Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

13

Time Required

                          30 minutes

Sections

1

  • iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2308 Dual drives. Replace DVD with SSD with fast SATA connector
  • 13 steps

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Introduction

with exceptions provided below

What you need

Step 1

              iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2308 Dual drives. Replace DVD with SSD with fast SATA connector
  • Task : 1) replace DVD drive with SSD, 2) leave original 3,5 HDD (or replace it with another 3,5 with more capacity), 3) make SSD bootable 4) use SSD at its full potential (limited by SATA II bus) speed. Referred guide - Installing iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2308 Dual Drive

Task : 1) replace DVD drive with SSD, 2) leave original 3,5 HDD (or replace it with another 3,5 with more capacity), 3) make SSD bootable 4) use SSD at its full potential (limited by SATA II bus) speed. Referred guide - Installing iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2308 Dual Drive

1024

Step 2

  • you don’t really need optical bay enclosure. I went with this cable which works the same, plus allows for a little trick below, but impossible with enclosure. https://youroptibay.ru/accessories/cable…

you don’t really need optical bay enclosure. I went with this cable which works the same, plus allows for a little trick below, but impossible with enclosure. https://youroptibay.ru/accessories/cable…

Step 3

  • My SSD is taped to inner part of imac’s body so it does not wobble inside. -Also make sure that you stick temp sensor from optical drive to smth cool inside (in my setup its cable is not long enough to reach ssd, which was placed all the way to 3,5 HDD - see below), DVD fan speed will depend on sensor’s correct placement.

My SSD is taped to inner part of imac’s body so it does not wobble inside. -Also make sure that you stick temp sensor from optical drive to smth cool inside (in my setup its cable is not long enough to reach ssd, which was placed all the way to 3,5 HDD - see below), DVD fan speed will depend on sensor’s correct placement.

Step 4

  • -NB: Don’t try to remove other end of sensor cable from its socket in the board - it will make your DVD fan run at full speed!

-NB: Don’t try to remove other end of sensor cable from its socket in the board - it will make your DVD fan run at full speed!

Step 5

  • if you connect your SSD (bootable) with data cable from DVD drive (like it is suggested in the referred guide) it will drop SSD’ R/W speed nearly twice (tested on emc 2308), apparently because DVD bus is slower than main HDD sata II.

if you connect your SSD (bootable) with data cable from DVD drive (like it is suggested in the referred guide) it will drop SSD’ R/W speed nearly twice (tested on emc 2308), apparently because DVD bus is slower than main HDD sata II.

Step 6

  • However, voltage from DVD connector is only enough to power a 2,5 drive (SSD) but not enough to power your 3,5 HDD in its place.

However, voltage from DVD connector is only enough to power a 2,5 drive (SSD) but not enough to power your 3,5 HDD in its place.

Step 7

  • Since that mini sata-sata cable is sufficiently long, you need to cut cable’s SATA connector (I used a cardboard knife) in two parts right where there is plastic bridge between two groups of connectors. Power is in wider (15pin) part and you can easily cut it right in the middle of plastic bridge. [Maybe better cables can be found on market, so no need to cut it]

Since that mini sata-sata cable is sufficiently long, you need to cut cable’s SATA connector (I used a cardboard knife) in two parts right where there is plastic bridge between two groups of connectors. Power is in wider (15pin) part and you can easily cut it right in the middle of plastic bridge. [Maybe better cables can be found on market, so no need to cut it]

Step 8

  • Note: my final setup is not shown in the picture. Here before minisata-sata cable was split and re-routed

Note: my final setup is not shown in the picture. Here before minisata-sata cable was split and re-routed

Step 9

  • Connect your released 15pin part of your minisata-sata cable to SSD and connect 7pin SATA data cable from your 3,5 HDD to SSD.

Connect your released 15pin part of your minisata-sata cable to SSD and connect 7pin SATA data cable from your 3,5 HDD to SSD.

Step 10

  • Leave your 3,5 HDD connected to 15pin SATA original power connector. Connect 7pin data cable from the split minisata-sata cable to your 3,5 HDD.

Leave your 3,5 HDD connected to 15pin SATA original power connector. Connect 7pin data cable from the split minisata-sata cable to your 3,5 HDD.

Step 11

  • In this setup power from DVD goes to SSD and power from original SATA 3,5 HDD powers HDD. Where fast data cable from 3,5 HDD connects to your SSD, and slow data cable from DVD goes to 3,5 HDD.

In this setup power from DVD goes to SSD and power from original SATA 3,5 HDD powers HDD. Where fast data cable from 3,5 HDD connects to your SSD, and slow data cable from DVD goes to 3,5 HDD.

Step 12

  • Be careful with tiny Vsync cable (Step 5 in the referred guide) the first one you detach when disconnecting display panel). In my case I bended it too hard and my display’s backlight was gone. So I had to cut off the damaged part and strip cable’s end with a blade;

Be careful with tiny Vsync cable (Step 5 in the referred guide) the first one you detach when disconnecting display panel). In my case I bended it too hard and my display’s backlight was gone. So I had to cut off the damaged part and strip cable’s end with a blade;

Step 13

  • and this wasn’t much fun because four metal contacts in the cable are just so tiny and thin, but it worked eventually.

and this wasn’t much fun because four metal contacts in the cable are just so tiny and thin, but it worked eventually.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Dmitry Baskin

Member since: 03/23/2012

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dasgeek - Oct 20, 2017

Reply

I tried this setup and I am not seeing the hard drive. I do see the SSD. Any thoughts?

Dmitry Baskin - Oct 21, 2017

Reply

Have you tried to connect them other way? Dvd to ssd, hdd to hdd?

dasgeek - Oct 21, 2017

Reply

Good suggestion. I have been out of town and thought the same thing. Will try and see.