21.5 4k iMac 24gb SSD only replacement

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21.5 4k iMac 24gb SSD only replacement

Hello All,

Just to start off -- I purchased 21.5 4k with the 1TB Fusion Drive. I knew it only came with the 24gb of SSD. I also know its a 32gb blade. I knew based on iFixit and other teardowns that it is possible to replace the hard drive. I also understand that the SSD is a PCIe blade separate from the HD. I know how difficult it is to get inside and it can void my warranty. I know there is a external SSD route. I am past the return window as well. I've researched different sites and people tend to go off topic and couldn't find a definite answer.

My question is quite simple -- Can I replace the 24GB SSD blade and replace it with a higher one? Leaving the HD alone. Just replacing the SSD.

I've having some hiccups so I just want to know ALL of my options.

Thank you

iMac, iOS 9.2

Posted on Dec 30, 2015 10:05 AM

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Answer 1

babowa

Level 9

78,646 points

Dec 30, 2015 10:18 AM in response to al_lewis

Out of curiosity: I looked at the specs and cannot find anything about a 24 GB SSD? Can you post the link to that information please?

As for your warranty: it isn't that you CAN void your warranty - if the iMac is opened up/worked on by anyone but Apple or an authorized service provider, the warranty is voided. See this excerpt:

(g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple;

from here (US warranty):

http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/embedded-mac-warranty-us.html

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Answer 2

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,118 points

Dec 30, 2015 10:23 AM in response to al_lewis

Your problem is that it is a Fusion Drive. You cannot just replace the 24Gb (or whatever size) for a bigger one. You have to un Fusion first, otherwise you loose everything.

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Answer 3

al_lewis Author

Level 1

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Dec 30, 2015 12:43 PM in response to babowa

I understand the warranty IS voided.

See below from Apple's website - there is 24gb flash paired with a 1TB hard drive. See Apple decided to update their 1TB Fusion Drive with 24gb flash vs 128gb flash in older models.

Fusion Drive

Fusion Drive combines speedy flash storage with a high-capacity hard drive. OS X intelligently manages what goes where, using the flash storage for files you access frequently and keeping the rest of your digital life on the roomier hard drive. Over time, the system learns how you work, so it tailors management of Fusion Drive to work best for you. You can choose a Fusion Drive of up to 2TB on the 21.5-inch iMac and up to 3TB on the 27-inch iMac.

The 1TB Fusion Drive pairs a 1TB hard drive with 24GB of fast flash — enough to store important OS X files and applications to ensure fast startup, near instant wake from sleep and quick application launching, with room left over for your most frequently used files and apps. The 2TB and 3TB Fusion Drives pair a larger hard drive with 128GB of fast flash storage, providing even more space for your most frequently used files. For the best performance, iMac systems with 32GB of memory should be configured with a 2TB or larger Fusion Drive or all flash storage.

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Answer 4

al_lewis Author

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Dec 30, 2015 12:59 PM in response to Lexiepex

Ok from what I have read you can split the Fusion Drive.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2015664/storage-flash/how-to-split-up-a-fusion-d rive.html

You can find Apple's OEM 128gb PCIe blades also. So basically I'm looking to create Apple's old 1TB Fusion Drive (128 Flash with a 1TB HD).

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Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

78,646 points

Dec 30, 2015 1:38 PM in response to al_lewis

Thanks, I had missed that.

What bothers me here more than anything is the fact that the regular drive is 5400 rpm - which is about 30+% slower read/write than the standard 7200 rpm. I had a 5400 rpm in a Mini once - sold the Mini at a loss 6 weeks later because I couldn't stand the slowness. So, you have 24 GB SSD - the way I would understand that is that unless you have a large capacity SSD, most of the read/write actions will be on the slow hard drive - the SSD portion is mostly for booting, opening apps, etc. - so, if you intend to do any graphics or video editing which requires a lot of empty hard drive space, the rendering is going to take forever. It is an intensive process to begin with and takes its time on my 7200 rpm, but will most likely be much slower on a 5400 rpm.

So, depending on what you intend to use the iMac for, getting a 128 GB will not help much speed up video/graphics work as you need as much empty space as you have temporary files in your project (and a one hour HD project can easily result in 100 - 150 GB of files). However, if you don't intend to use it for such, 128 GB would probably be fine.

My personal opinion: I think 24 GB to just speed up booting up and launching apps is a bit silly if the "regular" work is done by a slow spinning drive; additionally, I had a fusion drive for a week and was happy to get rid of it (the iMac was returned as a DOA for other reasons) - I made sure I got a regular drive instead in the replacement iMac. Fusion drives are difficult to control/partition/re-partition.

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Answer 6

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,118 points

Dec 31, 2015 12:32 AM in response to al_lewis

Yes that was said already:

"You have to un Fusion first, otherwise you loose everything".

have a wonderful 2016.

Lex

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Answer 7

Dec 31, 2015 3:54 AM in response to al_lewis

Personally, if I were to go through all the hassle of opening up an iMac,

I would replace the slow HDD drive with a fairly high capacity SSD.

480-512GB SSDs are getting pretty inexpensive as of late, especially

if you shop around for sales. Take the old HDD, put it in an enclosure

and use it for backup or archival purposes.

Then again, thats just my opinion.

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Answer 8

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,118 points

Dec 31, 2015 4:27 AM in response to woodmeister50

good advice. the crux here is that the OP must split the FusionDrive. The best solution after that is not installing FD again.

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Answer 9

dialabrain

Level 10

137,311 points

Dec 31, 2015 5:20 AM in response to al_lewis

FWIW, I don't see any compelling reason to replace the SSD. The difference in overall performance would be negligible if even noticeable., you void your warranty and there are more productive ways to spend the money. Such as increasing the RAM if it's not maxed out, getting an external Thunderbolt 2 drive, buying a more comfortable chair. 😉

It just seems to be money not well spent IMHO.

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Answer 10

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,118 points

Dec 31, 2015 5:32 AM in response to dialabrain

Read the first post carefully: al_lewis has already made up his mind, he wants to know the possible pitfalls.

What he wants to do is very possible, and he knows now how to do it. He knows that the FD has to be split first and he found how to do it.

But he may need the chair !! 😁

have a good evening and a wonderful 2016.

Lex

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Answer 11

dialabrain

Level 10

137,311 points

Dec 31, 2015 5:35 AM in response to Lexiepex

SMH. I read the post carefully TYVM. Obviously if he wants to know the pitfalls he hasn't made up his mind and would have replaced it already. But thanks for your input. 😁

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