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    X230 HDD upgrade

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by maiki, Dec 23, 2012.

  1. maiki

    maiki Notebook Evangelist

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    I noticed something in the "x230 owner's thread" something about the HDD being 7mm. (I tried to reply in that thread but had trouble doing so.)

    Isn't a standard notebook HDD 9mm?

    If so, is that 7mm size uncommon? If one wanted to upgrade from the HDD that comes with it, are there then less choices due to the 7mm size?
     
    maiki, Dec 23, 2012
    #1
  2. Kaso

    Kaso Notebook Virtuoso

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    No. 7mm, 9.5mm, 15mm... All of the notebook drives have the same width and length -- the heights can vary. Blame it on the rotating platters.

    Yes. For SSD, you have to choose carefully (but most of them are 7mm). For HDD, at this time, you're restricted to 500GB max.
     
    Kaso, Dec 23, 2012
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  3. maiki

    maiki Notebook Evangelist

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    So 500MB is not only the largest size offered by Lenovo with the notebook, but the largest capacity currently available in the 7mm size?

    Are there hybrid drives available that fit in that slot? If so, which brands?


     
    maiki, Dec 23, 2012
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  4. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    No IIRC hybrid drives are only available in 9.5mm (500/750GB MomentusXT drives).
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Dec 23, 2012
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  5. custom90gt

    custom90gt Doc Mod Super Moderator

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    Why not get a 500gb hdd and then a msata ssd?
     
    custom90gt, Dec 23, 2012
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  6. Kaso

    Kaso Notebook Virtuoso

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    So... yeah, for now.
     
    Kaso, Dec 23, 2012
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  7. maiki

    maiki Notebook Evangelist

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    Could both fit inside the notebook??
     
    maiki, Dec 27, 2012
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  8. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Yes X230 supports mSATA SSD + 7mm 500 GB HDD.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Dec 27, 2012
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  9. maiki

    maiki Notebook Evangelist

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    Where does the mSATA SSD go? In the express card slot? Or is there another slot for it?

    If the latter, I am surprised that Lenovo doesn't offer it as a configuration option? (I saw SSD or HDD, but not both.)

    Do you have both installed? Do you have the OS load from the SSD? Do you find that speeds up the system considerably, compared to only HDD?
     
    maiki, Dec 30, 2012
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  10. Kaso

    Kaso Notebook Virtuoso

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    In the PCI Express slot for mSATA/WWAN, under the palmrest bezel. Check the ThinkPad X220 Hardware Maintenance Manual.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]


    You buy an mSATA SSD of the size you want, and install it yourself. You can designate it the boot drive and put the OS as well as application programs on it. (The stock HDD in the main bay can be retained as a file storage drive.)

    The Lenovo's SSD option is for the main bay.
     
    Kaso, Dec 30, 2012
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  11. maiki

    maiki Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks for the info. Any recommendations on good mSATA SSDs?

     
    maiki, Dec 31, 2012
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  12. Kaso

    Kaso Notebook Virtuoso

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    My Crucial recommendation is right there, in the included picture. Another consideration is Mushkin.
     
    Kaso, Dec 31, 2012
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  13. Nrbelex

    Nrbelex Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Kaso's recommendations are good. I'd add MyDigitalSSD, which may be cheaper.
     
    Nrbelex, Dec 31, 2012
    #13