Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
7
Time Required
30 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
1
- Replacing the SATA HDD for SATA SSD
- 7 steps
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BackiMac Intel 27" Retina 5K Display (Late 2014 & 2015)
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Introduction
I’m disconnecting the SATA & power cable from the HDD, adding a 2.5" SSD (leaving the HDD in place).
What you need
Step 1
Replacing the SATA HDD for SATA SSD
- Opening the Retina iMac’s can be tricky and you need the right tools. And you’re going to need a few things to open the case and to install the SSD correctly.
- Here’s the current iFixit tear down that shows you what you’re getting into. iMac Intel 27" Retina 5K Display Teardown
- And from our friends at OWC, they have a great video on taking the HDD complete out and replacing it with an SSD, but this guide will show how to simply leave the HDD and install the SSD. https://vimeo.com/139364064
- Make sure to grab the essential tools like: Pro Tech Toolkit and Jimmy for opening up the iMac, although I used a medical scalpel, I found that the “guitar pick” was too weak and too thick. The “Jimmy” would be a great substitute for a scalpel.
- You will also need the OWC In-Line digital thermal sensor, so that the iMac temperature control stays under control. Otherwise you fans will spin at full speed. This OWC kit also includes the needed tape to close you iMac back up. https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20…
Opening the Retina iMac’s can be tricky and you need the right tools. And you’re going to need a few things to open the case and to install the SSD correctly.
Here’s the current iFixit tear down that shows you what you’re getting into. iMac Intel 27" Retina 5K Display Teardown
And from our friends at OWC, they have a great video on taking the HDD complete out and replacing it with an SSD, but this guide will show how to simply leave the HDD and install the SSD. https://vimeo.com/139364064
Make sure to grab the essential tools like: Pro Tech Toolkit and Jimmy for opening up the iMac, although I used a medical scalpel, I found that the “guitar pick” was too weak and too thick. The “Jimmy” would be a great substitute for a scalpel.
You will also need the OWC In-Line digital thermal sensor, so that the iMac temperature control stays under control. Otherwise you fans will spin at full speed. This OWC kit also includes the needed tape to close you iMac back up. https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20…
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Step 2
- The current iFixit and OWC guides have you disconnect the display cables, with this guide you don’t need to. I kept my iMac horizontal and after opening the display I simply used two standard pencils to prop up the display on both sides.
The current iFixit and OWC guides have you disconnect the display cables, with this guide you don’t need to. I kept my iMac horizontal and after opening the display I simply used two standard pencils to prop up the display on both sides.
Step 3
- So here you can see that I’ve detached the SATA cable from the HDD, attached the OWC thermal sensor cable and have already connected the SSD.
- The OWC cable is a bit stiff but all I had to do was twist it a bit so the SSD laid flat inside the iMac. This entire pocket where I show the SSD is normally empty and the perfect spot for a tiny SSD.
So here you can see that I’ve detached the SATA cable from the HDD, attached the OWC thermal sensor cable and have already connected the SSD.
The OWC cable is a bit stiff but all I had to do was twist it a bit so the SSD laid flat inside the iMac. This entire pocket where I show the SSD is normally empty and the perfect spot for a tiny SSD.
Step 4
- Next I attached the temperature sensor to the SSD, while keeping the cables as organized and compact as possible.
- Here I also secured the SSD down to the iMac with some 3M adhesive squares. Since the iMac is curved right here I needed something that would hold it in place but was also thicker than most adhesives. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00O1WFF8U
- I used four squares total, but I doubled them up. Stacking one on top of another twice; once on the back left and once on the front right.
Next I attached the temperature sensor to the SSD, while keeping the cables as organized and compact as possible.
Here I also secured the SSD down to the iMac with some 3M adhesive squares. Since the iMac is curved right here I needed something that would hold it in place but was also thicker than most adhesives. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00O1WFF8U
I used four squares total, but I doubled them up. Stacking one on top of another twice; once on the back left and once on the front right.
Step 5
- For the final step I simply zip tied the thermal sensor cable to the HDD bracket to keep everything in place.
- I also wanted to pull the OWC cable down away from the display as much as possible. As you can see from the second picture there is still plenty of room as the OWC cable and zip tie are well below the HDD and fan exhaust.
For the final step I simply zip tied the thermal sensor cable to the HDD bracket to keep everything in place.
I also wanted to pull the OWC cable down away from the display as much as possible. As you can see from the second picture there is still plenty of room as the OWC cable and zip tie are well below the HDD and fan exhaust.
Step 6
- That’s it! I can’t use the 2TB HDD, but I was able to install an SSD with minimal effort and risk without removing the display, disconnecting the display cables, or removing the speaker, or HDD.
- As a bonus, the HDD versions of the iMac come as “Fusion Drives” so the have a PCIe SSD attached as well. Mine had a 128GB SSD installed so I do have access to that as an extra drive now. I plan to install Windows on the PCIe drive via Boot Camp.
That’s it! I can’t use the 2TB HDD, but I was able to install an SSD with minimal effort and risk without removing the display, disconnecting the display cables, or removing the speaker, or HDD.
As a bonus, the HDD versions of the iMac come as “Fusion Drives” so the have a PCIe SSD attached as well. Mine had a 128GB SSD installed so I do have access to that as an extra drive now. I plan to install Windows on the PCIe drive via Boot Camp.
Step 7
- For the last step you need to remove and replace all the 3M double sided tape found on the iMac outer rim. In step 1 I list buying the thermal sensor that comes with the 3M tape.
For the last step you need to remove and replace all the 3M double sided tape found on the iMac outer rim. In step 1 I list buying the thermal sensor that comes with the 3M tape.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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Justin Winchester
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PCosta - Oct 11, 2016
Reply
Hello, in the last part of closing the iMac, what is the adhesive that you use? I bought some on ebay but its not strong enough. thanks.
Justin Winchester - Oct 27, 2016
My link was in the post: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20…
It includes the thermal sensor and the tape.
Evan - Oct 21, 2016
Reply
If you are installing an SSD to replace the HDD on iMac 2013 and later, you don’t even need the thermal sensor cable from OWC because the heat info will be read through S.M.A.R.T. I think that OWC thermal cable for iMac 2013 and later is a scam. The reason why you need the thermal sensor is that Seagate HDD has a proprietary thermal port back in 2010. The thermal info cannot be read by SMART back then. The new iMac from 2013 (probably 2012 included) will no longer need the thermal sensor cable.
Well, unless someone has a definitive answer on if it’s needed or not I’d still recommend it. Plus it comes with the tape needed to secure the iMac.
chrisrayrobertson - Dec 6, 2016
Reply
Doesn’t the newly installed SSD block the fans natural airflow path being placed there?
