Thinking of upgrading my HDD

Hi...

I use a R400 which sports a 500GB HDD (5400 rpm). I am considering upgrading the HDD and am looking at two options:

(1) Either go in for a 500 GB conventional HDD with a higher rpm, or

(2) Go for a SSD.

If I pick the latter option, there are two questions:

(1) I am not sure if I can get a SSD with 500GB space and even if I could, I'll bet it would be very expensive. So, what is the best option available. Assume for the moment that my budget is about $700.

(2) Which SSD would you recommend?

BTW, the Lenovo (India) website does not show any SSDs available when I searched against my machine's model number. But they do offer a 320GB (7200 rpm) HDD.

Thanks

 

256 gig is the largest you can get. It would be good that you run the SSD for your OS and frequently accessed program, and the platter in your ultrabay for the rest of the stuffs you may use (this obviously means you will have to take out the optical drive).

128 gig is probably the best size for you in terms of SSD, not sure what the computer market in India is like for SSD in terms of price. Intel produces some best ones.

 

Thanks. And you are sure that the R400 can run the SSD? Yes, what you suggest is precisely what I had in mind. I have very little need for the optical drive. I have not used the thing since the day I bought the machine.

 

why would you think the R400 can't run a SSD (there is nothing that special about it)? some SSD comes in 1.8 inch format and for 2.5 inch bay like the one used on most Thinkpads, there is adapter that you need, so make sure you find out what the physical size of the drive you get before you make the purchase (and if there is any adapter available if it is 1.8 inch format).

 

I would recommend that you seriously consider the best SSD on the market now which is the Intel® Intel X25-M G2 which comes in both 80 and 160GB that will fit into your R400 without any problems. If you need more space, get an Ultrabay adapter and put your current spinner in it to host all your files/work.

The experience of SSD is truly beyond description and I really recommend it!

 

@lead_org...

I posed that question because on the Lenovo (India) site there is an SSD which they say is compatible for the T400 etc etc but not the R400. In the Indian context this is strange because the R400 is a popular machine...you know what I mean?

 

@elixiash...yup! that is precisely what I was thinking about and what lead_org suggested too. Since my current HDD is 500GB and the partition on which the OS resides is 78GB (of which about 50GB is still unoccupied), maybe I could get away with a high quality 80 or 120 GB SSD and move the current HDD to the bay for the optical drive (which I don't use at all). If I need the optical drive maybe I can hook it up via USB.

 

The R400 uses the same type of of 2.5" Hard Disk as with T400. So, you should be getting the Intel X25-M....

 

Lenovo don't offer all options for every machines, as every option it puts up, there is added step of complexity for inventory and supply chain management, and all the costs associated with it. Also, most people whom want the R series, generally look for value than outright speed, so offering SSD that costs one half or one third of machine purchase cost is not considered an important option.

Also, most parts Lenovo offers are more expensive (added cost of stocking the part and couriering the part and opportunity cost, etc), so most of the time for people whom want SSD with limited budget, would buy them aftermarket, which have more option and up to 50% cheaper.

Just like TATA is not going to offer all the features of Range Rover in a TATA Sumo Victa (bit of a stretch but i guess it is useful to illustrate the point).

 

I read through that link you posted. Thanks. Looks very enticing. Just off the cuff, how much would a 160GB SSD of the Intel X25-M variety cost? Around $400 or so?

 

78GB of OS is pretty huge I must say....

Anyway, thats the whole idea, get Win 7 64bit into the Intel X25-M and push all files to the Ultrabay.

And, you can hook up your Optical Drive via this adapter when you need it.

 

@lead_org...Ok. Thanks. Makes sense.

 

The 78GB is for the OS and all other programs.... Thanks for the link to the adapter.

 

What's the latest rumours about Intel's 2010 SSD roadmap? When are we expecting new models (320GB Gen3?) and lower prices on the current ones?

 

Im not sure exactly how much it would cost there but generally, its from USD$280 onward for 80GB model and from USD$460 for the 160GB model. These estimates does not include shipping costs.

 

I will be getting the SSD from the U.S. (or the U.K.) where a friend will buy it and ship it out to me or bring it along with her when she visits me at the end of the month. So, no shipping cost...

If the costs in the UK are similar to the US (which need not necessarily be the case), then it falls within my budget. I will just have to let her know where to pick it up from depending on the price.

Sidenote: By the end of the month then, my R400 will have the new keyboard, an SSD, Win 7 Pro 64-bit and the flex problem would have vanished. I think it will be a super machine at the end of the day! The only thing left for me to do is to get a portable webcam for the times that I need to use Skype (but that is not really a priority at the moment).

 

Oh, one more thing. Do make sure that you get the 2nd Generation of the X25-M which is also known as G2. The Part No: for the Intel X25-M 160GB G2 is: SSDSA2MH160G2R5.

 

Yup...thanks for the Part No. Co-incidentally, I was reading a review of the very same unit here.

 

you could also consider 8 gigs of ram if you have use for it.

 

Co-incidentally too, its one of the reviews Ive read when I decided to get one of these babies.

 

Ummm...probably not. I already have 4 gigs of ram, which is enough for me. I don't do any intensive computing work on my machine. I think the Win 7 64-bit will use that effectively for the moment.

 

Coming back to this SSD question: Since I have never used them, I'd like to know, do they get warm/hot noticeably? And, I have also reading about cases where the use of SSDs hit battery power. Is this true and if yes, is it significant (in the sense, is the hit on the battery significant?)

Thanks

 

SSD's run very cool.

 

They do. I use one on the desktop here and it doesn't even get warm.
Renee

 

Kingston sells a 2.5" 512GB drive; OCZ sells a 2.5" 500GB drive.

 

okay, the SSD is sure catching up fast with the normal platter hdd in terms of capacity size.

 

Actually, SSD runs much cooler & consumes less power than regular HDD. Im sure, anyone here who uses the Intel X25-M G2 can attest to that.

 

Well...that settles it then! As soon as the palmrest issue gets settled, I am going in for the 160GB SSD and use the dvd drive for the spinning HDD. I think this way I can extend the utility of the machine. Already I have 4 GB RAM and can install Win7 64 Bit on call.

Thanks folks, you have all been of great help!

And, I am going in for the X25M G2 drive!