Fusion Drive Now Available as Option for Low End 21.5" iMac

MacRumors · Jan 5, 2013, 03:48 AM

As noted by MacGeneration and in our MacRumors Forums, Apple is now allowing the entry level 21.5" iMac to be configured with a 1TB Fusion Drive.

The Fusion Drive is a built-to-order option for the iMac and Mac mini that combines SSD and traditional hard drives into a single logical volume.

Quote:

With Fusion Drive in your iMac, disk-intensive tasks -- from booting up to launching apps to importing photos -- are faster and more efficient. That's because frequently used items are kept at the ready on speedy flash storage, while infrequently accessed items go to the hard drive. The file transfers take place in the background, so you won't even notice.

The 1TB Fusion Drive add-on is a $250 option and was previously only offered on the high end 21.5" iMac, high end Mac mini and 27" iMacs.

Article Link: Fusion Drive Now Available as Option for Low End 21.5" iMac

NutsNGum · Jan 5, 2013, 03:55 AM

Why wasn't it an option in the first place?

hlfway2anywhere · Jan 5, 2013, 03:55 AM

how generous.

Jibbajabba · Jan 5, 2013, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutsNGum

Why wasn't it an option in the first place?

Maybe because the high end ones didn't sell.

ifij775 · Jan 5, 2013, 04:01 AM

That should help push imac's ASP higher.

haruhiko · Jan 5, 2013, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutsNGum

Why wasn't it an option in the first place?

Early adopters are screwed again.

justperry · Jan 5, 2013, 04:11 AM

The next question is, is the connector standard on all Logic boards so that you can D.I.Y. ?

Macdick · Jan 5, 2013, 04:11 AM

128Gb HD in any Mac's should be legaly Banned!!! what a joke!!!

azentropy · Jan 5, 2013, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haruhiko

Early adopters are screwed again.

Great news, but yeah kinda ticked now. Would have changed how I ordered.

Still wish there was just a SSD or Flash Drive option. Some people don't require 1TB and don't want ANY mechanical HDD and the noise, heat and higher failure time that come along with them.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by justperry

The next question is, is the connector standard on all Logic boards so that you can D.I.Y. ?

I remember reading in one of the first base teardowns that it did not have the socket connector.

Icaras · Jan 5, 2013, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haruhiko

Early adopters are screwed again.

Yea. I really don't like this new trend of Apple updating BTO options after a Mac has been released. They did it with the MacBook Pro 15" retina and they are doing it again with the new iMac.

Seriously this time..... Steve would never have allowed this. Really though, this kind of behavior hardly ever happened under Steve's watch.

haruhiko · Jan 5, 2013, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icaras

Yea. I really don't like this new trend of Apple updating BTO options after a Mac has been released. They did it with the MacBook Pro 15" retina and they are doing it again with the new iMac.

Seriously this time..... Steve would never have allowed this.

Really? What option(s) did they add to the rMBP 15"?

Santabean2000 · Jan 5, 2013, 04:24 AM

Should be standard in my opinion. Option to go fully SSD.

Icaras · Jan 5, 2013, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haruhiko

Really? What option(s) did they add to the rMBP 15"?

http://9to5mac.com/2012/08/01/more-b...-macbook-pros/

Early adopters getting a low end rMBP were essentially locked with only a 256GB SSD and the only way to get a higher capacity was to purchase the high end rMBP, which was $600 more.

malachiman · Jan 5, 2013, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

The 1TB Fusion Drive add-on is a $250 option ...

I wish...

In New Zealand its a $400 add-on.

($250USD = around $300NZD!!!)

Apfeldirektsaft · Jan 5, 2013, 04:32 AM

Does anyone know if the HDD part in the Fusiondrive is 5400 or 7200 rpm?

OllyW · Jan 5, 2013, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apfeldirektsaft

Does anyone know if the HDD part in the Fusiondrive is 5400 or 7200 upm?

5400 on the 21.5" iMac.

kemal · Jan 5, 2013, 04:34 AM

Has anyone tried replacing the hard drive on a 21.5" NEW iMac with a 2.5" SSD? Does the fan spin up due to the lack of temperature sense on the power connector?

Apfeldirektsaft · Jan 5, 2013, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OllyW

5400 on the 21.5" iMac.

Too bad :/

jnc · Jan 5, 2013, 04:42 AM

The HD is the iMac's biggest letdown. Beachballs the moment you do anything remotely intensive....processor counts for nothing while the HD is playing catch up. I can't believe 7200rpm isnt even an option on 21, never mind SSD... Ridiculous. Maybe I don't want a larger screen. Options, please

scottrichardson · Jan 5, 2013, 04:43 AM

I saw someone mention this late last year - but Apple does this to push people to the higher end, more profitable models during the initial roll out around holiday season to make more money. It's kind of slack.

