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SSD upgrade advice for late 2009 27" iMac

D

discofuel

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 21, 2010
281
79
I've decided to go for it and add an SSD to my late 2009 27" iMac and upgrade my internal drive with a new 2TB HD. MacEnthusiasts have quoted me $135 for the labor as I don't want to risk doing it myself!

Just want to confirm a few things...

1. The SSD will be used solely as my system drive just for OS X, and then the 2TB for my project files/data. Should I put the SSD in a caddy in place of the optical bay and replace the internal hd with my new 2TB drive, or the other way around?

2. What size drives do I need to use - 2.5" or 3.5"?

3. Is this a good caddy? http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_27&products_id=260

4. Will bootcamp install ok on the SSD?

5. Any recommendations on which SSD drive to get?

6. Anything else I should be aware of?

Sorry for all the questions!! Thanks in advance :)
 
Thanks for the reply.

I guess I could do it myself. I used to build my own PCs. I would just be worried about damaging something or getting dust/dirt under the screen.

I read some posts about problems installing bootcamp on a SSD placed in the optical bay, and also issues with the fan speed on replacing the internal - have you heard of that?
 
Yes, I have an iMac late 2009, and I put an SSD in the optbay, by myself, with this item I send you the ebay link, from the same seller (the most cost effective).

I am working on iMac Fan Control, take a look at this thread.

The fans will work fine for the optical bay by Default, but in the HD will not if you do replace it. You can adjust using this application. If you change the HD, the fan will run at full speed. Using the Fan Control you will be able to set an fixed speed (I recommend 1800 if it don't update the HD temperature).

Just call a friend to help you when you open the iMac. You will need a friend and another computer to access the iFixit (and/or youtube) to see how to open the iMac.
 
discofuel said:
I've decided to go for it and add an SSD to my late 2009 27" iMac and upgrade my internal drive with a new 2TB HD. MacEnthusiasts have quoted me $135 for the labor as I don't want to risk doing it myself!

Just want to confirm a few things...

1. The SSD will be used solely as my system drive just for OS X, and then the 2TB for my project files/data. Should I put the SSD in a caddy in place of the optical bay and replace the internal hd with my new 2TB drive, or the other way around?

2. What size drives do I need to use - 2.5" or 3.5"?

3. Is this a good caddy? http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_27&products_id=260

4. Will bootcamp install ok on the SSD?

5. Any recommendations on which SSD drive to get?

6. Anything else I should be aware of?

Sorry for all the questions!! Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

$135 sounds reasonable. I installed a new drive in a 20" iMac before. I'm self-employed as a full time computer support / repair / consultant. It took me a good two hours and a lot of nerve-wracking painstaking work. Someone who does that procedure a lot might be able to do it faster than I did. But, $135 for a couple hours of skilled labor could be worth it to you.

You should thoroughly check out any issues with SSDs on an iMac and installing Windows on a Boot Camp partition. I've read about issues as well. I'd want to be sure they're addressed BEFORE you install the hardware.

I'm a little ticked off at the Optibay people, so I would recommend against their product. They're the name that comes to mind for many when it comes to putting an SSD in an optical bay. I emailed their sales department two separate times and never got any response at all.
 
About the issues, they are nothing about bootcamp.

It's about Apple begin ridiculous.

Just plug your superdrive via USB or Firewire and your shouldn't have problems. (Yes, they are caused by the lack of superdrive. Probably you will not be able to boot on a Mac OS/Windows flashdrive install if you don't have a superdrive installed).
 
Very helpful advice :)

ZeD X said:
About the issues, they are nothing about bootcamp.
Just plug your superdrive via USB or Firewire and your shouldn't have problems. (Yes, they are caused by the lack of superdrive. Probably you will not be able to boot on a Mac OS/Windows flashdrive install if you don't have a superdrive installed).
Click to expand...

Is there a caddy you could recommend for this?
 
This one is an Macbook Air Superdriver-like clone (made in plastic, but very closer to the real). I purchased one for myself.
 
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Intel 320 Series 120gb, bough on Amazon.

This 2TB driver is one of the best and faster one avaliable. But it is no quiet, and a bit expensive. Caviar green is more quiet, and cheaper.
 
Nice, yeah seems to be the most reliable. Read loads of reviews about the OCZ drives failing.

I was originally looking at Caviar Green as it's under $80 but it's only 5400rpm
 
If you are going to use it for storage only, them no problem.

Video, Music and stuff will have no impact at all. Even games (of course they will load slower than SDD or 7200 drives).
 
discofuel said:
Btw what SSD do you have?

I'm thinking of this:

Intel 320 Series 120 GB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch SSD $228.34
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-SATA-2-...U8/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1306451583&sr=8-22

and then this 2TB:

Western Digital 2 TB Caviar Black SATA 6GB/s 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache $149.99
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Desktop-WD2002FAEX/dp/B004CSIG1G/ref=dp_ob_title_ce
Click to expand...

the ssd is a bad price how about 299 for 160gb see link


http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-SSDSA...e_Internal&hash=item588da5ee19#ht_2405wt_1250

buy.com is a big time seller much better deal then amazon

here is the 120 size much cheaper

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-SSDSA...e_Internal&hash=item588de8a42a#ht_2941wt_1250


I own a 300gb and a 600 gb great drives
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I checked buy.com before purchasing, and at least for me, amazon prices are cheaper.

$228 for 120gb and $294 for 160gb.

With free shipping, and faster with amazon prime.
 
ZeD X said:
If you are going to use it for storage only, them no problem.

Video, Music and stuff will have no impact at all. Even games (of course they will load slower than SDD or 7200 drives).
Click to expand...

I will be using it for music recording/production and large photoshop files so 7200rpm would probably be the way to go?
 
I think that it will only be noticeable on the Photoshop use or in music when you are seeking for the samples/rendering the wave graphic. But it will be probably faster than a 7200rpm drive with the OS running on it.
 
ZeD X said:
I think that it will only be noticeable on the Photoshop use or in music when you are seeking for the samples/rendering the wave graphic. But it will be probably faster than a 7200rpm drive with the OS running on it.
Click to expand...

Hmm will have to sleep on it!
 
One more question... have you run AJA System Test on your Intel SSD? If so what read/write speeds do you get?
 
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