Failing fusion drive on late 2012 iMac. Options?

[TheNormsk]

Today, just before my computer upgraded to 10.13.1 I noticed my time machine had stopped working and was throwing errors. After some investigation I found that my TM back up drive would not mount anymore. I pulled out DiskWarrior and that restored my backup drive and my TM is working again.

Which is good. Because after this Disk Warrior reporting that my iMac's fusion drive was failing SMART and is close to failure. Double checking Disk Utility I get the same..

Now, the failing part of the fusion drive is the SSD. The 3TB HDD has been replaced previously by Apple under extended warranty. My iMac though is long out of warranty now being a late 2012 model so I'm not sure if the SSD part is covered (actually I don't think it was anyway originally).

I'm wondering what my options are: I'm thinking this:

1) Sell it on flea bay and let some other sap deal with it. Buy a new iMac. Expensive and unethical (plus I actually like my current port configuration)

2) Take it to Apple and let them fix it. Expensive but supported.

3) Take it to some other repair shop (not sure what they would do to it....)

4) Source an SSD myself and follow iFixIt's guide to replacing the SSD. Sourcing the part may be tricky though as they're proprietary I believe. Could I also get something bigger that 128GB?

5) Scrap both the 3TB HDD and 128GB SSD and replace with a single 1TB SSD. This would leave me having to rework my data as I maintain around 2.4 TB on the internal drive along with the bulk of my data on a 15TB NAS.

Am I missing some options? What might you do?

 

[Apple_Robert]

The most cost effective and time saving method would be to connect an external SSD to your iMac and use that as your boot disk.

 

[curmudgeonette]

The most cost effective and time saving method would be to connect an external SSD to your iMac and use that as your boot disk.

...and unfuse the Fusion drive so you can use the 3 TB drive as just a plain HDD.

 

[Zedgeek]

I did an SSD replacement on a somewhat newer iMac not long a go with the same problem. They are "somewhat" proprietary, but never mind, you can easily source an adapter that lets you put any mSATA SSD stick in there, off eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/mSATA-SSD-...091294&hash=item3f7d682e07:g:U8sAAOSwfpVZJxHY for instance
The replacement procedure is not for the faint of heart but doable.

But how about just forgetting about the SSD? Unbundle the Fusion drive and just use the 3TB HDD as your boot drive? Yes it will be slower, but it's the free and easy solution...

 

[EugW]

I did an SSD replacement on a somewhat newer iMac not long a go with the same problem. They are "somewhat" proprietary, but never mind, you can easily source an adapter that lets you put any mSATA SSD stick in there, off eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/mSATA-SSD-...091294&hash=item3f7d682e07:g:U8sAAOSwfpVZJxHY for instance
The replacement procedure is not for the faint of heart but doable.

But how about just forgetting about the SSD? Unbundle the Fusion drive and just use the 3TB HDD as your boot drive? Yes it will be slower, but it's the free and easy solution...

Well, it's really slow.

External SSD is much better.

 

[TheNormsk]

Well, it's really slow.

External SSD is much better.

Yes I’ll think I will try the external SSD route.

Weirdly, the drive is already is acting up. I am having a bad time trying to move my data off the internal and onto my NAS. I’m also concerned about my TM. For some reason it is trying to back up the entire internal drive again like it had forgotten that it had previously backed it up....

Now as to how to connect it. Ideally I’d like an external dock that can run a Blu-ray burner and an SSD through thunderbolt as all my USB ports are already allocated. I see Sonnet has something (though expensive). Any other options? It must work with thunderbolt 1.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Am I missing some options?"

Yes, you are.

"What might you do?"

Here's what I'd do.

First, back up whatever I could. You've already done that, so you're a step ahead.

Next:
I'd use the terminal to "split" the fusion drive into TWO SEPARATE DRIVES:
- SSD, and
- HDD

Then:
I'd recheck each using Disk Utility.
I'd reinitialize them separately.
Then, I'd run the "repair disk" function on them, and see what kind of a report I get.

IF I got a good report, I'd REPEAT the repair disk function about TEN TIMES.
IF I got a good report EACH and EVERY time, I'd consider the drive "still usable" (but frequently backed up, of course!)

I would then set up the SSD as a "standalone" boot drive (because of its speed).
I'd put my apps and accounts on the SSD.
I'd keep large libraries on the HDD.
I'd keep the SSD "lean and clean" for speed.

IF one of the internal drives was indeed failing, I'd do this:
I'd get an external USB3 SSD of sufficient capacity (depending on how much I wanted to spend, I probably wouldn't get larger than 500gb).
I'd set the USB3 SSD up to be my boot drive.
I'd keep whatever internal storage still worked as additional storage.
I'd keep everything backed up.

I would NOT open up the iMac.
Too much of a chance of breaking something inside.

