My parents Mid 2011 21.5 500gb iMac is running very slowing, getting the colored spinning wheel frequently. I did a clean erase and reinstalled iOS on the hard drive, but still seems slow. If I buy an external SSD and use that as the main hard drive, do you think that would correct the problem and make the iMac faster or I am better of buying a new iMac? Thanks!
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Mid 2011 21.5 Spinning Wheel
- Thread starter GDF
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If you can do the internal swap, I would suggest doing that. I am sure it would be a huge improvement.
But, if you don't trust yourself opening the iMac, your external options for that year iMac is USB 2.1, TB1, and FW800.
If you can find a cheap TB drive for a SSD, this would be recommended, as the USB and FW would be around the same read/write speeds as a HDD.
On eBay, I bought a few used LaCie Rugged drives, the one with TB and USB3.0. They had HDDs in them, and I swapped them for SSD, it is super easy.
Also, upgrading the RAM is super easy, and would probably improve things. There are four slots, and probably only two are being used. You can install up to 32GB of RAM, so if the two other slots are free, get two 8GB sticks and that would improve things a lot.
I would look into doing the internal replacement. There are plenty of how-tos, any is relatively easy.
Use suction cups, pull the glass, remove 8? screws, pull up on the display.....
While I would totally remove the display to prevent pulling on the cables, you could probably do it just by lifting it up with a second person.
Unscrew the mounting screw for the HDD, put in new SDD with 3.5" adapter or just tape it down.
I think you will need an external temp sensor for the SATA cable. I did that for a 27" that I swapped the HDD out for a SSD. It was $35 on Amazon. You could also use software solutions, or I have seen people just cut those cables and short them. I would just go with the sensor.
That reverse to put everything back together.
Enable TRIM.
Before making too many investments, maybe do some trouble shooting to make sure that the problem is your HDD. By your symptoms, it sounds like a failing HDD.
Try using Disk Utility, and scan the disk to see if it needs to be repaired.
You can do Apple HW diagnostic, but this often has false negatives, meaning your HW is failing, but the diagnostic says it is fine.
You can just do a quick external solution for trouble shooting, maybe get a cheap USB to SATA adapter and a cheaper SSD, both you can get for less than $30. Or you can use a thumb drive, but it will be slower. Install MacOS on the external drive and see how everything runs. If everything seems okay, then your HDD is probably failing.
Is this your only Mac? If not, you can use your other Mac for some trouble shooting too.
I am a fan of using old Macs if they get the job done without any trouble. If it is as simple as a failing HDD, and you parents are otherwise happy with the iMac, then I would just do a SSD.
Don't get an expensive new Mac when a older one works fine.
But, if you don't trust yourself opening the iMac, your external options for that year iMac is USB 2.1, TB1, and FW800.
If you can find a cheap TB drive for a SSD, this would be recommended, as the USB and FW would be around the same read/write speeds as a HDD.
On eBay, I bought a few used LaCie Rugged drives, the one with TB and USB3.0. They had HDDs in them, and I swapped them for SSD, it is super easy.
Also, upgrading the RAM is super easy, and would probably improve things. There are four slots, and probably only two are being used. You can install up to 32GB of RAM, so if the two other slots are free, get two 8GB sticks and that would improve things a lot.
I would look into doing the internal replacement. There are plenty of how-tos, any is relatively easy.
Use suction cups, pull the glass, remove 8? screws, pull up on the display.....
While I would totally remove the display to prevent pulling on the cables, you could probably do it just by lifting it up with a second person.
Unscrew the mounting screw for the HDD, put in new SDD with 3.5" adapter or just tape it down.
I think you will need an external temp sensor for the SATA cable. I did that for a 27" that I swapped the HDD out for a SSD. It was $35 on Amazon. You could also use software solutions, or I have seen people just cut those cables and short them. I would just go with the sensor.
That reverse to put everything back together.
Enable TRIM.
Before making too many investments, maybe do some trouble shooting to make sure that the problem is your HDD. By your symptoms, it sounds like a failing HDD.
Try using Disk Utility, and scan the disk to see if it needs to be repaired.
