2019 iMac 27" (6 core 9th gen i5) Storage Upgrade Qs

[zeroq]

I'm trying to upgrade storage of my 2019 iMac 27" 5K (3.7GHz 6-core Intel 9th gen i5) to SSDs. So far I bought a Samsung 860 EVO V-NAND 1TB SATA & WD Blue SN550 NVMe 1TB.

I've been reading up instructions etc & so on; I thought I had a pretty good idea but now I'm getting an excruciating headache from all the countless confusing, disconnected and incomplete infos out there. Could you folks help me as to which way I should go? I can always return the drives and get different ones.

My Qs:

1. Can I upgrade both drive (I heard you can only have one SSD in iMac,) Or can I leave the Fusion Drive alone and just upgrade the NVMe PCIe SSD? Can I still use Fusion drive as well as 1TB internal SSD?

2. Do I need a Thermo sensor for 2019 iMac SSD?

3. I hear ppl are having issues with Syntech's adaptor (shorting out & Deep Sleep). What else can I use? What good SSD are there that comes with Apple ssd plug..?

4. How should I clone the hard drive to which drive?

5. Updating firmwares (Samsung)? They only have Windows versions...

TIA

 

[zeroq]

Anyone have issues with Samsung (MZ-V7S1T0B/AM) 970 EVO Plus SSD 1TB?

 

[zeroq]

Anyone have issues with Samsung (MZ-V7S1T0B/AM) 970 EVO Plus SSD 1TB?

Since the Samsung 970 Evo Plus I just bought was made in 5-29-2020 I don't need to be concerned about the firmware update to 2B2QEXM7 as it should already have the firmware updated. Correct?
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No one seems to have the fan problem w/o the temperature sensor. So I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[zeroq]

I guess the first step is to make a clone of OS 10.15.5 Catalina onto a drive: I'm going to use Disk Utility to clone onto Samsung 860 Evo that I'm going to upgrade the 2TB Fusion Drive. I am going to do what this guy have done

; the dude is a bit irritating but the instruction seems sound... Right?

 

[zeroq]

 

[zeroq]

Okay, I reformatted & cloned the HDD to the Samsung 860 EVO SATA ie it's ready to be physically installed.

Now, do I need to do anything such as reformat, clone, etc on the Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2. before the installation? Or do I do that post-installation?

 

[tyc0746]

Have you tried to boot from the new drive BEFORE taking your iMac apart?

You could even run your computer from the SSD in an external enclosure to save you having to take it apart - especially considering how nervous/unsure you are about what is involved.

 

[TwoH]

For the 2019 model, you shouldn't have any sleep wake issues concerning NVMe. You can format the NVMe once it is in the machine with no issues.

You can't use a NVMe PLUS a fusion storage inside your iMac as you will have tk remove the flash SSD to install the NVMe. You can always use another SATA storage drive - such as the HDD from the fusion (just be aware you will not have any of the data from the fusion drive without the SSD).

You do not need a thermal sensor for any SSD in slim iMacs, only for Non-OEM HDDs.

Because you have a fusion set up you should clone your data to another separate storage drive.

 

[zeroq]

Have you tried to boot from the new drive BEFORE taking your iMac apart?

You could even run your computer from the SSD in an external enclosure to save you having to take it apart - especially considering how nervous/unsure you are about what is involved.

Yes; it booted up fine.

Also yes I'm just nervous especially about breaking the glass at this point... but then, though it will be much bigger, I've done some upgrades/ battery replacements etc on smaller ones like iPod & MacBook.

I just need to be sure about the procedural steps. Thanks

 

[zeroq]

For the 2019 model, you shouldn't have any sleep wake issues concerning NVMe. You can format the NVMe once it is in the machine with no issues.

You can't use a NVMe PLUS a fusion storage inside your iMac as you will have tk remove the flash SSD to install the NVMe. You can always use another SATA storage drive - such as the HDD from the fusion (just be aware you will not have any of the data from the fusion drive without the SSD).

You do not need a thermal sensor for any SSD in slim iMacs, only for Non-OEM HDDs.

Because you have a fusion set up you should clone your data to another separate storage drive.

I don't quite understand this:
"You can't use a NVMe PLUS a fusion storage inside your iMac as you will have tk remove the flash SSD to install the NVMe."

But so far I've cloned HDD from Fusion Drive to a SSD SATA (Samsung 860 Evo SATA) that I'm going to replace the Fusion Drive with and it seems to boot up fine from the clone. I'm planning to make another clone on a flash drive, or like you suggested, onto the removed fusion drive.

Now I just need to execute the installations.

Thanks much. I appreciate your help.

 

[TwoH]

Fusion drive consists of a HDD and an SSD, you'll have to swap out the SSD for the NVMe - so you can't have a fusion drive plus NVMe inside the iMac at once.

 

[zeroq]

Welp, all in all it went well; now I have Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 1TB in the NVMe slot and Samsung 860 EVO 1TB SATA in place of Fusion drive.

When I initially lifted the screen, I was so happy to have separated all the tapes, I lifted it up too high and the both display plugs came off their sockets resulting in breaking off a tab on the side of one of the sockets; it still kinda snaps in though but not very securely. If I have to change the socket... IDK what it might involve; suggestion: don't go there. Lift just enough to unplug in well lighted place so you can see what you are doing. Besides the fear of cracking the glass, the next hardest thing, for me, was disconnecting/connecting all the plugs into the sockets; they are so tiny and delicate.

The first time I closed the screen and turned it on, nothing happened. I had a hunch that it was the socket w broken tab but nevertheless bummed w dark clouds rolling in... Sure enough it came off the socket! I replugged it, used electrical tapes to secure the screen, then turn it on and voila! it came on and working beautifully.

I suggest, to anyone who wants to try this, a caution on lifting the screen up for the first time: Carefully lift up just enough for you to see the plugs/socket. Be super careful w the plugs & sockets. Besides that the only mishap was stripping a TORX screw but it's holding and hopefully I won't have to unscrew it again. Other than that everything went swimmingly.

Now I'll have to order new adhesive strips to re-attach the screen ie making sure the display connector stays plugged in; perhaps I'll put a tape over it.

Thanks guys!