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benh911f

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 11, 2009
428
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So the hard drive on my 21.5 Mid-2010 iMac seems to be failing. I purchased a kit from OWC along with an SSD to replace the main HDD.
I know it can be a difficult process, but I'm concerned watching some videos that it's not possible on this model. OWC has some tutorials for other models, but they mention it's not possible on this specific one. Granted, the videos are from several years ago, so things may have changed.

Can anyone confirm for certain if it is actually possible to replace the HDD with an SSD in this model? Thanks
 
So the hard drive on my 21.5 Mid-2010 iMac seems to be failing. I purchased a kit from OWC along with an SSD to replace the main HDD.
I know it can be a difficult process, but I'm concerned watching some videos that it's not possible on this model. OWC has some tutorials for other models, but they mention it's not possible on this specific one. Granted, the videos are from several years ago, so things may have changed.

Can anyone confirm for certain if it is actually possible to replace the HDD with an SSD in this model? Thanks
I'm using a Mid 2010 21.5" with Samsung Evo 850 500 Gb SSD. Didn't have the nerve to fit it myself so I supplied the SSD and a local shop supplied temp. sensor cable + caddy and fitted it for £110. Apple Authorised store quoted £150 for fitting alone.
So far so good (tempting fate I know); better than when I first bought it.
 
Sure Ben and OWC do have a video for the 21.5" mid 2010 iMac. I have included a link to the video. Down the page select the mid 2010 21.5" tutorial.

Suggest not buying a Samsun EVO SSD as they have been known not to play nice with Macs using slower SATA I or II with their SATA III spped.


https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD09/

I did notice that video, I just wasn't sure if it's the same with an SSD. That video is replacing a normal HDD with another, not an SSD. I wasn't sure if there was anything different in the process.
 
Notice the great speed increase?

Trust the Samsung presents no problems and that price was pretty good.

No I was simply saying the video shows them replacing a normal spinning hard drive with another spinning drive, not an SSD. So I was just wondering if it would be the exact same step by step to replace the drive with an SSD, or if there was anything additional to do.
 
The hard drive in the 2010 21-inch iMac is a 3.5-inch HDD.
The SSD is a 2.5-inch device (laptop size drive)
So you would need a 2.5 to 3.5 device adapter of some kind - or SSD is very light, so can be held in place with double-sided tape, or something similar, if you like.
Just don't forget the temp sensor, if you want the fans to be under control.
 
Several things to mention:
The difference in the install is the adapter, and the temp sensor
The important peice, for you, is the temp sensor that OWC provides in that kit.

The kit that you linked has only a 120GB drive. OWC has kits available with the other drive capacities, so you don't have to purchase a drive separately.
 
The SSD install is identical to HDD install other than the adapter sled that mounts the 2.5 inch SSD into a 3.5 inch mount, as mentioned above.
 
Ahh Ben I confused you with JackRoch when he siad the Samsung was in. Sorry.

You will need an adapter for a better job, nice and neat. OWC sell a device called, appropriately enough, an AdaptaDrive for $14.00. You mount the SSD into it, then mount the AdaptaDrive straight in as if it was the 3.5" drive.

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer+Technology/ADPTADRV/
just for info…
startup times, app loading times and processing times all far quicker than the original 1Tb spinny disc.
Processing times for my µ4/3rds RAW files in DxO are 50–75% what they were in Dec 2010 – and that's incl a change in camera to a larger sensor.

I did buy Disc Sensei as a simple way of enabling trim rather than using trim command.

I got the 500Gb 850 Evo as a refurb on eBay for about 2/3rds of new price.
 
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