MrGimper
macrumors G3
Be worth a shot. I liked doing it this way as I didn't want a bootcamp partition on my fusion drive as it doesn't use the SSD.
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iMac without fusion drive - how slow is it really?
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Be worth a shot. I liked doing it this way as I didn't want a bootcamp partition on my fusion drive as it doesn't use the SSD.
MrGimper
macrumors G3
I downloaded it and ran the .exe then tried using the directed command prompts. Cmd is telling me it's an invalid action
For the OP,
I think you ordered the right thing, and the wait is worth it. See the 2013 DIY SSD thread for a little more info on my recent experiences with 2012 and 2013 iMacs with the different drive configurations and upgrades I did, https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1647795/
Basically, the HDD-only is way too slow in my opinion, doesn't keep up with the great performance of the rest of the 2012 or 2013 iMac. The SSD is a seamless experience, but obviously limited in terms of the size of a single drive vs cost.
The Fusion is nearly-SSD. Depending on how you use your machine, you might notice "no difference from SSD" to an occasional awareness of when the Fusion goes to the HDD instead of the SSD, which is very minor, very normal. To have high speed and one huge drive, the Fusion sounds like the option to meet your goals.
So, good job in your choice, I think you did the right thing in ordering the Fusion, despite the wait.
Just for reference, to get SSD-like speed in a higher capacity, i.e. >2TB, the next step is perhaps a Thunderbolt enclosure with multiple SSD's in a RAID configuration... which can get very expensive very quickly.
I think you ordered the right thing, and the wait is worth it. See the 2013 DIY SSD thread for a little more info on my recent experiences with 2012 and 2013 iMacs with the different drive configurations and upgrades I did, https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1647795/
Basically, the HDD-only is way too slow in my opinion, doesn't keep up with the great performance of the rest of the 2012 or 2013 iMac. The SSD is a seamless experience, but obviously limited in terms of the size of a single drive vs cost.
The Fusion is nearly-SSD. Depending on how you use your machine, you might notice "no difference from SSD" to an occasional awareness of when the Fusion goes to the HDD instead of the SSD, which is very minor, very normal. To have high speed and one huge drive, the Fusion sounds like the option to meet your goals.
So, good job in your choice, I think you did the right thing in ordering the Fusion, despite the wait.
Just for reference, to get SSD-like speed in a higher capacity, i.e. >2TB, the next step is perhaps a Thunderbolt enclosure with multiple SSD's in a RAID configuration... which can get very expensive very quickly.
Thanks! Really looking forward to receiving this beast! I think the internal fusion drive will be plenty fast for my purposes. I'm not a fan of external drives - I use a time capsule for the backups and have one additional external USB 3 hard drive for an off-site backup, other than that I stick to what I have inside the computer.
No problem.
Also, I see the MacBook in your sig. That's roughly the config I *was* using and my spouse is now using. The iMac is a step or two ahead of that in certain areas, but our uses differ. We are both happy with our machines for what we each use them for.
Now I'm figuring out how to best (and precisely) duplicate user profiles between the machines to set ourselves up for the times when one of us takes the notebook out of the house. I think at this point I will prefer to synch certain files between the machines rather than get into Server, but we'll see. Also, I would rather get Mavericks squared away before I do anything too complicated.
Also, I see the MacBook in your sig. That's roughly the config I *was* using and my spouse is now using. The iMac is a step or two ahead of that in certain areas, but our uses differ. We are both happy with our machines for what we each use them for.
Now I'm figuring out how to best (and precisely) duplicate user profiles between the machines to set ourselves up for the times when one of us takes the notebook out of the house. I think at this point I will prefer to synch certain files between the machines rather than get into Server, but we'll see. Also, I would rather get Mavericks squared away before I do anything too complicated.
