Note after the SSD swap, check to make sure TRIM support is enabled through system report. TRIM is a method that helps the operating system free up space. It also helps prolong the drive's life and promote efficient operation. Its on by default if you bought a Mac with SSD, but if you upgraded later, you'll need to manually enable TRIM in the terminal after the installation.
Google: „In order to enable TRIM, you can open the "Terminal" application on your Mac, type in the command "sudo trimforce enable", and then enter your admin password to activate Trim. The system will ask you twice to confirm the execution. After this, the system will automatically reboot to implement trim support.“
I know this is a three year old video but it has helped me. I finally recovered my 27" iMac from 10+ years in storage. I've installed Debian 12 on it but I want to upgrade the ram and HD.
Hey - Thank you so much for this very clear and informative video. I purchased all the items you recommended and performed the changeout for the SSD and the iMac is like brand new! So happy with the improvement!
Thank you so much im thai in thailand just saw ur vid , i order tools from amazon (your link) took me 2-3 weeks to get it. finally update to ssd. Thank you soooo much
I must say BeefMaster, great instructions to breathe new life into my 2010 iMac. I would say it is now faster than my 2019 4.2 i7 iMac with its Fusion Drive.
@@2011tosaeast Hi, I didn't want to upgrade the OS on my 2010 because I need it to connect to a Mitsubishi DyeSub printer that doesn't support Catalina. Apparently High Sierra is the best you can do on a 2010 without installing lots of patches.
SSD are much more superior in performance than fusion drive Fusion drive are just SSHD meaning, a hybrid of ssd and hdd. 50% of its storage are ssd and the rest are hdd
Great video, I’m curious - you’re instructional video on swapping the HDD with a SSD in a 2011 iMac oddly seems more straight forward and simple when it came to the thermal sensor cable… in OWC’s video they appeared to remove the entire logic board. Confused on why this is.
Just done mine...i didnt need to disconnect all the cables , just swung screen out and used a couple of straps to hold it in place and accessed the old HDD easily to replace....left the thermal sensor off and used mac fan speed app...all woking fine
Got to say thank you for the excellent video. Cloned ssd from old hard drive, fitted new ssd and ram-computer speed completely different. Thanks once again
going to be be doing this real soon!!! not ready for a new PC but could benefit for a bit of a speed up. Question - how needed is the anti-static mat? I know when working with electronics things like this are recommended, but I will never use it again. Didn't hear anything about it in video but 20 bucks can get me like....a quarter tank of gas lolol
One simple safety measure that people miss, is using something to prop the screen back in it's fully tilted position whilst removing the screen. I stuff a soft pillow underneath the monitor, so it's trapped against the leg. With the screen tilted back it cannot fall out as you're removing the cables....it's very easy to rip out the delicate connectors, which are a pain to replace!
FYI, you don't need the thermal sensor kit by OWC. You can also install fan control programs that do it for free. That's what I did and it worked for me, at least.
Congrats on the excellent video. It made look easy. Could please tell me if this fix would work for the iMac Mid 2010, including the parts that you used (Heat sensor and SSD drive)? Thank you.
Thanks for this very easy to follow video tutorial. I have one question. is it true that after installing the SSD in a Mac you might not be able to upgrade your computer to newer IOS versions. I have run into that problem and so did a few people I talked to. thanks.
In my experience, Imacs collect tons of dust, even in fairly clean environments, and the heat caused by the blocked air passages makes the fans run at full speed and slows the computer down. I've had to take apart and clean two Imacs .... never had a similar problem with Apple laptops.
Great video! Thanks for the help. I just don't understand what to do after the new ssd is installed. I have a mac just like this one. But the hard drive on mine just died. I'd like to make a repair like you did, but after that what do I do to put everything back on? I have an external hard drive with time machine back ups. Thanks in advance for your time. Cheers!
Great video! I noticed you didn't plug the thermal sensor back into the motherboard. (maybe it wasn't recorded) Is that a step needed? Everything is working on my 2010 iMac except the fan is running all the time.
Like to say thanks for the video, I now have replaced the original hard drive for a ssd and it’s transferred it. Just waiting for some ram to arrive in the post. Thanks again
Try doing the NVRAM reset - restart and hold CMD+Option+P+R for about 15-20 seconds until you hear a second chime and the computer restarts. If you update RAM, the Mac may be having problems syncing with the new RAM, causing the fans to go full blast, and this should resolve it. You may have to do this once or twice.
