Upgrade a 21.5" Mid 2010 iMac with a Solid State Drive

Full walkthrough here: http://ryantrotz.com/2011/09/ssd-upgrade-on-a-mid-2010-imac/

My first video tutorial. I'll show you how to upgrade a 21.5 inch, mid-2010 iMac with a solid state drive. I also cover enabling TRIM, and reducing the fan noise post-installation.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• imac
• ssd
• replace
• hard
• drive
• trim
• fan
• noise
• 2010
• solid
• state

[TiagoAppreviews]

the vid is cool

but i have a question

is it possible to install a ssd without replacing the hdd?

[RyanTrotz]

@TiagoAppreviews It is possible to add an SSD with the existing internal hard drive, but you have to remove the logic board. I found another video (search YouTube for "DoVmmsg1xas" -- i can't link in the comments) showing the process.

I didn't want to remove the logic board. I have a 500GB external hard drive that I use as a holding place for my media before it gets pushed onto my 8TB NAS. But yes, it is entirely possible.

[swampert543]

Thank you very much for showing us how to do this.

I have just 2 questions for you:

1) What is that gray thing you put on the SSD at 5:00 ?

2) Does this guide work also on a late 2009 iMac?

PS sorry for any eventual grammar/spelling error, i’m italian ;)

[RyanTrotz]

@swampert543

1) The gray thing I put on the SSD was a little foam cushion i found on the hard drive when it was removed. Probably not necessary, but I put it on anyway

2) I did a quick search online for 2009 iMac disassembly. The steps look pretty similar, and the hard drive is located in the same place. You should be able to use this guide (especially the post-install software stuff), but I would also Google a 2009 disassembly guide just in case there are any differences.

[reinis955]

removing the torx at the top isnt necessarly

[ADKIc3mAnX36O]

Can you make a video explaining how to reinstall everything that was on the old hard drive and if you have Windows on a other partition how can you put that too.

Thanks

[malias4]

hi there really helpful video. i ve got one question, will this work with the imac 21.5 i5 2.5ghz mid 2011 base model ?

[RyanTrotz]

@TiagoAppreviews While you can run an SSD externally, I wouldn't consider it a viable option UNLESS you connect it with eSATA (external SATA). Unfortunately the iMac only has external USB and FireWire connections; no SATA.

The theoretical maximum throughput of USB 2.0 is 480Mbit/sec. SATA 2.0 has a maximum throughput of 3Gbit/s.

I wouldn't put an SSD on a USB interface because you will lose the greatest advantage of the solid state drives: speed.

[mariopring]

Is TRIM necessary? I heard the GC is good enough.

[SamuelFielding]

Needs more bacon.

[sahanlak]

Great video thanks

[TiagoAppreviews]

@RyanTrotz removing it or removing it and replace it because when you remove it cant use it anymore xD