Dual Hard Drive Upgrade Kit for Mac Mini

[milkmandan]

So..i bought a mac mini and i am looking to add an ssd. However, I am not exactly willing to Pay $70 for ifixits package deal.
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Mac-Mini-Dual-Hard-Drive-Kit/IF171-005

I already have a Torx bit set. Does anyone know if i could buy all the necessary parts needed for the upgrade from another place?

Basically i need the 2nd SATA cable, mounting grommets and screws, and maybe the spudger and the logic board tool.

 

[mystic man]

So..i bought a mac mini and i am looking to add an ssd. However, I am not exactly willing to Pay $70 for ifixits package deal.
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Mac-Mini-Dual-Hard-Drive-Kit/IF171-005

I already have a Torx bit set. Does anyone know if i could buy all the necessary parts needed for the upgrade from another place?

Basically i need the 2nd SATA cable, mounting grommets and screws, and maybe the spudger and the logic board tool.

intrerested in this too

 

[brobert99]

There's this one from owc for 45 dollars

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/

 

[blanka]

Is there a party that ships from within the EU? I have a lot of trouble with postman lately. They refuse to ask you for custom taxes (takes time while they are paid per piece), so they send everything above 30$ back to the sender.

 

[theanimala]

There's this one from owc for 45 dollars

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIYIMM11D2/

Thanks! Still more than it should be, but still a nice savings over iFixit.

 

[rezinous]

Thanks for that, was about to bite the bullet from ifixit.

 

[milkmandan]

just wanted to give everyone an update.

The bottom hard drive SATA Flex cable is part number : 922-9560
Even looking online at web shops, ebay and other retail stores, the cable is at LEAST $26 (+ shipping).

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...id=p2045573.m570.l1313&_nkw=922-9560&_sacat=0

Considering that the kit from OWC gives you the spudger, the grommets, the screws AND the logic board tool, AND the proper flex cable, for $44, this is a pretty good deal.

The Logic Removal Tool is $7. The spudger is $3.
http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Mac-Mini-Logic-Board-Removal-Tool/IF145-159
http://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Spudger/IF145-002

I don't even know where to get the proper grommets or if i can just use any old grommet, (better not since mac mini is so low on extra space. After separate part research, the total would be well over $44.

Just thought to let everyone know.

 

[Bierboy]

...Basically i need the 2nd SATA cable, mounting grommets and screws, and maybe the spudger and the logic board tool.

I thought the second SATA cable was already there (*according to iFixit)...

 

[linds15]

I thought the second SATA cable was already there (*according to iFixit)...

i'd assume they meant the slot for it, not the actual cable

 

[milkmandan]

I thought the second SATA cable was already there (*according to iFixit)...

It's only there if you order a mac mini with 2x HDD.

also
if anyone has bought the kit from OWC, post here if you get an email of ship status.
Their website says "Pending" but it's been like that for at least 24 hours now.

 

[Toraen]

It's only there if you order a mac mini with 2x HDD.

also
if anyone has bought the kit from OWC, post here if you get an email of ship status.
Their website says "Pending" but it's been like that for at least 24 hours now.

I ordered mine from Canada, paid the $20 for Fed Ex - got the package 18 hours later.

Just finished installing it today.

 

[statenine]

also
if anyone has bought the kit from OWC, post here if you get an email of ship status.
Their website says "Pending" but it's been like that for at least 24 hours now.

Ordered my kit Thursday and got a shipping confirmation Friday!

 

[nydennis]

So..i bought a mac mini and i am looking to add an ssd. However, I am not exactly willing to Pay $70 for ifixits package deal.
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Mac-Mini-Dual-Hard-Drive-Kit/IF171-005

I already have a Torx bit set. Does anyone know if i could buy all the necessary parts needed for the upgrade from another place?

Basically i need the 2nd SATA cable, mounting grommets and screws, and maybe the spudger and the logic board tool.

922-9560 search it on amazon.com. Bought it for 28 shipped

 

[milkmandan]

922-9560 search it on amazon.com. Bought it for 28 shipped

This has probably been answered before, but you wouldn't happen to know if the cable is SATA III would you?

 

[nydennis]

This has probably been answered before, but you wouldn't happen to know if the cable is SATA III would you?

Hope so. It is the same model number that I ordered from someplace else that advertised it as SATAIII

 

[milkmandan]

Hope so. It is the same model number that I ordered from someplace else that advertised it as SATAIII

Alright good thanks!