Lifehack: go check out a nearby university overstock or recommissioned inventory. A lot of time they will upgrade entire departments and sell older models for really cheap.
I currently have a 2013 with i7, but my Sick Brain wants to buy another. This one is $99 with local pickup. The prices are dropping quickly due to fading mac OS support. I run Ubuntu so an i7 runs strong.
Really well explained and helpful. Thank you very much. I can do this sort of thing but I do need a clear, careful, well-paced explanation and that is precisely what this was. Much appreciated
Good job but IMHO you should have disassembled it further to remove the heatsinks, clean these and apply new thermal paste, after 10 years this might be really dry and it's especially bad for the GPU, these Radeons seem to be prone to failure (at least these are MXM modules and not soldered directly to the logic board, but there aren't many MXM cards on the market and you pay easily 50 bucks and more for these decade-old GPUs that might get completely outperformed by a modern IGP like Intel Xe, Radeon Vega 8, Apple M1 7-Core or low-spec cards like the GT 1030 or RX 6400). And install Macs Fan Control, so you can keep an eye on the temperatures, even the free version allows you to chosse a temperature source, a temperature when the fan should ramp up and a maximum one.
Hi there, Great video, I followed it exactly and everything works great except the fans are running at full speed even though I did attach the thermal cable. Does it matter if it's at the front or back of the SSD? Does the SSD capacity (1TB) make a difference in the fan operation? Thanks a lot!
Good question. If the fans are running full blast you will likely need to do a NVRAM reset so the computer will recognize the new hardware. To do that, reset the computer and hold CMD+option+P+R. Steps are around the 10:33 mark.
High Sierra is its highest software that the iMac 2011 can go up to, but you can also use patchers to get to Monterey (would highly recommend getting a better gpu that supports metal if you do this tho)
I just bought one of these really cheap and looking at upgrading bits, though the older gentleman said it had an SSD installed. When you installed this SSD, when you go to Storage, does it still say SATA? I don't want to open up the screen for no reason (because it's connected by SATA, i wonder if that makes a difference?)
Hello, I'm facing a very difficult problem with my iMac 27" 2011. After replacing the motherboard, CPU (upgraded to i7 2600), SSD, RAM, and reinstalling the system, the fans are running at full speed, and the CPU is stuck at a low frequency (1.7 GHz). I don't know how to fix this, and I would be very grateful if you could help!
Is there an original thermal sensor attached to the HDD? I think I saw it in another video. Do I just leave it there hanging when I reassemble the computer? Thanks!
Will this upgrade make my 2011 iMac capable of using the latest mac OS? Lately, I get more notices that it is becoming obsolete, for example does not support new upgrades to OS, certain programs, etc.
No, but if you search around on the net or on youtube there are procedures for upgrading an EOL'ed Mac to the new OS. It will run slow. I think you can also load other OS'es on it, including Linux.
You could but if you have a 2011or older iMac it would be loading everything at USB 2.0 speeds. I can say when I double checked drive after cloning that it did boot up faster via usb than it did with my original hard disk though.
Hello brother, I have a problem with replacing the hard disk because there are three cables in the Mac and the new disk does not have a place for the small cable, so what is the solution please, knowing that it is the same as your computer
To copy data from your old HDD to your new SSD, the video can be found here: ua-cam.com/video/oB4FlLduMd0/v-deo.html
Note after the SSD swap, check to make sure TRIM support is enabled through system report. TRIM is a method that helps the operating system free up space. It also helps prolong the drive's life and promote efficient operation. Its on by default if you bought a Mac with SSD, but if you upgraded later, you'll need to manually enable TRIM in the terminal after the installation.
How do we do this?
I guess we'll have to UA-cam or Google how to do It since you didn't offer any how tos😮💨
Google: „In order to enable TRIM, you can open the "Terminal" application on your Mac, type in the command "sudo trimforce enable", and then enter your admin password to activate Trim. The system will ask you twice to confirm the execution. After this, the system will automatically reboot to implement trim support.“
This is how repair videos should be made. Very well done. Clean too and with Ccose-up details. Thanks.
I wish the whole UA-cam community of creators will make videos like this.
