Early 2008 iMac - replace HD

[Dr. McKay]

I have an early 2008 24" iMac (2.8Ghz Core2Duo, 4Gb RAM) and has served me well.

I'm not quite ready to replace it yet. It's still fast enough for what I do (and it's by no means a slow computer). I would, however, like to replace the small 320Gb HD with a 1Tb one.
That way, I'd have enough space to make two 500Gb partitions, one for SL, one for bootcamp Win7. All the games I have (Wow, WC3 and Steam games) work with Windows as well and that would, in a sense, make my computer faster for games. For a relatively small cost, I could have (kind of) have a new machine.

But, is it safe/difficult to do ? I've seen some guides and it involves removing screws and wiring. I'm afraid I'll ruin my iMac.
Can anyone provide me with some useful tips ?

 

[fhall1]

If you've built or taken a Windows PC apart to add/upgrade something - it'll be harder than that. If you've taken a laptop apart to fix something inside - it'll be easier than that.

If you aren't confident with your motor skills and hand - eye coordination in small spaces, I'd think twice.

Look for teardowns and videos online...lots of folks have done it, so it's not that difficult, but there is a risk of damaging something if you aren't careful.

 

[excommie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but putting one of t he newer 1TB/2TB hard drives in an enclosure on the Firewire 800 bus should yield similar results as putting the HD internally? The HD will probably not saturate the FW800 bus?

 

[Dr. McKay]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but putting one of t he newer 1TB/2TB hard drives in an enclosure on the Firewire 800 bus should yield similar results as putting the HD internally? The HD will probably not saturate the FW800 bus?

I have no FW800 (only FW400), plus I don't think I can put a bootcamp partition on an external drive...

 

[excommie]

I have no FW800 (only FW400), plus I don't think I can put a bootcamp partition on an external drive...

Are you sure about not having FW800? I have the same iMac and I am using FW800. You're right that Windows needs to be on an internal drive though.

 

[killerrobot]

If you've tinkered with the insides of computers before then it's a pretty easy process - if not then have someone else do it.

Here's a guide: (there's not one for the 24" but it's exactly the same as the 20") http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac-Intel-20-Inch-EMC-2133-and-2210-Hard-Drive-Replacement/1008/1

The only recommendation I have is to have another set hands available for taking off the bezel - one person to gentle hold it open while another disconnects the microphone cable (step 5). It's doable by yourself, but an utter PITA.

 

[Dr. McKay]

Are you sure about not having FW800? I have the same iMac and I am using FW800. You're right that Windows needs to be on an internal drive though.

You're right, I have FW800. I just don't use it, though, I have a FW400 external HD. Never took any notice of it.

If you've tinkered with the insides of computers before then it's a pretty easy process - if not then have someone else do it.

I have some experience, although only with desktops. But I feel pretty confident