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27" - 21.5" iMac SSD upgrade tutorial
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just ordered the caddy, and i'm going to give it a go.
need to decide on my SSD now
oh. the company took my credit details and my order, then tell me later that they can't ship to Hong Kong. disappointing.
Will this work as well? I also want an external case to place the optical drive in and this is a package deal. I don't live in the US so I'd hate to have to pay extra shipping costs to get the external case from a different supplier.
OptiBay Harddrive for Mac Mini
OptiBay Harddrive for Mac Mini
I called them and they said it should work just fine... I'll be getting it tomorrow and will do the install over the weekend. Will report back after that...
By the way, I bought my caddy here:-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280589730200
When you order it, tell them which computer you'll be installing it in. So far, happily installed a couple of Vertex 2's, one in my MBP and one in the MacMini.
I have a third, waiting for a decent deal on an SSD for my iMac.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280589730200
When you order it, tell them which computer you'll be installing it in. So far, happily installed a couple of Vertex 2's, one in my MBP and one in the MacMini.
I have a third, waiting for a decent deal on an SSD for my iMac.
WORKED!!
However, wasn't smooth... had to cut about 2 millimeters of the optibay as the holes for the screws wouldn't line up... so much for standards... forgot to take a picture, sorry 'bout that...
iMac is bleeding fast.. Why didn't I do this much sooner. I got the Vertex 2 240Gb SSD btw...
@ OP,
How different do you suppose this procedure is in the newest iMac 27, which is capable of having a 2.5" and 3.5" drive installed internally w/o sacrificing the optical drive. Do you know if they come with the mounting hardware even if it isn't ordered from the factory?
Cheers,
How different do you suppose this procedure is in the newest iMac 27, which is capable of having a 2.5" and 3.5" drive installed internally w/o sacrificing the optical drive. Do you know if they come with the mounting hardware even if it isn't ordered from the factory?
Cheers,
hi
thanks for all the informations !!!
I have a question, I have a optibay comming from my macbookpro that i'd use to replace the superdrive.
But now I put back in place my superdrive so I wonder If I can use it for the Imac ? The difference with this one you recommend is the size.
Mine is a 9.5cm and not a 12.7
And correct me if I make a mistake but apparently it's the same connection.
Is it possible to use it or I need to buy a new and correct one ?
thanks a lot
thanks for all the informations !!!
I have a question, I have a optibay comming from my macbookpro that i'd use to replace the superdrive.
But now I put back in place my superdrive so I wonder If I can use it for the Imac ? The difference with this one you recommend is the size.
Mine is a 9.5cm and not a 12.7
And correct me if I make a mistake but apparently it's the same connection.
Is it possible to use it or I need to buy a new and correct one ?
thanks a lot
Sadly this does seem to be the case - at least with my Seagate 1TB -> Seagate 2TB upgrade... :-( The fans go crazy.
martap, could you tell me which OptiBay you bought? I'm assuming you bought the one for the early 2009 - mid 2010.
I've already upgraded my internal to an SSD in my 27" iMac, but now I'm considering putting the original 1TB back in and putting the SSD into the optical drive as many have done so far. I would like to use the OptiBay but only heard that the Mac Mini one worked, so I'm glad that you actually did it. I want the external drive so that I can use it for my iMac but also to see if I can use it as an external SuperDrive for my Macbook Air.
Anyway, if you could let me know which model, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
~Paik
I have done the 'ssd into optical bay drive' upgrade and I'm positive the hardware part went fine and smooth thanks to this great thread and advice )
I have some problems with the software part, boot and mac osx install procedure.
In my iMac, I currently have my old HDD with its original untouched macosx (which i'd like not to erase untill i get a working system on the SSD). I also have the newly installed SSD in the optibay and an external USB LG blu-ray burner.
I am a recent transfuge from windows systems so I'm not very familiar with mac boot procedures like EFI etc...
What I tried to do is the following:
- boot from old HDD
- format the new SSD using disk utilites
- insert macosx dvd in my external bluray and install from clicking the 'install macosx' icon chosing the ssd drive as target for install
- this results in files being copied for 10 minutes or so and then the iMac reboots and it looks like it reboots from the old HDD. All that I can see on the SSD afterwards is a /Mac OS X Install Data/ folder containing a bunch of .pkg files. But it stops there... It never actually boots from the SSD drive...
