Recommendations for Hard Drive Replacement

Hi Nello,

I did an upgrade on my iMac 8.1 20" by installing a new 128GB SSD from Crucial and boosted the memory to 6GB(max). The speed increase was tremendous and the lack of internal storage is offset by my 2TB Firewire 800 cradle. I haven't done a 27" model but the videos I've seen look more complicated than my 20" model. On the 27" you have to remove the motherboard in addition to the monitor and of course the harddrive. When I did it I used the Firewire cradle to format, install and transfer files to the new SSD before I commenced with the install. Testing gave me confidence it would work properly when I was done because I could boot from the external drive. Once you have the old drive out it too can be put onto the cradle incase you forgot something or just want to keep using the drive. The biggest benefit other than the incredible speed increase is the reduction of heat inside the machine. My fans work great and the overall temps are down as much as 20deg. As a cautionary note, none of the videos showed how short the wiring on the back of the monitor is and mine unplugged two connectors that weren't marked as to which was which. My install took about an hour not including file transfers. Good Luck 😀

See this thread before proceeding. This applies to late 2009 and 2010 iMacs.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3004391?start=0&tstart=0

So yes, I went to Crucial and they say their SSDs are not tested as compliant but as the thread noted by one poster the jumper could be used by a sensor as a work around. Thanks

Check out the HD recall program.

Additionally, contact Apple Service, iMac Service or Apple's Express Lane. Do note that if you have AppleCare's protection plan and you're within 50 miles (80 KM) of an Apple repair station, you're eligible for onsite repair since yours is a desktop machine.

I had mine replaced two weeks ago under the AppleCare warranty when it died after two years of use. Be aware that the iMac's HD has a proprietary heat sensor connection and you just can't replace the HD w/o running into issues.

Baltwo, the drive in question is from a 2010 iMac. The workaround for using a replacement drive is to attach a stick on temp sensor to the surface of the drive itself. An optical drive temp sensor will work.

And? If the HD's covered under the recall or AppleCare, why bother? I've built a lot of electronic equipment, including TVs and O'scopes, but without investing in the tools needed to muck around inside iMacs, I recommend passing on DIY with this.

You don't need suction cups if you don't mind cleaning the glass after using some packing tape to make a couple of handles that won't come off like a suction cup could.

baltwo wrote:

And? If the HD's covered under the recall or AppleCare, why bother? I've built a lot of electronic equipment, including TVs and O'scopes, but without investing in the tools needed to muck around inside iMacs, I recommend passing on DIY with this.

Sure, if it's covered under AppleCare, but it may not be. The recall is for 2011s, not this year.

Have at it, then. I watched as the tech did the repair on my 27" iMac. I'd have no qualms attacking the issue. However, w/o the suction cups, the two torx drivers, a detailed check list of which screw goes in which hole (there are twenty or so of them holding the display to the rest of the machine, the four cables that require dexterity to disconnect, finding a proper heat sensor that will work, the tools to remove any smudges and dust from the display after putting display, the ability to reinsert the screws w/o getting caught up with the magnets, and getting the glass cover aligned properly, the replacement is a bit more than their "moderate" evaluation.