Thanks Beefmaster,,2011 21.5” loads and runs quicker than l can click,l was about to buy the latest model but now,no longer required,bravo👍🏻👌🏻
Awesome. Thanks for the comment. Glad it runs much better now. This upgrade makes a huge difference.
I know this is a three year old video but it has helped me. I finally recovered my 27" iMac from 10+ years in storage. I've installed Debian 12 on it but I want to upgrade the ram and HD.
Hello, thanks for the video. But there is a question, how and when did you install ios on a new ssd?
Hey - Thank you so much for this very clear and informative video. I purchased all the items you recommended and performed the changeout for the SSD and the iMac is like brand new! So happy with the improvement!
Awesome, Andrew. Thanks for watching and for the comment.
Best video I've seen for upgrading an imac with an ssd and extra ram. Very professional.👍
Thank you sir
Very helpful! I just upgraded my memory to 16 GB and I will be installing my SSD over the weekend. Thank you.
Thank you so much im thai in thailand just saw ur vid , i order tools from amazon (your link) took me 2-3 weeks to get it. finally update to ssd. Thank you soooo much
Sawasdee, honey ice! Thanks for watching all the way in Thailand. You are awesome.
I must say BeefMaster, great instructions to breathe new life into my 2010 iMac. I would say it is now faster than my 2019 4.2 i7 iMac with its Fusion Drive.
Were you able to upgrade the OS as well?
@@2011tosaeast Hi, I didn't want to upgrade the OS on my 2010 because I need it to connect to a Mitsubishi DyeSub printer that doesn't support Catalina. Apparently High Sierra is the best you can do on a 2010 without installing lots of patches.
SSD are much more superior in performance than fusion drive
Fusion drive are just SSHD meaning, a hybrid of ssd and hdd. 50% of its storage are ssd and the rest are hdd
Dear friend thank you for the informative video but at the end you didn’t show how to install the operating system on the new ssd
Great video, I’m curious - you’re instructional video on swapping the HDD with a SSD in a 2011 iMac oddly seems more straight forward and simple when it came to the thermal sensor cable… in OWC’s video they appeared to remove the entire logic board. Confused on why this is.
Just done mine...i didnt need to disconnect all the cables , just swung screen out and used a couple of straps to hold it in place and accessed the old HDD easily to replace....left the thermal sensor off and used mac fan speed app...all woking fine
Got to say thank you for the excellent video. Cloned ssd from old hard drive, fitted new ssd and ram-computer speed completely different. Thanks once again
going to be be doing this real soon!!! not ready for a new PC but could benefit for a bit of a speed up. Question - how needed is the anti-static mat? I know when working with electronics things like this are recommended, but I will never use it again. Didn't hear anything about it in video but 20 bucks can get me like....a quarter tank of gas lolol
One simple safety measure that people miss, is using something to prop the screen back in it's fully tilted position whilst removing the screen. I stuff a soft pillow underneath the monitor, so it's trapped against the leg. With the screen tilted back it cannot fall out as you're removing the cables....it's very easy to rip out the delicate connectors, which are a pain to replace!
FYI, you don't need the thermal sensor kit by OWC. You can also install fan control programs that do it for free. That's what I did and it worked for me, at least.
Great video but i don't understand How to install mac OS?
Wow! Thank you! So, concise and easy to follow. I really appreciate this video!
Thank you! But how did you install macos on the new disk?
I would like to know what to do when empty SSD is in.. Nothing happens.. 2012 27" El capitan
Not to nit-pick, but the large cable is power and the smaller one is data on the SATA cables you hook to the hard drive. :)
Congrats on the excellent video. It made look easy. Could please tell me if this fix would work for the iMac Mid 2010, including the parts that you used (Heat sensor and SSD drive)? Thank you.
What an awesome video. It definitely made me feel like I would be able to do this but I need to get all the tools. Thank you for this!
I’m installing it tonight!!
Great video. I’m trying to upgrade my 2011 soon as I get the new ssd and ram.
Thanks for this very easy to follow video tutorial. I have one question. is it true that after installing the SSD in a Mac you might not be able to upgrade your computer to newer IOS versions. I have run into that problem and so did a few people I talked to. thanks.
In my experience, Imacs collect tons of dust, even in fairly clean environments, and the heat caused by the blocked air passages makes the fans run at full speed and slows the computer down.
