MB100- Hard Drive [SSD] + RAM Upgrade Instructions

[Golucid]

Upgrading your MB100 into the 19th century [sarcasm] is a snap. The only challenge is your patience. Other than that, cake-walk.


Note: I mirrored my drives from the MB100 factory fresh drives. Both the OS and the Library Drives were fresh out of the box clean. Meaning, No data or configuration settings, etc.



Physical Requirements
01. MB100


02. 128 SSD


03. 1TB SSD


04. 2.5 to 3.5 Bay Bracket


05a. 8GB RAM


Or


5b. 16GB RAM


06. Hard Drive Duplicator


07. Phillips Screw Drive or IT Tool Kit


08. 3-pronged parts retriever [See IT Tool Kit]


09. Antistatic Bags [x3]


10. Anti-Static Grounding Wrist Band


11: Anti-Static Mat


12. Prep Bowls [to keep screws in]


Software Requirements


N/A


Lets Begin


CRITICAL: It is imperative that when performing any of the work that you not force anything. For example, do not over-tighten, bend, use sharp objects to move cables, poke, remove cables at an angle or with force. This is a fine piece of equipment and everything is installed with precision and does disassemble with precision. If something is not moving easily. Don't force it! Step back and evaluate and most importantly, patience. These items come apart fairly easily. Though, I might add, the screws are tight as they should be, but they are not so tight that brute force is required.


IMPORTANT: I'm a big believer in doing things right once. I don't take technology risks that could damage sensitive components. Before you do anything, Ground Yourself and if you can, do not service your equipment on carpet or anything that generates static charge - this includes clothing. I literally demagnetize my shoes, removes rings, watches, etc. A kitchen is a good place...away from microwave. Use good judgement [See Physical Requirement #10


IMPORTANT: wash your hands and do not eat or drink near the equipment and keep any liquids far and away. Electronics and moisture are generally not friends.


Note: The assumption here on out is that you meet the physical requirements.


Suggestion: You might want to take your smart phone and take photos of the drives, the cables that connect into the drives as well as the ram. This way you have a road map of how to assemble everything just in case you forget the order of things.


01. Grab your MB100 and gather all your tools and parts. You can place your MB100 on your [optional but recommended, anti-static mat] at the center of your work area and arrange your tools in a orderly and easily accessible manner. A good idea is to have unpacked all my parts and move the boxes out of the way/another location.


02. Read all documentation that came with your parts.


03. Ground Yourself and remain grounded when you touch any components


04. Set up your drive duplicator at a location that is stable. Do not put into a low outlet. The Duplicator power supply is heavier than the duplicator part. Keep everything on a level playing field, if that makes sense. The power brick and cable has weight to it and could through the force of gravity drag your drives off the counter on to the floor. So, if you can, use a counter top outlet that is fairly close to the same level as your drives.


03. Remove the 6 screws hold on the MB100 top plate. Using one of the prep bowls or something similar. Place these screws in that bowl/container only. DO NOT MIX YOUR SCREWS! and set the top plate gently aside.


04. Take some time to identify the parts you are going to remove. Locate the screws and think about how you will remove them. Its a good idea to have that 3-Pronged parts retriever. Makes it way easier than having the screw fall into the chassis a bit and then digging for it. This is where damage can occur! The part is cheep... a couple of bucks.


05. For the same of keeping things in order. Remove and replace one drive at a time.


2.5" SSD OS DRIVE REMOVAL


01. One at a time, gently remove the cables from the Kingston 2.5" SSD [there are two]. Pull them horizontally straight out. DO NOT PULL UP OR PUSH DOWN ON THE CABLE. It will easily slide out. But do so thoughtfully. DO NOT FORCE. You will notice that each of the cables look different and are sized differently and attached in the same way with the replacement drive.


02. Remove the 4 screws holding the Kingston 2.5" SSD in place. This is a good time to grab the 3-pronged parts retriever! Set these screws into another prep bowl or container separate from the other screws.


03. Now gently remove the drive... do not force anything. There may be a wire or something around the railing that is affixed to the the SSD.


04. Remove the screws holding on the railing to the SDD. Sets these screws and railing into another prep bowl/container. Do not confuse the screws with the other screws. All the screws are of different sizes. These screws are intended for the depth allowed into the SSD housing! ALSO, note the direction of the railing on the drive "left to right. Do not mix the order or reverse.


BIT FOR BIT DUPLICATION OS DRIVE - START


Assuming you have read the instructions...


01. Now holding the SSD you extracted from the MB100, attach it to the SOURCE PORT on the drive duplicator.


Note: The SSD [The small 2.5" 30GB Kingston SDD contains the system OS]. Verify over and over that you connected the drive to the SOURCE PORT! Failing to observe this detail is total ruin! You will destroy the OS. Poof! You're done. Box it up, you've got yourself a huge paper weight to send to McIntosh at your expense!


