Can I use any SSD?

The hard drive in the new iMacs is NOT user upgradable

and any attempt to do so will void your warranty.

If you still want to attempt this, see the videos here and

see how very difficult it will be:

http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/imac_27inch_late_2012_hd/

Certain models of iMac after a point in time, have a temperature sensor on the original

hard disk drive, so if you upgrade to an SSD that has no integral sensor for the cable

to the logic board to attach to, that can be a problem. Excessive high speed fans action

has been reported in several instances of a hard drive upgrade with improper part use.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/

Depending on what exact iMac model you have, there is a thermal sensor kit to

be able to use HDDs & SSDs without the sensor port; so the fans don't run wild:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD11/

The OWC (macsales) company offers a sensor/cable product to assist in resolving this

kind of issue so drives not equipped with the sensor port can be used and the iMac

will work correctly without the need for a third-party fan speed software some users

have resorted to in the absence of correct replacement hard drives or SSDs with a

sensor cable port; or the workaround part (inexpensive in proportion to function) that

OWC has in their web site. You could ask them about the sensor issue, if you call to

talk to them about their SSD upgrades for Mac. Be sure to have serial number &

model identification info handy when you contact parts vendors or service providers...

An Apple Authorized service provider or Specialist independent could tell you more

about an upgrade to an otherwise 'non-user' accessible hard drive & other upgrade

or parts replacement; they are trained and know how to test these new things, both

in and out of any warranty coverage.

You may have to seek more info about your iMac 27" computers to see if you can

do much with them at all; assuming used w/o AppleCare. There may be some

service related manuals, or ideas from iFixit.com or everymac.com and others.

The good thing about asking questions, especially of hardware & various brands

across the board, is you can often get good info before you spend any money.

I've never bought or used OWC products, but they do have a good following.

Good luck in regard to your recently acquired 27" iMac computers! 🙂

edited 2x

PS to my earlier post:

[an edit attempt to the above, timed-out]

In iMac 27" in or before 2011, you could hope to gain access to

upgrade or replace worn parts, more readily than those after...

The sensor kit noted above (link) has additional info links in there;

it specifies for use in 2011 model iMac. Later ones aren't the same.

There may be other details, but to contact an expert Specialist is

likely the better way to go in dealing with later model hardware.

Be sure to correctly identify the model build year identifier

and other specifications; if you happen to have older stock

models prior to the build year before they were more sealed

then there may be more options available to you.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Aside from the problems mentioned, do you realize that a late 2013 iMac's screen is literally glued to the back? You need a heatgun to get it off. As well, if it is a late 2013, you will have voided your warranty if you attempt this yourself.

As babowa said you do not want to attempt upgrading a 2013 iMac, at least until the warranty has run out. However there’s an easy and inexpensive alternative. Since the late 2012 and later iMacs have USB 3 you can put an SSD into a high quality USB 3 enclosure. (I chose one from OWC.) I tested the computer using the internal SSD and internal hard drive separated as two physical drives, with the two as a logical drive (the Fusion configuration), and the external SSD in the enclosure. The SSD in the USB 3 enclosure benchmarks slower than the Fusion configuration but not significantly enough to have a big impact in everyday use. I’m using the external SSD as a testbed quite happily. For earlier computers without USB 3 you could use a Thunderbolt or FireWire 800 enclosure and realize a significant improvement in speed over the internal hard drive. In fact, I used my 2007 iMac with a FireWire 800 enclosure and SSD for several months before opening it up and installing it internally.

To be honest I am not to worried about voiding the warranty

As long as you're aware that you won't be covered.... excerpt here:

This Warranty does not apply: (a) to consumable parts, such as batteries, unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (b) to cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports; (c) to damage caused by use with another product; (d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, earthquake or other external cause; (e) to damage caused by operating the Apple Product outside Apple’s published guidelines; (f) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”); (g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; (h) to defects caused by normal wear and tear or otherwise due to the normal aging of the Apple Product, or ℹ if any serial number has been removed or defaced from the Apple Product.

drewski303 wrote:

dwb, I like that idea however what happens if it gets unplugged? I don't want to risk that. So will the Crucial M550 work, it says it has Adaptive Thermal Protection (Helps prevent overheating and adjusts power consumption based on usage demands)?

Your computer will crash if the external drive you booted from comes unplugged but since we are talking about an iMac that will presumably be on a desk or table the chances of that happening aren’t high. (Unless you have a pet I've with a predilection for resting on warm electronics.) I’ve never experienced an accidental disconnect of an external drive - but I guess there’s a slight risk if you frequently disconnect things from the back of your computer and unplug the wrong cable. In years past I used to have lots of things plugged into my computer so I still use color tags - one at each end of the cable so I know for certain I’m unplugging the correct item. The Crucial M550 will work well in an external case.

I've installed one in an MBP, not an iMac. I have an iMac, but would not install/replace anything that either wasn't stock OEM or done/authorized by Apple because I do not want my 3 year Apple Care voided. iMacs are not designed to be user/after market upgradeable - the only thing you can do is add/replace RAM (which I've done). And you can't even do that any longer in the latest 21" models, only the 27".

To have an authorized service provider perform the upgrade (the price is near

what most have charged for basic service for almost a decade) is a fair deal.

It also takes you off the hook should something unforeseen go terribly wrong

within their allotted time period after the upgrade; except for parts not supplied

by them. That's where a supplier of quality parts (perhaps OWC) could add a

layer of assurance the resulting upgrade may work for more than a few months.

Doubt if most users of a newer & likely under AppleCare plan computer would

venture into this territory, unless it were a Mac Mini where access is more of

a DIY possibility. And part of a reason why some would buy a Mini.

The actual upgrade-ability of the newest MacBook/Pro+Air, & both iMac models

is virtually nil to the end user without consulting an authorized Apple service co.

So if someone recently has done the upgrade at home, and is not affiliated nor

trained in the correct & proper methods by Apple, and is not an Apple Tech with

credentials, their advice may not be worth considering anyway.

Almost like asking opinions on how to drive a race car in city traffic. It can be done. 🙂

it is my understanding that I can actually take the iMac in for future issues too because it's under AppleCare?

Here are the terms of the APP for Macs (US):

http://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/appmacnaen.html

Excerpts:

service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”);

Your use of or modification to the Covered Equipment, the Mac OS, iPod Software, Apple TV Software or Consumer Software in a manner for which the Covered Equipment or software is not intended to be used or modified;

Third-party products or their effects on or interactions with the Covered Equipment, the Mac OS, Mac OS Server, iPod Software, Apple TV Software or Consumer Software;

In my previous post, I copied the terms of the regular hardware warranty; the above are contained in the APP terms.