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    Inexpensive Alternate SSD Option for M1330 + Other Lappys!

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by rocketscientist, Jul 16, 2007.

  1. rocketscientist

    rocketscientist Notebook Consultant

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    If anyone is interested in installing an SSD option on your M1330 or other new lappy the below toys might be useful. I am thinking about installing one for the power saving features and pair it with my LED LCD.

    Addonics makes a SATA to CF adapter:

    http://www.addonics.com/products/flash_memory_reader/ad44midecf.asp

    Addonics makes an IDE to dual CF adapter:

    http://www.addonics.com/products/flash_memory_reader/ad44midecf.asp

    Note: The M1330 has a SATA connector. Please be aware of your installed connector.

    NewEgg has a high-speed 16GB for $131.99:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211170

    If you use the IDE connector you can get a 32GB SSD for roughly $275 and a 16GB for SATA connectors for roughly $160. Please make a note re: CF1 and CF2 installs on the IDE connector.

    Another option that I have yet to investigate is possibly booting from a CF card with an express card slot adapter. I will do some research and post later.
     
    rocketscientist, Jul 16, 2007
    #1
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    This looks like it would be great for ultra portables that have small OS installs (aka: not Vista's 10-15GB install).
     
    Greg, Jul 16, 2007
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  3. rocketscientist

    rocketscientist Notebook Consultant

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    rocketscientist, Jul 16, 2007
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  4. phobos512

    phobos512 Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    Yes but to match the performance and capacity of those $500 32GB SSDs you'd have to spend far more in Compact Flash. The fastest Compact Flash available, which to my knowledge is the SanDisk Extreme IV, is rated at 40 MB/s sequential read/write max, and costs $130 MSRP for 4GB. Tell me how this is a better deal?
     
    phobos512, Jul 16, 2007
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  5. Nalada

    Nalada Notebook Evangelist

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    I also wonder if you don't need special handling to minimize writes to each bit to prolong the life of the flash memory. [I wonder how SSDs handle memory paging and the way that (by default) NTFS marks the directories with the most recent access time after each file read - I would have thought both these normal Hard Disk activities would result in a lot of re-writing of the same bits]
     
    Nalada, Jul 16, 2007
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  6. d94

    d94 Notebook Evangelist

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    they need to make a SATA to 8x SD adapter..
    get a HD 8gb SD for $50..thats 64gb for $400 :D
    or 32gb for $200 hehe
     
    d94, Jul 16, 2007
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  7. MrDeeds

    MrDeeds Notebook Consultant

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    The problem isnt the size of the compact flash/secure digital card but the speed. The majority arent fast enough to run an os with.

    The only thing worse than a 32gb drive is a 16gb drive or even then 8gb.

    If you guys are so in love with the prospect of having some sort of flash drive integration in your notebook then just grab a flash drive for you expresscard slot.
    16gb expresscard flashdrive

    Its about $200 for the 16gb, $100 for the 8gb, and $60 for the 4gb.

    Its a much more practical and realistic solution.
     
    MrDeeds, Jul 16, 2007
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  8. rocketscientist

    rocketscientist Notebook Consultant

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    I read somewhere (Anandtech?) that the Lexar Express Card wasn't very good when it came to read/write speed.
     
    rocketscientist, Jul 17, 2007
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