I've had to take apart and clean two Imacs .... never had a similar problem with Apple laptops.
You can go all the way to 32 gigs of ram and even upgrade the processor to a xeon and put in a Baffin 4gb video card. Those 2011's were awesome.
What an awesome video, clear, detailed, well explained, I’ll be trying this on my Mac soon, do you have a video for upgrading the graphics?
Great video! Thanks for the help. I just don't understand what to do after the new ssd is installed. I have a mac just like this one. But the hard drive on mine just died. I'd like to make a repair like you did, but after that what do I do to put everything back on? I have an external hard drive with time machine back ups. Thanks in advance for your time. Cheers!
Wouldnt recommend 4 channel Ram like, Just use 16gb (2x8) ram or 32gb (2x16) in dual channel, it gives higher performance.
Great job. The thermal paste should also be replaced :)
I wonder if there is an updated video of this since it's 2024??
Hey very nice video but I wanted to ask that do we need to install macros again while we put the new SSD as that would not be having any data
Great video. Very informative. Can you also do a video of replacing the optical drive with SSD?
Thank you for this and you even powered it on at the end to show that it works, other UA-cam vids don't show this.
Very informative and lots of extra tips to be aware of. nice background music. keeps one engaged while watching you loosen screws. 🤪
Great video! I noticed you didn't plug the thermal sensor back into the motherboard. (maybe it wasn't recorded) Is that a step needed? Everything is working on my 2010 iMac except the fan is running all the time.
This was awesome, thank you! I only wish my late 2012 model was as easy to upgrade. Maybe I’ll just look for an older model!
Like to say thanks for the video, I now have replaced the original hard drive for a ssd and it’s transferred it. Just waiting for some ram to arrive in the post. Thanks again
Very well explained. Many thanks!!! Thanks to your video I dare going ahead with this upgrade. Avesome!!!!!
Option Command R P to Reset RAM on boot said around 10:39
Launching similar mods on my late 2009 iMac I followed You tutorial --> well done 👍
Awesome. Thanks for the comment.
Hi , thank you for the video, can you also help how to upgrade the GPU and Masoc higher version for i mac 2011
Isn't there a software fix for the heat sensor?
Hi, thanks for the material. My iMac is very noisy, how did you solve this problem ?
Try doing the NVRAM reset - restart and hold CMD+Option+P+R for about 15-20 seconds until you hear a second chime and the computer restarts.
If you update RAM, the Mac may be having problems syncing with the new RAM, causing the fans to go full blast, and this should resolve it. You may have to do this once or twice.
No restore option on disk utility?
When in DIsk Utility in EL Capitan you have to Go to Edit in Menu bar and select Restore
The 2011 are a more-friendly model, as no adhesive strips are needed. Though I'm currently looking at a 2010, the front-side bus is slower.
Lifehack: go check out a nearby university overstock or recommissioned inventory. A lot of time they will upgrade entire departments and sell older models for really cheap.
I currently have a 2013 with i7, but my Sick Brain wants to buy another. This one is $99 with local pickup. The prices are dropping quickly due to fading mac OS support. I run Ubuntu so an i7 runs strong.
this will definitely help for my interview tomorrow. Thanks :D
Thank you! Is the 2010 model similar to this?
TOP 2021 TUTORIAL! Million Thanks for this...definitely will follow to upgrade the same old iMac that I'm still using.
Thanks for the comment.
Great video ‘ I gave one to my daughter but need to get another .
Really well explained and helpful. Thank you very much. I can do this sort of thing but I do need a clear, careful, well-paced explanation and that is precisely what this was. Much appreciated
Excellent video, time to upgrade my trusty 2011. I'll also upgrade to the latest compatible OS. TKU
What about formatting the new SSD ??
Best video tutorial 🌷🥰👍
Thanks so much for watching.
Thanks for making this, really nice clear tutorial!
this seems great !!!!! you made me want to do an upgrade on my 11 year old imac
What a great instructional video - thanks for sharing.
Pls change hard drive cable
Good job but IMHO you should have disassembled it further to remove the heatsinks, clean these and apply new thermal paste, after 10 years this might be really dry and it's especially bad for the GPU, these Radeons seem to be prone to failure (at least these are MXM modules and not soldered directly to the logic board, but there aren't many MXM cards on the market and you pay easily 50 bucks and more for these decade-old GPUs that might get completely outperformed by a modern IGP like Intel Xe, Radeon Vega 8, Apple M1 7-Core or low-spec cards like the GT 1030 or RX 6400).