 

[TheNormsk]

OP wrote:

Here's what I'd do.

First, back up whatever I could. You've already done that, so you're a step ahead.

Next:
I'd use the terminal to "split" the fusion drive into TWO SEPARATE DRIVES:
- SSD, and
- HDD

Then:
I'd recheck each using Disk Utility.
I'd reinitialize them separately.
Then, I'd run the "repair disk" function on them, and see what kind of a report I get.

IF I got a good report, I'd REPEAT the repair disk function about TEN TIMES.
IF I got a good report EACH and EVERY time, I'd consider the drive "still usable" (but frequently backed up, of course!)

I would then set up the SSD as a "standalone" boot drive (because of its speed).
I'd put my apps and accounts on the SSD.
I'd keep large libraries on the HDD.
I'd keep the SSD "lean and clean" for speed.

IF one of the internal drives was indeed failing, I'd do this:
I'd get an external USB3 SSD of sufficient capacity (depending on how much I wanted to spend, I probably wouldn't get larger than 500gb).
I'd set the USB3 SSD up to be my boot drive.
I'd keep whatever internal storage still worked as additional storage.
I'd keep everything backed.

Good option.

I will try this.

 

[VideoBeagle]

Good option.

I will try this.

How'd this go..I'm in the same sitch you are or were in

 

[TheNormsk]

How'd this go..I'm in the same sitch you are or were in

In the end I ordered an Apple refurb 2017 iMac 5K 3.8 i5 with the 2TB fusion. I’m adding an extra 32GB of memory to it as well to take it to 40gb.

I tried running the old Mac from an external SSD (it was an old one I had laying around) and it was not a good experience. While the SSD benchmarked around 220 MB/s booting to it was difficult. For some reason, after defusioning the old drives the old Mac would no longer recognize the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse so I would have to plug in wired ones. Once booted then it would.

There were other issues with the external drive as well that in the end I reinstalled it to just the 3TB HDD. This was certainly workable but a bit laggy. The internal drive benchmarks to around 120 MB/s.

After some days I was close to ordering a OWC aura SSD and cracking open the iMac to upgrade it myself. The Aura should give read/write performance around 500 MB/s. But I saw benchmarks on the new 2017 fusions and they are in a different league, around 700 write/2200 read. I do a lot of video editing so this new machine should keep me future proof for a while.

Comparing the old to the new the new Mac is only about 15% faster in cpu over my old i7 but it is in graphics and storage speed where the new machine shines. Oh, the 5K display is pretty as well. The old iMac will be listed on eBay where I’ll expect to get $6-700 for it even with the SSD failure in it.

 

[gate16]

The most cost effective and time saving method would be to connect an external SSD to your iMac and use that as your boot disk.

I had the exact same problem a few months ago. I bought a Samsung T5 external SSD 1 Tb and it works very well.

 

[miguelate]

I have the same issue.
I have an imac 27" late 2012 model. 3TB of storeage. My fusion drive 128gb is failing and I can't update my computer to the latest IOS version. I am still running High Sierra. It is running very slow. I tokk my computer to apple and I was told the manufacturer of that part no longer exists or is being produced. I took my computer to an authorized apple store "micorcenter" and I was told the same thing. Even if they had the part it would be too expensive. Probably around $800. One guy at microcenter advised me to look on line for a tool that allows me to disconnect or delete the fusion drive that is no longer needed and only use the SSD drive. I have looked everywhere but I haven't been able to find it. So is adding an external HD the only option I have? If I do that my imac fusion drive will still eventually fail? the SSD too?

 

[EugW]

I have the same issue.
I have an imac 27" late 2012 model. 3TB of storeage. My fusion drive 128gb is failing and I can't update my computer to the latest IOS version. I am still running High Sierra. It is running very slow. I tokk my computer to apple and I was told the manufacturer of that part no longer exists or is being produced. I took my computer to an authorized apple store "micorcenter" and I was told the same thing. Even if they had the part it would be too expensive. Probably around $800. One guy at microcenter advised me to look on line for a tool that allows me to disconnect or delete the fusion drive that is no longer needed and only use the SSD drive. I have looked everywhere but I haven't been able to find it. So is adding an external HD the only option I have? If I do that my imac fusion drive will still eventually fail? the SSD too?

Fusion drive is the combination of an SSD and HD, so your post is confusing.

Anyhow, see below:

How to Delete or Split Your Mac's Fusion Drive

Fusion drives on a Mac can be deleted, split apart into their individual drive components. Apple doesn't allow Disk Utility to split a Fusion drive.

www.lifewire.com

You need to split your SSD from your HD and then use the one that is still working properly, presumably the SSD. Make sure you first make multiple backups of your important data of course.

Alternatively, you can just use an external USB 3 SSD as your boot drive, which will be OK.

