Chris Morgan: Okay, thanks for the simple and straightforward answer. Having to get the cable makes me a little concerned because it's always easier to buy the wrong one than the right one when shopping for unfamiliar cables, but I guess I'll worry about that when the time comes.
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2011 Thunderbolt iMac SSD Discussion Thread (Parts Identified)
- Thread starter mrfoof82
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You're welcome. When it comes time to get your cable I'm sure this thread will still be around and the correct slimline cable has been linked several times so it shouldn't be to difficult to get it.
i found the ssd kit for a 21.5" SSD upgrade. same price as that fixit site was.
http://www.yourmacstore.com/internal-ssd-installation-kit-for-imac-21-5-mid-2011/
So, to conclude:
1. if you have a 27-inch iMac (2011) with just SSD (BTO by Apple) and want to replace the SSD, you have to use SSD sata cable other than the one that is already there?
2. Would you have to remove the logic board to install the new cable?
3. Is the SSD (no HDD, BTO) connected to Sata 0 or 1?
Thanks!
1. if you have a 27-inch iMac (2011) with just SSD (BTO by Apple) and want to replace the SSD, you have to use SSD sata cable other than the one that is already there?
2. Would you have to remove the logic board to install the new cable?
3. Is the SSD (no HDD, BTO) connected to Sata 0 or 1?
Thanks!
Here's how I did it ..
The SSD is connected to SATA1, SATA0 is empty, except for a bridge to "disable" the temp issue, i think.
I used a basic SATA data cable and hooked up SATA0 with the second SSD and used the power from SATA1 (you may use a y-connector, i just soldered it to the power wires.)
yes, you will have to remove the logic board, makes it so much easier to do.
Cheers
Florian
Thanks Florian. You mention adding a second SSD. I just want to replace the SSD that came with the computer. Is that easier? Just remove the Apple SSD and hook up the new one?
Umm, you would only have to remove the display and DVD drive, then you can replace the SSD... IMHO you're good to go, just swap and have fun (enable trim!) ... if you're going to have issues with the fans, i can't tell you for sure. just go ahead and try. =) (fix is the tool that others use)
Yes.
Another option would be to order the Apple SATA0 power connector and bridge the pins as in our BTO SSD-only iMacs and therefore use the power of SATA0. But I'd imagine it's not necessary because the power consumption of 2 ssd drives isn't going to be much more than of a single large high performance HDD
To do it a little more "elegantly" you could try and find a y-cable for the power and a short extension for the SATA power, so you can install these inbetween the Apple-SSD and it's slimline cable to power the second SSD.
It just happened that i had ordered the wrong cable (slimline-sata) in the first place (not needed for our macs and was the wrong way somehow) so I cut the power cable off and used it to solder the two wires to the power of the apple ssd. just matched the sata pin layouts very carefully with the power wires to make sure there's no error. I didn't have the patience and means to leave the iMac open for another week until I would get appropriate cables, so I had to do it quickly and got myself a soldering iron and a digital voltmeter =) At first i wanted to take the power from the power supply connectors and solder it to the logic board, but I couldn't find any plausible SATA power pins.. Would've been a stupid idea anyhow. If something goes wrong, I can just replace the cable with an original and it's like i've never touched it.
Additional note: I'm not using both SSDs at the same time (unless I transfer files from Win7 to MacOS) as the original SSD is now win7 drive and the ForceGT 180 is now MacOS drive. I'm very happy with my setup though
Cheers
Hmmm, a y-cable for SATA power to go in between Apple's cable and Apple SSD power port and a SATA data cable to get data flowing from SATA 0 to the new SSD. Is that it?
For my setup, that would do. yes. Give it a try, but be ready to act in case something isn't working the way you expected it to =D
I've added both SSD cables to my 2011 iMac 21,5" today. The data cable is a normal sata cable with one angulated plug, the power cable is handmade. I used a plug from an old iMac G5 display inverterboard. I'm sure, Apple uses only a few different plugs vom the same manufacturer. The four pin connector on the logic board for the SSD givs at Pin1 +5V and at Pin2+3 GND.
The test with a normal 2,5" harddisk was successful.
The required plug
Image
The harddisk runs
Image
Now I can buy a SSD
Does anyone know where to buy the required 4 pin plug or a cheap cable from older Macs with such plug? I also want to make a cable myself as special ones are very expensive.
Thanks!
Last edited:
I'm dragging this thread back up because I purchased the OWC kit and they have wired the SATA power cable incorrectly as the iMac won't boot with it connected. The cable provided only has three wires that go into the four pin block plug, in the install video the missing wire would be between the left most pin and the third wire along. Mine is wired with a cable to the second pin on the left and none in the third which appears to be wrong.
Can anyone confirm the wiring from the small four pin plug to the SATA power cable? I have been in contact with OWC but I am in St. Lucia and it will be weeks before I can get another cable. I just want to fix this myself and move on....
Can anyone confirm the wiring from the small four pin plug to the SATA power cable? I have been in contact with OWC but I am in St. Lucia and it will be weeks before I can get another cable. I just want to fix this myself and move on....
I've added both SSD cables to my 2011 iMac 21,5" today. The data cable is a normal sata cable with one angulated plug, the power cable is handmade. I used a plug from an old iMac G5 display inverterboard. I'm sure, Apple uses only a few different plugs vom the same manufacturer. The four pin connector on the logic board for the SSD givs at Pin1 +5V and at Pin2+3 GND.
The test with a normal 2,5" harddisk was successful.
The required plug
Image
The harddisk runs
Image
Now I can buy a SSD
I've just recently done the install myself and noticed my SSD power cable didn't match the video either (like yours LucianRider). Rather than disassemble the iMac, plug the cable in as-is and then try it... I opted to rotate the plug 180 degrees BEFORE installation. So I swapped the two outer cables and moved the inner cable from position 2 to 3.
Fortunately this seemed to have paid of as the iMac booted up normally, saving me from having to take it to pieces again.
Fortunately this seemed to have paid of as the iMac booted up normally, saving me from having to take it to pieces again.
922-9862 cable pinout
I received today a cable from china.
I test with tester and here the connections fron the board to sata connector:
Sata connector 4-5-6 to Board 2 (com)
Sata connector 7-8-9 to Board 1 (+5V)
Sata connector 10-11-12 to Board 4 (com)
I attach images of Board and Sata connector for reference
I received today a cable from china.
I test with tester and here the connections fron the board to sata connector:
Sata connector 4-5-6 to Board 2 (com)
Sata connector 7-8-9 to Board 1 (+5V)
Sata connector 10-11-12 to Board 4 (com)
I attach images of Board and Sata connector for reference
