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    Will the new 80GB Intel 310 series mSata work with the W510 ???

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by weh, Apr 17, 2011.

  1. weh

    weh Newbie

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    Will the new 80GB Intel 310 series mSata work with the W510?

    I opened my W510 notebook and the mini PCIe slot (intended for the mobile broadband card) is there and empty. I'd love having a really fast, mostly read-only, SSD boot drive; but I don't want to spend nearly $200 without knowing it's possible ahead of time.
     
    weh, Apr 17, 2011
    #1
  2. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    No, sorry. It's electrically not compatible.
     
    vinuneuro, Apr 17, 2011
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  3. Chanchin

    Chanchin Notebook Geek

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    Vinuneuro, what do you mean by "It's electrically not compatible"? Thanks.
     
    Chanchin, Apr 17, 2011
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  4. abachofner

    abachofner Notebook Geek

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    As I understood it (don't own a W510 or T420) the W510 does have a wwan slot that will fit the Intel 310 mSata.

    The wiring is just different, meaning a W510 will never recognize the mSata as being a SSD because the mini PCI Express (PCIe) mini-connector does not support SATA signals. And booting from a wwan card, not going to happen..

    More info about T410/mSata can be found in this topic.

    More info on the Intel 310 can be found here

    Basicly, the newer models (T420, T420s, T520, W520, X220 etc.) all have 'RapidDrive' technology, meaning they DO support mSata, earlier models just don't..
     
    abachofner, Apr 17, 2011
    #4
  5. Thors.Hammer

    Thors.Hammer Notebook Enthusiast

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    Let me make a couple of small corrections. First, the WWAN slot on the W510 and W510 is exactly the same size. Therefore, the Intel Series 310 drive will install and fit. You are correct however that it won't work. It isn't designed for it.

    RapidDrive is not a requirement to use the mSATA drive. Neither is RapidBoot.
     
    Thors.Hammer, Apr 17, 2011
    #5
  6. ThiPaX40

    ThiPaX40 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm confused.. wwan slot is a mini PCI Express right? Only difference between old (pre rapiddrive) models and the rapiddrive models being that the (new) mini PCI Express DOES support SATA signals?

    I would say that 'rapiddrive' (or rapiddrive ready maybe)is the Lenovo way of saying that the mini PCI inside does support SATA signals..
     
    ThiPaX40, Apr 17, 2011
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  7. LoneWolf15

    LoneWolf15 The Chairman

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    Correct. An mSATA-compatible slot is Mini-PCIe, but not all Mini-PCIe slots are mSATA compatible.

    I don't know of any ThinkPads prior to the new Huron River platform are compatible. Intel's Soda Creek drives were only announced December 2010.
     
    LoneWolf15, Apr 17, 2011
    #7