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Very strange, I have the following situation: I have replaced original HD with the SSD. After some time (5 months) I ordered cable and connected original Mac mini HD additionally and Mac mini can't see it....:(
 
I'm adding a 512GB Crucial m4 to my mac mini and would like to use this as the boot drive. The stock 500GB HD I'm going to use for additional storage.

My only question is, which position should I put the drives in? Put the SSD in the top bay? The original poster said don't move them around, but posts later in the thread seem to indicate this isn't an issue.

I just want to open my mini once so I want to make sure its in the correct position from the beginning :)
 
I'm adding a 512GB Crucial m4 to my mac mini and would like to use this as the boot drive. The stock 500GB HD I'm going to use for additional storage.

My only question is, which position should I put the drives in? Put the SSD in the top bay? The original poster said don't move them around, but posts later in the thread seem to indicate this isn't an issue.

I just want to open my mini once so I want to make sure its in the correct position from the beginning :)

It doesnt matter - either can be the startup disk and the connection speed for both is the same.
 
I was just watching that video from OWC, seems they add SSD to top slot and leave the HD where it was.

Different videos on youtube suggest otherwise. I stumbled upon another video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkJPbGquuKY&feature=related

He shows that the "lower" hd actually is the first one. The lower is the built-in drive. (You can see this towards the end.) I think it's the best to switch the built-in hd with the ssd and put the hd in the additional slot.

I have had exactly the same question. My parts arrive tomorrow or thursday. So I cannot confirm it, yet. :)
 
The space will NOT allow over-sized (12.5mm thick) drives for two obvious reasons...
1) The two screws that attach the Wi-Fi screen to the lower drive ("lower" in reference to the normal use position of the computer) serve as the lock posts for the screw-off plastic hatch. This fits perfectly with two 9.5mm drives. It will not work at all with any other size drives.
2) The extra space that appears in the photo with the measuring stick allows the "lower" drive to be tilted in order to remove / install it when both drives are used.

As for the part shown in the top photo (photo 5989247328_a3a4149824_z.jpg) by "slyseekr", that is the original cable for the "lower" drive (the original that will have the Wi-Fi screen attached to it). The "upper" drive needs a cable with both a longer rise (to get up to the same logic board level as the original drive) and a different horizontal position (to fit the other bus connection on the board). Order carefully and explain that you need the "upper" bay cable.

As for the physical stability of the drives, the lower bay drive is attached to the Wi-Fi screen and has the two nubs that fit two holes that are not seen in the photos, but are slightly smaller diameter holes and are slightly "offset" horizontally. I know of no mounting frame for the upper drive, but it is held rather snugly in place by the lower drive. It does have a millimeter of gap for rattling, but would only be an issue in travel. I suggest removing both drives for travel, even if you get the rubber grommets for the upper drive. In my experience 2.5" form factor HDDs are no where near as durable as 3.5", so they should be treated with kid gloves when traveling. After a session of removing / reinserting the drives, you should be able to do it again later without much trouble in 10-20 minutes. You have to un-mount the fan, but then just swing it a bit out of the way, and although it doesn't appear necessary at first glance, the "lower" RAM module must be pulled to allow just a tiny fraction extra space for removing / inserting drives.
 
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So if it comes with an existing 1TB 2.5", adding another 2.5" SSD possibly won't fit?

Edit: I wonder which 1TB is inside? I see newer 2.5" are less than 10mm.
 
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Even if the Mini ships with a stock 'fat' 12.5mm 1TB HDD?

I've never seen Minis shipped with those fat HDDs. Just order the 500 GB model and buy a 1 TB drive afterwards. It's cheaper anyway and you can use the 500 GB drive as Time Machine backup.
 
CPU is better in the 1TB refurb, bought it a couple of months ago.Guess I'll check HDD model on screen when I unbox and set it up.

No worries, I have an extra 750GB 2.5 laying around to exchange it if necessary. Waiting for a Samsung Pro 256GB SSD to go on sale anyway.
 
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