DIY SSD upgrade on 27inch?

[haukl]

Hey,

So.. Apple's BTO option for SSD + HDD is A: Overkill and B: Overpriced. At least for me who doesn't need 256 GB for applications + OS.

It's my understanding that there are two HDD bays in the 27 inch imac right? So how hard is it to upgrade it yourself? A nice and fast 80gb Intel SSD can be had for 200 bucks on Newegg.com...

Based on performance reviews I've read so far, the Apple SSD options in the past aren't nearly as good as the Intel X25 SSD's for instance.

Thoughts? A HDD upgrade on a laptop doesn't void warranty, what's the case on an iMac? Better performance and significant savings? Yum..!

[Warbitrary]

Yes, installing an SSD yourself will be very hard.

However, OWC offers an upgrade program where you send your computer in, they install an OWC SSD, and ship it back to you.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/turnkey/iMac_2010_27

OWC SSDs are some of the fastest SSDs available today (as benchmarked by Macworld and others) and come with a 3 year warranty. Sounds better to me than getting an Apple SSD.

[farmermac]

I did it in my now 2 generation old iMac (40gb intel) and it was the best upgrade ever. Do it.

[tedus]

I did it in my now 2 generation old iMac (40gb intel) and it was the best upgrade ever. Do it.

Did you do it yourself?

[All Taken]

See my sig.

[AvaAdore]

I'm just hoping that OWC/iFixit/whoever start selling a kit with the bracket, Y-power cable and right angled sata cable soon. I can't ship my iMac to OWC from the UK so I need to go it alone!

[bolen]

I'm just hoping that OWC/iFixit/whoever start selling a kit with the bracket, Y-power cable and right angled sata cable soon. I can't ship my iMac to OWC from the UK so I need to go it alone!

right as in correct or right as in left/right?

[fhall1]

right as in correct or right as in left/right?

right as in 90 degree angle

[bolen]

right as in 90 degree angle

Of course, but I meant; should it be angled to the left or to the right.

[tomscott1988]

Im pretty sure i have seen a deconstruction review of the imac and unless an SSD is ordered specifically with the imac apple doesn't provide the extra cables to add an aftermarket SSD. Just enough for the Superdrive and the hdd, also getting the ssd in there is difficult too, no bracket or something?? dont quote me i just scanned it because i have a mac pro.

So you would have to remove the superdrive like the previous versions of the imac to get hold of the connections. Unless under all the other tech that is in the imac there may be a sata connection on the motherboard that you could route from, then just add a double power cable from the in-place hdd. I cant see apple putting a completely new motherboard in the imac just to add an ssd without the extra sata port. But it depends if you want to completely take everything apart. The imac is very compact and the sata connections are likely under something that needs half the computer to be taken apart to get to.

I actually found the article -

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/28/new-27-inch-imac-disassembled-aftermarket-ssd-install-deemed-difficult/

[bolen]

Im pretty sure i have seen a deconstruction review of the imac and unless an SSD is ordered specifically with the imac apple doesn't provide the extra cables to add an aftermarket SSD. Just enough for the Superdrive and the hdd, also getting the ssd in there is difficult too, no bracket or something?? dont quote me i just scanned it because i have a mac pro.

So you would have to remove the superdrive like the previous versions of the imac to get hold of the connections. Unless under all the other tech that is in the imac there may be a sata connection on the motherboard that you could route from, then just add a double power cable from the in-place hdd. I cant see apple putting a completely new motherboard in the imac just to add an ssd without the extra sata port. But it depends if you want to completely take everything apart. The imac is very compact and the sata connections are likely under something that needs half the computer to be taken apart to get to.

I actually found the article -

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/28/new-27-inch-imac-disassembled-aftermarket-ssd-install-deemed-difficult/

According to that article there is a spare SATA port to use for a aftermarket SSD. You have to unscrew the logic board and simply lift it a bit to be able to connect the cable. Once you've done that it should only be a matter of a Y-cable for th power and then do some tricks to fixate the drive.