You can do Apple HW diagnostic, but this often has false negatives, meaning your HW is failing, but the diagnostic says it is fine.
You can just do a quick external solution for trouble shooting, maybe get a cheap USB to SATA adapter and a cheaper SSD, both you can get for less than $30. Or you can use a thumb drive, but it will be slower. Install MacOS on the external drive and see how everything runs. If everything seems okay, then your HDD is probably failing.
Is this your only Mac? If not, you can use your other Mac for some trouble shooting too.
I am a fan of using old Macs if they get the job done without any trouble. If it is as simple as a failing HDD, and you parents are otherwise happy with the iMac, then I would just do a SSD.
Don't get an expensive new Mac when a older one works fine.
It would work but your iMac has USB 2.0 ports so it will be slow
SLOW:
-----------------
If you want your imac to be slow, buy the T5 as external.
FAST:
------------------
If you want to improve the speed of your imac, either buy the LaCie rugged and put a SSD in it like vertical smile said ^^.
But for the price of an external LaCie I would instead invest in someone/shop who can replace the internal for a SSD, probably less than an hour of work.
I was looking at these, since they include everything to do the install. Are these good and which 500gb drive kit would you pick? The first or second one? https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-21.5-inch/2011. Or better of trying something else?
this is my mac 21,5 2011 - yes, ssd power connector is present.
So, you just connect 4 pin connector from owc and simple sata cable. Thats all. About what model of ssd you will get- i don’t know. I just waiting my cable from aliexpress and i think i will take something from a-data or crucial drives. About speed of your SATA: Sata 0 connector - 6gb, Sata 1 - 6gb, Sata 2 when you connect ODD will be 3gb, cause it ODD.
So, you just connect 4 pin connector from owc and simple sata cable. Thats all. About what model of ssd you will get- i don’t know. I just waiting my cable from aliexpress and i think i will take something from a-data or crucial drives. About speed of your SATA: Sata 0 connector - 6gb, Sata 1 - 6gb, Sata 2 when you connect ODD will be 3gb, cause it ODD.
The only real course of action for "a faster drive" (if you don't want to open it up) would be to locate a thunderbolt1 or thunderbolt2 external SSD and set that up to be the boot drive.
How many more years do you believe your parents will need a computer?
It might be time to retire the 2011, and get either a:
- new 2019
- Apple-refurbished 2019
- Apple-refurbished 2017
Any of the above should offer them 5-8 years.
A 2018 Mac Mini (at least i5) might be an alternative choice.
ALL of these come with fast SSDs inside.
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Buy one that has an SSD inside.
It will run FAST for the entire life of the Mac.
STAY AWAY from the 1tb fusion drive.
STAY AWAY from ANY one that has a platter-based hard drive inside.
How many more years do you believe your parents will need a computer?
It might be time to retire the 2011, and get either a:
- new 2019
- Apple-refurbished 2019
- Apple-refurbished 2017
Any of the above should offer them 5-8 years.
A 2018 Mac Mini (at least i5) might be an alternative choice.
ALL of these come with fast SSDs inside.
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Buy one that has an SSD inside.
It will run FAST for the entire life of the Mac.
STAY AWAY from the 1tb fusion drive.
STAY AWAY from ANY one that has a platter-based hard drive inside.
I think I am going to try and install the SSD on myself. I posted some OWC choices above and they include the install kit. Just have to decide which one to get, if you guys have any that you would recommend.
If I install an internal SSD on their iMac, that should give it some more useful extended life on the iMac, at least I think.
If I install an internal SSD on their iMac, that should give it some more useful extended life on the iMac, at least I think.
Ok, you say true, i prefer to use ssd like nvme m2 + speed series like samsung, a-data.
But this guy ask a question - what to buy to 2011 model.
I prefer crucial, adata (cause i am the guy that don’t take something again, that was not working). But for trim enable you can use trim enabler soft or enable it with terminal yourself. Intel have trim enabled instantly?
But this guy ask a question - what to buy to 2011 model.
I prefer crucial, adata (cause i am the guy that don’t take something again, that was not working). But for trim enable you can use trim enabler soft or enable it with terminal yourself. Intel have trim enabled instantly?
