Upgrading iMac HD?

Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
Hi there,



I have a 350MHz iMac with slot-loading CD-drive (No comments - I can't afford any better! ) . I was wondering how easy it is to upgrade the hard disk in these. Firstly, what kind of drive do I need?



Next up, how difficult is it to swap a drive in this machine? I have never done anythnig more difficult than installing memory. I have a PDF copy of the Apple Service Manual for this machine which is quite helpful. Now I just need to know what drive to buy, and is it woth trying? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />



Thanks

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    ITs not hard @ all... tool around @ xlr8yourmac like the other guy said...



    get a 7200 RPM 3.5 standard ATA drive and you cant go wrong (well 5400 will do, and is cheaper, but the speed benefit from the 7200 is worth it... IMO)



    I did the upgrade and its not that bad... only thing is thereis one part where you need to get screws out of a long thin place and a magnetic screwdriver will be a blessing... i didnt have one and it was a pain in the ass to get the screws back...



    also be careful not to strip any screws <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" /> <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" /> ...whoops... hehe
  • Reply 2 of 11
    neutrino23neutrino23 Posts: 1,561member
    I've upgraded the HD on two iMacs. The scariest part is where you remove the plastic cover. After the screws are removed there are some plastic hooks still holding it on. You just have to yank hard and it makes an awful noise but it seems OK.



    I suggest looking at xlr8yourmac.com for information about specific drives. There are many user supplied anecdotes there.



    I don't know where you get the information but there is a concern about using a drive with too high power consumption.
  • Reply 3 of 11
    Thanks for the help guys, I will give it a shot if I can find a suitable cheap drive. Catch you later.
  • Reply 4 of 11
    Hi all,



    Thanks again for your help. Now my problem is which make to buy. I have decided to probably go for a 40Gb 5400rpm drive (I am a bit concerend about the heat from a 7200rpm drive, and 5400 has done me ok so far )



    Has anyone any experience of any of the following drive makers;



    Maxtor

    Seagate

    Western Digital



    Anything else I should consider? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />



    Also, which drives come with good instructions? <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    Do certain brands tend to have problems with noise, heat or reliability? Thanks again, I look forward to your replies.
  • Reply 5 of 11
    scadboyscadboy Posts: 189member
    Ack! Do you have a firewire port? If so, just but an external drive, you'll be far better off and not even have to risk the operation. If not, then I'd talk to your local Mac Servicer and see how much they'd charge to install a larger harddrive. Bring your own drive, and see how much they'll charge you to plunk it in.



    ciao,



    michael
  • Reply 6 of 11
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    I agree with scadboy on both suggestions.



    But I don't think the 350MHz iMac came with FireWire. I'm not 100%, but for some reason, I'm thinking that model only came in blueberry, no FireWire and only a CD-ROM drive (as opposed to a DVD). If so, that rules out the external FireWire drive option.



    There's a great Mac-only shop here in town called Cry Wolf, and they do stuff like hard drive installations with their eyes closed. If I was in your situation, unless I was very confident and comfortable with the whole disassembly process (which I'm not), I'd much rather pay a pro to do it right. But that's just me.



    However, if you're up to it, Macworld magazine ran a very detailed article on this very topic in their October 2001 issue, complete with step-by-step instructions and photos.



    Better yet, here's the online version of that very article (even has the photos):



    <a href="http://www.macworld.com/2001/10/howto/imac.html"; target="_blank">http://www.macworld.com/2001/10/howto/imac.html</a>;







    Good luck!



    [ 06-12-2002: Message edited by: pscates ]</p>
  • Reply 7 of 11
    pscatespscates Posts: 5,847member
    By the way, I've always heard that it's best to stick with the 5400rpm drives in the slot-loading iMacs, due to their lack of fan.



    I've read several articles and guides (including the Macworld one above) that strongly recommend against putting a 7200rpm drive in that fanless, tight environment.
  • Reply 8 of 11
    Hi, thanks again.



    Think I will just stick with a 5400rpm drive then, sounds safer.



    I think I will just have a go at doing it myself, doesn't look terribly difficult - and no, I don't have firewire .



    Now, which drive to chose? I am thinking probably a Maxtor 40Gb 5400rpm drive which I saw for £62. Sound good? Anyone had good or bad experiences with Maxtor? Thanks again
  • Reply 9 of 11
    xaqtlyxaqtly Posts: 450member
    I have always had good experiences with Western Digital. their drives seem to be very reliable.
  • Reply 10 of 11
    jregojrego Posts: 56member
    I have had excellent experiences with Maxtor drives. I put a 60GB Maxtor 5400rpm in my mom's iMac DV+, and am glad I did. The drive is very quiet, reliable, and (of course) large enough OS X and all her movie-making stuff. We also have a database server with an 80GB 7200rpm Maxtor drive, and it's working very well.



    I have had a bad experience with Western Digital, and consequently don't trust them any more. My computer came with an 8GB Western Digital drive, and after three or four years of use, it started getting corrupted, making strange sounds, and generally showing signs that it was nearing the end of its life. Fortunately, I made a backup, and was able to pop in the 10GB drive that I took out of the iMac, and all is well (I believe that was a Maxtor as well). I also have a 20GB Seagate in my machine, and have had no problems with it. Of course, my experience with Western Digital isn't a universal thing. I've heard from friends who have Western Digital drives that are working fine.



    Using a 5400rpm drive instead of a 7200rpm or greater is probably a really good idea. I've noticed that the iMac gets hot as it is, and some of the adhesive for the cables seems to be removing itself. The fanless enclosure is nice (especially when coupled with a quiet drive), but it does have its disadvantages. Also, I would recommend working on your own computer if you're comfortable with it. Then you know exactly what was done, and can fix it yourself if anything goes wrong. I always work on my machines by myself, and I find that it's nice to know what's going on in there. Computers really aren't that delicate, just make sure to ground yourself and don't drop anything.
  • Reply 11 of 11
    Thanks Jergo, sound advice there.



    Think I will go with a 5400rpm 40Gb Maxtor drive then for £62. Sounds safe reliable, cool and quiet - winner on every front! If you don't hear from me in here for a bit, I have blown myself up trying to do the install!



    That should tide me over until we finally get G4 iBooks next year - here's hoping!
Sign In or Register to comment.