 

[RedRallyeZ]

Just ordered my kit from OWC as well, it'll be awhile before i get the mini, but Ill have the parts on hand for assembly

 

[tears2040]

I don't know about you guys, but according to the video on OWC you basically have to gut the entire Mac Mini in order for you to do that.....

This is something I think is worth the $99 fee they charge, unless someone can convince me that it is pretty easy to do?

 

[nydennis]

I don't know about you guys, but according to the video on OWC you basically have to gut the entire Mac Mini in order for you to do that.....

This is something I think is worth the $99 fee they charge, unless someone can convince me that it is pretty easy to do?

I didn't gut anything on my 2011 Mac mini. Took a little time to get it but I did. BUT recently when I took out the stock 500gb HDD in my mini and put a second ssd in I did slide the board out a tad, but only enough to remove the HDD. If you look at other videos on the net they don't gut the whole thing to replace it.

----------

It's only there if you order a mac mini with 2x HDD.

also
if anyone has bought the kit from OWC, post here if you get an email of ship status.
Their website says "Pending" but it's been like that for at least 24 hours now.

When I did a chat with OWC on Saturday, the rep told me to just order it because it will be shipped first come first served. He said MAYBE it will arrive this week. With the storm in the East, I don't know if it will have any impact on the delivery times of the item to OWC either. (Shouldn't but don't know where it is imported from.)

 

[philipma1957]

I don't know about you guys, but according to the video on OWC you basically have to gut the entire Mac Mini in order for you to do that.....

This is something I think is worth the $99 fee they charge, unless someone can convince me that it is pretty easy to do?

HAVING READ dozens of I broke my mac mini posts you are not that wrong. I have a question must you have the drive inside.

Why not an external ssd via usb3 or thunderbolt?

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-FreeA...1351415007&sr=8-1&keywords=seagate+usb3+cable


http://www.amazon.com/MiniPro-2-5-i...1351415103&sr=1-1&keywords=usb3+2.5+inch+case

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-GoFle...351415051&sr=1-1&keywords=seagate+thunderbolt

 

[nydennis]

If someone has any doubts about their ability to add a second drive in the Mac mini then I would totally agree with Phillip that you should at least look at using the External TB for your OS, etc

In my case I wanted a clean one piece look for my home computer room. I found it extremely easy to work inside the Mini.

 

[Hede]

Is there space for a 15mm hard drive and a 7mm SSD in the mini?

I want a 2TB drive in it.

 

[MetzoPaino]

Is there a good alternative for buying a kit in the UK?

I can't imagine the Apple Store would help with something like this. Watching the video it didn't seem too hard, but I'd probably be happier to pay someone to do it.

Only problem is up in the grim north of England the only computer specialists are PC stores, not Apple users.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Why not an external ssd via usb3 or thunderbolt?"

I'll be picking up one of the 2012 Minis to replace my 2004 PowerMac g4/1.25 DP on which I'm typing this.

I'll probably wait until the first refurbs appear, and then grab a server model if I can find one (I sense they'll sell quickly when they do show up...)

Having said that, for faster booting, I'm thinking about an external SSD.

I don't require the fastest setup out there, just "something somewhat faster" than a traditional platter-based drive will more than satisfy me.

Over time I've come to like the USB/SATA "docking stations" for the flexibility they offer, vis-a-vis keeping an external "enclosure" for every hard drive I have. I don't particularly care "about looks" on my desktop -- a little clutter doesn't bother me.

I'm thinking of an SSD (not even sure which one to get yet, perhaps a Samsung 830 if I can find one at a good price), in combination with a USB3 SATA docking station, perhaps something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Syba-Docking-...qid=1351434293&sr=8-3&keywords=usb3+sata+dock

Of course, an SSD over a USB3 connection won't boot as quickly as one connected via Thunderbolt.

But SSD/USB3 should still be noticeably faster -- is this a correct assumption?

 

[KrisLord]

Is there a good alternative for buying a kit in the UK?

I can't imagine the Apple Store would help with something like this. Watching the video it didn't seem too hard, but I'd probably be happier to pay someone to do it.

Only problem is up in the grim north of England the only computer specialists are PC stores, not Apple users.

I've not found an alternative, and i'm in Northumberland. I've bought the cable from OWC and will be doing the upgrade myself once i buy a drive. I've been building PC's for years but this is my first mac......