SSDs work magic on your Mac. Whether you use your iMac for work or it’s your go-to device for watching films, gaming or your film-editing hobby, there’s always room for faster storage. As today’s SSDs continue to get quicker, manufacturers are able to offer smaller sizes and more affordable prices, making this non-volatile storage option a win-win.
To learn more about the benefits of iMac SSD upgrades, read our blog, “iMac Solid-State Drive: Advantages”.
Can’t be bothered to read this blog? That’s fine, the key point is, an SSD upgrade is the best thing you can do for an iMac, it will be faster than the day you purchased it. Just give us a call or complete the form at the bottom of the page.
What is an internal SSD?
There are two types of SSDs: internal solid-state drives and external solid-state drives. They both essentially operate in the same way but tend to be used for different purposes.
External SSDs are portable, meaning they can be plugged into certain computers to be used as additional storage. This is also a great way to back up your data. In contrast, internal SSDs are actually built into your iMac, using a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) bus interface to connect to your existing hard drives and optical drives via your host bus adapter. This connection can also be made using PCIe or Peripheral Component Interconnect Express – a high-speed serial computer-expansion bus standard.
Both SATA and PCIe have bigger bandwidths than USB or Thunderbolt connections, which are typically used for external SSDs. This makes internal SSDs much faster than their external counterparts. PCIe also tends to outperform SATA when it comes to the speediest internal SSD connection.
Internal and external solid-state drives are available at similar price points, so cost isn’t really a deciding factor. Having said that, you will need to purchase additional casing, cables and packaging to protect your external SSD, so internal solutions can prove safer and more cost-effective in the long run, despite the fact that you will need a professional to upgrade your current iMac to SSD.
What’s the difference between HDD and SSD?
Solid-state drives and hard-disk drives are both types of non-volatile data storage. This means that they are able to retain data even when your iMac is switched off. The major difference between the two is that hard-disk drives spin in order to function, whereas SSDs remain in a solid state. In other words, SSDs don’t move.
You might not think it, but this distinction makes a world of difference when it comes to performance. With an iMac SSD upgrade, your computer will be faster, smoother and more energy efficient, remaining cool without the need for a noisy fan.
What is an iMac SSD upgrade?
Although iMac SSD upgrades can be incredibly beneficial, upgrading to internal SSD storage is somewhat complex. You will need to take your iMac apart and may even need to remove the screen, which is why we only recommend upgrading iMac with SSD with the help of a trained professional.
Mac computers made after 2016 are particularly delicate, as Apple now favours a design and build that limits the possibilities when it comes to replacing your HDD with SSD. That does not, however, make iMac SSD upgrades impossible.
At The Infinite Loop, we’ve helped a variety of customers to successfully convert to SSD, without leaving a trace of our work on your external case. We have all the right, intricate tools to complete the process with due care, in addition to all the cleaning supplies we could ever need to ensure that dust doesn’t enter your system (this could be catastrophic).
Before we complete your iMac SSD upgrade, we’ll need to clone your existing hard-disk drive to ensure you don’t lose any of your files or data. We’ll then go about removing your existing hard drive if you wish to do so. This is a fragile process, which requires the removal of many different components.
Finally, we can install your new SSD. If you need any help determining which one is compatible with your device, get in touch for advice or read our guide on Apple SSD compatibility.
Why upgrade iMac with SSD?
As we have seen, there are multiple reasons to upgrade your iMac with SSD. With an iMac SSD upgrade, your computer will boot faster, you’ll be able to run more complex programs and you can work with different software at the same time, without the risk of your iMac overheating. Choosing to upgrade to SSD will also extend the life of your existing iMac, whether it’s a new or refurbished model, so an SSD for iMac is definitely an investment worth making – especially for those of you who initially chose Apple for its optimal performance.
How to upgrade to SSD
Ready for your iMac SSD upgrade? Here at The Infinite Loop, we’re experts at what we do, with almost 35 years of experience in Macs. We provide world-class SSD upgrade services – including SSD for iMac – so, why not get in touch with one of our friendly team members, who will be more than happy to assist?
