Introduction

Use this guide to replace Apple's proprietary blade SSD (AHCI/PCIe x2).

This guide is intended for the higher spec iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 models that are equipped with an SSD.

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Étape 1 Display Assembly

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Display Assembly: étape 1, image 1 de 1

Outil utilisé dans cette étape :

iMac Intel 21.5" Cardboard Service Wedge

$4.99

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With the hinge free to move, the iMac will be unbalanced and hard to work on. Repairs are fast and easy with an iMac service wedge, but can be completed without one.
If you are using the iFixit cardboard service wedge, follow these assembly directions to put it together.
Before beginning any work on your iMac: Unplug the computer and press and hold the power button for ten seconds to discharge the power supply's capacitors.
Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply. Only handle the board by the edges.

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Étape 2

Starting on the left of the display, near the power button, insert the iMac Opening Tool into the gap between the glass panel and the rear enclosure.
The hub on the iMac Opening Tool will keep you from pushing the wheel in too far. If using a different tool, insert no more than 3/8" into the display. Otherwise, you risk severing antenna cables and causing serious damage.

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Étape 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 3, image 3 de 3

Use the tool like a pizza cutter—roll it along through the gap, and it will cut the foam adhesive through the center.
Be sure to always push with the handle behind the cutting wheel. If you pull, the wheel might get pulled out of the handle.
Run the tool up along the left side of the display.

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Étape 4

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 4, image 3 de 3

Continue running the tool up around the top left corner.

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Étape 5

Cut the adhesive along the top left of the display.

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Étape 6

Continue along the top of the display.
You may want to run the tool back and forth through what you've already cut a few times, to ensure you get as much of the adhesive separated as possible.

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Étape 7

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 7, image 3 de 3

Push the tool around the top right corner of the display.

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Étape 8

Wheel the tool down along the right side of the display.

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Étape 9

Finish pushing the opening tool to the bottom of the right side of the display.
At this point, you'll want to run the tool back around the entire display, to ensure you cut as much adhesive as possible.

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Étape 10

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 10, image 3 de 3

Outil utilisé dans cette étape :

Plastic Cards

$2.99

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While the opening tool cut most of the adhesive, the display will still be slightly adhered to the case. A plastic card will be necessary to free up the last of this adhesive.
Set the iMac face-up on a table.
Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, wedge a plastic card between the display and frame.
Be careful not to insert the plastic card more than 3/8", or you may damage internal components.

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Étape 11

Gently twist the plastic card sideways to create a gap between the display and frame.
Move slowly and be careful not to stress the display glass too much—you only need to make a gap of about 1/4".

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Étape 12

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 12, image 3 de 3

Slide the card toward the center of the display to cut any of the remaining adhesive along the top right corner of the iMac.
Be sure to stop before the iSight camera, or you may damage it.

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Étape 13

Wedge the plastic card into the top right corner once again, and leave it there to prevent the adhesive from resticking.

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Étape 14

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 14, image 3 de 3

Insert a second plastic card into the gap between the display and frame near the top left corner of the iMac.

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Étape 15

Gently twist the card upward, slightly increasing the space between the display and frame.
As with the other side, twist slowly to allow the adhesive time to separate, and be careful not to over-stress the display glass.

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Étape 16

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 16, image 3 de 3

Slide the plastic card toward the center, again stopping just before the iSight camera.

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Étape 17

Wedge the plastic card back into the top left corner.

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Étape 18

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 18, image 3 de 3

With both plastic cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards sideways to increase the gap between display and case.
If there are any sections that seem to stick and won't separate, stop twisting and use one of the cards to cut the remaining adhesive.
Begin to lift the top of the display up from the frame.
Only lift the display a few inches—the display data and power cables are still connected to the logic board.

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Étape 19 Display Assembly Cables

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Display Assembly Cables: étape 19, image 1 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Display Assembly Cables: étape 19, image 2 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Display Assembly Cables: étape 19, image 3 de 3

Outil utilisé dans cette étape :

Tweezers

$4.99

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Use a pair of tweezers to flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.
Carefully pull the display data cable from its socket on the logic board.
Be sure to pull the display data cable connector straight out of its socket.

