I have a late 2012 iMac 21.5 inch with 1TB HDD and 128GB SSD combined as a “fusion drive”. I’ve had to open the machine in order to fix the PSU and now that it is open it may be a good idea to consider upgrading the 1TB hard drive. I‘m considering swapping the HDD drive to SSD. If both drives are SSD, I assume there is no need for the drives being ”fused” together. Anyone have experience and/or recommendations?
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2012 iMac 21.5”, Upgrade fusion drive to pure SSD
- Thread starter Rgrindheim
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If both are SSD then yes you wouldn’t use a fusion drive setup anymore.
You can get a SATA III (6Gbps) 2.5” SSD
Another option is to replace the SSD already in the machine (need to get the right type as it’s a different form factor) with a higher capacity one.
You can get a SATA III (6Gbps) 2.5” SSD
Another option is to replace the SSD already in the machine (need to get the right type as it’s a different form factor) with a higher capacity one.
Is it straightforward to un-fuse the drives? Will the 128GB drive then just act as a separate stand-alone drive? Alternatively, could the drives somehow be configured to behave like a single 1.128TB SSD drive?
You can boot into the recovery partition or Internet Recovery and use Disk Utility, I think. If that’s not enough then you could use Terminal commands.
Configuring it to appear as “a single 1.128TB SSD drive” would mean that if either disk failed data would be lost.
Configuring it to appear as “a single 1.128TB SSD drive” would mean that if either disk failed data would be lost.
"Is it straightforward to un-fuse the drives?"
That's going to happen whether you want it or not.
When you replace one of the drives in the fusion setup, the "fusion" will be destroyed and all data lost.
I don't see any reason to "re-create" the fusion drive.
Let each SSD now become "its own drive".
You could use the replacement SSD as your "main drive" -- everything on it.
You might consider installing a copy of the OS onto the original 128gb SSD, as well.
Reason:
Now you have an immediately-accessible SECOND BOOT DRIVE if the new SSD fails. You can get booted right back up, and work on the problem.
That's going to happen whether you want it or not.
When you replace one of the drives in the fusion setup, the "fusion" will be destroyed and all data lost.
I don't see any reason to "re-create" the fusion drive.
Let each SSD now become "its own drive".
You could use the replacement SSD as your "main drive" -- everything on it.
You might consider installing a copy of the OS onto the original 128gb SSD, as well.
Reason:
Now you have an immediately-accessible SECOND BOOT DRIVE if the new SSD fails. You can get booted right back up, and work on the problem.
Yeah, I think this is the way to go (unless I decide to leave well enough alone).👍 Thanks for your input.
I am considering the same upgrade but have a few questions: I too have a Fusion Drive in my Late 2012 iMac 21.5", Can I "simply" remove the Fusion Drive's two parts (SSD and HDD) and then replace the two with only a single new SSD or do I just leave the old small (24GB) SSD where it is and just replace the HDD with my new 2TB SSD?
Lastly, will a Clone of my old Fusion Drive transfer to and read properly on the new single SSD drive or should I transfer everything over to the new drive via Time Machine? I ask because it is my understanding the the data will be lost when the Fusion Drive is broken apart by replacing either of the two connected drives...
Lastly, will a Clone of my old Fusion Drive transfer to and read properly on the new single SSD drive or should I transfer everything over to the new drive via Time Machine? I ask because it is my understanding the the data will be lost when the Fusion Drive is broken apart by replacing either of the two connected drives...
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Ok, new SSD drive is installed and up and running. I did as you advised and created a 2nd boot drive on the 128GB SSD. Next job will be to reinstall data from Time Machine backup.
Attachments
Hi looking to d the same, quick question though what did you clone? The Full Fusion drive, the Macintosh HD, or the container?
Container only. See attachment.
