Possible mSata and Ram aftermarket upgrades for 9150

I recently placed an order for a 9150 Special Edition (aka Thanksgiving promtion), and am contemplating picking up an mSata drive and additional RAM to add into it when it eventually arrives. I have a rough idea of what parts to look for, but I'd appreciate confirmation that the following parts would work. I'd also appreciate opinions on if I should get buy these upgrade parts now, wait, or even get them at all. For those unfamiliar with the 9150 special edition it will be coming with a 750gb 7200rpm Sata2 hard drive, blu-ray optical drive, and 2x8 16gb 1600 RAM. That should leave it with an empty mSata port (under the keyboard?), and two empty 204-pin RAM slots (also under the keyboard). Therefore the following is what I'm considering:

mSata drive:
256GB Crucial m4 Internal mSAT
CT256M4SSD3
currently priced at $201.99, but there is a coupon code for $10 off, so that brings it to $191.99 total, and the place I'm looking at has free shipping, and no tax to my location. I was also debating a 128/120gb drive, but it seems like a better price to GB ratio to get a 256GB (seems like the 128/120gb models cost around $99-$105, and the place that sells the 256gb model sells the 128GB model for $103 - which would drop to $93 after the $10 code).

Choosing RAM seems a bit more complicated. Since the system will come with 16gb in a 2x8 1600 204-pin configuration that would mean picking up another 2x8 1600 pair to bring the system to its max 32gb. There seem to be a lot of choices out there starting at $65 and going up...

ddr3-1600 204pin - Google Search

From a storage standpoint the 750GB should be plenty of space, so the appeal of the mSata drive would seem to be using it for Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT) and to have the OS run from it. Is it worth it to pick up the 256gb msata for that, and is now a good time to buy it while it would be $191? (From what I understand setting up the mSata for SRT would require formatting the system and re-installing the OS, so this seems like an upgrade one might to begin with as opposed to at a later time).

The 16GB RAM should be plenty for the system I would guess, and unlike the mSata drive its easier to add more chips at any time. Compared to the $191 for the mSata drive RAM at $65 seems relatively cheap, but should I even bother with adding more RAM?

 

I have similar questions to ask, so i add myself to your query.
I have only 8 GB 1600 RAM, and want to buy 16GB (2x8), what specifications should i look for?

Avid, some remarks:
msata bay is NOT under the keyboard, is placed in the back, dont recall exactly where, but it has been posted in another post, bit hard to spot but its there.

as for my thoughts? 16 GB is plenty of RAM, and prices will only get lower in time.
msata of 64 or 128 GB is more than enough for OS and/or ISRT, no point investing over 100 on msata, IMHO.

Voz

 

Any 8GB 1600 ram with the same cas latency basically.

However you only need more than 8GB if you are using specialist programs.

The mSATA bay is on the back, behind the cover on the side of the battery.

It's just like any other SSD really, so having a larger drive means you can put more of the programs you commonly use on it to speed up loading times.

 

As stupid as it might be,how do i figure out my current memory Cas latency?
Module number is:
Module Part Number: 16JTF51264HZ-1G6M1
PC3-12800 (Micron Tech)

looking with HWInfo i see all kinds of numbers, 5-5-5-12 (at 333.3MHz) to 11-11-11-28 (at 800Mhx)
it al so says
CAS# Latencies Supported: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

so exactly what is my memories Cas latency? And where do i check this numbers on sellers info on new sticks?

regards
Voz

 

You can run CPU-Z and go to the memory tab

Memory timings dictate how many cycles each part of storing, retrieving and refreshing memory take, longer delays lead to higher delays (latencies) so lower performance.

 

I think that Crucial mSATA is a GREAT choice. Go with that, and the price is right. For ram, just go with the lowest latency, and lowest voltage. ADATA and Samsung both have CL9 @ 1600 at 1.35v I believe.

 

If you are pairing a 1.35v set of ram with a 1.5v set they will both just run at 1.5v (which is fine).

 

Ok, it seems my 8 GB is 11.0 clocks memory latency. Now i should just look for CL 11 memories? what happens if i buy lower CL sticks?
About the msata i have an 180GB SSD, is it worht buying an msata just for extra storage?

cheers
Voz

 

Depends if you need extra storage

Memory will always run at the slowest speed of any of the sticks there.

So CL11 + CL9 ram makes everything run at CL11.

 

Ok, then i can choose any memory stick as long as its PC3-12800?
I recall reading something about vengeance memories not being compatible or something, but i cant find the post, i just want to make sure that whatever i buy is compatible with my notebook.

 

It should be fine, but it always helps to find a place with a good returns policy.

 

i've been looking into these things now too as i have just purchased a 150em. i'm a msata/ssd newb but these two are currently on sale (for Canadians) and i wonder which is compatible and more reliable?

Newegg.ca - Intel 330 Series Maple Crest SSDSC2CT120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Newegg.ca - Intel 330 Series Maple Crest SSDSC2CT120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

 

Those are 2.5" standard drives and not msata. You have also listed the same drive twice.

 

Dang...mustve been real tired last night. I meant
Newegg.ca - OCZ Nocti Series NOC-MSATA-120G mSATA 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

I guess thats a better option? Thanks

 

The crucial m4s are the fastest msata drives atm, as fast as the 2.5" versions.

 

Thanks everyone for your insight. I ended up buying the Crucial 256gb msata ssd from J&R for $191 (currently you can use coupon code Turkey10 to get $10 off and free shipping). The post http://forum.notebookreview.com/sol...4-128gb-vs-256gb-performance.html#post8568292 and reading that quite a few people who purchased 128gb drives went back and later purchased the 256gb model made me decide to go with it.

Here is a link to the J&R 256gb msata drive if anyone wants it:
256GB Crucial m4 Internal mSAT in Hard Drives | JR.com

 

I just bought the same, like last week! But from Amazon. Didn't have any coupon code.
Installed Windows 8 on it & it's working great!

 

Just an FYI for anyone interested in the Crucial 256gb m4 msata drive. NewEgg just dropped the price on it to 169.99 and provides free three day shipping. My order with j&r was on backorder until the 11th, so I was able to cancel and order with NewEgg instead. Even after tax it came to cheaper than what I was going to end up paying J&R. Here is the new Egg link: Newegg.com - Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD3 mSATA 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Amazon has it for 169.99 as well: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-256GB...586344&sr=8-1&keywords=crucial+m4+256gb+msata

 

I ran one in my P150EM setup as the OS drive and it ran flawlessly, yes at SATA II speeds, but straight line speed is not really needed in an OS drive as much.

Worth snapping up when a good deal comes along.

 

Is it okay for 1.35v to work at 1.5v? I don't know anything about this.

 

Totally ok, 1.35v ram will also accept 1.5v.