Adding Sata SSD to late 2015 iMac 27"

[Fancuku]

My late 2015 27" only has a stock 256GB SSD, no Fusion. I am going to replace that drive with a 1TB Apple SSD that I just bought off eBay and was thinking of adding a 2TB 2.5" Sata SSD.

Does anyone know if the Sata cable is present or is it only there when the iMac has a HDD or the Fusion combo?
And if the cable isn't there, where do people buy it from? And is that temperature sensor nonsense still needed with the newer iMacs? I think I have read that it isn't needed if you run High Sierra or Mojave.

Thanks

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

The Fusion Drive models use a PCI-e Blade Drive. Did you purchase a Blade Drive?

 

[Anarchy99]

The Fusion Drive models use a PCI-e Blade Drive. Did you purchase a Blade Drive?

unless I'm reading it wrong it sounds like he bought 2 drives a new blade that is 1tb to replace the stock 256gb as well as a 2TB SATA SSD.


anyway, the SSD models have SATA connectors on the logic board but no data cables hanging on nothing.

so you need a SATA & power cable, preferably one made specifically for the iMac like this one from OWC
because its got the thermal sensor, otherwise with typical cables like from a PC the fan is always maxed.

also you are able to create a fusion drive where the typical SSD portion is the blade SSD apple uses and the SATA portion is also a SSD rather than the typical stock spinning drive.

as you can imagine this "super" fusion drive is unsupported but I've done it and personally prefer it to 2 seperate drives or other 3rd party raid like concoctions

 

[Fancuku]

Stock SSDs are referred as blade drives? I must be behind the times.

Thanks Anarchy, I figured that was the case.
[doublepost=1546598273][/doublepost]

The Fusion Drive models use a PCI-e Blade Drive. Did you purchase a Blade Drive?

Yes. And production date is 08, 2016 so it must be from 2015 MBP or late 2015 iMac.

 

[mbosse]

...anyway, the SSD models have SATA connectors on the logic board but no data cables hanging on nothing.

so you need a SATA & power cable, preferably one made specifically for the iMac like this one from OWC
because its got the thermal sensor, otherwise with typical cables like from a PC the fan is always maxed...

This is correct - connectors are there, just no cables. The suggestion for the OWC kit is a sensible one.

 

[Anarchy99]

Stock SSDs are referred as blade drives? I must be behind the times.

Yeah blade drive is the common generic colloquial term
less common is "Apple NGFF" (not too be confused with actual NGFF like M.2)
or if your talking specifics it's common to hear pinouts eg. apple 17+7 pin or 12+16 pin etc.
Apple documents list internal part numbers so that doesn't help the average person

 

[Fancuku]

*Update*
I opened up the imac and there wasn't a sata cable present so that OWC adapter does me no good without the sata cable from the logic board.
And it looks like I have to remove every part from the imac to get to the blade ssd. WTF Apple?
Now I am pissed and don't feel like continuing.
[doublepost=1549255001][/doublepost]I wasn't going to be stopped.

I installed the 1TB blade. Now I don't know what to do about the Sata cable. Is it a standard sata cable that you can buy anywhere?

Wish me luck with the re-assembly.

 

[mbosse]

*Update*
I opened up the imac and there wasn't a sata cable present so that OWC adapter does me no good without the sata cable from the logic board.
And it looks like I have to remove every part from the imac to get to the blade ssd. WTF Apple?
Now I am pissed and don't feel like continuing.
[doublepost=1549255001][/doublepost]I wasn't going to be stopped.

I installed the 1TB blade. Now I don't know what to do about the Sata cable. Is it a standard sata cable that you can buy anywhere?

Wish me luck with the re-assembly.

But you knew all this before from the guides on the internet and also from the discussion here. So no need to be pissed. But yes, good luck for the reassembly!

 

[Anarchy99]

*Update*
I opened up the imac and there wasn't a sata cable present so that OWC adapter does me no good without the sata cable from the logic board.
And it looks like I have to remove every part from the imac to get to the blade ssd. WTF Apple?
Now I am pissed and don't feel like continuing.
[doublepost=1549255001][/doublepost]I wasn't going to be stopped.

I installed the 1TB blade. Now I don't know what to do about the Sata cable. Is it a standard sata cable that you can buy anywhere?

Wish me luck with the re-assembly.

You need apple Part #923-00092
It’s about $20usd and easy to find

You will still want that OWC cable as well that I Linked Above so you’re fans don’t constantly max.

 

[Fancuku]

Thanks for providing the part number.
And I did get the OWC adapter. I thought the adapter would come with the sata cable.
I must have ordered it without giving it too much thought.