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Étape 20

While holding the display up with one hand, use the other hand to unplug the display power cable.
Lift the display up enough to have easy access to the connector, but not so much that you stretch the cables and stress their connections (about 8").

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Étape 21 Display

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Display: étape 21, image 1 de 2

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Display: étape 21, image 2 de 2

Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.
At this point there is still a strip of adhesive along the bottom of the display, that will hold the display to the frame like a hinge. You can loosen this adhesive by working the display up and down a few times.

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Étape 22

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 22, image 3 de 3

Outil utilisé dans cette étape :

Plastic Cards

$2.99

J'achète

Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply (boxed in red).
Grasp the small tab at the end of one of the bottom edge display adhesive strips and pull the adhesive toward the top of the iMac to remove it.
Repeat this step with the other adhesive strip and remove it.
If either adhesive strip breaks before it's removed, use a plastic card to slice through the remaining adhesive.

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Étape 23

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 23, image 3 de 3

Lift the display up from the frame and remove it from the iMac.
It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.
Be very careful handling the display—it's big, heavy, and made of glass.
If you're replacing the display with a new one, you may need to transfer some components from the old display to the new display.
During reassembly, head over to our display adhesive guide to install the new adhesive.

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Étape 24 Lower Support Bracket

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Lower Support Bracket: étape 24, image 1 de 2

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Lower Support Bracket: étape 24, image 2 de 2

Remove the following five Phillips screws holding the lower support bracket in place:
Four 3.2 mm screws
One 1.7 mm screw
On at least some EMC 2544 machines, all five screws are the same size.
You may need to peel up the display adhesive lining the bottom edge of the iMac enclosure to access the screws.

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Étape 25

Remove the lower support bracket from the iMac enclosure.

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Étape 26 Right Speaker

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Right Speaker: étape 26, image 1 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Right Speaker: étape 26, image 2 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Right Speaker: étape 26, image 3 de 3

Use the tip of a spudger to push on either side of the right speaker cable connector to walk it out of its socket on the logic board.

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Étape 27

Remove the two 10.0 mm T10 screws securing the right speaker to the rear enclosure.

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Étape 28

Insert the tip of a spudger between the right speaker and the antenna cable that is routed into the speaker's right side.
Run the spudger down along the right side of the speaker to pry the antenna cable from its channel in the right speaker.
If the channel is not easily accessible, you can pull the speaker gently away from the case to gain access to the antenna cable.

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Étape 29

Lift the right speaker straight up and remove it from the iMac.
It may be helpful to tip the top of the speaker away from the rear enclosure when removing it from the iMac.

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Étape 30 Hard Drive Brackets

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Hard Drive Brackets: étape 30, image 1 de 1

Remove the following screws securing the hard drive bracket to the rear enclosure:
Two 21 mm T10 Torx screws from the left-hand hard drive bracket.
One 9 mm T10 Torx screw.
One 27 mm T10 Torx screw.

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Étape 31

Remove the left and right hard drive brackets from the iMac.

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Étape 32 Power Supply

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Power Supply: étape 32, image 1 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Power Supply: étape 32, image 2 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Power Supply: étape 32, image 3 de 3

The next few steps bring your hands close to the exposed face of the power supply. Do not touch the face of the power supply or any of the exposed solder. Touching it risks a high voltage shock from the many large capacitors attached to the board.
Use the tip of a spudger to push each side of the power button cable connector and gently walk it out of its socket.

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Étape 33

Use the tip of a spudger to push each side of the power supply control cable connector and gently walk it out of its socket.

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Étape 34

Remove the two 7.2 mm T10 Torx screws securing the power supply to the rear enclosure.
In newer model iMacs these are 7.2 mm T8 Torx screws.
During reassembly, be careful not to trap the power button wire behind the board.

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Étape 35

When working on the power supply, be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply. Only handle the board by the edges.
Tilt the power supply forward.

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Étape 36

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 36, image 3 de 3

Pull the power supply slightly up and out from the rear enclosure.
Rotate the power supply counterclockwise, lifting the right side up about an inch higher than the left.

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Étape 37

Slide the power supply to the right to clear the screw posts on the rear enclosure.

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Étape 38

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 38, image 3 de 3

Rock the power supply forward and remove it from its recess in the rear enclosure.
Do not try to completely remove the power supply from the iMac yet—it is still connected to the logic board.

