msata SSD drives

I just ordered a T420 and want to add a 80GB ssd msata.

I'm wondering what people are ordering?

I did a search and see the intel ones but they seem to have different PNs

Are there any other brands that people have had luck with?

 

Where did you see Intel 80GB mSATA drive? I also consider getting one but can't seem to find any for close to the initial price $180 it was selling. Every store that advertises it for less than $200 has 0 available. Those that still have it (or appear to have it) jacked the price up to $240.

 

oh, I didn't look at if it was in stock. Now that I search again, I dont see the $240 one even.

 

I suppose that is why the Intel 310 that Lenovo will use is not yet available.

The laptops are ready for it but likely there is not yet enough inventory to make it an option yet.

Perry

 

After researching the possibility of adding the intel msata ssd to my t420, it just didn't make sense in cost, capacity, and performance. So instead of going the msata route, I purchased the 120gb intel ssd 320 for $200 and gonna move my hdd to the bay area, which I can switch between the hdd and the optical drive. I don't think this will be a big hassle since I rarely use the optical drive.

 

Where did you get the Intel 320 in stock?

Also what is the part number to fit our smaller form factor? Aren't we working with 7mm heights?

Whoops, I suppose I should have said aren't you working with 7mm heights. My order was the W520 and that has a full height drive bay according to Keith Combs review.

Second edit: Apparently the Intel 320s are only SATA II, so to fully use the capability of our new laptops we need the Intel 510 or other SATA III SSDs.

Third edit: I am becoming convinced that the Sandy Bridge chipset has a SATA III controller on it but the driver from Lenovo will limit the drive throughput to 3.0 Gb/s.
Only from reading a lot of drive blogs where people are using words I don't have in my vocabulary. Apparently most SSD drives (even fast SATA III drives don't really saturate the 3.0 Gb/s limit often.)

Perry

 

This is where I got the 320:

Buy.com - X25-V SATA2 SSD 120GB 9.5MM 2.5IN G3-MLC 25NM BULK SSD ONLY IN

combine it with:

Coupons - Buy.com

and your total cost is $201. This was less than the RP posted on Anandtech's review.

For some reason the title of the item on Buy.com starts with x25-v but other than that, the serial number matches the ssd 320 as well as the G3 series specified on the title.

Clarify for me what you mean about fitting the smaller form factor? Not sure if I understand what you are asking.

 

I can't be certain of what size is in what machine as I researched everything from an X220 to a T420s to a T520 and ended up ordering the W520.

But several of the smaller machines use a small 2.5" HDD bay. It is 7mm in height rather than 9.5mm.

Many of the SSDs can be used by removing the case or spacer but I know that is an issue that needs to be checked.

Perry

 

Oh I see what you mean. I ordered the t420 and it seems it takes both sizes.

 

dan_h : Does your Intel 320 ssd come with the spacer? I recently ordered a T420s and was hoping the new Intel SSD would come with a removable space (I believe T420s takes 7mm drives).
Thank you.

 

I haven't received it yet so don't know for sure. But if you look at the size specification diagram, it looks like it does come with a removable spacer. I can let you know for sure once I receive it.

http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/325152.pdf

 

Oh I didn't realize the price diff was so big, I may do the same then. I liked msata because I thought I would save on weight, but maybe it's not a big diff

 

If its done anything like the G2 drives, and going by the reviews it looks like it is:

Retail boxed should come with the spacer installed for 9.5mm (removable, but shorter screws were not included in mine) a bay adapter to 3.5" and a sticker

OEM/bulk should come bare without the spacer, 7mm


I was getting excited about msata + platters in the x220, but given the price on 80gb msata and finding above 320gb 7mm hdds is hard, just going for a big 320 seems more likely.
If it was possible to CTO with no OS/no HDD (and the proper $ reduction) that would be perfect.

 

I've been reading the reviews and the other posts on this site and I'm wondering if its really worth it to get the G3 intel versus the OCZ Vertex 2 or the intel 310 if you can save a few bucks. Otherwise, maybe get the Vertex 3 although I'm not sure the controller can handle that speed anyways.

 

An alternative to the Intel mSATA would be the SF1222-based Renice K3M mSATA drives. Priced at $200 for 60GB:

www.mydigitaldiscount.com Browse By Brand:Renice:Renice K3VLAR 50mm SandForce mSATA SSD Category

 

Seems to be out of stock now, the best I can find now is about $235.

However I see two different PNs

SSDSA2CW120G310
SSDSA2CW120G3K5

Can someone tell me the diff between the "10" and "K5"?

I'd like to replace the drive I have in my T420 I have coming. I'm hoping that I'll have everything that need and won't need to go out and find special rails or screws.

 

serial #s ending:

10 - OEM (comes in brown box with no Intel warranty)
k5 - reseller (comes with some extras and Intel warranty)
B5 - retail (comes with a few more extras and Intel warranty)

I got the OEM version and after finding out that it has no warranty, I'm returning it. I will pay an extra $10-$20 for peace of mind.

 

Thats good, I just ordered the SSDSA2CW120G3K5 version for $228.
I hope it comes with all I will need to install into the T420.

 

Edit: Got an update on the warranty situation with OEM version sold through retailers from Intel and they do come with the 3 year warranty.

Here's a thread I started explaining more:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...s-oem-reseller-retail-models.html#post7331154

 

FYI,

Newegg.com has some of the Series 310, Series 320, and Series 510 SSD drives in their catalog now. Most sell out as soon as they replenish stock.

Oddly, the Series 320 160GB drive is listed at $309 in the summary listing but the item detail shows $419.

 

Has anyone bought an mSATA drive yet?

I was going to order a W520 with that option, but since it's not currently available and, when it is, I'm sure it'll be overpriced, I think I'd rather get it on my own like I'm going to do with the hard drive and RAM. I'm wondering I'll need some screws or a bracket or anything, or if it just clips in.

 

Has anyone successfully installed one yet?
I came to an appalling shock today when I tried to upgrade the mPCI-e wifi card in my T510. After I installed the card and booted up the system, the following popped up: "Error 1802: Unauthorized network card installed..."
Despite the T510 being offered with the Intel 6300 wifi card (the card I was trying to install...purchased from Newegg), the BIOS would prevent the system from booting because the device ID did not match the whitelist in the BIOS.
More information here: Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card - ThinkWiki

SOOO, this has me thinking...this may be an issue for those of us wanting to install a mSATA SSD in the spare mPCI-e slot in our systems... I'm wondering if Lenovo has the same whitelisting in place in the BIOS to disable purchasing any mSATA SSD and installing it.
Now, there are work-arounds for the issue with the wifi cards which look like they'd work for mSATA whitelisting--IF it turns out to be an issue.

Just thought I'd share some caution... Obviously, we won't know until someone tries it and reports back.

 

Somebody did, can't find the topic anymore on this forum, but have a look at:

forum.thinkpads.com • View topic - Self install T420 mSata drive

Adamp: "I can report that I installed the 80GB Intel mSata into the T420 and successfully installed Windows 7 x64"

 

Great to hear then!
And yeah, I couldn't find a thread on here either supporting that someone had. There are FAR too many threads in this forum with people asking/posting the exact same thing...