DIY Bundle
500GB OWC 6G SSD
and HDD Kit for all 2011 iMacs
Mac
Mercury Electra SSD and iMac HDD Kit
Upgrade with Confidence!
The complete solution for your 2011 iMac
Experience the extreme performance of an OWC SSD upgrade with this easy DIY SSD and hard drive replacement kit. Add an SSD to your hard drive equipped iMac to experience faster booting, near instant application launches and lightning fast data transfer speeds.
Fast and reliable solid-state storage
Delivering the latest in flash NAND and controller technology, utilizing SLC and 3D NAND for long-lasting, power-efficient performance, the OWC Mercury 6G SSD line offers a powerful combination of performance and reliability for demanding everyday computer users.
Upgrade Your iMac with Confidence.
OWC's in-line solution is the only hardware digital thermal sensor on the market allowing a third-party SATA drive to be installed in your iMac. A convenient, plug-and-play cable, the In-line Digital Thermal Sensor eliminates fan noise and maintains proper system fan control through the iMac's System Management Controller. This innovative device is designed specifically for the iMac, requires no software hacks and ensures compatibility with Apple's built-in diagnostic processes.
The NewerTech AdaptaDrive has been benchmark test proven to deliver the same data transfer rates as is experienced when a drive is connected directly to the SATA data bus. The AdaptaDrive doesn't create a bottleneck or any performance throttling...it delivers pure data pass-through performance and drive use convenience from any 2.5" SATA 1.5Gb/s, 3Gb/s, or 6Gb/s hard drive or SSD.
500GB Mercury Electra 6G SSD Specifications:
Specifications
Controller
4-Ch
NAND
Tier 1 3D NAND
Form Factor
Standard 7mm 2.5"
Interface
SATA 6Gb/s, 3Gb/s & 1.5Gb/s supported, SATA 3.0 Compliant
Capacity 1
500GB useable capacity
SMART Attributes
Standard 2
Native Command Queuing
up to 32 commands
RoHS Compliant
Yes
Format
Physical
Height (max)
7mm (0.276″)
OWC 7mm – 9.5mm Adapter
Width (max)
70.06mm (2.758″)
Length (max)
100.12mm (3.941″)
Weight
77 grams +/- 2 grams
0.170 lbs +/- 2.71 oz
Reliability
TRIM Support
OS Dependent
Performance
Sequential Reads
(Compressible Data)
up to 529MB/s
Sequential Writes
(Compressible Data)
up to 483MB/s
Sequential Reads
(Incompressible Data)
up to 521MB/s
Sequential Writes
(Incompressible Data)
up to 444MB/s
Random 4K Read
up to 90,000 IOPS
Random 4K Write
up to 60,000 IOPS
Power
Environmental (Operating)
Temperature (°F)
32°F to 158°F
Temperature (°C)
0°C to 70°C
Environmental (Non-Operating)
Temperature (°F)
-40°F to 185°F
Temperature (°C)
-40°C to 85°C
AdaptaDrive Specifications:
NewerTech Part Number
Drive Inteface
- Fully SATA Revision 3.0 (6Gb/s) compatible
- SATA Revision 2.0 (3Gb/s) and 1.0 (1.5Gb/s) compatible
Drive Supported
- (1) 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s drive
Material
Dimensions
- Height: 0.4 in (1.0 cm)
- Width: 4.0 in (10.2 cm)
- Length: 5.8 in (14.7 cm)
Weight (Without Drives
Manufacturer provided specifications for Other World Computing p/n KITIM11HE500 UPC#: 812437026047
27" iMac Install Video
21.5" iMac Install Video
iMac (27-inch Mid 2011)
(May 2011)
Model ID: iMac12,2
2.7GHz i5, 3.1GHz i5, 3.4GHz i7
iMac (21.5-inch Late 2011)
(August 2011)
Model ID: iMac12,1
3.1GHz i3
iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011)
(May 2011)
Model ID: iMac12,1
2.5GHz i5 , 2.7GHz i5, 2.8GHz i7
Includes
- (1) OWC Mercury 6G SSD
- (1) AdaptaDrive 2.5" to 3.5" Drive Converter Bracket
- (1) OWC In-line Digital Thermal Sensor Cable
- (2) OWC 2-1/4" Suction Cup
- (1) Torx T10 driver
- (1) Torx T8 driver
- (1) Nylon Pry Tool (Spudger)
- (1) OWC Blue Microfiber Screen Cleaning Cloth
NOTE: This kit contains consumable and/or one time use components and therefore is non-refundable if opened. If you have any concerns about your ability to perform the upgrade, you can return the unopened kit for a refund.