Note: But wait, can't I just mirror of someone else's drive? NOPE! I talked to to Autonomics about this...Each unit comes with it's own specific license. You can't not duplicate them. Well you could, but this will create issues for all the duplicated MB100s that connect ONLINE. Avoid it. Or try it and see what happens


02. Connect the your 128 SSD to the Destination port.


03. Begin the bit for bit duplication process. This process will take approximate 10-20 minutes


MEANWHILE => RAM UPGRADE


CRITICAL: Ground yourself


Note: The logic board RAM carrier offers two memory slots. You will notice that one of the two slots are occupied. The lowest level slot is "primary memory" and the upper slot is secondary memory. It's important that you occupy the primary slot first!


For information on how to remove and replace memory, watch this video: youtube video.


01. Remove RAM from primary slot.
02. Place Old RAM within an anti-static bag and set aside. A great place, place it within the MB100 box. But, remember, don't toss the box around. This is sensitive equipment.




BIT FOR BIT DUPLICATION OS DRIVE - FINISH


Again, assuming you have read the instructions. A clue, the duplicator will present an indication of OK once complete.


CRITICAL: Ground yourself


01. Remove source drive and place it within an anti-static bag and set aside. A great place, place it within the MB100 box. But, remember, don't toss the box around. This is sensitive equipment.


02. Reinstall your new SSD OS drive into the MB100.


03. Using the screws you set aside with the railing. Attach the railing and screws in the same exact manner as it was with the original source drive. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. SNUG, NOT BRUTE FORCE. NO TORQUE WRENCH NEEDED. It is very easy to strip these threads.


04. Using the screws set aside, seat the drive with the railing onto the posts that supports the drive rails. A great time to use that 3-pronged parts retriever and set the screws and then come in with your philips and gently tighten the drive down.


05. With precision, perfect horizontal insertion and above all, gently attach the cables into the correct slot of the SSD.


3.5" HDD LIBRARY DRIVE REMOVAL


01. One at a time, gently remove the cables from the Western Digital Green HDD [there are two: red and yellow]. Pull them horizontally straight out. DO NOT PULL UP OR PUSH DOWN ON THE CABLE. It will easily slide out. But do so thoughtfully. DO NOT FORCE. You will notice that each of the cables look different and are sized differently and attached in the same way with the replacement drive.


02. Remove the 4 screws holding the Western Digital Green HDD in place. This is a good time to grab the 3-pronged parts retriever! Set these screws into another prep bowl or container separate from the other screws.


03. Now gently remove the drive... do not force anything. There bay be a wire or something around the railing that is affixed to the the HDD.


04. Remove the screws holding on the railing to the HDD. Sets these screws and railing into another prep bowl/container. Do not confuse the screws with the other screws. All the screws are of different sizes. These screws are intended for the depth allowed into the HDD housing! ALSO, note the direction of the railing on the drive "left to right. Do not mix the order or reverse.


BIT FOR BIT DUPLICATION LIBRARY DRIVE - START


Assuming you have read the instructions...


01. Now holding the HDD you extracted from the MB100, attach it to the SOURCE PORT on the drive duplicator.


Note: The HDD [The large 3.5" 1TB Western Digital Green HDD contains the library data (photos & music and other data)]. Verify over and over that you connected the drive to the SOURCE PORT! Failing to do this can create problems. Not nearly as severe as destroying your OS drive. Again, pay attention!


Note: But wait, can't I just mirror of someone else's drive? NOPE! Sames concerns regarding licensing. It's embedded on both drives.


02. Connect the your 1TB SSD to the Destination port.


03. Begin the bit for bit duplication process.




BIT FOR BIT DUPLICATION LIBRARY DRIVE - FINISH


Again, assuming you have read the instructions. A clue, the duplicator will present an indication of OK once complete.


CRITICAL: Ground yourself


01. Remove source drive and place it within an anti-static bag and set aside. A great place, place it within the MB100 box. But, remember, don't toss the box around. This is sensitive equipment.


02. Install the 1TB SSD into the 2.5 to 3.5 Bay Bracket.


02. Reinstall your new SSD + Bay Bracket library drive into the MB100 where the The large 3.5" 1TB Western Digital Green HDD once was.


03. Using the screws you set aside with the railing. Attach the railing and screws in the same exact manner as it was with the original source drive. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. SNUG, NOT BRUTE FORCE. NO TORQUE WRENCH NEEDED. It is very easy to strip these threads.


04. Using the screws set aside, seat the drive with the railing onto the posts that supports the drive rails. A great time to use that 3-pronged parts retriever and set the screws and then come in with your philips and gently tighten the drive down.


