Late 2014 imac (A1419) replace Fusion setup

Question

Level 1

37 points

Late 2014 imac (A1419) replace Fusion setup

Hi all.

I've searched the forums but can't find the exact answer for this question, but apologies if it has been answered.

I currently have a Fusion setup, with the built in SSD (256gbp I think.. I'm not near the computer at the moment) and a 3tb platter hard drive. I wish to upgrade this for speed, and also as the existing drive will now be pushing 6 years old (It was replaced due to failure about 6 years ago).

The iMac is still usable for what I need at home, as I also have a MacBook pro for the bulk of the work I do.

I obviously wish to use an SSD now which will be faster, but my question comes around the Fusion setup.

Would it be better to remove the existing SSD and HD and replace with a single 4tb NVME SSD in the SSD slot and have no secondary hard drive on the SATA bus?

Or, remove the existing SSD and use a 2.5inch SSD with a 3.5 adapter in place of the existing Sata Hard drive, but without the built in SSD? I gather there would be no real benefit to having a fusion setup anyway if I'm using an SSD.

Or for the sake of it do I leave the original SSD in place, add the new SSD on the Sata bus and retain the fusion setup, if for no other reason than it gives me a bit more storage space?

Lastly, I know I'd need to do a new install of the OS then recover everything from Time Machine which I'm happy to do. If I go for the last option, will it automatically setup the fusion part again? If I do a time machine restore, I can't remember if it gives the option of which partition to restore to, so I don't want to get muddled if I put the OS on the original SSD but then want to recover my Time machine backup to the secondary bigger SSD.

Hope that all makes sense!

Posted on Nov 18, 2024 4:49 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

varjak paw

Level 10

177,718 points

Nov 18, 2024 8:24 AM in response to Glyn Harper

OK, well, if that's what you want to do, I'd recommend that you consider one of OWC's upgrade kits:

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-21.5-inch/2013-2019

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/imac-27-inch/2013-2019

That would give you everything you need. There won't be any point in trying to rebuild a Fusion Drive after you replace the hard drive since the entire point of the Fusion Drive was to ameliorate the slower speed of a magnetic hard drive.

But that's a lot of work and expensive to go through for a ten-year-old iMac. You could get a five-year-newer iMac from OWC for not that much more than the cost of the SSD and processor for that old unit. Up to you, of course.

Regards.

Reply

Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

177,718 points

Nov 18, 2024 6:11 AM in response to Glyn Harper

I would instead just get an external Thunderbolt SSD, install macOS on that, and just boot from that drive. It'll perform just as well, most likely, and be a lot less hassle than trying to replace the internal drive.

Regards.

Reply

Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

143,958 points

Nov 18, 2024 8:49 AM in response to Glyn Harper

Another vote for going with an external SSD!!! Doing major surgery on an 11 year old computer can be very risky as the internal cables get brittle with age and can easily be broken and then are irreplaceable. Be smart, go with an external SSD!

Reply

Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

82,462 points

Nov 18, 2024 7:14 AM in response to Glyn Harper

+1

I would also run that iMac from an external SSD instead of doing an internal upgrade.

see > Use an external SSD as your startup disk … - Apple Community

Reply

Answer 5

den.thed

Level 10

82,462 points

Nov 18, 2024 8:54 AM in response to Glyn Harper

In addition, don't count on upgrading the iMac's CPU like a PC. The iMac's logic board can only accept a like i7 CPU for that model, if you can find one.

Reply

Answer 6

Old Toad

Level 10

210,591 points

Nov 18, 2024 2:51 PM in response to Glyn Harper

You should consider getting an M4 Mac Mini (16GB RAM, 1TB internal storage) for $999 and a 3rd party 27" monitor for anywhere between $100 - $350 depending on its features, i.e. speakers, 4K or 5K, etc.

And that model would only be able to run macOS 11 - Big Sur which is no longer supported by Apple. Since it wasn't offered with an i7 CPU I don't think you would be able to swap the current CPU out for an i7. The rest of the motherboard probably would not be compatible with it.

It would run rings around your current Mac and be good for the next 5 years. It would also come with AppleCare for 1 year and eligible for AC's 3 year extension if so desired.

Since your iMac is considered obsolete you'll have problems getting parts and will pay a premium for them and there would be no warranty for them. I'd check the prices of the parts you're wanting to upgrade and see how that stacks up to a new Mini.

Reply

Answer 7

Glyn Harper Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 18, 2024 7:11 AM in response to varjak paw

Thanks. I did consider that option. I'm just a little OCD though and I hate the thoughts of my main operating system and data drive being outside on an external cable. It feels like walking around with a drip attached! Also, if and when the internal hard drive does fail, I don't want constant error messages and the 'click of doom' clicking away while I'm trying to work, it would just stress me out too much. :o)

My main job is in I.T. so I'm more than confident in opening up and getting the motherboard out, as well as carrying out the reinstallation of the OS. Macs are not my area of expertise though as I work with Windows server and infrastructure all day, so I have a mac for my own use as I need that luxury after a hard day of work. It's like a taxi driver driving a cab all day, then going home in his Bentley! Hence the request for advice in an area that I know technically how to do.. but not the best way to do it because the Fusion setup is alien to anything I've worked with before.

So, a solution upgrading the internals is what I'm looking for. I'm also going to upgrade the CPU to an i7 4790K while I'm at it, so the screen is going to be off anyway when I do this.

Reply

Answer 8

Glyn Harper Author

Level 1

37 points

Nov 18, 2024 11:14 AM in response to varjak paw

Thanks! I’ll go to that link now.

i know it’s a lot of work and money, but i love the 27” model and ultimately once its got an SSD in it, it should be much better for what i need it for.

and yeah, its old, but i do like keeping things going if they’re doing the job still. Reduce, reuse any recycle and all that. 😊

thanks Gain for the advice.

Reply