how can you have a white imac with a 1TB hardrive? i thought only the Al imacs were openable, how can you open a white imac? the screen is behind the white structure, the Al imac, its right on level, and removable with suction cups
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iMac AL 24" Hard Drive Swap - Pics/Procedure inside
- Thread starter Tom Sawyer
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how can you have a white imac with a 1TB hardrive? i thought only the Al imacs were openable, how can you open a white imac? the screen is behind the white structure, the Al imac, its right on level, and removable with suction cups
It is actually attached via double sided tape which pealed away from the old drive fine... so just stuck it to the new drive with no problem.
Yeah, don't think I'll be pulling this guy apart again for a video card swap... 
If only they existed, right?
As far as the screen info, there is a post a couple pages back with PIC of the 24" screen model... hope that helps.
If only they existed, right? As far as the screen info, there is a post a couple pages back with PIC of the 24" screen model... hope that helps.
Anybody know if Apple (apple stores, whatever) is willing to do swaps like this for a price? I'm a bit too squeamish to attempt this on my own.
I would imagine that any authorized service center would do the swap for you (for a fee naturally). If you lived close I'd offer to do it for a 6 pack (to be consumed post-swap!)
Best of luck... I can't imagine it being too expensive to just have a mac shop do it for you... even if they are very slow they can only justify an hour of labor in my opinion. Can't imagine that being more than $100 bucks or so...
the vibration/hum issue
I've the original 320GB and I can notice the noise/vibration coming form the middle of the screen ... I've just come from my technical service (authorized retail store in Spain) and they say everything is ok, but I'm sure that the one they have just unpacked for the showroom didn't vibrate so much (they were installing leopard and the noise/vibration was lower than mine ... I think)
ArsTechnica review:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/aluminum-and-glass-a-review-of-the-new-imac.ars/4
"Ambient stuff
The new iMac is a cool, quiet beast. While not as quiet as the G4 Cube that functions as my headless file and web server, you have to listen very hard in order to hear the computer at all. This is true even under heavy loadit's all but impossible to hear the fan running.
"
What dou you think ?
I've the original 320GB and I can notice the noise/vibration coming form the middle of the screen ... I've just come from my technical service (authorized retail store in Spain) and they say everything is ok, but I'm sure that the one they have just unpacked for the showroom didn't vibrate so much (they were installing leopard and the noise/vibration was lower than mine ... I think
)ArsTechnica review:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/aluminum-and-glass-a-review-of-the-new-imac.ars/4
"Ambient stuff
The new iMac is a cool, quiet beast. While not as quiet as the G4 Cube that functions as my headless file and web server, you have to listen very hard in order to hear the computer at all. This is true even under heavy loadit's all but impossible to hear the fan running.
"
What dou you think ?
Clearly he did what they do in Apple Repair centers, he got a hammer and hit it really hard until it opened up! I usually use my sledge hammer as it works faster than the "Apple Authorised Hammer(TM)".
I've the original 320GB and I can notice the noise/vibration coming form the middle of the screen ... I've just come from my technical service (authorized retail store in Spain) and they say everything is ok, but I'm sure that the one they have just unpacked for the showroom didn't vibrate so much (they were installing leopard and the noise/vibration was lower than mine ... I think
ArsTechnica review:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/aluminum-and-glass-a-review-of-the-new-imac.ars/4
"Ambient stuff
The new iMac is a cool, quiet beast. While not as quiet as the G4 Cube that functions as my headless file and web server, you have to listen very hard in order to hear the computer at all. This is true even under heavy load—it's all but impossible to hear the fan running.
"
What dou you think ?
The only way to find out if it is the hard drive is to change the hard drive to turn off faster in power settings. Have the computer on but not doing anything for that period (10-15 mins?) but make sure it doesn't go to sleep (maybe even turn off sleep mode while in the power settings). You should hear the hard drive power down and if the machine stops vibrating then it is the hard drive.
If it is the hard drive then it's probably just a little lose or you got an annoying viby hard drive!
An Apple Service Privider will gladly do it for you for a fee (I paid 45 euro servicefee, that should be about 75 US dollars)
Thanks for the recommendation. The new Seagate seems to smoke the Hitachi in every single test so I will be going with it.
