![mac mini 2011 ifixit mac mini 2011 ifixit](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TTuBf93yuQI/maxresdefault.jpg)
My motivation for doing this was my 2011 Mac mini was the server model (MD389*/A) which came with two HDDs installed by default and I did not like the idea of replacing one drive with an SSD while the other drive was a HDD (definitely an OCD thing).Īfter I was done and everything was verified to be in working order I have to say I felt very good about undertaking this endeavor, but I will probably never do it again unless I absolutely have to (ie the secondary drive dies and needs to be replaced). The process was not overly hard, it is just time intensive when you are being careful. Yes, I think it is something you could definitely do, just take your time and be mindful of the parts you are working with. That said, slower speeds to an external HD often isn't much of an issue with most people because most people don't access their external HD that much anyway Unfortunately, the usb2 ports on the 2011 Mini are not that fast, often giving external HD transfer speeds of 1/2 to 1/3 of what usb3 can do. If you need more space than that, I normally recommend either an external hard drive or a NAS. A 500G or so sized SATA SSD is only around $55-$60 on Amazon, so it's cheap anymore. A SSD gives a pretty dramatic benefit to a 2011 Mini, often giving it better responsiveness than a newer 2014 Mini that has a HD.
![mac mini 2011 ifixit mac mini 2011 ifixit](https://consomac.fr/images/news/mac-mini-2018-ifixit-10.jpg)
I highly suggest NOT installing a hard drive internally. Work slow and easy with it and you'll be fine. For anyone working inside an older Mini, accidentally breaking the pins that connect the fan to the board is probably the number one way to ruin things. As the comments say, it's usually safer to simply leave it connected and work around it than to remove it because the pins are fragile. Be VERY careful on step 5 (removing the fan). The ifixit guide is the best for doing a drive swap.