OWC: Apple frustreert opnieuw vervangen hdd's bij nieuwe iMacs - update

The prior blog entry could certainly gone more to technical detail and less about the writer’s opinions on the matter. That being said, we have many different blog contributors and with different styles and intent.

Michael did comment on the 2009 and 2010 thermal sensor bit, this wasn’t a news flash. With these models, there are plenty of work around options – with the simplest being using a replacement HDD of the same brand as came in your iMac. Nothing to do with firmware, all to do with a lack of standardization about HDD makers in terms of the pin connector for connecting to the thermal sensor out on a SATA Drive. That’s not Apple’s fault at all. Using a different brand drive is an option with a little tweaking… connecting a different end to that sensor cable that will mate up, using an external thermal sensor, or buying the Apple service part with the connection to the desired brand.

This changes dramatically with the 2011 model. While with 2009 and 2010 you could still have a thermal sensor operating with new drive you installed, feedback there from controlling the hdd bay fan speed. Further – Apple AHT passed without issue as well. That isn’t the case with the 2011 models currently. The 2011 iMacs revv up the fans revv up and AHT fails.

i posted about one possible solution using the HDD Fan Control which will over ride the Apple control and ramp fan speed based on your settings and the SMART reported temperature data.If you then short the thermal lines, really just closing the circuit, HardMac has now reported this is what Apple is doing on SSD only iMacs which apparently disables/ignores hdd bay thermal data and does so, as we’ve already seen and tested, without affecting the SATA port operation itself. Doing both the hardware mod and installing the fan control gives you an iMac that will pass the AHT test + have the fan ramping up when there is real heat from the hard drive to deal with too.

For those that aren’t worried about being able to run AHT, the software solution alone may very well suffice. We’re still testing and making sure any given profile will be correct for protecting the drive.
====

These iMacs are not an easy upgrade. That said, it’s a fair comment to note we should be more active in promoting the DIY aspects. Our 2010 upgrade program was focused largely on adding an eSATA port. Even with Thunderbolt, I think that is still of value for plenty of good reasons – but – with 6Gbp/s SATA 3.0 inside and SSD options maturing, drive upgrades now appeal to a much larger audience.

With warnings galore, once we’re comfortable with the ultimate solution – you will see us offer drive upgrade kits for these iMacs and likely older models as well… certainly for the SSD bay regardless of what happens with this HDD thermal reporting debacle.

Mike’s blog was directed at the DIY side of things, but with all the upgrade program mentions. We have supported users for DIY adding their own drives to 2010 and prior iMacs, but not visibly enough which can make a further perceived contradiction in the article. The article is effectively an opinion piece on some specific technical changes in the new 2011. In hindsight, had this article been in response to a report on these observed points, would have been perceived differently. We’re immersed in this stuff and, if nothing else, underplayed the news of the actual technical bit itself and… how much interest and pickup there would be on this matter. Once all solution options are fully played out, we already planned to cover that (and will) in a future blog.

Thanks for the commentary and feedback.

[Reactie gewijzigd door ppl op zaterdag 14 mei 2011 18:40]