 

[miguelate]

Fusion drive is the combination of an SSD and HD, so your post is confusing.

Anyhow, see below:

How to Delete or Split Your Mac's Fusion Drive

Fusion drives on a Mac can be deleted, split apart into their individual drive components. Apple doesn't allow Disk Utility to split a Fusion drive.

www.lifewire.com

You need to split your SSD from your HD and then use the one that is still working properly, presumably the SSD. Make sure you first make multiple backups of your important data of course.

Alternatively, you can just use an external USB 3 SSD as your boot drive, which will be OK.

The

Fusion drive is the combination of an SSD and HD, so your post is confusing.

Anyhow, see below:

How to Delete or Split Your Mac's Fusion Drive

Fusion drives on a Mac can be deleted, split apart into their individual drive components. Apple doesn't allow Disk Utility to split a Fusion drive.

www.lifewire.com

You need to split your SSD from your HD and then use the one that is still working properly, presumably the SSD. Make sure you first make multiple backups of your important data of course.

Alternatively, you can just use an external USB 3 SSD as your boot drive, which will be OK.

The fusion drive has errors. I won't let me split it. As I said I took my imac to Apple and microcenter and they both said can't be split or repaired. The fusion drive is that one that is failing and that's where the operating system is installed. So I am trying to find another tool to delete it, split it or whatever I can to be ignored so I can only use the bigger SSD drive. Apple could've done it for me if it was that easy. I was told I am on my own. Because of those errors on the fusion drive it won't let me update to the lastest IOS. I am still running high sierra and the compuer is slow.

 

[miguelate]

The


The fusion drive has errors. I won't let me split it. As I said I took my imac to Apple and microcenter and they both said can't be split or repaired. The fusion drive is that one that is failing and that's where the operating system is installed. So I am trying to find another tool to delete it, split it or whatever I can to be ignored so I can only use the bigger SSD drive. Apple could've done it for me if it was that easy. I was told I am on my own. Because of those errors on the fusion drive it won't let me update to the lastest IOS. I am still running high sierra and the compuer is slow.

The


The fusion drive has errors. I won't let me split it. As I said I took my imac to Apple and microcenter and they both said can't be split or repaired. The fusion drive is that one that is failing and that's where the operating system is installed. So I am trying to find another tool to delete it, split it or whatever I can to be ignored so I can only use the bigger SSD drive. Apple could've done it for me if it was that easy. I was told I am on my own. Because of those errors on the fusion drive it won't let me update to the lastest IOS. I am still running high sierra and the compuer is slow.

Is it more clear now? You advised me to split the drive but The System won't let me do that?

 

[NewUsername]

The 2012 iMac already has USB 3.0, so using an external SSD (like the Samsung T7) would be the easiest solution. But it isn't free. If you manage to split the FD, you might still have a functioning 128GB internal SSD though.

 

[EugW]

Is it more clear now? You advised me to split the drive but The System won't let me do that?

Have you tried the Terminal commands to split the Fusion drive?

SOLVED: How do I split Fusion drive on Mojave / APFS? - iMac Intel 27" EMC 2639

I did this earlier today on an iMac. Boot to a Mojave USB boot installer. Then Utilities —> Terminal. The commands are along the lines of: diskutil apfs list Then make note of the “virtual disk” that is the “Fusion Drive”. This is made up the PCI Flash and the other spinning drive. You can...

www.ifixit.com

To split or not to split your Mac’s Fusion Drive

In a recent post, I wrote about upgrading the original (failing) blade SSD in my iMac to a bigger and faster NVMe module. During that upgrade process, I wondered whether splitting my Mac’s Fu…

raoulpop.com

 

[HeatherA]

I just realized our "spare" late 2012 iMac with a 1tb fusion has a similar problem, only the platter drive failed leaving us with 120gb SSD as our only internal drive. Not sure if it's worth taking in to get the drive replaced, if we should just use it as is or if we should do a trade in on it. Still in great shape and it's been a good backup machine to have around.

 

[EugW]

I just realized our "spare" late 2012 iMac with a 1tb fusion has a similar problem, only the platter drive failed leaving us with 120gb SSD as our only internal drive. Not sure if it's worth taking in to get the drive replaced, if we should just use it as is or if we should do a trade in on it. Still in great shape and it's been a good backup machine to have around.

If you have a 120 GB SSD, that's great. Just use that as the boot drive and then add a USB 3 external drive if you need additional storage.

 

[HeatherA]

If you have a 120 GB SSD, that's great. Just use that as the boot drive and then add a USB 3 external drive if you need additional storage.

Yeah I am thinking of just riding it out since we don't really use this machine except for guests/netflix etc.. I keep reminding myself that we sold machines with 128gb SSDs for ages and people managed. hahaha