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Model A1311 / Mid 2011 / 2.5 & 2.7 GHz Core i5 or 2.8 GHz Core i7 Processor

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best suggestions for SSD and hard drive upgrade

I would like to know the best combo to get. You never know when u mix and match what problems you will run into and i would like to know what some people have upgraded to and were pleased with the results.

Mark

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This is very subjective. Can you give us some ideas on what you currently use you system for or plan to.

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I would forgo the upgrade of the internal HD given your usage. Instead get an external FireWire or Thunder 1GB HD. Using it to store your pics and important data setting up drive encryption on it.

I would add more RAM memory so you don't need to page as much when you use Lightroom.

Adding an SSD as a second drive using the IFIXIT dual drive kit if you find booting up takes to long (setting it up as the boot disk).

I would setup a USB Thumb drive as a bootable drive and copy to it the Lion or Mountain Lion installer so you have a backup as well as a diagnostic tool when you need it later on. As an example using it to boot up to check your internal HD using Disk Utility.

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If you do upgrade the internal HD you might have issues with the thermal sensor depending on the HD you go with. There is a kit you can get to connect on your new HD to intercept the thermal connection to use an external sensor (like the older iMac models). I prefer it Vs using Fan Control software as the software uses SMART which causes the HD I/O to be interrupted for the reading of the sensor (slowing the HD down). It can be slower in reacting when the drive is busy. As for the SSD you don't need to worry about it with the dual HD kit.

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What would make you happy is based on what you intend to do, and, how much money you want to spend. We don't have that information yet. Primary would be for you to disclose the reason you feel it's necessary to upgrade the machine.

It's a bit like asking "What's the best car to buy?" If you're single it could be a sports car. If you're a hunter or hiker it could be a off-road SUV. If you're a construction worker or home rehabber it could be a pickup truck. If you're a soccer mom/dad it could be a mini van (are you beginning to get the picture?) Any and all of these would be best for the situations I've described, but make the other people very dissatisfied.

If this Answer is helpful please remember to return and mark it Accepted.

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I didn't mean to be so vague, I just inherited this iMac and its only got like a 500 gig hd. I have a lot of photos but I am not some big power user. Pretty much put them in Lightroom and click autocorrect and I am done I just want to know if I get a wd hd n it does not have the temp sensor connector will it still function correctly. I also am fond of Samsung ssds I just haven't read of n e one having that setup. Is that app worth purchasing to control the fan speed ?

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You've gotten some good advice from Dan. I would also agree max the RAM. SSD's great for reading... no to little speed advantage for writing. Keep backups of all those important images... 'I have a cloned drive with DriveGenius3 and TechToolPro that I can occasionally boot from to defrag my main boot/use drive.''

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