Upgrading iMac 2012 with OEM 768 GB SSD

[yellowscreen]

Good day,

I'm planning on upgrading my 27" iMac 1TB Fusion with an OEM 768GB SSD.

Does anybody know if 2012 iMacs used the same SSD as MacBook Pro Retina 13" A1425 or 15" A1398 Mid Late 2012, Early 2013? Are they interchangeable?

On a side note, if I installed one of those 768GB drives, while removing the 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD, how would i proceed with the installation of the newest macOS Mojave? Does the USB drive method still work?

Thank you, help is much appreciated.

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

Depends will the SSD be a 2.5" model or a PCI-e blade drive? If the former you would need a 'cradle' sucxh as OWC sells, and if the latter be aware Apple uses proprietary connectors so check to see if whatever brand you are considering will work with a Santech connector. You will need to install an operating system on the new drive and then access the App Store with your Apple ID and download Mojave.

 

[RyanXM]

Depends will the SSD be a 2.5" model or a PCI-e blade drive?

The iMac 27" (Late 2012) did not use a 2.5" SATA or PCIe SSD. The Late 2012 used a special SATA based blade SSD. The same SSD can be found in the Late 2012/Early 2013 MacBook Pro with Retina Display, both the 13" and 15".

OWC sells an SSD for these models that goes up to 1TB. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-27-inch/2012

As far as OS reinstallation, the USB drive method will work fine or you can force Internet Recovery by pressing Option+CMD+R at startup.

 

[yellowscreen]

The iMac 27" (Late 2012) did not use a 2.5" SATA or PCIe SSD. The Late 2012 used a special SATA based blade SSD. The same SSD can be found in the Late 2012/Early 2013 MacBook Pro with Retina Display, both the 13" and 15".

OWC sells an SSD for these models that goes up to 1TB. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-27-inch/2012

As far as OS reinstallation, the USB drive method will work fine or you can force Internet Recovery by pressing Option+CMD+R at startup.

Thank you!

Should I go with used OEM drive or OWC? Are there any differences in speed, TRIM support, etc.?

 

[RyanXM]

Thank you!

Should I go with used OEM drive or OWC? Are there any differences in speed, TRIM support, etc.?

OWC is going to be faster and they support TRIM and have a 3 year warranty.

 

[TechMoloGy]

Good day,

I'm planning on upgrading my 27" iMac 1TB Fusion with an OEM 768GB SSD.

Does anybody know if 2012 iMacs used the same SSD as MacBook Pro Retina 13" A1425 or 15" A1398 Mid Late 2012, Early 2013? Are they interchangeable?

On a side note, if I installed one of those 768GB drives, while removing the 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD, how would i proceed with the installation of the newest macOS Mojave? Does the USB drive method still work?

Thank you, help is much appreciated.

Hi there, I recently did the upgrades below. Once the upgrades were done I started my iMac then immediately holding CMD + R, you then have the option of reinstall OS from a backup or go online which if you choose it will revert to the original OS that first came with your machine, once all that is done you can then update to the latest OS, of course you will need to log into your App Store iCloud etc before you proceed. This was my experience but it might not be the same for you. Good luck.

Hi Guys, If anybody is looking to upgrade their iMac 27" Late 2012.

Heres what I have recently done with mine.

1. I replaced my CPU with an i7-3770K 3.5 GHz.
2. I also added a Samsung 860 EVO SSD 500GB mSATA mounted on a mSATA SSD to 2012 SSD Adapter card for MacBook PRO A1425 then connect to the iMac slot. ( Yes this works too)

3. Then I replaced my 1TB WD drive to a Samsung EVO SSD 850. (That obviously works too)

I now have a Late 2012 27" iMac running much faster then my original i5-3470 3.20GHz.

I thought I might just share this with you guys if you are looking to upgrade your late 2012 iMac. It did take over 3 hours labour as I am no where need what you would call a pro when it come to doing these kind of upgrade.

Very please indeed with my upgrades.

 

[mikehalloran]

Does anybody know if 2012 iMacs used the same SSD as MacBook Pro Retina 13" A1425 or 15" A1398 Mid Late 2012, Early 2013? Are they interchangeable?

No, they aren't. 2012 is the only year Apple used a SATA III blade in the iMac. The 2011–12 MacBook Air used it also. That blade does not interchange with anything.