Warranty
The best warranty is one you never have to use - but should the need occur - we're proud to provide a superior level of support and service coverage to our customers.
3 Year OWC SSD Limited Warranty on the OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD
1 Year OWC Brand Standard Limited Warranty on the OWC In-line Thermal Sensor cable
5 Year NewerTech Product Limited Warranty on the NewerTech AdaptaDrive
Even when not used, we understand the peace of mind afforded by a longer warranty period. OWC's industry leading coverage is a testament to our confidence in the reliability of the solutions that we offer. OWC solutions are engineered to demanding quality standards in order to deliver the most reliable, highest performance available on the market in each storage category.
Customer Ratings
Write a Review
4.9 / 5
18 out of 20 (90%) reviewers would recommend this product
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Shittzu
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Age: 55-65
Experience Level: IT Professional
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
IMac 21” Mid 2011 1TB SSD Upgrade
March 8, 2019
Purchased the 1TB upgrade kit. Installation was as depicted in the videos. Given age of my iMac opted for less expensive 6G SSD upgrade. Results were amazing. Almost like a brand new machine. Performance well worth the $200. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Corrosive11
Location: Richmond, VA
Age: 45-54
Experience Level: IT Professional
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
This kit and video are right in sync
February 20, 2019
Love it! I had to use Disk Utility from the recovery menu to "erase" and format before I could restore my Time Machine backup. You guys probably already know that though as this was my first time replacing hardware in an iMac. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Extremejor
Location: Anchorage, AK
Age: 45-54
Experience Level: Power User
Owned Product: 5-6 months
Rating: 4/5
Wound up taking it to Tech
February 8, 2019
Once I sat down and truly contemplated what it was going to take me to DIY this job I decided to take it to our local Mac Specialist. Some dust had gotten behind the display anyway and he cleaned that for me. If you have the time and the gumption, then do it, I didn't have the time. This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: stuie
Location: Northern California
Age: 35-44
Experience Level: Power User
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 5/5
Excellent Product
January 14, 2019
I purchased this after owning several other OWC SSD's. While the install is fairly involved, the formatting, restoring and subsequent use of the drive is easy. It sped up my iMac faster than it had ever been. I can't recommend this enough, but unless you are experienced with computer building or upgrading, you may consider having a professional do the physical upgrade, as the process is very involved. The video is excellent and covers everything to install, however. So if you're at least mechanically minded, then you'll be able to handle the install. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: 47adrian47
Location: Crestline, CA
Age: 45-54
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 5/5
Like a new computer!
November 3, 2018
I finally took the leap to SSD when the OEM 1TB hard drive died. Good thing I had a recent Time Machine backup. The video of the install was very helpful. I followed it and only had a few hiccups. One major was the bracket adaptor for the SSD and the data cable. The instructions were a little weak on that one. I have had it for almost a year and I have to say the computer feels new again. I strongly recommend this if you have an iMac that still can do what you want it to but is slowing down. I would recommend this item to a friend!
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Applal
Location: Wisconsin
Age: Over 65
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 5/5
Speedy old iMac!
June 25, 2018
I had the perfect moment to choose to replace my HD in my iMac. It failed. I had said I would either buy a new iMac or replace the failed HD with an SSD in hope of regaining some lost "snap" to my 2011 iMac. Boy, did I ever get it back. Boot times are incredibly fast, launch times are very fast, render and saves in photo and video work are vastly improved. The only think hard about the install has nothing to do with the new SSD and just to the care and tools needed to disassemble the iMac. I had already been inside a couple of times for other issues, and thus, this was relatively easy. Booted from a system backup, formatted the SSD, installed from recent Time Machine backup, and I was up and running in a few hours. And it's been sweet ever since. I'm very happy I made this choice! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: YL2047
Age: 25-34
Experience Level: Hobbiest
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 5/5
Well assembled kit.
April 11, 2018
The kit contained all the essentials you'll need to install your SSD. If there were any words of advice that I could offer, it would be to definitely take your time putting the adhesive strips down. Do not handle them too long as they can stretch and end up not fitting nicely on the chassis. I would recommend this item to a friend!
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: AZAX
Location: Old Tappan, NJ
Age: Over 65
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Great Upgrade
March 29, 2018
I replaced my original 2011 iMac hard drive with a new SSD. My goodness, what a fantastic improvement in performance. My system funs WAY faster accessing my huge image files. Absolutely worth the installation time and cost of upgrade. I would recommend this item to a friend!
