Want to highlight a helpful answer? Upvote!
Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >
Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >
I have replaced the hard disk drive in my late 2009 iMac 21.5". In the OWC video, it calls for a thermal sensor. My hard drive does not have one of the integrated ones. I was wondering if I really need it or will the computer run fine without it?
iMac
Well without it your HD fan will be running at high rpm's all the time. The good news is that you can also control the fans/temp through software. Here's a free program that works great. http://www.eidac.de/
Well without it your HD fan will be running at high rpm's all the time. The good news is that you can also control the fans/temp through software. Here's a free program that works great. http://www.eidac.de/
I will just buy the sensor. I'd like to have the system run quietly, without the use of software hacks.
Yes, you will need to deal with the fan issue. For that year model that's just the way it is. A few years ago I tested a system with Scannerz which told us the drive was pretty bad. Unaware of the fan problem at the time I just put a new drive in and the fans came on, which I assume is the problem you have.
The fan control programs work OK but some people warn about them possibly not kicking in when they're supposed to. We found the following kit from OWC solved the problem:
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/imacdiy/
There are several different kits listed and some of them have their own tools, which I assume you don't need.
Hope this helps.
It is where the information used to set fan speeds comes from.
Yes, it is
Yes, what is?
I know this has been marked as "solved" by using a fan control program, but for those interested, the kit that OWC sells is not just a cable, it includes a small thermal interface card along with a cable that "talks" to the SMC. The sensor is placed on top of the drive and then the original sensor cable that connected the original HDD to the logic board connects the new sensor to the logic board. Here's an OWC description:
A more detailed description of the kit is here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/DIDIMACHDD09/
Check out one of the install videos for a more detailed step-by-step instruction set. The kits are now selling just shy of $40, but they used to be near $100. I guess I can see why some may choose a software solution, especially if it's free and it works properly.
Is a thermal sensor really necessary for a replacement hard drive?