05. With precision, perfect horizontal insertion ONLY ONE DRIVE CABLE - THE YELLOW ONE. Gently attach the cable into the correct slot of the SSD.


NOTE: You no longer need to RED Cable... it is used to power the larger drive. The smaller SSD does not require the additional power source.




YOU'RE ALMOST DONE - Don't open any bottles of liquid just yet


01. This is important. Check your work. Make sure you have everything you installed done correctly. No loose wires (except the red one). No loose or missing screws. Do not leave any tools within the chassis! Verify your philips and other tools are outside the unit!


02. Install top plate with you last remaining 6 screws from your prep bowl/container. Test the unit first. Make sure the unit works! Install the MB100 into your rack or wherever. Connect the power supply and output/input cables... Vroom!


03. From here, you should know what to do in adding media. If not, consult your McIntosh owners manual.


04. Once you have added data and depending on the amount, allow the MB100 a solid 24 hours a week to index your data properly.


05. You will experience vast performance improvements.




ENJOY - this took several hours to write up and I hope this helps the MB100 owners or those considering the purchase of the unit.




[This is s rough draft document, I will circle back and make updates.]

[Mike]

David - you are THE MAN! Wow! What a super machine you've turned the MB100 into. McIntosh should hire you as a consultant!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jerry Seh]

Hi David,

Just asking why you did not replace this with a 2TB SSD instead of the same capacity. Is it because of some technical problem that replacement had to be of the same capacity point (1TB HDD for 1TB SSD)? Asked cause I had the same problem with Sooloos and now had upgraded their standard to 500GB HDD on the C15 to 2TB SSD which will be more convenient and will hold more files.

Seriously, good post and if I have the MB100, I would look at the same direction BUT not doing it myself cause I am a total dummy in these kind of things.

Cheers!

[Audioseduction]

David, nice work! If you can, figure a way to passive cool the cpu and avoid the nosiy fan. My music server is 100% passive cooled.

[Golucid]

David, nice work! If you can, figure a way to passive cool the cpu and avoid the nosiy fan. My music server is 100% passive cooled.

Hey George, I will replace the fan... only because it will be fun. I wonder because I returned my original MB100 back to McIntosh and purchased months later a new MB100, my fan is virtually whisper quiet.

I did order this 28mm fan from Amazon yesterday and will add another how to instruction post. This fan, as far as I know and the reading I have done, is also whisper quiet.

[Golucid]

Hi David,

Just asking why you did not replace this with a 2TB SSD instead of the same capacity. Is it because of some technical problem that replacement had to be of the same capacity point (1TB HDD for 1TB SSD)? Asked cause I had the same problem with Sooloos and now had upgraded their standard to 500GB HDD on the C15 to 2TB SSD which will be more convenient and will hold more files.

Seriously, good post and if I have the MB100, I would look at the same direction BUT not doing it myself cause I am a total dummy in these kind of things.

Cheers!

Hey Jerry,

Yes, larger drive. But, because this was a first go-around upgrade, I wanted to isolate my experience as close to a like for like.... if that makes sense. The next go around, a larger SSD, but I wanted time to analyze the successes or problems with a like for like system. Though, the OS drive is on a larger capacity SSD. I did not see that as a problem. Where possibly the problem could be is at the OS level and how it talks to the library drive. My fear, in having talked with both Autonomics and McIntosh, is that the OS is said to limit to 1TB. This could be snake oil/BS and I will try it... but let me continue my MB100 testing.

Stay tuned and you brought up really good points!

BTW, George, I love your system. You've got great stuff!!!!

[Audioseduction]

Hey George, I will replace the fan... only because it will be fun. I wonder because I returned my original MB100 back to McIntosh and purchased months later a new MB100, my fan is virtually whisper quiet.

I did order this 28mm fan from Amazon yesterday and will add another how to instruction post. This fan, as far as I know and the reading I have done, is also whisper quiet.

I don't mean audio noise I mean EMI "electromagnetic interference" induced into sensitive electronics like the DAC section from the electrical mechanical fan.

[Golucid]

EMI "electromagnetic interference" induced into sensitive electronics like the DAC section from the electrical mechanical fan.

You know, I have no idea what electromagnetic interference sounds like. I am utterly clueless LOL. I am going to have to defer to you the expert on this to educate me.

[Golucid]

Folks, I am upgrading my RAM to the maximum the logic board supports [16GB/1600MHz]. I ordered the following from Amazon.


16GB RAM


Why?...just for fun and why not. The CL rating is the same as the 8GB that I already added. Just bumping up 8 more GB. The RAM cost came down significantly so I jumped on it.

[jcmc27281]

Hello David,
By chance, did you get around to upgrading the 1TB hard drive to 2TB SSD? I want to upgrade but wanted your feedback first. Thank you. And great instructions.

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.