Someone else mentioned that the blade 128GB drives may have had constrained stock during the holiday period but now they are up to production requirements?

Psychj0e · Jan 5, 2013, 04:44 AM

Apple has also had tiered upgrades, so the fact Tim is now allowing the lower specced machines have the better upgrades is a good thing. For Apple, it sounds like Steve may have actually been holding them back on somethings.

malachiman · Jan 5, 2013, 04:47 AM

So where does the SSD sit if you get a BTO with fusion... Is it similar to the ones used in the MBA ?

OllyW · Jan 5, 2013, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malachiman

So where does the SSD sit if you get a BTO with fusion... Is it similar to the ones used in the MBA ?

I think it's the same type as found in the retina MBP.

There's plenty of discussion about what's inside the new iMacs and upgrading the hard drives in this thread.

malachiman · Jan 5, 2013, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OllyW

I think it's the same type as found in the retina MBP.

There's plenty of discussion about what's inside the new iMacs and upgrading the hard drives in this thread.

Sweet, thanks

iSayuSay · Jan 5, 2013, 05:06 AM

Sweet .. now I want 680MX option on base 21.5" iMac and no one would buy the high end 27" again

Jan 5, 2013, 03:55 AM	#2
NutsNGum macrumors 68030 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Glasgow, Scotland	Why wasn't it an option in the first place?
	39

Jan 5, 2013, 04:11 AM	#8
Macdick macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2008	any Mac 128Gb HD in any Mac's should be legaly Banned!!! what a joke!!!
	6

Jan 5, 2013, 04:34 AM	#17
kemal macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nebraska	How much for $125 worth of MLC mSata? Has anyone tried replacing the hard drive on a 21.5" NEW iMac with a 2.5" SSD? Does the fan spin up due to the lack of temperature sense on the power connector? __________________ 1988 Mac SE Upgraded to 2.66 MacPro
	0

Jan 5, 2013, 04:42 AM	#19
jnc macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nunya, Business TX	The HD is the iMac's biggest letdown. Beachballs the moment you do anything remotely intensive....processor counts for nothing while the HD is playing catch up. I can't believe 7200rpm isnt even an option on 21, never mind SSD... Ridiculous. Maybe I don't want a larger screen. Options, please __________________ The views expressed above do not, and are not intended to represent or reflect the opinions, policies and/or statements of my employer(s).
	5

Jan 5, 2013, 04:43 AM	#20
scottrichardson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	I saw someone mention this late last year - but Apple does this to push people to the higher end, more profitable models during the initial roll out around holiday season to make more money. It's kind of slack. Someone else mentioned that the blade 128GB drives may have had constrained stock during the holiday period but now they are up to production requirements? __________________ Mac Pro 8 Core 2.93Ghz 32GB RAM, OWC 240GB SDD, 2 x OCZ 120GB RAID 0, 2 x 24" LED, R4870. MacBook Air 13" 2012 i7 2GHz, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM.
	2

Jan 5, 2013, 03:55 AM	#3
hlfway2anywhere macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2006	how generous.
	15

Jan 5, 2013, 04:01 AM	#5
ifij775 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Boston, MA	That should help push imac's ASP higher.
	0

Jan 5, 2013, 04:11 AM	#7
justperry macrumors 603 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 7 Km South of an active upside down volcano.	The next question is, is the connector standard on all Logic boards so that you can D.I.Y. ?
	4

Jan 5, 2013, 04:24 AM	#12
Santabean2000 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2007	Should be standard in my opinion. Option to go fully SSD.
	27

Jan 5, 2013, 04:32 AM	#15
Apfeldirektsaft macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2011	Does anyone know if the HDD part in the Fusiondrive is 5400 or 7200 rpm?
	0

Jan 5, 2013, 04:44 AM	#21
Psychj0e macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2010	Apple has also had tiered upgrades, so the fact Tim is now allowing the lower specced machines have the better upgrades is a good thing. For Apple, it sounds like Steve may have actually been holding them back on somethings.
	3

Jan 5, 2013, 04:47 AM	#22
malachiman macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Zealand	So where does the SSD sit if you get a BTO with fusion... Is it similar to the ones used in the MBA ?
	0

Jan 5, 2013, 05:06 AM	#25
iSayuSay macrumors 68020 Join Date: Feb 2011	Sweet .. now I want 680MX option on base 21.5" iMac and no one would buy the high end 27" again __________________ The things you own end up owning you. It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything Sent from Paper Street Soap. Co
	3

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