I have two MacMini’s (MM’s). Once I received my newer model with a fusion drive I began to get disappointed by the lackluster performance of my previous 5,2 model MM. The newer MM, I use to run AutoCAD in Windows with a Parallels VM. That thing runs better than any PC I have ever built! I use it almost exclusively to run W7 and my Windows software.
I do most of my daily work on the 5,2 MM. It is on 24/7 and it is my everyday computer. The thought of the performance of the fusion drive and the newer MM nagged at me every time I would reboot or, boot InDesign or Illustrator, or Mac version AutoCAD. It is not that the machine did not do the job, but when you have a machine that boots in seconds, verses tens of seconds it seems like an eternity! I started exploring the idea of running a fusion drive in my 5,2 machine as well.
After some reading I concluded that the fusion drive was really second rate to a dedicated system/application drive. After talking a little with the guys at OWC, I decided that their complete system approach was better than tinkering with various parts from others matched with the current flavor of the hot trend SSD.
I chose the Mercury 6G in 240GB. I got the data doubler and the tools as well.
Since I have several computers I performed the surgery on my desk in front of a running computer with the video. I suggest this if you can.
My comment on the video is that it is very thorough. I don’t think it is for everyone but if you have built computers before, or if you have at least the ability to follow directions you can likely do this for yourself. Watching the video makes the process look easier than it really is. These guys likely have taken their test computer apart many times and the parts are ‘worn in’ some from the exercise. Mine on the other hand did not want to give up its original configuration without a fight!
First, the larger of the Torx drivers was made out of tolerance. That is okay because I have no shortage of tools and got one from my shop. The tight fit would not allow sufficient engagement and could have easily ruined the heads of the screws. Second, the kit should really include two spudgers. My IR cable connector was a real witch with a capital “B” to remove. I needed a second spudger to press down on the connector header to keep from peeling it off the board. You can ruin these really easily with a little too much enthusiasm. They don’t (the connectors that is) come off the board as simply as they did “on TV.” Just be wary of that.
It also took a hellofa lot of coaxing to get the logic board out. I mean I am 230 and I had to muscle the heck out of mine to get it parted from the case. It took me about 10 minutes, dislodging one side, moving it around a bit and pushing it back into battery to get it to evenly release and come free of the case. I mean I thought that mine had an additional faster in there or something, but it was just stubborn. I just worked it until it came loose.
I also used the double spudger technique on the power cable. It provided me with a straight pull on the cable and I was able to walk it out much easier than with a single tool.
While on the topic of cable removal, I suggest a magnifying lens set that you get from one of the discount tool houses. OWC should sell one actually. The video leads you to believe that the cable ends are much larger than they are. Some of these are just a few mm’s wide. They are very tiny and not easy for a guy like me to see. The head band magnifiers were a life saver for me. If you are older than 40… get a pair before you start!
The installation, beyond these comments, was pretty straightforward and easy. Even working on the stubborn parts it still took me less than an hour and I took the time to blow out the fan and some of the other dusty parts with some compressed air.
I chose not to fuse the two drives and instead went the OS/Apps SSD drive approach. The warning about how to reload the OS and perform the software transfer was really helpful. There is one thing missing however on the mapping of the user files back to the SSD. If you don’t have a user number that matches, you will get errors. I was not allowed to write to my existing HDD after many attempts until I copied over the user ID number and made them match. Works like a charm now…
There is nothing like launching InDesign or Photoshop and watching it boot in a few seconds. Startups are fast too. All my software works fine except that I did have problem with mapping the template files in AutoCAD. That was fixed with a little creative trickery. I must have booted AutoCAD 25 times just to see how fast it booted.
I am very happy with the solution, the speed of the machine and the performance enhancements. I have not yet learned how to back up and merge the two disks into one disk clone but I will take that on some time later.
If you have a little skill and a couple of hundred bucks, like the speed of a newer machine with an SSD or Fusion drive already installed, then this is a product made for you. I would do it again in a heartbeat and would recommend the kit, the videos and the quality of the parts from OWC.
Forget trying to chase the latest fad and pursuing what some guru is touting as the ‘best’ SSD. I think I got the best one for my MM and it is the OWC Mercury and the doubler kit! These guys got SSD's for Macs down to an art.
Cheers!
"...an awesome little kit."
— Andrew Kunesh, techie buzz 
"By doing the installation yourself, you not only save some money, you also have the original hard drive, which you can then install into an appropriate housing to use it as an external drive."
— Thomas Armbruster, MacWelt
"With the help of OWC's Data Doubler kit, we increased the internal storage by a factor of six."
— Rob-Art Morgan, Bare Feats
"We were amazed by how easy it was for someone who has never ever pulled apart a computer before."
— Davin Lim, Macworld Australian
"What a difference the SSD makes when it's added to the Mac Mini ... well worth the time .... copying items is definitely faster ..."
— Russ Walkowich, Mymac.com