Additionnal info:
If I reboot holding the option key, the only boot choice I have is my old HDD 'Macintosh HD'
If I reboot holding the C key with the macOSX install disk in my external USB Bluray, nothing happens, it takes a long while to finally boot from the old HDD
(Does that mean EFI does not recognize my bluray USB drive? Shouldn't it be visible when booting with the option key? The Bluray works fine within macOS though.)
I read here and there that I should erase(format) the original HDD OS in order to boot on the SSD, can anyone confirm me that? Would simply unplugging its SATA cable work too? I'd rather keep this old OS as a backup plan until the SSD boots. Could the OS on the original drive mess up with the bluray disc detection on 'option_key_boot' too?
What should I do, can anyone advice me?
Unplug oldHDD Sata? reboot with C and hope the install disc boots from bluray and installs fine on the SSD? Then what will happen if I plug the old HDD back, then I will be able to choose which disk to boot from (oldHDD or newSSD)?
I have some problems with the software part, boot and mac osx install procedure.
In my iMac, I currently have my old HDD with its original untouched macosx (which i'd like not to erase untill i get a working system on the SSD). I also have the newly installed SSD in the optibay and an external USB LG blu-ray burner.
I am a recent transfuge from windows systems so I'm not very familiar with mac boot procedures like EFI etc...
What I tried to do is the following:
- boot from old HDD
- format the new SSD using disk utilites
- insert macosx dvd in my external bluray and install from clicking the 'install macosx' icon chosing the ssd drive as target for install
- this results in files being copied for 10 minutes or so and then the iMac reboots and it looks like it reboots from the old HDD. All that I can see on the SSD afterwards is a /Mac OS X Install Data/ folder containing a bunch of .pkg files. But it stops there... It never actually boots from the SSD drive...
Additionnal info:
If I reboot holding the option key, the only boot choice I have is my old HDD 'Macintosh HD'
If I reboot holding the C key with the macOSX install disk in my external USB Bluray, nothing happens, it takes a long while to finally boot from the old HDD
(Does that mean EFI does not recognize my bluray USB drive? Shouldn't it be visible when booting with the option key? The Bluray works fine within macOS though.)
I read here and there that I should erase(format) the original HDD OS in order to boot on the SSD, can anyone confirm me that? Would simply unplugging its SATA cable work too? I'd rather keep this old OS as a backup plan until the SSD boots. Could the OS on the original drive mess up with the bluray disc detection on 'option_key_boot' too?
What should I do, can anyone advice me?
Unplug oldHDD Sata? reboot with C and hope the install disc boots from bluray and installs fine on the SSD? Then what will happen if I plug the old HDD back, then I will be able to choose which disk to boot from (oldHDD or newSSD)?
How about using SuperDuper to copy the existing system from your HDD? I assume you formatted the SSD for GUID? Once you've copied the system over then try setting the SSD as the boot disk from System Utilities?
Thanks for this thread. I was going to wait to put an SSD in my iMac 27-inch but decided to take the plunge now since I want to reinstall the OS anyway.
I purchased a 160GB OCZ Agility 2 SSD and this caddy: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140487385132
Went with this caddy because it is a USA seller and didn't want to wait 3-4 weeks to get the caddy.
I purchased a 160GB OCZ Agility 2 SSD and this caddy: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140487385132
Went with this caddy because it is a USA seller and didn't want to wait 3-4 weeks to get the caddy.
@skiltrip: from my limited experience, yes you can chose on which drive the OS will boot from the menu >> system preferences >> startup >> there you will see a list of drives which you can boot from. (It actually requires macosx installed on your ssd to see it on that list)
To install macosx on the ssd, you have to either clone a previous installation from your old system HD to your ssd drive. Or install a fresh copy from discs (i think this requires unpluging or erasing your old system to work)
Hope that helps, I might be wrong, definitely not an expert )
To install macosx on the ssd, you have to either clone a previous installation from your old system HD to your ssd drive. Or install a fresh copy from discs (i think this requires unpluging or erasing your old system to work)
Hope that helps, I might be wrong, definitely not an expert )
Woo-hoo! Success!
Got the 160GB Agility 2 installed this afternoon in the optical bay. Wasn't planning on doing this for about 2 weeks, but the SSD optical caddy arrived, my Sunday afternoon freed up, and I figured out I had all the tools I would need. I plan to reinstall Mac OS 10.6 and my apps from scratch on the SSD, use it as my boot drive, and put my data and such on the iMac 2TB internal drive or FW800 externals.
