Dear Forum,
Here is the case: I plan on buying a cheap 27’’ Late 2013 iMac equipped with a standard 3.5’’ HDD. Catalina is installed so basically the last critical firmware update has been done (since High Sierra if I am not mistaking). I won’t install Monterey as it is not natively supported by this model so won’t face the following critical firmware update.
Now, I want to remove the original HDD and replace it by a blade SSD that I will install in the PCIe slot. Two options here, as I won’t consider an original Apple SSD that is too expensive and not that performing: either an OWC Aura Pro X2 or a standard NVMe (probably Samsung) with an NGFF adapter.
Question is: will this PCIe drive be recognized and useable to install and run Catalina without any issue in one or both cases?
I raise the question because I read that before using the Aura, you should first use an Apple standard SSD to realize the firmware update and then you could switch to the Aura. But if the update is already done, even if done with the HDD, will it work without doing that trick?
I need a precise and accurate answer please, as it will validate or unvalidate the project. ☺️
Many thanks for your help.