[SOLVED] SSD on imac question

[ToineF]

So, I have an old imac (2010) and the Hard Drive just failed. it's at the shot and I was thinking about replacing it with a SSD.

Do I have to add a TRIM software or something like that to have the full potential. Do I have to change something in macOS to have my port as AHCI. Mac Os X is kinda crappy when it comes to flexibility.

I have a SSD on my windows built, but when it comes to mac.... everything seems complicated.

 

[ferwindjacks]

Not complicated at all. However, since your HDD failed you'd need to use another computer (Mac preferably I believe) to format your SSD I to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and then install the OS on there via disk or flash drive. To format, you're gonna need an enclosure (you can purchase cheap ones online) to plug into as an external drive. Might be another way, although I'm not sure.
It might be worth going to the Apple Store and talking with those guys (replacement drives are real cheap) or go on www.macsales.com and buy one of their custom SSDs.

 

[ToineF]

Your explanation is very complicated. Everything is so complicated in mac... always.

Actually the shop will install it. Theyw ill take care of the hardware part and all.

My question was more on the software side.

But you bring up a good problem. Once it's in... can't I just format and install mac os X on it?

 

[ferwindjacks]

Haha, I guess it's not complicated to me anymore.

I assume you're talking about the SSD when you say 'it'. I am 99% sure you would need an OS to format it in the first place. So in reality, you would need another computer to format the drive and install the OS.

On second thought, the newer macs have an 'internet secure' mode or something that you can install drivers and I believe the OS from. Yours is too old for that i think.

EDIT: you can also toss the SSD into the iMac by taking off the screen with plunger type things (don't know the name off the top of my head) and remove the CD drive and install an SSD instead. Then you can use software to create your own fusion drive.

A fusion drive is a proprietary term coined by apple where an SSD and HDD are tied together via software and the system dynamically learns what you use the most and seamlessly transfers that stuff over to the SSD while the stuff you don't use a lot is on the HDD. Really interesting to look into, if you're interested.

 

[ToineF]

Like I said as for the hardware, the shot will take care of it.

Once I get the computer back. Do I need a TRIM software or mac os X does it automatically?

 

[ferwindjacks]

Quick question: are you getting two hard drives installed (HDD and SSD) or just the SSD? I guess I'm getting a bit confused.

If they are just going to install the SSD, nothing more, then you're going to have to install the OS onto the drive yourself. I do believe the drive will format when you insert an OS disk.

TRIM software is an older term of software that pretty much means a backup for certain data. If you want to get the data off of your old drive, you will need some software for that but I do not know of any so I'm not the one to ask.

 

[ToineF]

Quick question: are you getting two hard drives installed (HDD and SSD) or just the SSD? I guess I'm getting a bit confused.

If they are just going to install the SSD, nothing more, then you're going to have to install the OS onto the drive yourself. I do believe the drive will format when you insert an OS disk.

TRIM software is an older term of software that pretty much means a backup for certain data. If you want to get the data off of your old drive, you will need some software for that but I do not know of any so I'm not the one to ask.

I will only have a SSD installed. I am simply replacing the older broken HHD with a SSD. So yes the OS will be installed on the SSD.

As for the TRIM. if you are unfamiliar with the term, you can read about it here: click here

 

[ToineF]

I guess I found this: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/37852/trim-enabler

Is it really necessary on mac or the OS does it? I am asking because windows 8 does it without additional software.

 

[ferwindjacks]

Several different definitions for that term, wasn't aware that this was what you were talking about.

I would say you need specific software however I'm not that familiar in the practice and do not think OSX comes with such thing unless it is hidden somewhere in disk utility...

A quick google search came up with this: http://www.cindori.org/software/trimenabler/
Sorry I can't come up with more info, I would not want to give knowledge on a subject I know nothing about.

 

[ferwindjacks]

To be honest OS X really does not install overhead and things don't get lodged into the system somewhere like Windows. I read up about it, and sounds like I would have no use for such a tool. CCleaner is good enough to clean up unused garbage.

 

[Ijack]

If it's a non-Apple SSD then you will almost certainly need to enable TRIM: http://www.mactrast.com/2013/11/enable-trim-ssds-os-x-mavericks/

 

[ToineF]

thanks for all the information:

I conitnued to read online and here is a bit more information:

Mac OS X 10.6.8–23 June 2011 [32] Although the AHCI block device driver gained the ability to display whether a device supports the Trim operation in 10.6.6 (10J3210),[33] the functionality itself remained inaccessible until 10.6.8, when the Trim operation was exposed via the IOStorageFamily and filesystem (HFS+) support was added.[citation needed] Mac OS X natively enables Trim only for Apple-branded SSDs; third-party utilities are available to enable it for other brands.

Microsoft Windows Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 - October 2009 [34][35] Windows 7 only supports trim for ordinary (SATA) drives and does not support this command for PCI-Express SSDs that are different type of device, even if the device itself would accept the command.[36] It is confirmed that with native Microsoft drivers the Trim command works in AHCI and legacy IDE / ATA Mode.[37] Windows 8 and later Windows operating systems support trim for PCI Express SSDs based on NVMe, and the unmap command which is a full analog of the trim command from Serial ATA for devices that use the SCSI driver stack.

So ya, I think if I have a non Apple SSD I need the TRIM software.