Shouldn't be too hard, will probably give it go next week when my 27" arrives. :)

[farmermac]

Did you do it yourself?

Yup. No room / ports to use besides the superdrive so had to remove the superdrive (put it in an enclosure and no issues!)

[fhall1]

Of course, but I meant; should it be angled to the left or to the right.

Doesn't matter as long as there's room to give it a half-twist

[bolen]

Doesn't matter as long as there's room to give it a half-twist

I've ordered one of each, on that's angled to the left and one to the right. I'll use the one that suits best. Now I "only" have to wait for the iMac to be delivered...

[agon]

@bolen : Do you have any news ? I just bought a i7 27" with default HDD and I would like to switch it for SSD. Any feedback on your experience will be more than welcome !

[bolen]

@bolen : Do you have any news ? I just bought a i7 27" with default HDD and I would like to switch it for SSD. Any feedback on your experience will be more than welcome !

I have installed a 128GB Gskill Falcon (same as OCZ Vertex) in my 27" iMac in parallel with the original 1TB disk. It works very well! Wouldn't recommend it to an unexperienced user, but if you are well accustomed with working inside computers (or better yet laptops) you should be fine.

Have a look at this thread, there's a lot more details with pictures and stuff:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=989287

[agon]

I just bought the Corsair Force 120 Go and the cables. I'am not that much experienced with laptops & mac but I know people who are so I'll just give it a try.

Do you have feedback on the Apple support ? I know that for my iPhone they was quite comprehensive and I was able to exchange it pretty easly. If something goes wrong with the iMac, do you think I can make it looks like it's out of the box problem ?

Thanks :P

[nurivo]

Doesn't matter as long as there's room to give it a half-twist

So the right angle recommendation is for the cable to fit underneath the logic board, right? And if it were left angled it would point in the wrong direction and would have to be twisted into the other direction?

I plan on installing a Dual-SSD into my iMac as soon as it arrives, so I try to make sure I have all the right parts ready.

[Nutter]

So the right angle recommendation is for the cable to fit underneath the logic board, right? And if it were left angled it would point in the wrong direction and would have to be twisted into the other direction?

The cable needs to be left-angled. If it's right-angled it'll point in the wrong direction.

[Laserhawk]

FYI if you know a person that can get Apple parts you can order the part that holds the SSD drive. Its roughly a $9 part and is basically a replacement of the pressure wall of the optical drive.

[nurivo]

The cable needs to be left-angled. If it's right-angled it'll point in the wrong direction.

Thanks, but no worries, I do have one. I was just wondering what the exact reason was.

[The.316]

The cable needs to be left-angled. If it's right-angled it'll point in the wrong direction.

Im curious, if you are connecting the SSD to the imac as a secondary drive, does it matter if its a right or left angled cable? Regardless of the angle, couldnt you just turn the drive around so it faces towards the screen, and not away? Understand?

Also, the only cable I can find here where I live is a 3 ft sata cable. Do you all think that will be a problem? I still have a couple of stores looking for me to see if they can get me one, and I dont want to order one because it would take probably over a week to get here, and I want to get this done while I am on vaca from work.

[The.316]

I just checked the cables for my SSD drive, and they both seem to fit fine. The SATA connector cable is good, just 3 ft long. Anyone have any answers to the questions I posted above? Thanks.

[jonwd7]

I just checked the cables for my SSD drive, and they both seem to fit fine. The SATA connector cable is good, just 3 ft long. Anyone have any answers to the questions I posted above? Thanks.

I don't understand why nobody has linked to this: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1001167&highlight=ssd+guide

It comes up with most searches relevant to SSDs in the 27 inch.

[The.316]

I don't understand why nobody has linked to this: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1001167&highlight=ssd+guide

It comes up with most searches relevant to SSDs in the 27 inch.

I didnt even notice that link. Thanks for that. Now I just need to find a shorter connector cable, then Ill get it done.