Adding 2nd drive (SSD) to Thinkpad X230, How to do?

I am trying to best sort out adding a SSD to my new Thinkpad X230. This is my first laptop purchase which should arrive in one day and I want to add a 120gb Kingston Hyper X and use as my systems and program drive. There will be a 320GB HDD and no optical drive. And that should be enough storage for my needs. I got a good price on the Kingston. I assumed that all SSD's were the same physical size and now know different. The Kingston is 9.5mm thick.

Was looking at using the optical bay for one of the drives and guess it will be the Hyper X. Have also found that a Hard Drive Caddy could be used but have not found anything specific for the X230.

I'm short on time as I am going back overseas this Saturday and want to get this all together before leaving as I am taking the laptop with.

Which caddy if any should I use or can I secure and connect without one. The SSD came with 2.5 to 3.5 mounting plate.

Where can I get the Caddy if needed? Have both Fry's and Microcenter nearby.

Is there anything else I am missing or overlooking?

Hope this is the right section to ask for this help. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Justin

 

I would suggest that you don't change the HDD you have already; instead, put in an mSATA SSD and install your O/S and programs there. It seems to be located under the keyboard in your notebook.

See:
Lenovo ThinkPad X230 Review

See:
CT256M4SSD3 - 256GB, mSATA Solid State Drive , from Crucial.com


Good luck.

 

Thanks for that.

However, when I used the Crucial Memory advisor tool it showed that to be incompatable. Other issue for me is the price. Was trying to see if I could make my current purchase of the Kingston useable. If not the purchase is not wasted I can put it elsewhere in another PC.

Any other thoughts?

Regards,
Justin

 

I would trust someone who has used and reviewed (the link I gave...) the X220/X230 notebooks than anyones 'memory advisor'.

Nothing to think of here: if you want the best setup possible for your system, you need an mSATA SSD and the 256GB M4 is the best available.

To be sure, look in your user's manual;

See:
http://www.lenovo.com/shop/americas/content/user_guides/X230_ug_en.pdf


Page 20 item '7';

Or take your system apart and see/verify the mSATA connection for yourself.

 

Sorry, didn't mean to make any waves here. I agree with you and what is said in the article about using the mSATA and will now plan on that. It will be the most efficient option. I thought it was ironic that when I followed the link you gave to the Crucial 256GB mSATA they had right there the question: Need to know if this part is compatible? And had the following:

Crucial Memory Advisor™ tool

The Crucial Memory Advisor™ tool is a quick, 3-step process to find guaranteed-compatible memory for computers and motherboards.

Step 1 —

Step 2 —

Step 3 —

After I inputted the laptop details it told me that the part was incompatible, which you would think it should be because it is in fact a mSATA. On further trials it did show that it was compatible with the tablet model.

Seriously, no disrespect intended. I will follow up with your lead.
Thanks,
Justin

 

Hey, no need to apologize (I've been wrong before...)!

Just that most 'advisors' I've seen are not too well at predicting what will work in what.

Would appreciate any update if you do follow through with this though. Thanks.

 

Was back on the Crucial site looking at the smaller drive, the 128. It too showed incompatible when using the adviser. However in the customer comments listed for the drive were two from x230 owners who both stated the drive was working fine in their respective laptops.

Supports your notion about the "advisors."

Who can figure.
Cheers,
Justin