Ending up taking to a local Mac installer tomorrow for the SSD. Trust them more than me. 
The iMac came with 4gb of memory and I should probably upgrade to 8bg total to run high sierra - right? Memory looks like it easy to install. Would most people recommend buying another 4gb at Crucial? The local installer wants to charge $69 for 4gb of memory which includes install, which seems pricey. Thanks!
The iMac came with 4gb of memory and I should probably upgrade to 8bg total to run high sierra - right? Memory looks like it easy to install. Would most people recommend buying another 4gb at Crucial? The local installer wants to charge $69 for 4gb of memory which includes install, which seems pricey. Thanks!
It is really easy to do, and I would get 2x8GB or at least 2x4GB.Ending up taking to a local Mac installer tomorrow for the SSD. Trust them more than me.
The iMac came with 4gb of memory and I should probably upgrade to 8bg total to run high sierra - right? Memory looks like it easy to install. Would most people recommend buying another 4gb at Crucial? The local installer wants to charge $69 for 4gb of memory which includes install, which seems pricey. Thanks!
You most likely have 2 free slots for RAM And you can have up to 32GB.
I wouldn’t waste two free slots with only 2x2GB sticks unless I really couldn’t afford more.
Thanks - so I already have 4gb, so that is probably one slot - right? Stick to Crucial memory?
Check iFixit for how to install RAM. You can check to see what it is you currently have installed.
This is probably incorrect.
You have four slots for RAM. You can have up to 32GB total.
You currently have 4GB, so that is most likely 2x2GB sticks.
I know you are having some issues with your computer, but when you are able to boot it up, you can check how many slots of free in the OS. Go to the Apple symbol, and click on "About This Mac", go to the the "Memory" tab and it will show your four slots, and the size of the stick in each of those slots.
There is also a link to show you how to upgrade the RAM yourself, it will take you to an Apple Support website.
It is really easy, and anyone with basic skills could do it.
Here is an Apple Support link showing the type of RAM you need for your iMac:
support.apple.com
*While it does say a maximum RAM of only 16GB, this is old information based on the time that the Mid 2011 launched. The Maximum RAM is now 32GB with the addition of 8GB PC3-10600 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, which was most likely not available at the time that this model launched.
Here is a 2x 8GB sticks for less than $70 on Amazon:
I would continue to shop around, but at least you have a starting point.
Install memory in an iMac - Apple Support
Get memory specifications and learn how to install memory in iMac computers.
*While it does say a maximum RAM of only 16GB, this is old information based on the time that the Mid 2011 launched. The Maximum RAM is now 32GB with the addition of 8GB PC3-10600 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, which was most likely not available at the time that this model launched.
Here is a 2x 8GB sticks for less than $70 on Amazon:
OWC 16GB (2X 8GB) 1333MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10600 204Pin SO-DIMM CL9 Memory RAM Upgrade Module for iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook Pro and PC Laptops (OWC1333DDR3S16P)
OWC OWC1333DDR3S16P - 16GB (2 x 8GB) 1333MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM
www.amazon.com
I would continue to shop around, but at least you have a starting point.
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The only caveat to the posts is this. It is a mid-2011 iMac (same one as I own). The latest OS you can install is High Sierra. It's my understanding that Apple may stop supporting this OS sometime this year which may leave users open to security issues.
Just something to consider before laying out what may be a reasonably expensive outlay.
Just something to consider before laying out what may be a reasonably expensive outlay.
Definitely something to consider, although there are things that could be done to mitigate some of the security issues.
To the OP: Once HS no longer gets security updates (could happen this fall), I would have your parents switch to a different web browser, such as Fire Fox. FireFox still gets security updates for a few years after Safari stops getting them.
Cool - thanks for all the replies and great points on security. I guess I may have been better off getting them a new iMac, but at least with this will be like a new computer again and if I switch to Firefox it will be good another couple years.
They use it for web browsing and editing in iPhone. So, not a ton of use. Mostly use their iPads now....
They use it for web browsing and editing in iPhone. So, not a ton of use. Mostly use their iPads now....