SSDs puchased with Thinkpads

It has been determined that SSDs sold with the newer models of Thinkpads (T420, X220, etc.) belongs to the Intel 320 series. This series has been infamous recently because of the 8 MB bug, and Intel has released the firmware to correct this issue a few weeks ago.

And so I tried to update my SSD's firmware, which Windows lists as INTEL SSDSA2BW160G3L, but was unable to. The update reports my firmware version (4PC1LE00) as being the latest. I know that this is false since I received my T420 weeks before the update was even released. I am left to suspect that this has to do with Lenovo having modified the SSD, which would also explain the slight difference in the model name compared to the retail version.

So far, I've seen many reports of the 8 MB bug on the Intel forums, but only one account of it happening to the INTEL SSDSA2BW160G3L.

X25-m SSD 160gb only 8mb remain after...

This puts me in a difficult position as I cannot RMA a product under the suspicion that it might fail and given how much it's cost me, I'd like to make good use of it.

My questions to others who purchased an SSD with their Thinkpad from Lenovo are:
1. Have you experienced the 8 MB bug on your SSD?
2. Have you managed to update your SSD successfully? If so, what is the new firmware version and what am I doing differently than you?

 

welcome to the forum!

SSDSA2BW160G3 L with firmware 4PC1 LE00 is lenovo-specific.   you cannot install an intel firmware on this SSD.   as soon as a lenovo-specific firmware is ready, it will be available via the support site.

regarding an RMA, your drive would be covered under your factory thinkpad warranty and not by intel.   unless the drive has failed, there is no need to have it replaced.   if in the event a replacement is needed, simply contact lenovo support for troubleshooting and a replacement drive will be sent to you under warranty.   fwiw, getting a replacement drive under lenovo's warranty is much faster than going through intel.

regarding your questions:
1: no, never.   i currently own four 320-series SSDs but they were purchased seperately.
2: yes, all four.   see above.

 

Thanks for your response erik.

So now my problem is that Lenovo hasn't even hinted at releasing a custom firmware update.

 

1) My 320 series (not purchased through Lenovo, purchased late June) hasn't had an issue.

2) Intel drives through Lenovo are OEM, and will not be covered by Intel.

 

So, it's best to buy a ssd from somewhere else than with lenovo?

 

It would be cheaper getting it from a third party source than obtaining it from Lenovo directly, though you do miss out their "Enhanced Experience" implementation which some people like. Personally from where I live I rather save over £60 and guarantee to get the SSD drive I want rather than leaving it to the lottery of Lenovo (it varies from Samsung, Toshiba, Intel or Crucial from what I understand).

 

it's just a matter of time before an updated firmware is available.   it's safe to assume that it's in the works.   lenovo always tests firmware for compatibility and tweaks accordingly.   of all the lenovo-issued X18-m and X25-m SSDs i've owned in the past, i've not had an issue with any of them.

since you haven't had any issues, i wouldn't worry about it.   the 8GB bug seems rather small in numbers.   the internet always makes problems seem larger than reality.

that depends.   the lenovo/intel SSD option could be replaced overnight if in stock.   if you have to run an RMA through intel or a vendor, you'll be without a drive for weeks unless intel has some sort of accelerated replacement plan.

all 80 and 160GB options from lenovo are intel SSDs.   no lottery there.

 

Sorry erik I meant the 128GB SSD specifically, its the only SSD option we have from where I live (UK). We don't have a specific Intel option unlike the US (160GB) so it can be either of the brands listed (ok maybe not Intel from the looks of things). £267 is a lot to put faith into an unknown drive so I decided to buy elsewhere...

 

1. I have not experienced the 8 MB bug on the 160 GB Intel SSD that came in my ThinkPad T520, which was ordered and delivered this month.
2. I have not attempted to update the firmware.

 

Guess I will buy my ssd with my thinkpad from lenovo.

 

Somewhat off topic: what did you guys who installed your own 320s do for a pull tab? The opening is pretty shallow, so i'm guessing it would be difficult to remove a HDD/SSD without a pull tab.

 

you can use the factory HDD tray and rubber rails.   it's held on by four screws and can be removed/installed using a #1 phillips screwdriver.

 

Already been mentioned but I'd go to crucial.com, put in system in the little java applet and buy the best SSD made. Takes about 2 min to swap. Saves money, faster and ez pz.

 

I have a T410s that comes with a 128gb SSD. Is there any way I can know of the manufacturer/ model number without pulling the disk out?

 

Try HWInfo64 or maybe even just looking at device manager. Though, pulling the disk out takes literally like 20 seconds.

 

Interesting. In all the user-submitted instructions ive read (and the hardware manual) it looks like no one is transferring the tray (with the pull tab) to the SSD. Has anyone else done this? My machine is a T420s if that's any use.

 

The rubber rails for the HDD is for absorbing impact when the laptop falls or something. SSDs are solid state and so impact won't affect them (well, obviously within a reasonable limit) so Lenovo doesn't use the rubber rails. Given that the SSD and the HDD are the same size, it should work fine.

 

It's not so much the rubber rails im concerned about. I will install them since I don't have the Lenovo OEM side spacers (used in place of rubber bumpers on SSDs). My question was whether or not people installing a non-Lenovo SSD, specifically on the T420s, reused the OEM tray from the HDD or not. This is what the tray looks like:

IBM Lenovo T61 T61p HDD Hard Drive Caddy Tray 14" YG14A | eBay

It's just a metal sheet that wraps around the hdd and also holds the pull tab for removing the HDD/SSD (which is what my original concern was about)

 

i don't see why this would be a concern.   i've used that tray on SSDs in literally dozens of thinkpads.   an SSD has the same dimensions as a hard drive.

without it you'd have a small amount of slack within the rails (creating unnecessary wear on the SATA socket) and be without a pull tab unless you fabricated your own out of tape.

lenovo does make an adapter for 7mm SSDs in the X220 but it's just a set of plastic rails and doesn't have a pull tab.   factory lenovo SSDs all have pull tabs.

 

For the record, I've used the metal tray on both my T500 and X120e SSD installations. Fit was perfect in both cases, and the rubber rails in the T500 work perfectly with the SSD + tray... do not toss them! The X120e didn't have rubber rails.

 

Thanks erik. The concern was whether I could reuse my existing tray for its pull-tab, so you've deftly answered that question. I was concerned that the dimensions of the SSD wouldn't fit the original tray, since everyone else had simply slapped their SSD into the slot without mentioning they also installed the original tray from the HDD.

I'm just going to put my original 320GB factory HDD into an enclosure and use it for backups, so I can salvage its tray for the SSD. Thanks for the clarifications. Repped.