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farmermac

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 23, 2009
779
11
Iowa
I have been reading and reading but I can't seem to find the answer. Im trying to figure out if the optical drive for the iMac has a slimline sata connector or a standart sata connector. Reason is I'd like to install an SSD and use an optibay adaptor.
 

Hellhammer

Moderator emeritus
Dec 10, 2008
22,164
582
Finland
I think it's normal but it might be 1.5Gb/s (not sure but I doubt it is, some Macs have though). Not the specialist in this one as I've never opened an iMac
 

spinnerlys

Guest
Sep 7, 2008
14,328
7
forlod bygningen
I think it's normal but it might be 1.5Gb/s (not sure but I doubt it is, some Macs have though). Not the specialist in this one as I've never opened an iMac

One can also look at System Profiler > Hardware > ATA or System Profiler > Hardware > Serial-ATA to find out what one has.

I just have a 20" Aluminium iMac, but the SuperDrive uses a P-ATA (IDE) interface, but given the read and write speeds of optical media, that interface is fully sufficient.
 

farmermac

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 23, 2009
779
11
Iowa
One can also look at System Profiler > Hardware > ATA or System Profiler > Hardware > Serial-ATA to find out what one has.

I just have a 20" Aluminium iMac, but the SuperDrive uses a P-ATA (IDE) interface, but given the read and write speeds of optical media, that interface is fully sufficient.

I should have been clearer.

I know it is sata already. I need to know if it has a regular sata connector or the slimline sata connector. IE. do I need an adapter
 

Hellhammer

Moderator emeritus
Dec 10, 2008
22,164
582
Finland
One can also look at System Profiler > Hardware > ATA or System Profiler > Hardware > Serial-ATA to find out what one has.

Thanks for the tip! Mine is the same as HD port, both are SATA 3Gb/s.

I just have a 20" Aluminium iMac, but the SuperDrive uses a P-ATA (IDE) interface, but given the read and write speeds of optical media, that interface is fully sufficient.

But IDE is waaayyy toooooo slooooooow for SSD ;)
 

spinnerlys

Guest
Sep 7, 2008
14,328
7
forlod bygningen
I should have been clearer.

I know it is sata already. I need to know if it has a regular sata connector or the slimline sata connector. IE. do I need an adapter

Could have been more thorough, me I mean. ;)

What about the teardown guides at iFixIt.com? If one can find one, they are quite confusing in their layout or I am blind.

...


Seems they don't have the 24" torn down yet. Here is a link to the 20" iMac teardown though.
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac-Intel-20-Inch-EMC-2266-Teardown/658/2
 

tchockey

macrumors member
Feb 9, 2010
59
0
hi
I bought my optical bay from (newmodeUS.com)
model # OBHD-SATA12-SATA-NF
Works in 21.5, mac mini and now I have it in 24" imac 3.06 4gb 1tb. I put a intel x25 160gb and just go into finder, to startup disk and make the ssd the bootup disk. works great. the optibay plugs right in with no extra wires or adapters. Just be careful taking the screen off.
hope that helps.
 
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