I didn't time it, but from disconnecting my iMac to hooking it back up, I'd guess it took about 1.5 hours. I've taken apart iMacs, iBooks, MacBooks, and MacBook Pros before, but never an Aluminum iMac.
I printed out the OP's instructions, as well as the iFixIt iMac Intel 27" Optical Drive Replacement guide. Here are things I learned that I haven't read elsewhere:
Any suction cup will work to remove the glass. And you do not need 2 but only one. I took a cheap plastic suction cup off the kitchen window where my wife had a pretty thing hanging. I imagine a dollar store or walmart would carry these for cheap. Part of the reason I decided to do this project this afternoon was that I was testing the suction cup and stuck it to the iMac and the corner of the glass cover popped right off.
Even though I was in a brightly lit room, it was dark under the LCD to see to remove the cables. Being my first time in an AL iMac, I wore a headlamp to help me see the cable connections better.
I have had a hum on my iMac since day one due to the hard drive resonating. To fix this, I have had a padded mailer under the base to reduce the hum. While putting in the SSD, I noticed the two screws at the top of the HDD were not completely tight. I tightened the screws, and there is a large decrease in the hum. It is slightly present, but not nearly as loud as it used to be. I've even removed the padded mailer and now just have the iMac sitting directly on the wooden desk.
The SSD caddy I bought on ebay linked above was from seller novapcs. The title of the auction is "2nd HDD caddy Apple OptiBay SuperDrive Replacement SATA." (this is for future readers when the auction link expires) I paid $16.99 shipped from New York; it got here in about 6 days. UPDATE: Now the seller has jacked the price to $99.99, so unless he comes back down in price, shop around and you can still find the exact same caddy for under $20. It does not have brackets for the iMac, but you simply remove the SuperDrive and you can reuse the existing iMac plastic mounting bracket to secure the caddy with your SSD to the iMac. I DID have to drill 4 holes in the plastic sides of the caddy to attach the iMac SuperDrive bracket. I did this by fitting the caddy in the bracket and then just holding it in place and drilling through the four side screw holes (gently and very shallow, although you can go a cm or so without hitting anything, so there really isn't any danger to your SSD).
Hope this helps. Good luck to others putting in the SSD. I can't wait to get the OS installed later this week.
Got the 160GB Agility 2 installed this afternoon in the optical bay. Wasn't planning on doing this for about 2 weeks, but the SSD optical caddy arrived, my Sunday afternoon freed up, and I figured out I had all the tools I would need. I plan to reinstall Mac OS 10.6 and my apps from scratch on the SSD, use it as my boot drive, and put my data and such on the iMac 2TB internal drive or FW800 externals.
I didn't time it, but from disconnecting my iMac to hooking it back up, I'd guess it took about 1.5 hours. I've taken apart iMacs, iBooks, MacBooks, and MacBook Pros before, but never an Aluminum iMac.
I printed out the OP's instructions, as well as the iFixIt iMac Intel 27" Optical Drive Replacement guide. Here are things I learned that I haven't read elsewhere:
Any suction cup will work to remove the glass. And you do not need 2 but only one. I took a cheap plastic suction cup off the kitchen window where my wife had a pretty thing hanging. I imagine a dollar store or walmart would carry these for cheap. Part of the reason I decided to do this project this afternoon was that I was testing the suction cup and stuck it to the iMac and the corner of the glass cover popped right off.
Even though I was in a brightly lit room, it was dark under the LCD to see to remove the cables. Being my first time in an AL iMac, I wore a headlamp to help me see the cable connections better.
I have had a hum on my iMac since day one due to the hard drive resonating. To fix this, I have had a padded mailer under the base to reduce the hum. While putting in the SSD, I noticed the two screws at the top of the HDD were not completely tight. I tightened the screws, and there is a large decrease in the hum. It is slightly present, but not nearly as loud as it used to be. I've even removed the padded mailer and now just have the iMac sitting directly on the wooden desk.
