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Hi guys,
I'm very interested in getting a Mac Mini but 2Tb's isn't enough storage for me.
I would like to put 2 x 2Tb Western Digital HDD's in there instead, specifically these:
From what I've read they're between 12.5MM and 15MM.. With the amount of space in a Mac Mini I'd be very surprised if they would both fit.. Does anyone have a maximum height of HDD you can fit?
Thanks.
MitchellsMac
MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)
I meant to say 9.5mm not 9.5"
I had a similar question recently because I was looking to update a mac mini server and its two 512k drives - one of which I planned to use an SSD.
It looks like to get 2tb, they are using two 1tb platters in the same drive so you get the 15mm thickness.
You are limited to a capacity of 1tb with 2.5 inch hard drives presently (9/24/2017) and the 9.5mm thickness in the mac mini. If you can afford it, there are now 2tb SSDs with that form factor but they are around $500-$600 each presently. The performance of SSDs is clearly better over HDDs.
We are due for a new Mac Mini design soon so that may change things as well.
OWC sell's a "Data Doubler" kit, but say's that you can only use 9.5mm or smaller HDDs and/or SSDs.
OWC DIYIMM11D2 'Data Doubler' 2.5" Hard Drive/SSD... in stock at OWC
I'm not sure how or what your going to use the Mac Mini for...?
But optionally you might consider a large External (FireWire 800, USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt) Storage Drive or multiple Drive Enclosure to store your Date on and run OS X on a faster SSD in the mac Mini.
For storage in those amounts, I would also opt for using
external drives as replacing an external is trivial compared
to replacing internal drives in a Mini, which is no simple task.
Having just changed my hard drive the original 9.5" drive was very tight to remove so anything thicker than that I would expect not to fit.
Thanks for the confirmation, the maximum height of 9.5MM is what I was looking for.
I understand that using NAS and other storage devices would be better but I hate wires. I've got a Netgear NAS Drive running with 4Tb's of storage courtesy of 2, 2Tb Western Digital Greens and you can distinctly hear a buzz.. Or a whine when you're trying to sleep.
The whole idea was to move everything to one complete unit but with all of the 2Tb 2.5" Drives being 13.5MM or larger I don't think its a practical idea at this point in time 😟
Mitchell
Maximum Height of 2.5" HDD in Mac Mini 2012
