{"id":10002,"date":"2011-05-03T16:45:06","date_gmt":"2011-05-03T21:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=10002"},"modified":"2014-05-22T13:33:51","modified_gmt":"2014-05-22T18:33:51","slug":"2011-imacs-no-sata-6gbs-yes-to-multiple-drives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/10002-2011-imacs-no-sata-6gbs-yes-to-multiple-drives\/","title":{"rendered":"2011 iMacs: No SATA 6Gb\/s, Yes to Multiple Drives"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"With the unboxing<\/a> completed, our Lab Team<\/a> is hard at work testing compatibilities and seeing just how much upgrading can be done to the new line of 2011 iMac models released today.<\/p>\n

We’ve been getting several questions on the prior posts today asking about the internal SATA bus speed on the new machines. While the processor was bumped up to the Sandy Bridge line, the bus speeds on the iMac are still SATA 2.0 (3Gb\/s), just like the previous models.<\/p>\n

Just to make it clear:<\/em>
\n The 2011 iMac does not have ANY
\nSATA 3.0 (6Gb\/s) connections.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Which means your best bet for upgrading to a Solid State Drive (or three) is still the OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro<\/a> and, if employing a RAID array, the OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro RE <\/a>series of drives.<\/p>\n

With the physical build of the 2011 27″ iMac being so similar to the 2010 Apple iMac 27″ models, we are hard at work developing the necessary adjustments to add the new 27″ iMac to the OWC Turnkey Upgrade Program<\/a> – including the external eSATA port option. Keep an eye out here for the official release soon.<\/p>\n

***UPDATE 5\/5\/11*** <\/strong><\/p>\n

Apple released a firmware update as of today’s date that gives both the 21.5″ and 27″ models TWO 6Gb\/s data channels. See our blog post for more details:<\/p>\n

Firmware Update Enables 6Gb\/s in 2011 iMacs.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n