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    Is this an mSATA connector on my Motherboard?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Tinderbox (UK), Dec 25, 2015.

  1. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    If it is i am thinking of using this as my boot driver and stick an 2tb hdd in place of my normal hdd.

    Click like below to see photo, I have put a red rectangle around the area in question.

    http://i.imgur.com/KzHuiZ1.jpg

    Thanks

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Dec 25, 2015
    #1
  2. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    just going by the image and google searching to make sure it is not an M.2 drive, it looks like it is an MSATA drive because...
    1. it has SSD CARD printed on the board
    2. there's a metal mounting post in the top left corner.
     
    thegh0sts, Dec 25, 2015
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  3. LanceAvion

    LanceAvion Notebook Deity

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    Yep that's an mSATA port. Luckily for you they go up to 1TB of storage so you'll be able to find one to suit your needs.
     
    LanceAvion, Dec 25, 2015
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  4. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    A final check is the dimensions. Is the socket about 30mm wide and is the socket for the fixing screw a little under 50mm from the socket: The length of an mSATA card is 50.8mm?

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Dec 26, 2015
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  5. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    I have never seen an option for the mSATA in the bios for boot devices, I wonder if it`s been enabled or it may only show when it is populated, I have the Full Manual and the Sevice Manual neither mention the mSATA connector.

    Am i going to have to buy a cheap mSATA 64gb or something to see if the bios spots it, before i drop the hammer on a 256gb or 512gb

    Thanks

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Dec 26, 2015
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  6. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    I would find the cheapest mSATA SSD of any capacity if the objective is to find out if the slot works. Perhaps this.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Dec 26, 2015
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  7. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    I can get an new "Plextor M5M 64GB" for £23 it enough for Windows 10 x64, I have only using 67GB of my 512GB and i have an load of apps and a big game.

    My 20" Tablet see my sig, is a pain to open so i want to buy an 2TB 2.5" 9.5mm at the same time.

    I can only find 2 2TB 2.5mm an Samsung and an Seagate, I know Seagate bought Samsung`s hdd business a few years ago, are there any other brands of 2TB 2.5mm 9.5mm HDD yet? maybe Western Digital?

    Thanks

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Dec 26, 2015
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  8. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    I recall that the subject of 2TB 2.5" drives was recently discussed in another thread. The WD Product list shows a 2TB Blue which is 15mm thick and also a 2TB Green which this page shows is also 15mm thickness. Toshiba also make a 2.5" 2TB drive but that is also 15mm thickness.

    It appears that only Seagate / Samsung have bothered to develop a 2.5" 2TB drive suitable for use in notebooks and WD / Toshiba see the bigger market as being NAS and external storage for which compactness and low power make them an attractive alternative to 3.5" drives.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Dec 26, 2015
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  9. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    Indeed, I have seen any 2.5" 9mm HDD's other than the M9T... Disappoiinting as a 7K2000 from HGST would be awesome :p
     
    TomJGX, Dec 27, 2015
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  10. pete962

    pete962 Notebook Evangelist

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    Since you mentioned that: so I went to my BIOS to see how it shows up and on my laptop it just shows as one of 4 SATA ports, but here is the funny part; my boot msata drive does not show up at all inside boot priority options, it shows CD first, then USB then my data HDD, no Samsung SSD listed anywhere, so come to think of it I have no idea how my laptop boots up properly, but it does.
    So the fact nothing shows in your BIOS is OK, but it still may not be fully connected.
     
    pete962, Dec 28, 2015
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