Hi all, I need some expertise. I have a late 2012 iMac with a 3TB fusion drive I'd like to replace with an SSD. I also have a 2010 iMac I'd like to sell that has a failed HDD. Any reason I couldn't put the fusion drive from the 2012 into the 2010? Anything special I'd need to do? The 2010 has High Sierra and the 2012 has Mojave currently. Thanks!
Well you would have to reformat and start over with the drive from the 2012 as it will not work if you take it out and plug it in without a formatting, re-install of Mac OS onto the 2010. But the drive will fit but needs to be fully formatted and have a version of Mac OS installed.
Plus the 2010 does not have a small ssd in it to make it a Fusion drive.
But yeah it should work. By the way, unless you are very very very comfortable taking apart your 2012, I'd leave the upgrade to a professional. Please watch the install video for a 2012 closely these are very difficult to work on!
https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac_27inch_late_2012_ssd/ or https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac_21inch_late_2012_ssd/ you didn't indicated the screen size which is why I added both videos.
While the hard drive will physically fit the older iMac, I am not certain if it will be able to handle a 3TB drive. Many older systems will only support a 2TB or smaller drive. There is also the issue of the firmware and temperature sensor which may not be compatible with the older Mac so the fans may run at full speed.
It makes me very nervous that you don't know what a Fusion drive is but you are willing to break your computer trying to save a few dollars. I'd recommend studying what a Fusion drive is so you understand and then please consider taking your 2012 to an Apple Authorized Service Provider to do the work. We read all the time on these forums of do-it-yourselfers that are trying to save a few bucks and then brick their iMac by breaking a critical component when "working"on them.
I'm crazy that way. Thanks for your concern.
I've built dozens of PCs.. I change my own car's oil and do the brakes..
I'm willing to "work" on my Mac.
Well good luck, these things are NOT PCs and they are certainly not cars. They are more like working inside a watch.
Yep, I know I'd have to format and reload the drive. They're both 27in, and while I realize the 2012 is a more difficult proposition getting inside, I'd be willing to do it with the help of videos (thanks for those).
So, the fusion drives don't have the SSD portion on board the drive itself? But, rather, the SSD is on the computer's main board somewhere and it uses that in tandem with just a regular old 3TB drive?
3TB Fusion drive in older iMac?
