t410s - SSD

Hello,

I'm looking to configure the T410s with the switchable discrete graphics, however, the option is only for the elite version which has a lot of options already decided for you, namely the hard drive. I think I'd prefer the 80GB Intel G2 SSD, but it only allows the 128 GB (Samsung?) SSD as an option.

So, my question: is the Samsung drive that much worse than the Intel drive? It does have over 50% more capacity. Is it worth just waiting until more options are available to be configured and I can choose the Intel SSD?

Thanks

 

the samsung ssd has poorer, but still decent, small writes performance
the main difference is that the samsung does not support TRIM, which would be a deal-killer for me, but might not be for you
read up on TRIM and see what you think

 

Thanks. I just read an anandtech article on the samsung and intel, and it looks as though the intel blows it away. Looks like I'll be waiting until I can configure the Intel drive... geez the wait on this t410s switchable is getting ridiculous

 

I have used a 128GB Samsung-driven SSD for almost a year now. It is awesome. No way should you avoid getting an SSD if you can't get the Intel in the size you want (for many of us, 80GB is grossly inadequate). As my "Samsung" SSD is by OCZ, I have upgraded to TRIM. But with or without TRIM, it is awesome, with no observable change in performance throughout its year of use.

 

My understanding is that there a number of possible models you might receive that are the 128GB flavor. I don't think you'll know until you receive your machine if the drive that came with it supports TRIM or not. I'm hoping for the best but planning for the worst. If I have to, I'll replace mine with the Intel or Crucial C300.

 

The current generation of Samsung SSDs is a tad slower than the Intel SSD in benchmarks, but in real-world performance you will be hard pressed to see any difference.

Good luck fitting the 2.5" Crucial drive into the 1.8" hdd slot of the T410s

 

I could probably wait a bit more on the t410s (expected ship is in 4 weeks[!!!] anyway). Am hoping to configure one with an i5-540 and the 80gb intel SSD (instead of the i5-520 and 128 samsung). If there isn't anything by the end of the month I might have to just pull the trigger on whatever is there.

 

keep in mind the tabook no longer mentions the i5-540 as an option for the t410s, so you may be waiting for godot, so to speak

 

Wow, you are right. How disappointing...

Are there firmware updates that allow these 128gb drives to support TRIM?

EDIT:

Actually tabook pg 72 shows model 2912-2CU with an i5-540 and an 80gb SSD. Dream machine right there. May be a mistake though as no other T410s models have the i5-540...

 

I didn't say today. The drive I am referring to hits the channel in June. I probably won't get one until well after. Need to see prices first.

 

Well, I bit the bullet and just ordered one. I figure with a estimated ship date of 5/26 (!!!) i can just cancel and reorder if a configuration with the i5-540 and Intel X-18 comes out.

Will be buying a 2gb memory stick and a 500gb 7200 rpm 2.5" drive for the ultrabay from newegg.

 

If you check benchmarks for i5-520M vs. i5-540M then you'll find that, even with a stopwatch, the 5% CPU clock difference is hard to notice.

 

Yeah, I saw that. Honestly, I'm more worried about the intel ssd vs samsung ssd difference. Hopefully I'm not kicking myself in a couple months

 

I think most users on the forum have experienced ship dates for their T-series much earlier than estimated, if that helps.

Where are you getting your ultrabay adapter?

 

For the record, the ebay ultrabay 2nd hdd with a 640gb 5400rpm drive works perfectly on my T410s. Its just a piece of plastic with a micro-sata pass-through, so I don't think there is much that can go wrong

 

I just bought it from lenovo. Was $50 bucks or so

 

Awesome, I'm doing the same. When you have time let me know what hard drive you're getting (or if you have any recs), I'm pretty clueless in regards to what's compatible with the T410S ultrabay

 

I think I'm going to spring for this one. Seems rather well reviewed and newegg is having a little $10 sale on it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145275

 

The Hitachi 7200rpm HDD is excellent. But it is a very far cry from almost every recent SDD available, with TRIM or not. I have had a "mere" Samsung-driver SDD for a year now, and would dread going back to a 7200rpm HDD. But for a HDD, a very sound choice.

 

I'll have the 128gb Samsung SSD for the main drive. The Hitachi will be for the ultrabay

 

Sorry - thought the HDD was going to be your primary drive!

Yet, if I was using a 500GB HDD as my secondary/storage drive, I would have thought the better performing 80GB Intel G2 SSD (rather than the 120GB Samsung) would have been ideal for the primary/OS and software drive.

 

Me too. I may yet still cancel my order if a Intel configuration is available. Might also just buy one and sell the samsung on ebay

 

How's the power draw on this versus the 5400rpm ones? nd this is 9mm right

 

i wouldn't get this drive, if i were you
because you are getting this drive to go in the ultrabay to act as a storage drive while you have your ssd for OS/programs, having a 7200rpm drive won't gain you any performance over a 5400rpm drive
what a 7200rpm drive will do, however, is noticeably reduce your battery life over a 5400rpm drive

my advice, stay with the hitachi, but get the 5400rpm version - 5k500

 

It's way faster and you won't notice a significant drop in battery life.

 

No, the slower speed of the 5400rpm drive is counteracted by the higher data density. The only disadvantage of the 5400rpm 640gb drive is the slow access time (half a rotation on average). But that is not relevant if you only store large files on it; presumably you will store all the small files on the SSD.

 

Nice review here: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=242821.

Density will depend on how big each platter is - I would have thought both the 5200rpm and 7200rpm 500GB HDD's are 2-platter, so equal density?

My Hitachi 160GB single-platter 7200rpm HDD (since replaced by a SDD) was quietest and best 2.5" I have ever used.

 

I meant to compare the 640gb 5400rpm vs. 500gb 7200rpm drive, they have about the same sequential speed. All 9.5mm height drives are 2-platter.

 

If it's being used as a secondary drive, the difference in performance will be minimal. Only when used as the primary drives, the lower access times will have a small, but noticeable effect on OS and program loading times.

 

Hey my ssd on t410s is toshiba THNS128GG4BAAA-nonFDE 128.0 gb. Does this ssd support trim, and if not, is there anyway I can update the firmware to support trim? Thanks!

 

I don't believe that Toshiba SSD has TRIM support - unlike the latest models - see http://ssd.toshiba.com/SSD-FAQs.html.
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T5...1;jsessionid=AFC044C5BFA13A7524FF4365E9794644