Adding SSD as 2nd drive.

Question

Level 1

38 points

Adding SSD as 2nd drive.

My new Mac mini late 2012 came with the hard drive in the "lower" bay, when opened up and on the table.

All the guides on the net, including ifixit´s are with the original drive in the "upper" bay.

So now I am unsure of wich cable to get.

I know that the cables for the 2010 mini´s is called "top drive" for the drive close to the mini´s botom, and "lower drive" for the one close to the mini´s top.
And that Apple has reversed this naming for the 2012 models, the cables sold are, as far as I know still the 2010 version, but I am not sure.

I hope someone can help me out.

Mac mini (Late 2012)

Posted on Apr 5, 2013 1:03 AM

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Answer 1

tbirdvet

Level 6

13,605 points

Apr 5, 2013 4:11 AM in response to arsenio3d

The following cable should work to add a second drive. Between the cable that came with your Mini and this one you should be able to install both drives.

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Mini-Server-Cable-922-9560/dp/B005VG5DLY/ref=wl_it_d p_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=16WHQQ1HVMSYP&coliid=I5A7YILTU8WQD

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 9

76,978 points

Apr 5, 2013 7:13 AM in response to arsenio3d

For 2012 Mac Mini Dual Drive kits:

check out > Mac Mini Dual Hard Drive Kit (922-9560, 076-1391) - iFixit

and > OWC Data Doubler SSD/2.5" Hard Drive Installation Kit for Mac mini 2011-2012 Models

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Answer 3

arsenio3d Author

Level 1

38 points

Apr 5, 2013 10:25 AM in response to arsenio3d

What I wanted to do is, keep the harddrive that came with it, in the same place, and just put the cable on my SSD and slide it in on top of it.

My Mac mini did not come with the drive near the cover, like in all the guides I can find on the net, and youtube.

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Answer 4

tbirdvet

Level 6

13,605 points

Apr 6, 2013 4:28 PM in response to arsenio3d

Not sure if it matters what position the dirves are in however when you install the SSD and go to disk management the Mini will think you want a fusion drive and will ask you if you want to do a repair. If you do it will wipe both drives and you will need to reload all your stuff. If you do not want a fusion drive you should follow the instructions at OWC web site (macsales.com) and follow the process.

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Answer 5

arsenio3d Author

Level 1

38 points

Apr 7, 2013 3:46 AM in response to arsenio3d

Thanks everybody for your help.

I tried getting help from various sites and OWC live chat support, but they all recommended a kit for installing a drive in the bottom bay, where I already had a hard drive installed.

So I decided to dis assemble the mini, and just replace the old hard drive with the SSD!

And it worked!

Only problem I had, was that the keyboard did not connect, so I had to run around asking everybody I knew if they could borrow me a USB keyboard, to finish the install of mac osx!

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Answer 6

keg55

Level 6

11,743 points

Apr 7, 2013 7:45 AM in response to den.thed

den.thed wrote:

For 2012 Mac Mini Dual Drive kits:

check out > Mac Mini Dual Hard Drive Kit (922-9560, 076-1391) - iFixit

Exactly the kit I bought from iFixit this past December for my Mac Mini. However, I switched positions of the drives and put my HDD in the drive caddy (upper) and my SSD in the lower position where the HDD use to be. Then created a Fusion drive.

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Answer 7

Apr 22, 2013 9:07 AM in response to arsenio3d

FWIW, I used the OWC kit and had the same situation - original HD installed in bottom tray. The SATA cable that comes with the kit is designed to line up with the 2nd connector, which in my case was already occupied by the first drive. With some gentle bending and folding, I was able to line it up to the first position and slide the SSD right on top of the original. And as one poster mentions, follow the OWC guide for copying your data to the new SSD so you don't trash it. Otherwise, it all works well.

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