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    Lenovo y580 with 16GB mSATA + 128GB Samsung 830?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by ComradeQuestion, Dec 21, 2012.

  1. ComradeQuestion

    ComradeQuestion Notebook Consultant

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    So I want to buy the y580 and it comes with a 16GB mSATA drive, which it apparently uses for caching. The thing is, I already have a 128GB SATA SSD, Samsung 830.

    So would it make sense to leave in the 16GB mSATA drive and use the 128GB SATA SSD? I don't want to go back to HDD, let alone 5.4kRPM.

    Any suggestions?

    What are the specs for the mSATA 16GB drive?
     
    ComradeQuestion, Dec 21, 2012
    #1
  2. moviemarketing

    moviemarketing Milk Drinker

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    Yep, you can simply use it as a secondary drive, or replace it in the future with a larger capacity mSATA SSD.

    I have seen some up to 256GB on Newegg.
     
    moviemarketing, Dec 21, 2012
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  3. ComradeQuestion

    ComradeQuestion Notebook Consultant

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    I've never used a laptop that did any type of caching with a separate SSD. Would I need to change any settings to set it as a storage drive?

    I've be fine with an extra 16GB of fast storage, and the ability to upgrade it in the future is enough to warrant paying for it.

    Can I put a SATA drive in an mSATA slot? I assume not, that would be ideal though.
     
    ComradeQuestion, Dec 21, 2012
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  4. moviemarketing

    moviemarketing Milk Drinker

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    I think you need to change the setting in BIOS so that your system will stop using your mSATA SSD for the cache. You will lose all data if you do this, so make sure you back up a drive image before disabling the cache.

    The mSATA slot is much smaller than the typical 2.5" internal laptop drive bay.
     
    moviemarketing, Dec 21, 2012
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  5. ComradeQuestion

    ComradeQuestion Notebook Consultant

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    Alright, thanks.
     
    ComradeQuestion, Dec 21, 2012
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  6. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Hmm, you could use the mSATA for the operating system, and the 128GB SSD for games. That's probably what I'd do.
     
    J.Dre, Dec 26, 2012
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  7. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    I personally consider 16GB too small to be comfortable installing the OS on it.
     
    tijo, Dec 26, 2012
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  8. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Yeah for Windows 7 16GB would get cramped really quickly. I think a fresh Win 7 install without hibernation file or swap file is like 8-10GB alone. No room for anything else.
     
    HTWingNut, Dec 27, 2012
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  9. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If he disables recovery and backup to the drive, and also decrease 'shadowstorage' to about 500MB or less, it should be okay. But I understand how it will be packed and may not work, I was just suggesting this because the mSata would slow down the SSD dramatically if he were to cache it, and that is worse than trying to use the mSata for the OS.
     
    J.Dre, Dec 27, 2012
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  10. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Right, I agree there. No point in using an mSATA cache with an SSD.
     
    HTWingNut, Dec 27, 2012
    #10