install dual ssd and remove optical drive and hard drive

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iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429

Model A1312 / Mid 2011 / 2.7 & 3.1 GHz Core i5 or 3.4 GHz Core i7 Processor, ID iMac12,2

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luca @twister

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Posted: May 8, 2016

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install dual ssd and remove optical drive and hard drive

Hello,

it's time to make an upgrade for my mac.

I'm thinking to change optical drive and 2 tb hard drive (original purchase) with 2 ssd samsung evo 850 (the first for 1tb and the second for 500gb).

QUESTIONS:

1- can i change the 1tb ssd instead of 2 tb hard drive and change ssd 500gb instead of optical drive (installing an optical bay enclosure for ssd) ? and the put in external bay both hd 2tb and optical super drive?

2- need i the following parts?

a- Unibody Laptop Dual Drive

b- iMac Intel 27" (Mid 2011) Dual Hard Drive Kit (as i already have: the Heavy-duty Suction Cups, 26 Piece Bit Driver Kit and Spudger....there is a kit only for: Custom SATA power & data cable and Custom-cut 3M mounting tape)

3- this guide is sufficient for my requirements?

Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Dual Drive Kit (HDD or SSD)

4- this ssd is good for imac 27 mid 2011 ?

Samsung MZ-75E1T0B SSD 850 EVO, 1 TB, 2.5" SATA III Model no. MZ-75E1T0B/EU

Thanks to all for any suggestions,

Best,

Luca

4- need i other parts?

5- in any case any other suggestions?

Hi Dan,

First of all, thanks for all your information.

Unfortunately, for budget limits I try to use this logic. Tell me if I can do it or not without risks:

1 - Make a full backup of whole HD (OS, apps & files) with time machine

2 - Prepare a USB key with El Capitan using a specific app from official file 'Install OS X El Capitan.app' about 6 GB

3 - Install in place of the optical drive the SSD (Samsung EVO 850 1 TB) using this bay Amazon - Adattatore HDD/SSD per Apple iMac 20" 21.5" 24" 27" (2009 - 2011) sostituisce SuperDrive + custody USB Slim (argento) per SuperDrive 12.7 mm (SATA - SATA) and putting superdrive into the external case.

2 - The old HD has not been touched. It still has the OS, files, apps and files for now. In any case I've used the wizard to export all photos and movies to the NAS and made a whole backup of photo database. Because I don't want to use anymore the photo app to manage photos and movies

3 - Power on and hold down Cmd A

4 - Install the OS and choose to recover only user accounts & apps

5 - After installed the new OS, if app and files are OK, format the old HD to get more space as secondary volume

In your opinion I should add or consider something else?

Product

Unibody Laptop Dual Drive

$24.99

Product

iMac Intel 27" (Mid 2011) Dual Hard Drive Kit

$27.99

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In reply to your update: I think you have most of your bases covered here.

As to point #2 you'll need to use Disk Utility to delete the FAT32 partition and then create the GUID partition map and setup a Journaled partition. ITs best to download from the Apps Store the OS installer and use it to prep the USB thumb drive. After its setup copy over the installer to it as your emergency tool. You shouldn't need it if you follow the steps you've outlined.

May 8, 2016 by Dan

mmmm interesting...so you mean that after mapped the partition into ssd as journaled, i need only to copy the 'Install OS X El Capitan.app' file and then boot from ssd? or otherwise i've not understand how to install after made the journaled partition....mmmm as alternative solution: after partition, can i use for example a carbon copy software to move from hdd to ssd?....what do you suggesting for? Thanks

May 8, 2016 by luca

From the current bootable HD all you need to do is launch the OS installer app from the HD. You don't (nor can you install it) from the drive you want it install it on. In this case the SSD.

Think of it this way ... The shoe cobbler needs to put a new heel on your shoe. So you need to take it off for him to do it.

Its' the same here you need to be running from a different already bootable drive than the drive you want the OS installed on.

May 8, 2016 by Dan

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In reply to your update: I think you have most of your bases covered here.

As to point #2 you'll need to use Disk Utility to delete the FAT32 partition and then create the GUID partition map and setup a Journaled partition. ITs best to download from the Apps Store the OS installer and use it to prep the USB thumb drive. After its setup copy over the installer to it as your emergency tool. You shouldn't need it if you follow the steps you've outlined. — Dan
mmmm interesting...so you mean that after mapped the partition into ssd as journaled, i need only to copy the 'Install OS X El Capitan.app' file and then boot from ssd? or otherwise i've not understand how to install after made the journaled partition....mmmm as alternative solution: after partition, can i use for example a carbon copy software to move from hdd to ssd?....what do you suggesting for? Thanks — luca
From the current bootable HD all you need to do is launch the OS installer app from the HD. You don't (nor can you install it) from the drive you want it install it on. In this case the SSD.

Think of it this way ... The shoe cobbler needs to put a new heel on your shoe. So you need to take it off for him to do it.

Its' the same here you need to be running from a different already bootable drive than the drive you want the OS installed on. — Dan

Dan @danj Rep: 479.9k Self employed contract worker 35 329 971 · Answer 1 · 2016-05-08T04:12:14-07:00

I'm not sure I follow your logic here. If you are doing a dual SSD setup you would want two of the same sized SSD's so you could RAID them (mirror) to gain still more speed. Then the next issue is size. If you mirror them you would only have the space of one SSD. If money was not the issue here I would go with two 2TB SSD's. But given the age of the system is this the best investment?

How about dialing back a bit and just add one SSD and make it your primary drive with your current HD drive as your data drive to hold your music, videos or other stuff. This would require the least amount of parts as you would only need the cables besides the SSD drive. Follow this IFIXIT guide: Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Dual Hard Drive Kit and all you need is this if you already have the needed tools: iMac Intel 27" Mid 2011 Dual Hard Drive Kit. I think you'll find one SSD is all one really needs.

If your HD is on its last days then changing it out to a SSD could be swapped out. But, you'll need a few different pieces. Unlike the dual drive setup you'll need to offset the lack of internal HD thermal sensor the system requires. You see the SSD drive doesn't have it (nor need it) but the system does need it! Here is the part you'll need: OWC In-line Digital Thermal Sensor for iMac 2011 Hard Drive Upgrade and you'll need this adapter frame: OWC 2.5" to 3.5" Drive Adapter Bracket. You'll need to follow this IFIXIT guide: iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Hard Drive Replacement

But frankly, I often find the cause of a sluggish hard drive is lack of needed maintenance. With an external bootable drive boot up the system and them run Disk Utility running the Disk First Aid tools to make the needed fixes then I would run a good defragmenter tool like this one: Drive Genius. You may want to do this first to regain the drives performance. I would also make sure the systems firmware is up to date. Follow this Apple T/N: About EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Mac computers make sure your system is at this level or newer.

Lastly, I would upgrade the RAM if you still only have the original 8 GB. I would up it to 12 GB, 16 GB if you are doing a lot of graphics stuff.

iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429

install dual ssd and remove optical drive and hard drive

Update (05/08/2016)

Unibody Laptop Dual Drive

iMac Intel 27" (Mid 2011) Dual Hard Drive Kit

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iMac Intel 27" (Mid 2011) Dual Hard Drive Kit

iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Hard Drive Replacement

Installing iMac Intel 27" EMC 2429 Dual Drive Kit (HDD or SSD)