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: MerpelTComstock
Rating: 5/5
Defeated by Tiny Connector! I Gave Up on Installation
March 1, 2018
I was all set to get the SSD in my iMac, and I had reviewed the video repeatedly and rehearsed and memorized each step. I successfully removed the glass and screen, but when I got to the vertical sync cable it just WOULD not snap out as it was supposed to. My natural tendency would have been to just pull hard, but this was the first time I'd gone inside my Mac, and I don't do this professionally, or even repeatedly. Yeah, and let's not forget about the torx screwdriver I dropped inside the iMac and had to retrieve with a magnetized screwdriver.
I stopped while I was ahead, closed the iMac, and took it to a local computer store. For 1 hour's labor plus tax, a total of $89.87, they installed the drive, which is working perfectly.
Remind me not to try this again!
The installation seemed really straightforward, but if you don't have experience working inside a narrow space with small, sensitive connections-- and HAM HANDS-- save yourself the trouble, buy the drive and pay for the installation.
I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: chillybase
Age: 35-44
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
It Works
February 12, 2018
I was a bit nervous taking apart my iMac fearing that I might break the glass or screen. But the directions were easy to follow and I successfully replaced my ailing hard drive with a new SSD. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Whereismyglasses
Location: San Diego, Ca
Age: Over 65
Experience Level: Home User
Rating: 5/5
DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's SSD was successful
January 31, 2018
The installation of the new SSD drive went pretty smoothly. Nonetheless I want to offer a few comments regarding this installation.
1. Pulling off the screen using using the handles provided was a little hard. It must be done in just the right way for the screen to come off. 2. Once screen is off it would be a good idea to blow off the dust before you working on removing the old drive. It just makes it easier to see. 3. Pulling off the various connectors was tricky. These connectors are small and in tight spots.
I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 2.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Macnuts
Location: Montreal, Canada
Age: 55-65
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Great product, easy installation.
January 23, 2018
My iMac mid 2011 is now 5 X faster than with the original Hard Drive. Installation was somewhat easy, thanks to the video. Since the video was about changing the HDD, I had to contact OWC tech chat service to know where to stick the provided thermo sensor. Answer was friendly, quick and accurate. A picture of the installed SSD drive with thermo sensor would help on this subject. Sorry, I failed to take one myself and send it to OWC. Instructions on formatting the new SSD drive was also a great tool. I also contacted OWC tech chat service about TRIM since it was not active in my first System report. I was informed that the "Electra SSDs do not require TRIM at all, as they utilize over-provisioning technology". But enabling TRIM will not hurt anything but may not improve anything as well. Since I'm no fan of using the Terminal, (scared of doing permanent damage) I decided to activate TRIM with "Trim Enabler " and having the option easily reversible. Version 4 of this utility is compatible with Mac OS High Sierra. So far, the iMac is faster than ever. I often check the read and write speeds and get around 5 MB/s readings. Once again, 2 thumbs up OWC ! I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Kalfan
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Age: Over 65
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 4/5
Outstanding upgrade for 2011 iMac 27"
November 13, 2017
I've been very impressed with products and service from Macsales, particularly relating the linked extremely detailed Youtube videos. These videos are so well done you can prereview all aspects of the task at hand and then decide beforehand if this is something you are comfortable taking on. My 2011 iMac had a dead HDD and having successfully upgraded my 2009 MacBook Pro to a SSD was wondering if I could do the same with the iMac. There was a specific video I followed step by step with tips to avoid certain difficulties (like tiny screws being attracted to powerful magnets holding the glass in place). This upgrade has breathed new life into both my 2009 MacBook Pro and my 2011 iMac - both are performing better than new.
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Garett
Location: Vancouver Canada
Rating: 5/5
Install went well but connectors in video are really small
October 24, 2017
Install was straightforward. Followed the easy video. The only caveat is that the connectors which look big in the video are very small. Fortunately, I had a friend to help me to hold screen while I disconnected it.
All is good. Very happy with the snappy performance of the SSD drive and faster boot.
Thanks again. Will be getting SSD upgrade for y personal at home Mac Mini.
I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Pollinator
Location: Vancouver, BC
Age: 55-65
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 5/5
So Fast, I lost my Hair!