The SSD caddy I bought on ebay linked above was from seller novapcs. The title of the auction is "2nd HDD caddy Apple OptiBay SuperDrive Replacement SATA." (this is for future readers when the auction link expires) I paid $16.99 shipped from New York; it got here in about 6 days. UPDATE: Now the seller has jacked the price to $99.99, so unless he comes back down in price, shop around and you can still find the exact same caddy for under $20. It does not have brackets for the iMac, but you simply remove the SuperDrive and you can reuse the existing iMac plastic mounting bracket to secure the caddy with your SSD to the iMac. I DID have to drill 4 holes in the plastic sides of the caddy to attach the iMac SuperDrive bracket. I did this by fitting the caddy in the bracket and then just holding it in place and drilling through the four side screw holes (gently and very shallow, although you can go a cm or so without hitting anything, so there really isn't any danger to your SSD).
Hope this helps. Good luck to others putting in the SSD. I can't wait to get the OS installed later this week.
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Mac OSX + Win7
Hey guys,
I am getting ready for the upgrade, ssd instead of optical drive....
However 1 thing really bothers me..
Is it possible to install win7 in SSD in optical bay? By erasing and reformating HDD? By using carbon copier, superduper or the like?
Or is it really necessary to first replace original HDD, install both operating systems and then transfer to optical bay?
Also, can you correct me if I'm wrong, to replace the HDD, nothing is needed, both HDD and SSD are the same siz
Thanks!
Hey guys,
I am getting ready for the upgrade, ssd instead of optical drive....
However 1 thing really bothers me..
Is it possible to install win7 in SSD in optical bay? By erasing and reformating HDD? By using carbon copier, superduper or the like?
Or is it really necessary to first replace original HDD, install both operating systems and then transfer to optical bay?
Also, can you correct me if I'm wrong, to replace the HDD, nothing is needed, both HDD and SSD are the same siz
Thanks!
Hello,
Im going to use these instructions and swap my SuperDrive for an SSD today. I'd like to ask if your recommendation on what drive to use have changed. Its been 18 months and I wonder if there is more suitable SSD:s available. Capacity is not an issue, 128GB is fine, durability and performance are those that matters.
About that optical bay. Is there a way to order suitable part for my iMac? (late 2009 i7) One where i don't need to drill any holes. This operation is already scary enough, without any drilling involved! Im in Finland, so ordering from UK is not a problem, US might be a little problematic.
Thank you very much for this topic!
-Joni
Im going to use these instructions and swap my SuperDrive for an SSD today. I'd like to ask if your recommendation on what drive to use have changed. Its been 18 months and I wonder if there is more suitable SSD:s available. Capacity is not an issue, 128GB is fine, durability and performance are those that matters.
About that optical bay. Is there a way to order suitable part for my iMac? (late 2009 i7) One where i don't need to drill any holes. This operation is already scary enough, without any drilling involved! Im in Finland, so ordering from UK is not a problem, US might be a little problematic.
Thank you very much for this topic!
-Joni
Hi there,
thanks a lot for the tutorial. I am just about to order everything I need to do the update.
Will this caddy work as well?
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/12-7-mm-SATA-Optical-Bay-SATA-Hard-Drive-Enclosure/IF107-081
thanks a lot for the tutorial. I am just about to order everything I need to do the update.
Will this caddy work as well?
http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/12-7-mm-SATA-Optical-Bay-SATA-Hard-Drive-Enclosure/IF107-081
so i have changed the superdrive with an ssd and now the superdrive fan runs at about 3000.
u say to tape the cable. i dont understand, what part of the cable?
UPDATE: everything is fine here but just sticking the cable on the base of the ssd instead of the ssd itself
UPDATE2: its seems that everything is not fine. now the fan speed rises a lot slower. after almost 2 hours its about 2100rpms and rising...
u say to tape the cable. i dont understand, what part of the cable?
UPDATE: everything is fine here but just sticking the cable on the base of the ssd instead of the ssd itself
UPDATE2: its seems that everything is not fine. now the fan speed rises a lot slower. after almost 2 hours its about 2100rpms and rising...
Last edited:
Can you install an SSD in a 2008 iMac
I have a 2008 24" iMac 2.8GHz, model 8,1,1. I would like to know if I could replace my little used Optical drive with a SSD. I have read the instructions for the 2010 models, and it sounds awesome.
I havebreplaced my stock HD with a 2TB, and have upped the RAM to 6GB. The SSD upgrade would be great.
Has anyone tried this?
I have a 2008 24" iMac 2.8GHz, model 8,1,1. I would like to know if I could replace my little used Optical drive with a SSD. I have read the instructions for the 2010 models, and it sounds awesome.
I havebreplaced my stock HD with a 2TB, and have upped the RAM to 6GB. The SSD upgrade would be great.
Has anyone tried this?