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Mac mini 2011/2012 5TB storage + SSD idea

Kaida

Kaida

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 28, 2016
351
145
Singapore
1. Seagate recently released a 5TB Barracuda 2.5" at 15mm.

2. A typical SSD is 7mm.

3.The Mac mini is designed for 2 x 9.5mm hdd with approximately 1mm of space left in between them. So a total of 20mm.

So the idea is to ditch the casing for the SSD and have it in the upper slot insulating the PCB from touching the casing or the lower slot hdd. The 15mm hdd will then take up the extra space that the SSD gave up.

EDIT:
I opened up a 2012, noticed that the hdd/ssd are not perfectly in-line, so I taped 2 x 7mm SSD together and realised that the "lower bay" cable will not work on it due to the thickness. Only the upper cable is suitable as it goes the other way instead of around the hdd to the motherboard.
zCyrpGZ.jpg


FaO08NX.jpg


Squeezing in everything together seems ok. Including the motherboard. I have also added a bumper at the bottom to lift it up by 2mm to allow the "hdd breather hole". With the space very tight without having to secure the hdd/ssd to the "upper" bracket, all seems good now, just waiting for the 5tb to be available locally :)

KNukoEK.jpg


Successfully done by Hede :)
Hede said:
So pic's:
View attachment 688694 The drives side by side 7mm vs. 15mm.
View attachment 688695 The Seagate 5 TB mounted in the top spot.
View attachment 688696 How I handled the cable for the HDD.
View attachment 688697 The SSD in place.
View attachment 688698 And its up and running.
Click to expand...
 
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Well as a casual discussion, it sounds intriguing. Obviously, you would need to know how to anchor it into the Mini and ideally figure out how to be able to monitor heat (SATA or thermo cable etc.). The question is of course what would you want to use the volume for (as it is now larger)?
 
phrehdd said:
Well as a casual discussion, it sounds intriguing. Obviously, you would need to know how to anchor it into the Mini and ideally figure out how to be able to monitor heat (SATA or thermo cable etc.). The question is of course what would you want to use the volume for (as it is now larger)?
Click to expand...

2011/2012 does not have thermal sensors anymore. There are 3 on the 2010 model with the super drive. I was thinking to use a thick thermal doublesided tape to secure it to the chassis of the Mac mini and/or the 15mm drive. One can never complain of too much storage space.

hwojtek said:
Did you ever look inside a 2011 Mac Mini?
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+Mini+Late+2012+Dual+Hard+Drive+Kit/11713
The second HDD goes into the space formerly occupied by the superdrive. 15 mm will not fit.
Click to expand...

Yes I have and I'm talking about the hdd taking the "lower bay" and extending the rest of the top of the hdd into the upper bay where the ssd is taken out of the casing.
 
hwojtek said:
Did you ever look inside a 2011 Mac Mini?
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+Mini+Late+2012+Dual+Hard+Drive+Kit/11713
The second HDD goes into the space formerly occupied by the superdrive. 15 mm will not fit.
Click to expand...

If I am looking at this correctly, the screw holes are sitting lower part of the drive and may take the Mini's screws from the bottom drive and fit in the space properly. The top of the drive will simply fill up the space where the second drive would have gone. It certainly can be rigged to fit.
 

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I've just taken my old superdrive and it is 9.5 mm thick, I really doubt another 5 mm will fit (would love to - but I doubt it).
In case of the 1st HDD slot - I am afraid there would be nothing the big, relatively heavy spinning HDD would be affixed to.
 
hwojtek said:
I've just taken my old superdrive and it is 9.5 mm thick, I really doubt another 5 mm will fit (would love to - but I doubt it).
In case of the 1st HDD slot - I am afraid there would be nothing the big, relatively heavy spinning HDD would be affixed to.
Click to expand...

Your super drive model is 2010, i'm talking about 2011 and 2012.
 
I am sure my 2tb wd hdd is 15mm and my samsung 830 ssd is 7mm and that fit nice in my 2011 i5. I am planing to do a new build as i got an almost never used 2012 i7 yesterday and am looking at a 4tb or 5tb seagate hdd to go with a samsung 850 pro ssd in it.
 
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Hede said:
I am sure my 2tb wd hdd is 15mm and my samsung 830 ssd is 7mm and that fit nice in my 2011 i5. I am planing to do a new build as i got an almost never used 2012 i7 yesterday and am looking at a 4tb or 5tb seagate hdd to go with a samsung 850 pro ssd in it.
Click to expand...

