Late 2009, replace Superdrive with SSD, RAM upgrade, Time Machine backup questions

[macmini555]

I have had numerous odd problems with my late 2009 Mac Mini over the years so I barely used it for a while. Some of the problems seem to have happened following OS updates. These include, the Superdrive not working and failing to eject discs, fan at max speed on startup and never goes down, audio buzzing from the headphone jack, now there is no Mac chime on startup (which is actually kind of nice).

I thought I'd ask if anyone has experience with upgrading or replacing RAM and the HDD with a SSD. I found an interesting guide here:https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Mac-mini-A1283-Terabyte-Drive/660/1 which shows that you can replace the DVD drive with a HDD or SSD and another comment linked this useful part:https://www.amazon.com/Slimline-SATA-Female-Cable-Adapter-III/dp/B00BTDAO6M.

I'm not convinced that the DVD drive is even dead and it may just be one of the OSX updates doesn't work well with it as it suddenly stopped working after an update and had been used probably a total of 10 times or less for years. If it doesn't work though, replacing it with an SSD seems ideal. It does not even show up under System Information anymore.

I've started to use the Mac again and it is a fun little machine and still much more powerful than something like a Raspberry Pi so I would like to continue using it. It works okay now but is a little slow for me and pretty much unusable in Windows bootcamp.

If I replace the DVD drive with an SSD, can I just install Snow Leopard on the SSD, make a Time Machine backup of my current Mac HDD (El Capitan), and restore it to the SSD? Is there some easier way? From what I understand, you need a specially formatted HDD to create and save a TM backup.

I found this thread from 2014:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/which-ssd-for-mac-mini-late-2009.1696760/

Any current recommendations for a SSD that will get the full SATA II speeds? Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-MX500-500GB-NAND-Internal/dp/B0764WCXCV/

As for the RAM, would there be a noticeable difference between 4GB and 8GB? My usage is on the light end so I suspect 4GB would be adequate.

 

[raymanster]

I have a 2009 Mini server which doesn't have the DVD drive. If you're not going to use the DVD much then I would definitely consider it.

You can just use SuperDuper installed on your HDD to copy your HDD to your new SSD, much faster and straight forward compared to using Time Machine. It's free to use although I pay for my copy and make a scheduled image everyday, well worth the money. https://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

Also be careful what SSD you use as there are issues, have a look at the links below. I think (been a while since I upgraded) I use a Crucial M500 in mine:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/samsung-850-evo-in-a-late-2009-mac-mini.1859319/

https://web.archive.org/web/2018020...i/tuylaant/2014/01/upgrading-old-macs-to-ssds

Definitely upgrade to 8GB, it's so cheap, you can pick up 2nd hand RAM for very little. While 4GB might be adequate you may as well do it now instead of later as opening up the Mini is time consuming.

 

[macmini555]

I have a 2009 Mini server which doesn't have the DVD drive. If you're not going to use the DVD much then I would definitely consider it.

You can just use SuperDuper installed on your HDD to copy your HDD to your new SSD, much faster and straight forward compared to using Time Machine. It's free to use although I pay for my copy and make a scheduled image everyday, well worth the money. https://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

Also be careful what SSD you use as there are issues, have a look at the links below. I think (been a while since I upgraded) I use a Crucial M500 in mine:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/samsung-850-evo-in-a-late-2009-mac-mini.1859319/

https://web.archive.org/web/2018020...i/tuylaant/2014/01/upgrading-old-macs-to-ssds

Definitely upgrade to 8GB, it's so cheap, you can pick up 2nd hand RAM for very little. While 4GB might be adequate you may as well do it now instead of later as opening up the Mini is time consuming.

Did you replace the dvd drive with a storage drive? The only problem would be if there is a problem with the existing connection to the dvd drive in which case I couldn't replace it with an ssd.

I just found this part that looks like a better solution than trying to stuff a cable and drive on top of the existing one, maybe you used this?
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DDMMCL0GB/


Thanks for the tip about SuperDuper, I think I'll use that for the transfer.

After looking at the ssd threads it looks like the only real compatible one is the M500 which seems to not be available anymore. Would the new MX500 model still be compatible? It seems like it should be if it's still a standard SATA drive.

 

[raymanster]

Did you replace the dvd drive with a storage drive? The only problem would be if there is a problem with the existing connection to the dvd drive in which case I couldn't replace it with an ssd.

I just found this part that looks like a better solution than trying to stuff a cable and drive on top of the existing one, maybe you used this?
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DDMMCL0GB/


Thanks for the tip about SuperDuper, I think I'll use that for the transfer.

After looking at the ssd threads it looks like the only real compatible one is the M500 which seems to not be available anymore. Would the new MX500 model still be compatible? It seems like it should be if it's still a standard SATA drive.