Heads up: If you mean the Seagate 7200.11 series drives, check Seagate's web site for iMac-compatibility info. I think, they had a note suggesting that there might be a problem and recommending that iMac users stay with the 7200.10 series.
LK
My guess is that the procedure would be nearly identical... From the take-apart pics posted when the AL's came out, the interior seems to be set up just like the 24... just a little smaller....
Also, from a compatibility standpoint, i just bought a 1TB Western Digital green drive to put in my iMac... has anyone tried this drive in the imac, or know if it is compatible? thanks! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136151
that drive
that drive
I wouldn't recommend a WD 1TB drive
I bought the WD 1TB drive for my Mediacenter PC. This is a good, quiet and cool drive for a HTPC. I wouldn't recommend it in an iMac however if you also value highend performance (for AV editing for instance). This runs at 5400 rpm and thus has a relatively high latency. The drives I would recommend are either a Samsung 1TB 32MB cache 3-platter drive (which hasn't been introduced yet), or the proven Hitachi 1TB 32MB cache 5-platter drive (which was introduced in June). I have chosen the Hitachi Deskstar and I'm satisfied. Have a look at this review:
http://http://www.storagereview.com/1000.sr?page=0%2C1
I have yet again changed my drive in my iMac for a Samsung F1 1TB drive as the Hitachi was generating way too much heat (it started to produce suspicous clicks and slowdowns). The Samsung is quiet,cool and fast for the moment, but it has caused some trouble for other owners both PC and Mac because of the high DOA rate and failrate in the first few weeks (see Newegg userreviews for instance). I have used this drive for a couple of weeks in a Mediacenter PC in order to put some pressure on the disk to avoid a lemon. YMMV so don't take this as an endorsement.
I bought the WD 1TB drive for my Mediacenter PC. This is a good, quiet and cool drive for a HTPC. I wouldn't recommend it in an iMac however if you also value highend performance (for AV editing for instance). This runs at 5400 rpm and thus has a relatively high latency. The drives I would recommend are either a Samsung 1TB 32MB cache 3-platter drive (which hasn't been introduced yet), or the proven Hitachi 1TB 32MB cache 5-platter drive (which was introduced in June). I have chosen the Hitachi Deskstar and I'm satisfied. Have a look at this review:
http://http://www.storagereview.com/1000.sr?page=0%2C1
I have yet again changed my drive in my iMac for a Samsung F1 1TB drive as the Hitachi was generating way too much heat (it started to produce suspicous clicks and slowdowns). The Samsung is quiet,cool and fast for the moment, but it has caused some trouble for other owners both PC and Mac because of the high DOA rate and failrate in the first few weeks (see Newegg userreviews for instance). I have used this drive for a couple of weeks in a Mediacenter PC in order to put some pressure on the disk to avoid a lemon. YMMV so don't take this as an endorsement.
Read Tom's Hardware. The new Seagate 1TB is cheaper and faster than the Haitachi. It also is only 4 platter and has a 5 year warranty. The WD GP drive also has a variable rotational speed that moves between 5400 and 7200. I agree it is not the best for performance. I have two for external storage and that is what they work well for when using with an iMac.
Here's a recent wrap-up of 1TB drive performance. Don't let the title scare
you off, there's some good comparative data for all the major 1TB players
(plus some smaller drives) beginning at page 5 or 6.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/11/21/samsung_overtakes_with_a_bang/index.html
BTW, proc's storagereview link (#141) is slightly broken. Here's the fix:
http://www.storagereview.com/1000.sr?page=0,1
LK
Wow! this is really cool!
What a nice job, Tom, this is just what i was looking for.
I've asked around, no Apple reseller agrees to do the job, they are afraid to do it. They claim they are not allowed to open this the iMac Al!
Even the official exclusive importer tried to convince me not to do it. Though, if i really insist, he'll do it, for a fair fee, of course...
My only question is, if you can give a list of the required tools, especially the torxes you need. I understand you've used 2 different sizes, which numbers are they?
It would be quite disappointing to get in the middle of this dissection and get stuck with a missing torx.
The one i got is TR-9, which i use for the small screws that holds the hard disk itself. So, i understand i need a bigger one too.
thanks.