And install Macs Fan Control, so you can keep an eye on the temperatures, even the free version allows you to chosse a temperature source, a temperature when the fan should ramp up and a maximum one.
Thanks for the vid! My iMac opens everything faster than new!
I don't have an Apple keyboard. What keys do I hold for the reboot? Thanks!
What year is this imac and there was no screws you had to remove ?
Hi there, Great video, I followed it exactly and everything works great except the fans are running at full speed even though I did attach the thermal cable. Does it matter if it's at the front or back of the SSD? Does the SSD capacity (1TB) make a difference in the fan operation? Thanks a lot!
Good question. If the fans are running full blast you will likely need to do a NVRAM reset so the computer will recognize the new hardware. To do that, reset the computer and hold CMD+option+P+R. Steps are around the 10:33 mark.
is it possible to plug that sensor in backwards? Might you have done that?
Hi. Did you have to reload the OS?
can you also upgrade the graphics card?
Thank you! This was the best tutorial out there ❤
Hey BeefMaster: With the new SSD, can you update the OS to something more recent?
Good question. Did you every got the answer to your question ?
High Sierra is its highest software that the iMac 2011 can go up to, but you can also use patchers to get to Monterey (would highly recommend getting a better gpu that supports metal if you do this tho)
will i be able to update to the latest mac os?
Best video on this procedure
Can you update to the latest version MACOS after the upgrade , my late 2013 cannot upgrade higher then Catalina
Nice one dude. Thanks
I just bought one of these really cheap and looking at upgrading bits, though the older gentleman said it had an SSD installed. When you installed this SSD, when you go to Storage, does it still say SATA? I don't want to open up the screen for no reason (because it's connected by SATA, i wonder if that makes a difference?)
You are a good soul. Thank you.
Hello,
I'm facing a very difficult problem with my iMac 27" 2011. After replacing the motherboard, CPU (upgraded to i7 2600), SSD, RAM, and reinstalling the system, the fans are running at full speed, and the CPU is stuck at a low frequency (1.7 GHz). I don't know how to fix this, and I would be very grateful if you could help!
Which is window perfect for iMac?
I love it! Thank so much you.
Really good job, Sir.
What size bit is needed for screws?
Is there an original thermal sensor attached to the HDD? I think I saw it in another video. Do I just leave it there hanging when I reassemble the computer? Thanks!
Nice job! Thank you.
wow, thats really great, congratulations. professional
I’m not tech savvy so I didn’t understand how you got 20gigs of ram? Can you dumb it down for me?
Will this upgrade make my 2011 iMac capable of using the latest mac OS? Lately, I get more notices that it is becoming obsolete, for example does not support new upgrades to OS, certain programs, etc.
No, but if you search around on the net or on youtube there are procedures for upgrading an EOL'ed Mac to the new OS. It will run slow. I think you can also load other OS'es on it, including Linux.
Thank you
Please!
How can a power cable send info temp to the fans?
Can you please help to understand?
Superb video, thanks
so it does not accept ddr4 and above? not gonna lie it quite fast even with 4gig ddr3, imagine it with newer ram..ddr4 at least..it'll be a wow..
Some much would someone charge for this service done? Lil tedious but not difficult
What can be done for 2008 I mac. Can't upload newer software
can i use western digital Green ssd into the same imac 2010 mid 27"?
Great tutorial thanks
I tried holding control and command and r and p to reset the ram but it doesn’t work now I’m stuck in choosing start up drive
Will these parts fit a mid 2010 21.5"?
Could the SSD stay external and still be the main “hard drive”
You could but if you have a 2011or older iMac it would be loading everything at USB 2.0 speeds. I can say when I double checked drive after cloning that it did boot up faster via usb than it did with my original hard disk though.
thank you sooooo much！from 2022！！！！！！！！！！！！
Great video!
Hello brother, I have a problem with replacing the hard disk because there are three cables in the Mac and the new disk does not have a place for the small cable, so what is the solution please, knowing that it is the same as your computer
I had the same issue. The smaller cable is to do with the heat sync. No longer needed as software can fix that.