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I’m considering the iMac Intel 21.5" (Late 2012-2019) SSD Upgrade Bundle iMac Intel 21.5" (Late 2012-2019) SSD Upgrade Kit
I reviewed the Replacement Guide. I’ve looked at some forums. Several issues come up that are not addressed by the Replacement Guide. Is the enclosure in the picture mounted inside the IMac, or do I need an additional bracket that I would have to purchase separately. To me, the enclosure in the photo does not look like it would fit in the iMac. In other words, is the bundle complete?What about the heat sensor. Is that addressed by the bundle?I read that IMac need the same brand hard drive as the came with originally. If I am going from a mechanical hard drive to an SSD, that would not be possible. What am I missing? All of this to say, can I buy the bundle, trust Ifixit, and not worry about anything and just follow the Guide and expect it to work or do I need to worry about everything I ever read on the internet about this and ask every question until I get frustrated. Update (09/04/2022)
Here is my iMac info. I already have USB adaptor that plugs into a hard drive, so I don’t need the enclosure that comes with the bundle. I’m upgrading my RAM at the same time as the hard drive, so I don’t think I need the bundle at all, just the hard drive and whatever extras, discussed below. Am I understanding this correctly, that I DO NOT need the thermal sensor (because I have a 21.5")? Am I also correct that the brand of the SSD does not need to match whatever brand of hard drive I currently have in the iMac? It appears that I also need a adaptor bracket. The SSD is not the same size as a mechanical hard drive so this bracket holds the SSD but also mounts to the larger space left by the replaced hard drive. It appears that this bracket is not included in the bundle. Can someone please provide a link to that bracket? What else, if anything, do I need to complete this task? I don’t want to find out that I’m missing something once the computer is open. Thanks.
Is the enclosure in the picture mounted inside the IMac, or do I need an additional bracket that I would have to purchase separately. To me, the enclosure in the photo does not look like it would fit in the iMac. In other words, is the bundle complete?The Case is to hold your original drive externallyWhat about the heat sensor. Is that addressed by the bundle?This series uses 2.5" drives which leverage S.M.A.R.T. services as such no external sensor needed unlike th 27" modelsI read that IMac need the same brand hard drive as the came with originally. If I am going from a mechanical hard drive to an SSD, that would not be possible. What am I missing?Different series have different needs. The older 2009 & 2010 systems leveraged the internal manufactures diagnostics sensor. In the 2011 systems Apple had the drive makers alter their drives which is why you need to use their drives unless you use a special external thermal sensor. So while I understand your concerns, this series is one of the easier ones to swap out. As long as you use care removing the display as its easy to damage if you don’t use the correct tools and techniques as described in the following guide iMac Intel 21.5" Retina 4K Display (2017) Hard Drive Replacement
Hi David, the enclosure is for you old HDD - by the cable it’s USB 3.x enclosure (external drive). About brand - I had WD/Crucial/SanDisk(WD)/OCZ and couple other brands in my iMac’s so I don’t think that you need same brand :) Can you give as exact model of your iMac please so we can help you bit more :) Rob
