Q: Upgrade iMac 27" late 2009 video card?

I can boot from ssd right?

With the late iMac you can book from any internal device (you can't boot from external DvD's though)

You can move your install to SSD or install fresh.

Heres the kicker: how do you install OSX with no DvD drive? Remember you can't boot from an external drive.

Tip: install it on your internal first with the DvD mounted, then install SSD and copy the partition or reinstall from an image

I've searched everywhere and nobody is asking (or answering) the question of whether AirPlay Mirroring will work on pre mid 2011 mac (would have to be iMac) that has had an upgraded video card.

If I understand correctly, the primary limitation is the video processing capabilities which prevent pre-mid 2011 iMacs from supporting mirroring. In theory, if you remove the limitation, AirPlay should work.

I assume that there would have to be a hack to bypass the system definition (is that what it is called?) to trick the os into thinking that the imac is a newer model.

I would love to hear back from those who have upgraded to know what they've done to try and get AirPlay mirroring working.

Why is nobody asking this question?

AirPlay mirroring does not work on anything earlier than mid 2011 iMac. The video processing leverages the CPU, not the GPU. My iMac is a late 2009 i7 with a 6970, mirroring is not available.

If there is a workaround I'm sure the community would like to know!

-cheers!

Me and a friend are working on this.

We've gotten as far as it presenting the option to AirPlay, but the functionality isn't there. We either get nothing or a white screen (Using 2nd gen Apple TV, 2009 27" iMac core i7 880, Radeon 6970 2gig).

It could be an actual chip that's missing from the chipset on the 09' boards, or AirPlay could be relying on the check for ivy/sandy bridge. All us first gen i3, i5, i7s might just be out of luck.

But again, we haven't given up yet!

I'll post here if there's any change.

My ssd should arrive before the end of the week.

This is an odd question but do these drives come preformatted.

I got the step by step for removing everything, but what about formatting the two new drives I have going into the machine?

Does anyone know where I can find some documentation around the steps needed to get your new drives ready to be installed.

Hey,

I just ordered this caddy and noticed it says it doesnt work with the imac right at the bottom.

To make it work do i just remove the plastic part you were speaking of a few posts back?

Thanks

Also did you need any type of cable converter or anything?

Good question, there are many caddies but usually the notebook standard one from the Macbooks works. The part you need to remove is the front lid of the CD drawer, a palstic part which is purely cosmetic. As the iMac uses a slot to cover the DvD drive the CD drawer front isn't needed

Anyone wanting to ugprade their optical drive to ssd should get this kit, it works great and comes with everything needed to get your late '09 up and running with a new ssd.

Here is the link...

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/DDMMSSD240/?utm_source= amazon&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_campaign=productads

Here is a video of the kit being installed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp7_AP0wc7s

Cant wait to get this badboy up and running this week!

Best

Korey

Just to add my view.

I've just replaced my Superdrive with a 128GB Mushkin Chronos in my Late 2009 27" IMac,. and thought you may like to know that this....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-iMac-2009-2nd-HDD-hard-drive-caddy-SATA-12-7mm-S SD-DVD-superdrive-/230829491256?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item35be828438

works perfectly, much cheaper than OWC and was delivered from Australia to U.K within 5 days.

Just follow insanovision's link for how to go about it.

Good Luck

Question for Teut and those who replaced their Radeon.

How hard is it to do?

I managed to do the optical drive to SSD replacement a year ago without problems thanks to that ifixit guide. The only problem I encountered was that I didnt have a torx screwdriver.

So how hard is the graphic card replacement? My current graphic card looks dead (frequent black screen crashes). I think I read somewhere that you have to tear everything apart because the gfx card is on the other side? Now did I just read you can slide it out?

Also is there a step by step guide for noobies to do it?

Thanks in advance

ArnMi,

it snot as hard as you think. If you buld in your SSD already you were 3 screws away from pullin gout your graphics card. And no, you do NOT need to remove the motherboard.

If you look on this thread I posted m iFixIt guide which explains the steps. There is a screw on the gfx card heat sink and 3 more on the metal frame holding the card in place. Remove the heat sensor cable and it pulls out easily.

Great news!

Now I just need to find a cheap card to replace my crashing one. I'm not really interrested in performance.

I found this to be the cheapest so far from Mac-pro

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Video-Card-ATI-Radeon-HD-4850-512MB-for-iMac-27-La te-2009-661-5315-/370649659321

Anyone got any other spare parts retailers to advice? preferably in Europe to lower shipping costs?

Or maybe even better would anyone reading this thread by chance sell me his old gfx card?

Thanks again for your answers

Arnmi try this one (from UK):

http://www.thebookyard.com/

Oh, and if you need a replacement card remember that I still got my old one here .... if you want to have it.