Is it possible to add an SSD module to an iMac 27" Late 2012 model to create a fusion drive on that?

Question

I have this old iMac 27", model iMac 13,2 (Late 2012).

This computer has a regular hard disk.

I wonder if it is possible to add a SSD disk module to it, to convert the main disk into a fusion drive?

1. Is that possible? Is that internal space and connector that can be used?
2. What SSD disk, adapters or so, I should buy to do that?

Answer 1

The Fusion drive was an option for the 2012 27" iMac, so there may be space. The iFixit tear-down for your model shows a caddy that holds both a hard drive and SSD: you'll need to read through it to see whether you're comfortable with taking it all apart -- and more importantly, getting it back together.

If you're not comfortable with the task, then you may want to run an external SSD via USB3 or a Thunderbolt dock of some kind. That should still be faster than the internal hard drive.

I concur with the comment that really, SSDs are cheap enough to buy sufficiently large volumes, making Fusion drives an unnecessary complication.

Answer 2

Are you replacing the HDD side of an existing fusion setup? I.e. you already have an apple SSD/NVMe card in the machine already? (E.g. in my Late 2012 iMac 13,2 I had 128GB NVme + 1 TB HDD). If not simple to replace the HDD with SSD for all the speed benefits people have said. However, if it's already in a fusion setup then you need to decide whether to keep it that way or split / unfuse the drives. I replaced my HDD with 1TB SSD, did a High Sierra install to fusion config then upgraded to Mojave and then it all went to hell. Maybe if I unfused first it may have gone better... Good luck!