iMac HDDs no longer replaceable in newest line-up

Section: Macintosh / Apple Hardware, Desktop Macs, iMac

According to Other World Computing, Apple’s newest line of iMacs can no longer have their HDDs replaced because Apple has begun using 7-pin SATA power connectors being controlled by a combination of the cable and Apple’s proprietary firmware on the drive, rather than the former 4-pin connectors. The formerly used hard drives were replaceable with those of the same brand, due to Apple’s limitation through using specific thermal sensor cables connected to the hard drives which featured internal temperature sensing.

Quoted from OWC:

From our testing, we?ve found that removing this drive from the system, or even from that bay itself, causes the machine?s hard drive fans to spin at maximum speed and replacing the drive with any non-Apple original drive will result in the iMac failing the Apple Hardware Test (AHT). Even more depressing, the latest iMac EFI Update increased the speed of two internal eSATA ports to 6Gb/s speeds and one of them is the proprietary drive. Which can’t even take advantage of the speed increase.

Apple’s move from the already limiting replacement method to the current restrictive method is quite harmful to those who wish to upgrade their HDD to one with more storage, or replace one that is failing. Apple has still left the ability to add your own extra SSD in the open drive bay, however, forcing those in need of a replacement HDD to bring their iMac into an Apple Store.

Apple is known to be restrictive when it comes to replacing parts of their products, shown especially in their mobile hardware (such as with the battery of an iDevice). However, restricting the ability to replace your own hard drive on your iMac seems a bit over-the-top.

Via [OWC Blog]

Full Story » | Written by Patrick Lutz for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

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