Ultrabay HDD Adapter for T430s

Hi all,

I recently ordered a new thinkpad T430s. I plan on installing a new 128gb Crucial m4, but I would also like to keep the stock HDD for storage. I know that previous generations of the T series had adapters to install secondary hard drives in the ultrabay.

My question: Is there a specific adapter I should get? Will ones from previous generations of thinkpads work?

Thank you for all the help

 

I suppose there have not been drastic changes, chassis-wise, from the T420s to the T430s. If that is certainly the case, you can order T420s Ultrabay drive caddy adapter to use in your new T430s.

Which specific adapter you should get? People have their individual favorites, but I would point to nimitz for your consideration.

Oh, and make sure the T430s primary bay accepts the SSD height that you intend to put in there.

 

From tabbook, listed for both T420s and T430s:
Serial ATA Hard Drive 9.5mm Bay Adapter III 43N3412

I am using it on 420s and (hopefully) use it next week on T430s.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Much appreciated.

 

Will the Crucial M4 not fit into the T430s' HDD bay?

 

ThinkPad T420s/T430s require a 2.5" drive that is 7mm high, in the primary bay.

If you're considering this one:



then it will fit.

 

Please excuse me if this is a silly question, but besides having a SATA III compared to a SATAII, what is the benefit of putting the SSD in the ultrabay slot instead of the mSATA in the minipci slot?

 

The Ultrabay is much easier to use for swapping storage devices. The PCIe slot is a little more difficult to very difficult depending in the ThinkPad model and the location of the WWAN PCIe slot.

That and there are many more devices on the market at much cheaper prices. Relatively speaking the mSATA device selection is much lower.

 

If you really, truly, absolutely, always need the DVD drive, then you can install an mSATA SSD as boot/system/app drive and have the HDD in the primary bay as storage drive. Also, for the T430s only, if you're so desperately need extra battery power, you can exchange the optical drive for an UltraBay battery.

 

Do you by chance know how difficult this would be on a T430s? that is the model that I have ordered and am considering upgrading.

I wouldn't need the DVD drive all the time, but it is a convenience that I like to have. Also battery life is nice, but I rarely find myself out of reach of a power outlet. My main concern would be if I did convert the ultrabay to my OS boot/system drive, it would be difficult to install old applications that I only have some derelict CD to use. An external DVD reader is not hard to come by though these days so that's not even a big concern.

How about cost though? after factoring in the cost of the adapter does it really save money compared to a mSATA SSD?

Thank you all for the input as well. I am finding these boards to be extremely welcoming and I appreciate it

 

@hanryy: I was thinking along the same lines and here's some info on it.

First of all, (1) It is not confirmed for T430s, whether the mSATA or the Ultrabay is SATA III capable and (2) Primary bay drive must be 7mm, ultrabay can be 9.5mm or 7mm+spacer.

I wouldn't put the OS/Apps in the Ultrabay.

Here are some options:

1. HDD (primary bay) = DVD (always), no SSD, not much of an upgrade

2. mSATA SSD + HDD (primary bay) + DVD in Ultrabay = DVD (always), pay for mSATA, assuming you got the free 500GB upgrade

3. SSD (primary bay) + HDD (ultra-bay) = no DVD (available via swap), pay for SSD and ultrabay adapter.

4. mSATA + SSD/HDD (primary bay) + HDD (ultrabay) = Fast boot/load + Lots of storage, no DVD (available via swap), pay for mSATA, adapter and extra drive.

 

I did get the 500GB upgrade for free, so I am not too concerned about storage space. Especially since I already have a 1TB external. But from looking at prices the savings from buying the ultrabay adapter and a SSD isn't all too much. Maybe $20 or so. I feel like having the DVD available all the time would be worth that small amount. So I am leaning toward the mSATA option. Of course that is assuming the mSata is easily accessible. I will have to wait until I have the laptop in hand to see if I feel comfortable performing the operation.

