I have a question about whether or not I can add additional SSD to my Mac mini (mid 2011) without removing HDD. I've seen from some DIY video on youtube that the model has enough room for two hard drive to co-exist together. However, when I visited an authorised service provider in my country, the staffs said they will replace the original HDD with new SSD. So, I'd like to hear an official answer from apple website.
Cahn
At this point in time, your mid-2011 Mac mini is not upgradeable beyond High Sierra, and from a timeline, is over 7 years old which may introduce random hardware failure. Unless you feel real lucky, adding a second internal drive may be a waste of time and money. The USB2.0 ports are slower than the second coming, and a poor alternative for any external drive performance.
When my mid-2011 Mac mini was new, I immediately added 16GB of RAM, and used the OWC data-doubler kit with extra drive cable to install a second (SSD) drive in to it. You have to tear the Mac mini apart to achieve this goal, and it is understandable why some third-party may not want to undertake this on an old machine. Coincidentally, that SSD is still working like a charm seven years later in a mini that is used daily, all day long.
At this point in time, your mid-2011 Mac mini is not upgradeable beyond High Sierra, and from a timeline, is over 7 years old which may introduce random hardware failure. Unless you feel real lucky, adding a second internal drive may be a waste of time and money. The USB2.0 ports are slower than the second coming, and a poor alternative for any external drive performance.
When my mid-2011 Mac mini was new, I immediately added 16GB of RAM, and used the OWC data-doubler kit with extra drive cable to install a second (SSD) drive in to it. You have to tear the Mac mini apart to achieve this goal, and it is understandable why some third-party may not want to undertake this on an old machine. Coincidentally, that SSD is still working like a charm seven years later in a mini that is used daily, all day long.
Apple really does not provide guidance. However, the server addition cam with two HDs.
You need a kit to install a second drive. The kit includes screws and groment to mount the drive and a ribbon cable.
Adding the second drive is not that hard. I did it on my 2012 Mini which is the same physically (unibody).
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+mini+Mid+2011+Dual+Hard+Drive+Kit/6634
Unless the Mac Mini came from factory with two drives, it does not contain a cable adapter to connect the secondary drive, though there is enough space to hold one.
You need a drive kit for the Mac Mini that includes the adapter cable to install the secondary hard drive.
The service provider may not have one at hand, and as such can only replace the existing drive and not add a second one.
Upgrade Mac mini (mid 2011) for second hard drive
