iMac 2009-2010 SSD Upgrade (IcyDock)

Written By: Arthur Shi

Comments: 10

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

40 minutes - 2 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to upgrade your iMac's hard drive with an SSD. It includes steps on installing the SSD's temperature sensor so that the Mac's fans will operate at the correct speed.

Prerequisite-only guide. SSD upgrade with temperature sensor for late 2009-2010 iMacs.

Tools

Phillips #1 Screwdriver

Parts

iMac Intel 21.5" and 27" (Late 2009-Mid 2010) SSD Upgrade Kit

Step 1

Only follow the next ten steps if you are replacing your hard drive with an SSD kit.
Depress the enclosure's front plate latch with your finger. While holding the latch down, swing the plate out.
Remove the front plate.

Quick and dirty hack : drill a hole in the bracket in the right place so you can screw the SSD to it (measure twice, drill once !) Move the rubber bit from the unused hole to the new one. As the SSD is very light and it’ll be hanging down from the bracket I think this is pretty safe. You’ll also need to find the right screws (M3?) with the proper length. Use mbpfan under linux (https://ineed.coffee/post/a-beginners-tu...) or whatever tool is available in OSX to control fan speed without a temp sensor.

Christophe Nagel - 27/11/20

There are several alternative mounts out there. I used this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabrent-Desktop...

It worked excellently and seems less complicated than the one above.

Ian Richardson - 02/12/20

Step 2

Line up the small SATA connectors so that the narrow side of the connector on the SSD matches the narrow side on the enclosure connector.
Slide the drive in through the front of the enclosure until the SATA connector is fully seated.
The SSD connects with the enclosure in only one way. If the connectors are not lining up, rotate the SSD and try again.

Step 3

You may optionally install two Philips #1 screws that came with the enclosure kit to secure the SSD in the enclosure.

Step 4

Plug the included sensor-enabled SATA power cable into the wide side of the enclosure's SATA connector.
The cable is keyed to connect in only one way. If you can't connect the cable, rotate it 180°, and try again.

Step 5

Peel the backing off of the adhesive back of the small temperature sensor board.
Adhere the temperature sensor board to an exposed, metal area of the surface of the SSD, as close as possible to the SATA connector.
Fold the excess temperature sensor wires so that they are out of the way while you install the enclosure.

Where do you get one of these sensor boards?

guywoodland - 30/04/19

I brought a cable on Amazon, all comes together! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B017...

dwright78 - 22/10/19

I can use the thermal sensor of cd-rom ?

I want to remove out the cd-rom .

NT Gabi - 26/12/19

Step 6

Install the mounting pins from the old hard drive onto the sides of the enclosure.
The holes on the enclosure may not be threaded, so screwing the mounting pins into them may require extra effort. Take your time and screw them in slowly, making sure they go in straight.

Step 7

Attach any mounting brackets removed from the old hard drive onto the enclosure.

Step 8

Connect the iMac's SATA power cable to the new temperature-capable SATA power cable.
Route the SATA cables where they will not interfere with any other components.

Step 9

Connect the iMac's SATA data cable to the enclosure's SATA data connector.

Step 10

Find a connector on the motherboard labeled HD TMP or HDD TEMP.
If you have trouble locating it, trace the two-wire temperature cable you disconnected from the old hard drive.
If the previous temperature cable is still connected to the board here, disconnect and remove it. You will no longer need it.
Connect the temperature sensor's two-wire red-black cable to the motherboard plug labeled HD TMP or HDD TEMP.
The connector is keyed to fit in one way only. If it seems like the connector is not fitting the socket, flip the connector and try again.
Route the excess wire so it does not interfere with any other components.

Amazing guide, thanks for making it!

I replaced my HDD with an SSD and am very happy with the result. Used an aluminium 2.5 to 3.5” adapter to properly locate the SSD in the machine. Using SSD Fan control app (free) and all is good.

The video connector (flat delicate cable) was quite difficult to put back but otherwise the install was not difficult.

Tim Biddulph - 12/08/18

In step 10 you mention that when re-installing the temperature sensor cable when using an SSD just remember to “flip” the cable so it’s installed reversed from when you unplugged it. This will make the fan run properly and not in high speed mode. So if this is all it takes then why bother with a temperature sensor board? Do SSD’s generate enough heat to warrant a temp sensor?

Great guide though; I plan on using this to swap out my HDD with a SSD soon. Will a third party migration program of HDD system to SSD work with the iMAC like it did for my HP computer?

Thanks!

Ken Short - 30/06/19

Hi Ken,

I’m not sure which part you are referencing in terms of flipping the cable to make the fan run properly. Step 10 only points out that the connector is keyed in a way such that you can only connect it in one orientation.

Without the temperature sensor board, the fans will run at full speed. There are some hardware hacks that may keep that from happening, but I would suggest getting software fan control instead to dial your fan speed down.

Third party migration software (such as Super Duper) should work. You may want to ask on the Answers forum to be sure.

Arthur Shi - 01/07/19

The problem (and solutions) are in reference to Apple using proprietary HDD connections. And incidentally, flipping the sensor connector is not a guaranteed fix, it is HDD dependant. Read:

https://blog.macsales.com/27918-owc-in-l...

And 3rd party Fan Controller software works fine, just be aware that Apple can effectively make 3rd party Apps non usable at any point, so what works fine today may not work at all tomorrow. Hardwired DOES overcome this possibility.

Rob Pellew - 06/07/19