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New iMac -- add RAM or ext SSD

Bsdb,

Nope, I wouldn't chance doing this on my own.
a)do you have a guess at what a trained tech would charge to install an SSD?
b) what size is the SSD component in the 1Tb FD setup from Apple?



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Yes i confirm that they would work on 2012 and later iMacs. The only thing is, they have to be Apple made and not the OWC ones. They gotta to be the ones that are pulled out of factory installed system. Any apple made Blade SSD for Retina Macbook pros should (and will) work.[/QUOTE]
 
Nope, I wouldn't chance doing this on my own.
a)do you have a guess at what a trained tech would charge to install an SSD?
b) what size is the SSD component in the 1Tb FD setup from Apple?
Click to expand...

Its really not that difficult to open up this iMac. I think its much easier than the previous generations. You can get an opening kit from here -

http://applecomponents.com/items/07...c-qty-20/0000005510?pn=2&cmp=0215&per_page=30


I really have no idea how much would a trained tech charge and i am pretty sure Apple wouldn't do it for you.

If you take the default 1tb fusion drive, the SSD inside is 128gb. If you DIY the fusion drive, it can be anywhere from 128gb, all the way to 1tb. For my needs, 256gb was more than ideal and that's what i could find in my locality.
 
BsdBee,

So, after the surgery, will the frequently used programs (including the OS) migrate automatically over to the SSD? With the seldom used files remaining on the HDD?

We have a MacMall store here in Santa Monica with a great repair department. I'm going over there as soon as it opens to ask about service charges for a disk swap in an iMac. There are also 2 Apple Stores within 4 miles of me. They would have the Blade SSDs available as an alternative to eBay.
 
garycurtis said:
BsdBee,

So, after the surgery, will the frequently used programs (including the OS) migrate automatically over to the SSD? With the seldom used files remaining on the HDD?

We have a MacMall store here in Santa Monica with a great repair department. I'm going over there as soon as it opens to ask about service charges for a disk swap in an iMac. There are also 2 Apple Stores within 4 miles of me. They would have the Blade SSDs available as an alternative to eBay.
Click to expand...

Sure yes. Give that a shot. The only difference would be the price. Maybe apple store might charge you **significantly** more for the blade ssd and i am not sure if they even sell it. Let us know how it goes. GD luck
 
Just curious, in the BTO iMacs coming from Apple, what is the capacity of the SSD side of the Fusion Drive? The 1Tb FD, not the 3Tb. By the way I am going to pass on this modification. The cost will approach $500. And with little to gain.

Here's some numbers.
Wake up from sleep mode - :06 sec
Aperture start :03
MS Word :04
Acrobat Pro :04
PhotoShop :08
Apple Pages :12 (this includes a choice of format)

Not worth $400+ in my book. I guess my 3.2Ghz i5 iMac is faster than i would have guessed.
 
Last edited:
garycurtis said:
Just curious, in the BTO iMacs coming from Apple, what is the capacity of the SSD side of the Fusion Drive? The 1Tb FD, not the 3Tb.
Click to expand...

The SSD is 128GB.

By the way I am going to pass on this modification. The cost will approach $500. And with little to gain.

Here's some numbers.
Wake up from sleep mode - :06 sec
Aperture start :03
MS Word :04
Acrobat Pro :04
PhotoShop :08
Apple Pages :12 (this includes a choice of format)

Not worth $400+ in my book. I guess my 3.2Ghz i5 iMac is faster than i would have guessed.
Click to expand...

I agree it's not worth anywhere near $400+, especially since it is a $200 option on the BTO.

Considering you can get a 128GB blade SSD for about $150 and the double-sided tape for the LCD for about $20 though, it would be worth it to me personally to do the job if I was somehow in your situation.

As bsdbee mentioned, it's an easy enough process. I will be replacing my own 128GB SSD with a 1TB as soon as the Applecare expires in 3 years. Hopefully by then the SSD prices will have come down considerably.
 
Here's another route. OWC has on sale a 128Gb SSD, in a case, and with a Thunderbolt connection. Now that would be the ultimate speed. And while it wouldn't have the automation of true Fusion Drive, FD always poses the danger of the database (or whatever you call it) being corrupted when one or the other drives fail.

And that, as we all know, is an ever-present danger.

I might just get the OWC for $140.
 
garycurtis said:
Here's another route. OWC has on sale a 128Gb SSD, in a case, and with a Thunderbolt connection. Now that would be the ultimate speed. And while it wouldn't have the automation of true Fusion Drive, FD always poses the danger of the database (or whatever you call it) being corrupted when one or the other drives fail.

And that, as we all know, is an ever-present danger.

I might just get the OWC for $140.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if it is possible to create a Fusion Drive from an external Thunderbolt SSD and an internal HDD or not, but you most certainly could put OS X on the SSD and boot from it. You would not be wanting for speed in the least and you could use the internal HDD for storage/apps.

What OWC Thunderbolt SSD are you referring to? I see this 120GB one on sale at the moment, but it's $179, not $140.
 
I agree with SaSaSushi. Doing it yourself is really very very easy. If you choose to get it done from outside, it will probably not be worth it. Stock ssd from Apple for Fusion drive is 128gb. You can find these on ebay for about $150. 256gb ones go for anywhere above $250.

graycurtis - i have sent you a pm.
 
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