Do I need a thermal cable if I add an SSD?

[ataraxia25uk]

I am looking to add a 256gig SSD to my 2011 21.5" iMac using the second SATA port.

I know I will need a thermal cable for the new HDD but do I need one for the SSD, too.

It's not a huge deal as the cables are only £45, but it will nearly double the price of the SSD as I got a Crucial 256 gig MX500 for £56.

Grateful for any advice.

 

[rigormortis]

if i understand correctly

you will still need to attach the existing thermal wire to the SSD as well.

otherwise it will show up as an error on apple diagnostics / apple hardware test and someone down the road will not know what you did and have to spend money to repair something that is not needed!

i think the iMac has a thermal wire going to the hard disk, just like the mac mini.

if it doesn't have a thermal wire installed at all, then i wouldn't install one, probably expensive
and not needed cuz the ssd doesn't heat up like a hdd

hard disks don't need new thermal wires you just need to carefully remove the existing thermal wire and more it to the new hard drive

 

[rigormortis]

i don't think you need one

unless the fans ramp up and clearing smc won't help

but i don't think it will pass a.h.t. without a wire

 

[Richdmoore]

FYI Other World Computing sells a kit with all the wire harness and other parts to install a SSD (and replace the stock HD without the fan going crazy.) At some point, if I get brave enough to open the iMac myself, I intend to use these to install a SSD/upgrade HDD.

 

[dogslobber]

I am looking to add a 256gig SSD to my 2011 21.5" iMac using the second SATA port.

I know I will need a thermal cable for the new HDD but do I need one for the SSD, too.

It's not a huge deal as the cables are only £45, but it will nearly double the price of the SSD as I got a Crucial 256 gig MX500 for £56.

Grateful for any advice.

I removed the internal HD from my 2011 21.5" iMac and replaced it with a 512GB Crucial SSD. The fans blare at full pelt unless I run MacsFanControl. Been running that for a year and it's been amazing the difference in speed. Replacing the internal HD beats removing the logic board to put the SATA cable in the back. I tried that and fried the power supply so didn't try it twice after repair. Note that I'm techie and work for a hardware manufacturer but the 21.5" is just too cramped to work with.

 

[redbear1958]

I put a ssd in my 2011 27" iMac as a second drive. I did not need the thermal wire as I left the other drive in

 

[ataraxia25uk]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

Looking forward to getting the new drives installed.

 

[periscop]

thermal cable adding SDD

Hi,

I am doing the same as you did. Replacing my 500 GB HDD in my mid-2011 21.5 inch imac by a 2TB barracuda and adding a 500 GB SSD.

Have you installed the drives?

Did you need a thermal sensor for the SSD?
have you put the OWC kit with the thermal sensor for the HDD?


thanks

 

[andy9l]

Do I need a thermal cable if I add an SSD?

You will need the OWC thermal sensor cable ONLY for the drive you replace the original HDD with - be it an SSD or a spinning drive.

The secondary drive won't need a thermal cable - just the SATA connection.