My 2009 is the server version so it never came with a DVD drive. It has 2 drive bays instead. If you don't mind spending the $25 then yes I would use the data doubler from OWC, a neater solution. Especially if you intend to use your 2009 for another few years. (I have a 2006 mini that is still in use as a server powered on 24/7....)

According to the article I linked:
https://web.archive.org/web/2018020...i/tuylaant/2014/01/upgrading-old-macs-to-ssds

You need to first check what SATA controller you have. Then it says if you have the Nvidia MCP79 SATA controller you should NOT use an SSD equipped with a Sandforce SF-2281 controller (otherwise you only get 1.5 Gbps instead of 3. Looking at this article the MX500 uses a Silicon Motion SM2258 controller. So hopefully the MX500 should be ok.

https://www.anandtech.com/show/12263/the-crucial-mx500-500gb-review

Best bet is buy the SSD from a vendor like Amazon so if it doesn't work you can return it easily.

Good luck and let us all know how you get on in case others have the same query in the future and can refer to this post.

 

[macmini555]

I just installed the MX500 using the OWC Data Doubler and 4GB of RAM salvaged from a MacBook. Opening the case was quite a pain, as was removing the two smaller antennae. Once I installed both and sealed it up, I was devastated to see a blinking file icon with a question mark which indicated no boot drive was found. After more trials of opening the case again (this time much faster) I realized that the SATA connector was not seated at all so I reseated it and everything worked. The RAM definitely makes a noticeable difference.

However, I ran a test of the SSD with Blackmagic Speedtest (running from the HDD) which reported reads and writes around 100-130 MBps. Isn't this staggeringly low compared to the expected 1.5 Gbps or 3Gbps?

I'm cloning my HDD to the SSD to see if it makes much of a difference or how much faster it feels.

Disappointing that this newer model apparently does not get 3 Gbps. I guess I have to decide if I should keep it or look for one that will get the full speed. I was considering the OWC one but it is over 50% more for less than half the storage.

 

[mr_hyde]

Just for reference: here the best result of BlackMagic on my Mini Late 2009 with Samsung EVO 840 (256).
Please notice that this is the BEST result (usually the first), if I let the execution to continue usually I get also wort write results (very low if compared to the first). A little suggestion: just after the installation of the SSD, I had to reset PRAM to improve performances of the SSD.

 

[macmini555]

Well after copying everything to the SSD, it is also noticeably faster than the HDD so I'm pretty pleased with it even though I seem to be limited to 109 MB/s Write, 135 MB/s Read. The SSD combined with the RAM gives a huge speed increase overall, more responsive everything. Maybe I'll try resetting PRAM as you suggested, thanks.

I'll probably edit or post later with a few more tips I learned from this experience that might help anyone considering upgrading an older Mini.

 

[Kamolas]

However, I ran a test of the SSD with Blackmagic Speedtest (running from the HDD) which reported reads and writes around 100-130 MBps. Isn't this staggeringly low compared to the expected 1.5 Gbps or 3Gbps?

1,5Gbps- speeds up to 150MB/s.
3Gbps- speeds up to 300MB/s.
Your Mac mini is Sata II (3Gbps) but it seems it's on Sata I speeds, like it was said on post#4.
I just found this topic here on macrumors. See if it can help you

 

[mr_hyde]

Again, for reference, my Samsung EVO 840 is listed as having 3GBit link and also 3GB for negotiated speed (my DVD is instead listed as 1.5 negotiated speed), boot ROM version is MM31.00AD.B00, SMC version is 1.35f1.

My is a Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz model.

 

[harriska2]

I think it is sort of sad that the new mac minis are so expensive that people are throwing money and time at 10 year old computers.

 

[macmini555]

With the SSD the Mini now boots in about 10 seconds, pretty impressive.

Strangely, it also seems to have fixed the fans starting up at maximum issue and the audio buzzing from the headphone jack.

Some things I learned:

• When opening the case, you definitely want a very strong, thin putty knife. I managed to do it with a penknife but it was not ideal.
• The two small Bluetooth antennae are a pain to remove. It felt like I was going to rip them off or break them. The big AirPort one is easy. I fiddled with the springs underneath and lightly twisted and pushed them repeatedly to loosen them up and then they finally came out. After removing once, they're much easier to remove again.
• The Data Doubler is a nice, neat enclosure for the SSD or HDD but the holes on mine did not align perfectly no matter how I positioned the frame. I had to settle for an odd arrangement of the screws that did align and leave some out.
• This might seem obvious but be careful when placing the drive enclosure back into the motherboard. It's hard to see the SATA connector and also easy to loosen the connector board if you're not careful. You'll need to press lightly to confirm that the board is seated correctly, it feels like a big stick of RAM.
• 4GB of RAM makes a huge difference, 8GB would be ideal. For me it was either $0 for spare 4GB I had or $50 for 8GB new.
• Unfortunately the Crucial MX500 does not get 3 Gbps speed. I suppose the M500 or one of the OWC ones is recommended if you want the full speed. In my case, I'm pleased enough with the speed I'm getting and it was significantly cheaper than other options.