What a nice job, Tom, this is just what i was looking for.
I've asked around, no Apple reseller agrees to do the job, they are afraid to do it. They claim they are not allowed to open this the iMac Al!
Even the official exclusive importer tried to convince me not to do it. Though, if i really insist, he'll do it, for a fair fee, of course...
My only question is, if you can give a list of the required tools, especially the torxes you need. I understand you've used 2 different sizes, which numbers are they?
It would be quite disappointing to get in the middle of this dissection and get stuck with a missing torx.
The one i got is TR-9, which i use for the small screws that holds the hard disk itself. So, i understand i need a bigger one too.
thanks.
Thanks! It really does look quite 'scarier' than what it ends up being.
As far as the tools needed, the suction cup is a must. Very cheap (like 2.99 for a pack of the ones I used that are for hanging things on glass). Beyond that, I have a set of nice torx drivers that go from like T4 or T6 up to T14 or so I think. Without opening it back up I cant say exactly which screws required which Torx, but if you pick up a set of them you should be in good shape. The smallest were the screws holding in the video cable from the Panel.
I will take a look at my set this evening and post exactly the range and drivers it came with.
Funny that they won't do it... surely at some point they are going to have to perform a factory service on an Al iMac...
As far as the tools needed, the suction cup is a must. Very cheap (like 2.99 for a pack of the ones I used that are for hanging things on glass). Beyond that, I have a set of nice torx drivers that go from like T4 or T6 up to T14 or so I think. Without opening it back up I cant say exactly which screws required which Torx, but if you pick up a set of them you should be in good shape. The smallest were the screws holding in the video cable from the Panel.
I will take a look at my set this evening and post exactly the range and drivers it came with.
Funny that they won't do it... surely at some point they are going to have to perform a factory service on an Al iMac...
What a nice job, Tom, this is just what i was looking for.
I've asked around, no Apple reseller agrees to do the job, they are afraid to do it. They claim they are not allowed to open this the iMac Al!
Even the official exclusive importer tried to convince me not to do it. Though, if i really insist, he'll do it, for a fair fee, of course...
My only question is, if you can give a list of the required tools, especially the torxes you need. I understand you've used 2 different sizes, which numbers are they?
It would be quite disappointing to get in the middle of this dissection and get stuck with a missing torx.
The one i got is TR-9, which i use for the small screws that holds the hard disk itself. So, i understand i need a bigger one too.
thanks.
Tom - This is an awesome thread. Thanks for doing this and documenting as you went along. It certainly gives me an idea of what I am in for when I do this. I'll give it time - I still have ~50gb free on the 320 for now.
I still can't believe Apple makes it so difficult to swap out part in their consumer line - these are modular components on most consumer computers. My first Mac was a G4 iLamp and I swapped out the HD and optical drive on that thing, cursing as I went along at how unnecessarily difficult it was. That said, nothing is prettier than these new Al iMac's and beauty does come at a price...
I still can't believe Apple makes it so difficult to swap out part in their consumer line - these are modular components on most consumer computers. My first Mac was a G4 iLamp and I swapped out the HD and optical drive on that thing, cursing as I went along at how unnecessarily difficult it was. That said, nothing is prettier than these new Al iMac's and beauty does come at a price...
You need a T8 and T6, both unusual sizes. You need two suction caps, the cheap kind that people use nowadays to attach things to bathroom tile. You need a can of compressed air to blow the dust off of the LCD cover before you put it back on. That's all.
I've got the same disks as you do, and either my computer is special, or your computer is broken.
The same stock 320GB internal SATA disk on my 24" Al iMac.
The same WDS5000AAKS as you have in a FW800 external enclosure.
Thanks
In the mean time, i've already tried to remove the glass with one suction cap (as i've got only one). It's really nothing! People made a big thing of this, as it looks like a massive glass. Iin fact it's just a small piece of thin plastic, really nothing to be scared of...
Thanks cajuncheese for your prompt reply.
In the mean time, i've already tried to remove the glass with one suction cap (as i've got only one). It's really nothing! People made a big thing of this, as it looks like a massive glass. Iin fact it's just a small piece of thin plastic, really nothing to be scared of...
Thanks cajuncheese for your prompt reply.