 

Yeah, mSATA SSD boot + HDD storage + DVD drive is a great combo (if you don't need WWAN). You can also swap the optical drive for an UltraBay battery.

It's not difficult to access the mSATA/WWAN socket. The procedure is well illustrated on pages 73 and 74 in the T430s Hardware Maintenance Manual.

 

Thanks for the link Kaso. If its as simple as that I wont have any worries at all. Now to find a good SSD...

Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

Oh, easy. A SATA-USB cable is all you need in order to make that UltraBay DVD drive an external device.

 

Hi,

I would like to join the question and ask if I would be able to fit OCZ Agility 3 2.5" ssd (9mm thick) into the ultrabay and make it my primary drive whereas the hdd which would come with the laptop would be used as secondary hard drive?

Of course I understand this means I have no DVD and no extra battery.

Thanks

 

The regular SATA-USB won't work, need slimline SATA-USB like Amazon.com: SLIMLINE SATA 13 Pin to USB Converter Cable: Computers & Accessories to connect the Ultrabay DVD (or HDD in the ultrabay caddy).

Or, if the machine has a combined eSATA/USB, there are simpler, passive, cables on ebay " SATA 13 PIN 7+6P female to Power ESATA + USB ". These are better for hard drivers.

 

Yes. Edit the BIOS accordingly. (The SSD won't operate at SATA 6Gbit/s, but most of us don't sweat over it.)

On the other hand, it is extremely simple to remove the HDD from the primary bay. Nudge nudge.

 

I stand corrected.

 

Just got my adapter from nimitz today, works like a charm.

 

Yeah, but as I understood the 9mm SSD wont fit the primary bay so this is why I am checking for alternatives so I can continue using my OCZ drive.

 

Ah, got it now. Again, it will work: one of my notebooks boots from the SSD in the UltraBay.

 

Just bit the bullet and got a T430s. So in nimitz's eBay site, there isn't a drive caddy listed for T430s specifically, so is the T420s one good to go?

 

I did a big mistake and bought the 9.5mm crucial m4 128gb
is booting from the secondary HDD Bay slower than booting from the main HDD Bay?
I was going to but the SSD in the main bay and move the 320HD to the secondary bay, but since the 9.5 SSD wont fit I might do the opposite but I am concern about the speed.

 

No, the ultrabay SATA connector in "not slower."

 

Yes.

No. It will work fine.

 

I talked to the lenovo rep and they said ThinkPad 12.7mm Serial ATA Hard Drive Bay Adapter III | 0A65623 | Lenovo | (US) and Im guessing that it is also for the T430s. the 43N3412 wouldn't fit right? It's 60 bucks which is pretty expensive I thought an adapter would cost me around 20

 

The Ultrabay adapter that you are linking to is a 12.7mm height adapter will probably not fit the T430s. But this one is the correct link to the one you want:
ThinkPad Serial ATA Hard Drive Bay Adapter III | 43N3412 | Lenovo | (US)


And, finally, you can find them cheaper on eBay and at newmodeus.com

 

yeah you're right my bad.

 

No problem. Good luck with the upgrade.

 

Hi guys,

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have the same question. I'm going to get a T430s and am going to put the HDD in the ultrabay and a SSD in the main HD spot.

If I use the stock HDD from Lenovo in the Nimitz HDD caddy, will it work? I don't need some sort of additional spacer do I, considering the HDD is only 7mm and not 9.5mm?

Thanks!

 

"The Nimitz HDD caddy"? Which one, specifically? You must buy the UltraBay HDD caddy that is specific to the T420s/T430s (slim bezel).

That caddy can take a drive of either 7mm or 9.5mm height. No, you don't need "some sort of additional spacer" to thicken up you 7mm drive: just use the supplied screws.

 

thank you for the reply! That was exactly what I needed to know.

Just as an fyi, i was referring to the nimitz caddy mentioned earlier in the thread.

thanks again!