Moonjumper
macrumors 68030
grandM
macrumors 68000
ssd
I'd like some advice. Apple 's quite expensive in my country. Here are apple additional prices (in euro):
7200-rpm seriële ATA schijf van 1 TB
7200-rpm seriële ATA schijf van 3 TB [+ 150,00 €]
Fusion Drive van 1 TB [+ 200,00 €]
Fusion Drive van 3 TB [+ 350,00 €]
256 GB flashopslag [+ 200,00 €]
512 GB flashopslag [+ 500,00 €]
1 TB flashopslag [+ 1.000,00 €]
It made me wonder if it weren't better to buy an ssd drive of samsung, replace the 7200 drive with samsung ssd and connect an external hdd ( LACIE Externe harde schijf Porsche Design P'9230 - 4 TB USB 3.0 ).
I just saw that the SAMSUNG Interne SSD 840 Series Basic 2.5" - 500 GB (MZ-7TD500BW) costs 361 euro, SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE500 - Solid state drive - 500 GB - intern - 2.5" 303 euro, the SAMSUNG Interne SSD 840 Pro Series Basic 2.5" - 512 GB (MZ-7PD512BW) 410 euro, the SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE1T0 - Solid state drive - 1 TB - intern - 2.5" 538 euro. All those are Sata. Or is this a stupid idea? Please your advice 🙂
ps: would 256 ssd suffice combined with external HDD ( LACIE Externe harde schijf Porsche Design P'9230 - 4 TB USB 3.0 )?
I'd like some advice. Apple 's quite expensive in my country. Here are apple additional prices (in euro):
7200-rpm seriële ATA schijf van 1 TB
7200-rpm seriële ATA schijf van 3 TB [+ 150,00 €]
Fusion Drive van 1 TB [+ 200,00 €]
Fusion Drive van 3 TB [+ 350,00 €]
256 GB flashopslag [+ 200,00 €]
512 GB flashopslag [+ 500,00 €]
1 TB flashopslag [+ 1.000,00 €]
It made me wonder if it weren't better to buy an ssd drive of samsung, replace the 7200 drive with samsung ssd and connect an external hdd ( LACIE Externe harde schijf Porsche Design P'9230 - 4 TB USB 3.0 ).
I just saw that the SAMSUNG Interne SSD 840 Series Basic 2.5" - 500 GB (MZ-7TD500BW) costs 361 euro, SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE500 - Solid state drive - 500 GB - intern - 2.5" 303 euro, the SAMSUNG Interne SSD 840 Pro Series Basic 2.5" - 512 GB (MZ-7PD512BW) 410 euro, the SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE1T0 - Solid state drive - 1 TB - intern - 2.5" 538 euro. All those are Sata. Or is this a stupid idea? Please your advice 🙂
ps: would 256 ssd suffice combined with external HDD ( LACIE Externe harde schijf Porsche Design P'9230 - 4 TB USB 3.0 )?
Having done the SSD swaps on the 2012 and 2013 iMac, and I think it's relatively easy to do the upgrade, if you get the tools/parts and plan ahead... my recommendation for most people buying new is to just buy the Fusion or SSD with your 2013 machine in the first place.
There are many possibilities, but I'll show you my scenario:
- Apple upgrade to 1TB SSD = $1,000, vs...
- I already had a Samsung 1TB SSD, bought the tools and kit from iFixit, ($650 + ~$50 = $700, plus the effort and a little bit of risk)
I really only saved $300, but had to do the work and assume the risk. Smaller SSD's would probably save you even less money. Also the Apple drives are higher performance than the aftermarket at the moment--this may change if PCIe replacement SSDs become available for reduced cost.
If a few hundred $ worth of cost is an issue, consider a used or refurbished 2012 or 2013 in the first place to save money on the computer, then upgrade the drive if you need it. The combined savings on the computer and the SSD might make it more worthwhile.
Again, my recommendation to buy from Apple is about a NEW iMac and is for the INTERNAL hard drive portion only. If you buy used, then the SSD upgrade is more interesting--especially if your used iMac has HDD only, and only MAYBE if your used iMac has Fusion (Fusion is pretty good).
Regarding the RAM, I definitely recommend doing your own upgrade.
I don't know a whole lot about external drive options, or how well you can run OSX from them. I have a USB 3 adapter for backups and drive copying for various at-home projects, and do not plan to run my machine off the external. Off-topic, I wonder why the TB enclosures are so expensive...
