upgrade hints
Hi to all who have contributed to this thread so far and to those who are seeking info on upgrading your 27" 2012 imac.
I have a 2012 imac i7 3.4, 16gb of ram, 680MX 2gb with 2 x OCZ Vertex 4 256gb SSD drives installed with the Maxupgrades dual SSD kit, external Superdrive and a Vantec NexStar HX4 quad 3.5 Inch HDD external enclosure.
Here are some tips on what you need to know about upgrading your mac:
Go to iFixit for complete teardown guides:
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel
1) When opening your imac - take your time and use the right tools to remove the LCD screen as the adhesive is only narrow but VHB (Very High Bond).
All tools needed for the job can be sourced from:
https://www.ifixit.com/Store
or try:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/accessories/Tool_Sets.
New adhesive strip Kits for the 2012/13 can also be bought here:
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/iMac-Intel-27-Inch-EMC-2546-and-EMC-2639-Adhesive-Strips/IF174-005 @ $19.95 ex freight or @ $14.95 ex freight (strips only)
or try:
http://applecomponents.com/items/07...fill-kit/0000005609?pn=2&cmp=0215&per_page=30 @ $14 ex freight (strips only).
or eBay.
2) Always use an anti-static strap when handling the logic board or other sensitive components (I use anti-static gloves and a wrist strap just to be sure) and place them on or in anti-static bags (this will save you outlaying $1000's for new components if they are zapped).
3) If replacing the HDD with another generic one and the fan spins up to a higher speed, then this can be controlled with a program called:
iStat Menus from:
http://bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/ @$16 USD for a single license
or HDD Fan Control from:
http://www.hddfancontrol.com @ $35 USD
The new imacs have only one fan and the drive does not have the sensor for fan control now. If installing SSD drives then there is no need for any fan control as they do not cause this problem due to the low power use.
4) When mounting the new SSD to your imac use an adapter from:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/ADPTADRV/ priced @ $14.79 USD ex freight.
This will keep the SSD in the original position of the HDD
or use:
Maxupgrades dual SSD kit:
https://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/ @ $79.95 ex freight
5) If you are going to replace or install a Blade SSD make sure you get the right one for your machine and try to use original Samsung ones as they seem to work the best. Those of you who are asking about the speed difference when using a blade SSD and the Samsung 840 pro it is minimal compared to a HDD in fusion setup, so don't worry about it just do it to your budget.
If you have an imac that only has an SSD from new then you will need the SATA cable, power cable & drive bracket and screws to run the extra drive, once you have them you can install another SSD of any size. These can be purchased from Applecomponents.com:
http://applecomponents.com/computers/imac-27-inch-late-2012/
6) CPU upgrades entail the removal of the logic board and all other components, please take your time and use great care when doing this, the guides from iFixit are very good for this. always do your research prior to purchasing any upgrades as installing wrong components may damage other hardware.
7) If wanting to set up a raid 0 configuration, please use this guide:
http://www.macworld.com/article/2014011/how-to-make-your-own-fusion-drive.html
It is done using the terminal, so follow directions to the letter.
8) Ram upgrades in the 2012 imac is one of the simplest upgrades to do and does not involve removing the LCD. Please be aware that you can only use 1600Mhz modules in the imac. These can be sourced from:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/iMac/2012_27/DDR3L and come in single or dual kits range from $101 ex freight for the 8gb kit (2 x 4gb chips) to $399 ex freight for the 32gb kit (4 x 8gb chips).
or try:
https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/PC3-10600-4-GB-RAM-Chip/IF111-040 for $49.95 ex freight for the 4gb chipset
If you follow these simple rules and guides and use the right hardware and tools you will have a pleasant experience upgrading you imac.
*Note*
1) You can not have more than 1 x 2.5" SSD's installed and unless you use the Maxupgrade dual kit to do this.
2) When cleaning the old adhesive from the LCD and Frame and there is residue, use isopropyl alcohol to remove it.
3) Remember the imac 2012 only use 1600Mhz ram.
4) Have fun and take your time
I hope this helps some out there with their upgrades and mods and makes it an easy and rewarding task.
Hi firefink,