HT205040: iMac: Memory specifications and upgrades

Learn about iMac: Memory specifications and upgrades
robgee2
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Q: what size hdd are in my imac

hello can anyone tell me what size hdd are in my imac, have 21.5 inch mac and have a spare 1tb 3,5 sata drive.

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jun 16, 2012 1:10 AM

by X423424X,Solvedanswer
X423424X X423424X
Level 6 (14,237 points)
A:

Probably not.  First you don't want to use a "green" drive as your boot drive.  And second, and most important, there's that sensor cable problem I mentioned.

 

I don't have the service manual for a 2011 imac.  But if it is anything like a 2010 imac there are three different sensor cables; Hatachi, Seagate, Western Digital.  So you not only need to decide on a drive but whether you can purchace a sensor cable for it, unless it's a drive for the cable you already have.  And even then it might not work.

 

If you stick the drive in, and you use the wrong sensor cable, or even the correct one but not correctly installed, the fans will run wild.

Posted on Jun 16, 2012 1:59 AM

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robgee2

Q: what size hdd are in my imac

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  • by mende1,Helpful

    mende1 mende1 Jun 16, 2012 1:11 AM in response to robgee2
    Level 10 (93,314 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 16, 2012 1:11 AM in response to robgee2

    Probably it's 1 TB

  • by robgee2,

    robgee2 robgee2 Jun 16, 2012 1:22 AM in response to mende1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 16, 2012 1:22 AM in response to mende1

    its 500gb at the moment was thinking off changing it , but are the hdd 3.5 sata drives

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X Jun 16, 2012 1:44 AM in response to robgee2
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Jun 16, 2012 1:44 AM in response to robgee2

    Yes.  But just putting in an arbitrary hdd is not that simple in that the sensor cable used is a function of the brand of hdd you use.

  • by robgee2,

    robgee2 robgee2 Jun 16, 2012 1:49 AM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 16, 2012 1:49 AM in response to X423424X

    thanks i have a seagate barraccuda green , is this ok to be used.

  • by X423424X,Solvedanswer

    X423424X X423424X Jun 16, 2012 1:59 AM in response to robgee2
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Jun 16, 2012 1:59 AM in response to robgee2

    Probably not.  First you don't want to use a "green" drive as your boot drive.  And second, and most important, there's that sensor cable problem I mentioned.

     

    I don't have the service manual for a 2011 imac.  But if it is anything like a 2010 imac there are three different sensor cables; Hatachi, Seagate, Western Digital.  So you not only need to decide on a drive but whether you can purchace a sensor cable for it, unless it's a drive for the cable you already have.  And even then it might not work.

     

    If you stick the drive in, and you use the wrong sensor cable, or even the correct one but not correctly installed, the fans will run wild.

  • by robgee2,

    robgee2 robgee2 Jun 16, 2012 2:04 AM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 16, 2012 2:04 AM in response to X423424X

    thanks , will just get external time capsule thanks for advice.

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X Jun 16, 2012 2:22 AM in response to robgee2
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Jun 16, 2012 2:22 AM in response to robgee2

    You realize you could stick that spare drive into a external enclosure and use if for, say, a backup drive or other purposes.  OWC sells good enclosures.  You can buy an empty enclosure and stick the drive in it. 

     

    That's what I do.  I prefer to get the enclosure of my choice (I do like OWC's) and stick the drive of my choice in it. 

     

    I recommend firewire800 because it is faster than usb2.