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Étape 39

Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply. Only handle the board by the edges.
Flip the power supply over to access the DC power cable connection behind the logic board.
Squeeze the tab on the back side of the DC power cable connector and pull it straight out of its socket on the back of the logic board.

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Étape 40

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 40, image 3 de 3

You may find it helpful to set the iMac down on its back for the next couple of steps.
Use the flat end of a spudger to press the clip on the side of the AC inlet cable connector inward.
While pressing on the release clip with the spudger, grasp the AC inlet cable, and pull the connector straight out of its socket.

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Étape 41

Remove the power supply from the iMac.

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Étape 42 Fan

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Fan: étape 42, image 1 de 2

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Fan: étape 42, image 2 de 2

Use the tip of a spudger to push the fan cable connector out of its socket on the logic board.
It is recommended to carefully push on both sides of the connector to walk it out of its socket.

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Étape 43

Remove the following screws securing the fan to the rear enclosure:
Two 12.5 mm T10 screws
One 9.9 mm T10 screw

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Étape 44

Lift and remove the fan from the iMac.

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Étape 45 Hard Drive Assembly

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Hard Drive Assembly: étape 45, image 1 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Hard Drive Assembly: étape 45, image 2 de 3

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Hard Drive Assembly: étape 45, image 3 de 3

Lift the hard drive from the edge nearest the logic board and pull it slightly out of its recess.
The hard drive is attached by a single SATA power/data cable—do not attempt to fully remove it from the iMac yet.

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Étape 46

Use a spudger to disconnect the single SATA power and data combo cable by gently prying its large plastic connector away from the hard drive.

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Étape 47

Remove the hard drive assembly from the iMac.

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Étape 48 Hard Drive Tray

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Hard Drive Tray: étape 48, image 1 de 1

Remove the single 7.2 mm T10 screw securing the hard drive tray to the rear enclosure.

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Étape 49

Remove the hard drive tray from the rear enclosure.

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Étape 50 Logic Board Assembly

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Logic Board Assembly: étape 50, image 1 de 2

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement, Logic Board Assembly: étape 50, image 2 de 2

Use the tip of a spudger to walk the left speaker cable connector out of its socket.
It is recommended to first press on one side of the connector, then press on the other side until freed.

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Étape 51

De-route the left speaker cable by pulling it straight up out of the retaining clip in the back of the rear enclosure.

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Étape 52

In a similar fashion as the previous step, de-route the combo SATA data/power cable up out of the retaining clip.

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Étape 53

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 53, image 3 de 3

Outil utilisé dans cette étape :

Tweezers

$4.99

J'achète

Use a pair of tweezers to flip up the metal retaining bracket on the iSight camera cable connector.
Pull the iSight camera cable straight out of its socket on the logic board.
This is a delicate connector that can be easily damaged.

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Étape 54

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 54, image 3 de 3

If necessary, use the tip of a spudger to peel back the tabs covering the antenna connectors.

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Étape 55

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 55, image 3 de 3

Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect each of the four antenna connectors from the AirPort/Bluetooth card.
Note the original positions for each connector when reconnecting the cables.

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Étape 56

iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2805 Blade SSD Replacement: étape 56, image 3 de 3

Use the flat edge of a spudger to pry the headphone jack cable connector from its socket on the logic board.
Push the cable slightly to the right.

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Étape 57

Remove the following screws securing the exhaust duct to the rear enclosure:
Two 6.3 mm T8 screws
Two 4.7 mm T8 screws

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Étape 58

Remove the four 7.2 mm T10 screws securing the logic board to the rear enclosure.

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Étape 59

Use a pair of tweezers to peel the tape covering the exhaust duct.

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Étape 60

Tilt the top of the logic board away from the rear enclosure.

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Étape 61

Lift the logic board straight up and out of the iMac.
Be careful not to snag the board on any of the rear case's screw posts.
The I/O inputs at the bottom of the logic board will be the greatest challenge. It is recommended to pull gently to avoid any damage.

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Étape 62

When reinstalling the logic board, check the alignment of the exterior I/O ports. The logic board can sit crooked even when secured with all its screws.
Use a USB flash drive and/or ethernet cable to keep the logic board aligned while you screw it in.

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