Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

laragheast

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 22, 2015
42
3
Hi
Sorry if this is already covered but can I ask for a step by step guide how to split my fusion drive on iMac 5 k, I would love
The flexibility of both drivers and I also want to make sure it won't effect apple
Care .
Thank you in advance
 

laragheast

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 22, 2015
42
3
Thanks for that gav2k
Has anybody done this and was it a success , I like the idea but I am nervous about breaking my machine .
 

Peter118

macrumors member
Aug 19, 2015
73
38
I have do
Thanks for that gav2k
Has anybody done this and was it a success , I like the idea but I am nervous about breaking my machine .

I have done this, with success. It's easy to do and it's easy to roll back.

I created 2 partitions, 64GB for El Capitan and 64GB for Windows 10 Bootcamp. This configuration is very fast. I use the HDD for my data, music etc.
 

JustMartin

macrumors 6502a
Feb 28, 2012
787
271
UK
If you're nervous about the procedure - to the point of wanting simple steps. The question has to be asked what do you think you'll gain from this exercise?
 

laragheast

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 22, 2015
42
3
Thanks for the comments
Just a bit nervous if I loose the Bluetooth
Drivers for track pad and keyboard etc.
I would like to split the fusion to have the choice were to put my data /kids films and games etc , I suppose I am a bit of a chicken about the splitting
 

JustMartin

macrumors 6502a
Feb 28, 2012
787
271
UK
Thanks for the comments
Just a bit nervous if I loose the Bluetooth
Drivers for track pad and keyboard etc.
I would like to split the fusion to have the choice were to put my data /kids films and games etc , I suppose I am a bit of a chicken about the splitting

Well, you probably won't do any harm and as long as you take a full backup beforehand with some kind of disk image software, I think you should be ok. But, imho, what you want to do doesn't make a great deal of sense. A fusion drive works by identifying the most popular portions of your hard disk and keeping them on the SSD where the speed of reading and writing is faster. By 'portions', I mean blocks, that's a level of allocation that's lower than a file (files are made of blocks).

So. let's say you want to manage the fusion thing yourself. You split it, keep your operating system and applications on the SSD part because you want them to load quickly. Even then, perhaps your usage of applications varies over time, so perhaps you have to monitor which applications you use and how often so that you can make the best use of the space on the SSD. Also, there may be portions of the operating system you don't use regularly (telnet, ftp, whole bunch of small stuff), perhaps you'd want to move those over to the hard disk - as long as you know what can be moved and what's used. Then, there's libraries - photos, iTunes You can move those over to the hard disk. But, what if there's movies or music you use often and want to come up faster? Can you split iTunes or Photos manually over different disks and even if you could, you'll need to monitor usage again to make sure that your current popular ones are on the SSD.

Oh and importing photos or music. You'll want to have them go to the SSD first because that makes the process faster. So, you'll have to remember that each time.

Meanwhile, the alternative is to have the system as you have it today and everything I've talked about so far gets managed automatically and transparently. Most popular disk blocks kept on the SSD, least popular moved out. 4gb area kept free and new files automatically sent there first and moved to hard disk if they prove to be less popular than other stuff.

Perhaps you have the time and the inclination to manually manage what can be done for you by the system. Personally, I have neither of those things. And even if I did, because I can only see files at my level, I'm sure I couldn't do a better job than the automatic system.
 

Eightarmedpet

macrumors regular
Dec 23, 2013
215
245
London's famous London
I have do


I have done this, with success. It's easy to do and it's easy to roll back.

I created 2 partitions, 64GB for El Capitan and 64GB for Windows 10 Bootcamp. This configuration is very fast. I use the HDD for my data, music etc.

I want to do the exact same, my only concern is what happens after you do the split when in Recovery Partition. Am I able to instal OS X on the SSD or does the computer have a panic and will I need a bootable USB drive to reinstall? The instructions don't mention needing one but then they also say the split wipes EVERYTHING. I'm doing this on a new iMac so no worries about data backup or loss.

Hope someone can help.
 

laragheast

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 22, 2015
42
3
Hi eightarmedpet
Did you have any luck with splitting the fusion drive and if so can I ask how you did it please .
 

MoroccanAnwar

macrumors newbie
Feb 5, 2016
1
1
I have do


I have done this, with success. It's easy to do and it's easy to roll back.

I created 2 partitions, 64GB for El Capitan and 64GB for Windows 10 Bootcamp. This configuration is very fast. I use the HDD for my data, music etc.
Hi peter could u instruct me on how to split the SSD part of the fusion drive so i can add windows to it please?
 
  • Like
Reactions: estebanedcm
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.