There are many possibilities, but I'll show you my scenario:
- Apple upgrade to 1TB SSD = $1,000, vs...
- I already had a Samsung 1TB SSD, bought the tools and kit from iFixit, ($650 + ~$50 = $700, plus the effort and a little bit of risk)
I really only saved $300, but had to do the work and assume the risk. Smaller SSD's would probably save you even less money. Also the Apple drives are higher performance than the aftermarket at the moment--this may change if PCIe replacement SSDs become available for reduced cost.
If a few hundred $ worth of cost is an issue, consider a used or refurbished 2012 or 2013 in the first place to save money on the computer, then upgrade the drive if you need it. The combined savings on the computer and the SSD might make it more worthwhile.
Again, my recommendation to buy from Apple is about a NEW iMac and is for the INTERNAL hard drive portion only. If you buy used, then the SSD upgrade is more interesting--especially if your used iMac has HDD only, and only MAYBE if your used iMac has Fusion (Fusion is pretty good).
Regarding the RAM, I definitely recommend doing your own upgrade.
I don't know a whole lot about external drive options, or how well you can run OSX from them. I have a USB 3 adapter for backups and drive copying for various at-home projects, and do not plan to run my machine off the external. Off-topic, I wonder why the TB enclosures are so expensive...
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MrGimper
macrumors G3
First of all, the 2012 and 2013 iMacs (and also the ones before them actually) are really difficult to open up. And once you do open them you'll lose your warranty. Replacing RAM in the 27" model is just fine, but exchanging the HDD/SSD is really hard and you'll lose your warranty. I certainly don't want to lose my warranty on my iMac.
Thought I would offer up my experience with it.
I went back and forth about a Fusion drive when I bought the last revision of the 27" iMac, I finally decided to go with the 3TB Fusion drive, and I'm glad I did, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Here is a screen grab for my 27" iMac 3TB fusion drive.
I've used SSD's in all my Mac's, and wouldn't use anything else, the Fusion drive is perfect though.
I went back and forth about a Fusion drive when I bought the last revision of the 27" iMac, I finally decided to go with the 3TB Fusion drive, and I'm glad I did, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Here is a screen grab for my 27" iMac 3TB fusion drive.
I've used SSD's in all my Mac's, and wouldn't use anything else, the Fusion drive is perfect though.
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grandM
macrumors 68000
mini
I agree. How about upgrading mini with ssd? Wouldn't it be better than non fusion imac?
I agree. How about upgrading mini with ssd? Wouldn't it be better than non fusion imac?
grandM
macrumors 68000
mini
I saw a youtube splitting imac open. I won't be doing so. A mini however seemed manageable. So I was more thinking now of buying a mini (1TB hdd) and putting ssd in it. Or is this a mistake?
I saw a youtube splitting imac open. I won't be doing so. A mini however seemed manageable. So I was more thinking now of buying a mini (1TB hdd) and putting ssd in it. Or is this a mistake?
i picked up a new (after returning a 2012 refurb due to dead lcd) base 2013 21.5 iMac about 10 days ago. i am making the switch from PC, and pretty darn old one at that, 8 years maybe. i was hoping to be blown away by the speed of the iMac and i am not. i am seriously considering taking it back to exchange if for one with the Fusion 1TB. a bit of a hassle, but not much as the Apple store is close. i am running out of time though.....what to do....
I agree, the Fusion will make the speed difference happen, regular HDD is too slow.
It also depends on what you use it for. My work notebook has a regular HDD, but once I boot up in the morning all the apps pretty much stay open all day, so the HDD is less noticeable there. At home, I just don't use a computer that way... need an SSD or at least a Fusion.
I think you might want to return it and get what you really want--it'll nag you, especially after it becomes too late to swap it...
It also depends on what you use it for. My work notebook has a regular HDD, but once I boot up in the morning all the apps pretty much stay open all day, so the HDD is less noticeable there. At home, I just don't use a computer that way... need an SSD or at least a Fusion.
I think you might want to return it and get what you really want--it'll nag you, especially after it becomes too late to swap it...
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