TfASGql.jpg


Yes! Exactly the info i wanted to hear. now im just waiting for them to be available locally. Did you pad something at the bottom to lift it up a little for the "do not cover this hole" breathing hole?

Much better info than the telling me the 2010 with the dvd drive having the same tray as 2012 -_-
 
Kaida said:
TfASGql.jpg


Yes! Exactly the info i wanted to hear. now im just waiting for them to be available locally. Did you pad something at the bottom to lift it up a little for the "do not cover this hole" breathing hole?

Much better info than the telling me the 2010 with the dvd drive having the same tray as 2012 -_-
Click to expand...

I dont think there is that hole on the WD drive as I have not done anything to let it "breath".

How are You getting on with the Samsung 850 Pro SSD?
 
I have been using the 850 PRO and 850 EVO for a few years now, so far so good. Can't tell the difference between the 2. Just know that that PRO has a looooong warranty of 10 years.
 
Kaida said:
I have been using the 850 PRO and 850 EVO for a few years now, so far so good. Can't tell the difference between the 2. Just know that that PRO has a looooong warranty of 10 years.
Click to expand...
Yes its also the warranty I am thinking about. It sounds to good to be true. As of now I am going for a 850 PRO with 512GB and the 5TB Seagate HHD.
I have always used Samsung SSD's in my mac's, from a 470 and never had a fail to now but WD for storage drives but they dont do more then 2TB 2,5" :(
So i guess I will have to take a change on Seagate:rolleyes:
 
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So I've ordered all the parts so just to bad it will be about 3 weeks before I have time to build the thing :apple:
If I remember correct the drives will not be secured in the case because then the cables can't reach the sata plugs but its a snug fit and mine just sitting on a desk so no probs for me.
 
Just to add my $0.02: from my experience, the Mac minis can be quite temperamental if there is too much heat. Maybe have a look at how hot the 5TB drive gets in comparison to the ones you are currently using.
 
Longer Lane said:
Just to add my $0.02: from my experience, the Mac minis can be quite temperamental if there is too much heat. Maybe have a look at how hot the 5TB drive gets in comparison to the ones you are currently using.
Click to expand...

I never had any problems with my old 2011 i5 with a 2tb drive. Remember that its placed against a ssd where their is no heat and the alu chassis.
 
How is it going? I have a 9,5 mm 2 TB drive in my 2012 mini for two and a half year now. But there is still no upgrade path. So the only way to go is a 15 mm drive + 7 mm SSD at the moment. Would nice to hear if you were successful.
 
one thing id recommend is not to use scotch tape, instead painters or kapton tape for small electronics. as the scotch tape has static electric build up.
 
Herbit said:
How is it going? I have a 9,5 mm 2 TB drive in my 2012 mini for two and a half year now. But there is still no upgrade path. So the only way to go is a 15 mm drive + 7 mm SSD at the moment. Would nice to hear if you were successful.
Click to expand...

I've not been able to do it yet. I think it will be two weeks before i have the chance to build the mini.
 
So I did it yesterday and as it was my 3 time I upgraded a Mac mini. Two times my own and then a friends, all 2011 mini's.
This time it was my own 2012 i7 2,3GHZ and it went well and not as difficult as I remembered. Last time I upgraded to an WD 2TB 15mm HDD and a Samsung 830 SSD 128GB.
So this time I upgraded to a Samsung 850 Pro SSD 512GB and a Seagate 5TB 15mm HDD. I placed the HDD in the top spot and the SSD in the lower. I wanted the HDD to transfer the heat, if any to the alu case. I had to bend the cables sometimes to get it to the right length and fit. But I managede to get it right.
I will post pic's later :) :apple:
 
Hede said:
So I did it yesterday and as it was my 3 time I upgraded a Mac mini. Two times my own and then a friends, all 2011 mini's.
This time it was my own 2012 i7 2,3GHZ and it went well and not as difficult as I remembered. Last time I upgraded to an WD 2TB 15mm HDD and a Samsung 830 SSD 128GB.
So this time I upgraded to a Samsung 850 Pro SSD 512GB and a Seagate 5TB 15mm HDD. I placed the HDD in the top spot and the SSD in the lower. I wanted the HDD to transfer the heat, if any to the alu case. I had to bend the cables sometimes to get it to the right length and fit. But I managede to get it right.
I will post pic's later :) :apple:
Click to expand...

Cool. Now we know the highest storage a Mac mini is no longer a 2TB HDD. Post some photos if you can Hede :)
 
Cool, I'm looking to do the same as a upgrade from my 256GB + 2 TB setup. Thanks!
 
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