Overall, this was a fairly simple upgrade though it took me much longer than expected because I didn't seat the SATA board correctly the first time, the case was a bit annoying for a first time opening, and the antennae were difficult to loosen up. The speed increase is huge compared to the stock HDD and 2GB RAM, I'm very happy with the results, the Mini is now better than new.

I think it is sort of sad that the new mac minis are so expensive that people are throwing money and time at 10 year old computers.

I undertook this upgrade because the Mini did need a boost for modern use but it is still a fully capable computer for what I intend to use it for. I hope to get quite a few more years out of it after quite light usage the past 9-10 years. Once I started using the Mini again, I got a touch of the old Mac nostalgia and found I actually enjoyed using it after being irritated at the problems I listed in my first post.

 

[California]

My parents have a 2009 as their main machine. I maxed it out to 8gbs ram and a BX100 Crucial (I think that was the SSD)

For this SSD, you have to do some weird thing like leave the machine powered on but asleep for like eight hours and then it WILL go up to 3GBS speed for the SSD.

At least it does with my parents' Crucial.

I did notice that it only goes to 3GBS after its been asleep for awhile. Sometimes after usage, it goes back to 1.5gbs.

So I have no idea what the problem is and I recall researching it here back in the day.

The machine is great, and I only wish it had HDMI output.

No interest at all in taking out the DVD player, but I am curious as to the lack of support for DVD player on current OS's.

With the SSD the Mini now boots in about 10 seconds, pretty impressive.

Strangely, it also seems to have fixed the fans starting up at maximum issue and the audio buzzing from the headphone jack.

Some things I learned:

• When opening the case, you definitely want a very strong, thin putty knife. I managed to do it with a penknife but it was not ideal.
• The two small Bluetooth antennae are a pain to remove. It felt like I was going to rip them off or break them. The big AirPort one is easy. I fiddled with the springs underneath and lightly twisted and pushed them repeatedly to loosen them up and then they finally came out. After removing once, they're much easier to remove again.
• The Data Doubler is a nice, neat enclosure for the SSD or HDD but the holes on mine did not align perfectly no matter how I positioned the frame. I had to settle for an odd arrangement of the screws that did align and leave some out.
• This might seem obvious but be careful when placing the drive enclosure back into the motherboard. It's hard to see the SATA connector and also easy to loosen the connector board if you're not careful. You'll need to press lightly to confirm that the board is seated correctly, it feels like a big stick of RAM.
• 4GB of RAM makes a huge difference, 8GB would be ideal. For me it was either $0 for spare 4GB I had or $50 for 8GB new.
• Unfortunately the Crucial MX500 does not get 3 Gbps speed. I suppose the M500 or one of the OWC ones is recommended if you want the full speed. In my case, I'm pleased enough with the speed I'm getting and it was significantly cheaper than other options.

Overall, this was a fairly simple upgrade though it took me much longer than expected because I didn't seat the SATA board correctly the first time, the case was a bit annoying for a first time opening, and the antennae were difficult to loosen up. The speed increase is huge compared to the stock HDD and 2GB RAM, I'm very happy with the results, the Mini is now better than new.



I undertook this upgrade because the Mini did need a boost for modern use but it is still a fully capable computer for what I intend to use it for. I hope to get quite a few more years out of it after quite light usage the past 9-10 years. Once I started using the Mini again, I got a touch of the old Mac nostalgia and found I actually enjoyed using it after being irritated at the problems I listed in my first post.

 

[macmini555]

My parents have a 2009 as their main machine. I maxed it out to 8gbs ram and a BX100 Crucial (I think that was the SSD)

For this SSD, you have to do some weird thing like leave the machine powered on but asleep for like eight hours and then it WILL go up to 3GBS speed for the SSD.

The machine is great, and I only wish it had HDMI output.

Another interesting thing to note, I also wanted hdmi and tried a mini displayport to hdmi adapter which worked but showed glitchy red lines repeatedly which was unacceptable. I ended up using a mini dvi to vga adapter I originally used with the mini, then plugging that into a vga to hdmi adapter which works perfectly. It even had a little audio jack to plug into the headphone jack on the mini to get sound via hdmi which solves the very annoying problem of the mac displayport not supporting audio.

The only problem with this setup is the adapter needs usb power and if you're really picky you can see a slight scanline type effect with waves in the image but you really have to look for it to notice.

 

[macmini555]

I ran the SSD speed test again and was pleasantly surprised to see it now consistently gives 200 MB/s write and 266 MB/s read speeds so I can definitely recommend the MX500 as a solid choice for SSD.