OWC is going to be faster and they support TRIM and have a 3 year warranty.

Any SSD you install inside will support TRIM as long as the OS is later than 10.10.4 and you run sudo trimforce enable in Terminal. The same goes for any external SATA III SSD in a Thunderbolt dock or housing only. TRIM does not work any other way in these.

Both busses are SATA III. Since both busses are SATA III, one large drive can take the place of both both old drives. The only reason to put a blade back in that upper socket is because you want more than 2TB storage but don't want to pay $497 for a 4TB SSD.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Inch-Internal-MZ-76Q1T0B-AM/dp/B07L3CLM2B/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=860+QVO&qid=1560899019&s=gateway&sr=8-2&th=1

Those OWC drives are too expensive. The Crucial MX500, Samsung 860 EVO and WD Blue 3D/Sandisk Ultra3D (same drive) are faster, have 5 year warranties and are well under $250 for 2TB (except the 860 EVO at $289). The 860 EVO has a higher endurance rating than the 860 EVO.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=2TB+SSD&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

 

[RyanXM]

No, they aren't. 2012 is the only year Apple used a SATA III blade in the iMac. The 2011–12 MacBook Air used it also. That blade does not interchange with anything.

Any SSD you install inside will support TRIM as long as the OS is later than 10.10.4 and you run sudo trimforce enable in Terminal. The same goes for any external SATA III SSD in a Thunderbolt dock or housing only. TRIM does not work any other way in these.

Both busses are SATA III. Since both busses are SATA III, one large drive can take the place of both both old drives. The only reason to put a blade back in that upper socket is because you want more than 2TB storage but don't want to pay $497 for a 4TB SSD.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Inch-Internal-MZ-76Q1T0B-AM/dp/B07L3CLM2B/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=860+QVO&qid=1560899019&s=gateway&sr=8-2&th=1

Those OWC drives are too expensive. The Crucial MX500, Samsung 860 EVO and WD Blue 3D/Sandisk Ultra3D (same drive) are faster, have 5 year warranties and are well under $250 for 2TB (except the 860 EVO at $289). The 860 EVO has a higher endurance rating than the 860 EVO.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=2TB+SSD&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

In order to run the 2.5" SATA SSDs, you will need to trick SMC into thinking it is getting the HDD/SSD temperature from the SMART stats. OWC has this taken care of, so it is an added expense.

The OP asked specifically about replacing the blade...

 

[mikehalloran]

In order to run the 2.5" SATA SSDs, you will need to trick SMC into thinking it is getting the HDD/SSD temperature from the SMART stats. OWC has this taken care of, so it is an added expense.

The OP asked specifically about replacing the blade...

I don't care what the OP asked specifically. Not giving the correct information to make an informed purchase does no one any good.

You are incorrect on a few points. OWC makes no such claims.

That blade is an upgrade from the stock blade, certainly but the replacement is no faster than a 2.5" SATA SSD replacing the HDD. It is true from 2013 on but not in the 2011–12, the only iMacs that can use that blade if the socket is present.

To "trick" the fan sensors in a 2012 that has had an HDD, you will need to use the OWC Temp Sensor — just as shown in the picture on the OWC site. This is true even if replacing the HDD.

I don't know about you, but a $200 1TB blade with half the capacity of a $228 2RB 2.5" SSD is no bargain in my book. True, spending $428 plus tools and a sensor does get you 3TB storage... but $497 gets 4TB.

Of course, one can always put 6TB inside.

 

[RyanXM]

I don't care what the OP asked specifically. Not giving the correct information to make an informed purchase does no one any good.

You are incorrect on a few points. OWC makes no such claims.

That blade is an upgrade from the stock blade, certainly but the replacement is no faster than a 2.5" SATA SSD replacing the HDD. It is true from 2013 on but not in the 2011–12, the only iMacs that can use that blade if the socket is present.

To "trick" the fan sensors in a 2012 that has had an HDD, you will need to use the OWC Temp Sensor — just as shown in the picture on the OWC site. This is true even if replacing the HDD.

I don't know about you, but a $200 1TB blade with half the capacity of a $228 2RB 2.5" SSD is no bargain in my book. True, spending $428 plus tools and a sensor does get you 3TB storage... but $497 gets 4TB.

Of course, one can always put 6TB inside.

You just have to be right...you're one of those.