power Surfing, international chess play, office 360 report writing, obtain % completion on GTA Vice City and do some social media stuff.

Yes, I could drop a solid state drive and get faster data access/seek times—-but why would I do that when I already own a WD 5T external drive? How fast is fast?!!!

What exactly is it about your life that makes it so precious that obtaining faster Nanoseconds Retreaval Times makes it bareable again?

Like Starter Wives, Computers, & cars, it’s best to use them, abuse them then trade em in on a newer model before their upkeep becomes unsustainable!!!

Step away from the debit card, Mister, and nobody gets hurt!!!