October 12, 2017
The placement of my hard drive to a SSD has been worth every penny! The tutorial video was very helpful and clear. I needed some assistance to transfer the data from my external drive to the new SSD. Fantastic support; highly professional, encouraging, patient and very clear in their advice. When I finally turned on my iMac, the instant speed and access to my programs were enough to lose my hair! I would highly recommend MACSales! I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Sydney2000
Location: Amarillo, TX
Age: Over 65
Experience Level: Power User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Every thing worked
September 25, 2017
Used the 2.5" external case to put the SSD drive in to clone the internal drive on the iMac. Removed the cover screen and the Led screen. install the SSD in the carrier and attached with the cable provided. Reassembled every thing. Booted right up with no problems. Great Kit for installing SSD and Video instructions on you web site. Thank you I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 250GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Jazzmen
Location: Buenos Aires
Age: 55-65
Experience Level: Power User
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 5/5
Excelent product
September 13, 2017
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: MikeMac
Rating: 5/5
Great purchase
August 23, 2017
The hard drive on my 2011 Mac failed after 6 years of daily use. After exploring the OWC site I realized that I could replace it myself with a SSD for less than it would cost for a hard drive installed by Apple. The SSD and tools necessary to replace the drive arrived in 2 days as expected. Following the video instructions on their site I was able to successfully install the new SSD and now have a blazingly faster Mac. Great customer service! OWC called a few days later to find out how everything was going and if I had any questions. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: ededed
Experience Level: IT Professional
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 4/5
Tools are great, documentation needs refinement
August 22, 2017
The tools the kit all worked fine. The problem I ran into were in the video tutorials. There is no specific video on the item page for simply replacing your main HD w/ an SSD. You can easily start down the wrong path by selecting a video that seems like the one you need.
Adding a video for replacing your main HD w/ a SSD would make it great!
I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: OldHand
Location: MS
Age: Over 65
Experience Level: Power User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Great service. Great product. Great price.
July 18, 2017
The person I spoke with on the phone was very patient and helpful in narrowing down my needs. I ordered a solid state update drive for an iMac 2011. The price, including the install kit, was very good. The install video was very clear and easy to follow. I heartily recommend the product and the service. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 120GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: NoMorePCsPlease
Location: Rocklin, CA
Age: 25-34
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Mandatory Upgrade
July 13, 2017
Not new to the Mac scene, but not affluent enough to buy new iMacs...Yet. I saw a beautiful i7 2.8 Ghz iMac 2011 on CL and picked it up on the same day. It had the upgraded 2 TB HD which did not feel slow but just didn't feel snappy for todays standards. I googled a SSD swap for a 2001 iMac and up came OWC. After watching the online install video and finding the 256 SSD kit incredibly affordable, I purchased the kit and waited for it to arrive. It was a very simple install for me (never opened up an iMac before) and gives you a great excuse to dust and clean up the insides on your iMac. I will say that it is extremely helpful to also purchase an enclosure for your HD so that you can install macOS with little hassle once your iMac is reassembled. I installed everything at 2am and ended up having to wait for Fry's electronics to open so that I could boot up my machine with the original HD and install macOS Sierra fresh.Thumbs way up for such a well put together kit with a solid SSD and solid email/phone support from David! Thanks team - I also bought 32GB of OWC RAM (came today and I installed it in 15 minutes). SSD+32GB RAM = Sweet Spot for these wonderful machines. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 240GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Parky50
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Age: 45-54
Experience Level: IT Professional
Owned Product: 1-3 months
Rating: 5/5
DIY Kit for 2011 iMac 1.0TB OWC
July 10, 2017
I am amazed... My 2011 iMac has never acted like this !!! I never realized how slow and clunky my iMac was until iI installed the DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD. All the applications simply pop right into action when opened. No more waiting when trying to access the more intensive applications. It's seriously like a brand new machine !!! I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Karma23
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Age: 55-65
Experience Level: IT Professional
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Very well done
April 11, 2017
Kit arrived promptly and all in good order. While somewhat difficult installation was straightforward with help from youtuble. Macsales sales staff and tech support are all first rate. Very helpful. My order was shipped to Canada and arrived in less than 5 business days. Only unfortunate thing is US/CAN exchange rates are atrocious so it was not inexpensive. I was unable to find this particular heat sensor available in Canada but Macsales.com made the process a breeze. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 240GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Weaves
Location: Novi, MI
Age: 35-44
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Super Easy
March 31, 2017
Although I am an engineer, the videos and tools made this project a simple task for people of all skill levels. I was able to replace my old hard drive with an upgraded solid state drive in less than an hour. Great price, fast delivery, great product! I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 1.0TB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
Verified Buyer
Reviewer: Dumplins
Location: Houston
Age: Over 65
Experience Level: Home User
Owned Product: less than a month
Rating: 5/5
Really nice upgrade
March 21, 2017
Really improved performance. I did cheat though because I had a professional install the upgrade. I would recommend this item to a friend! This review is from DIY Kit for 2011 iMac's factory HDD: 480GB OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD..
Customer Videos:
