Adding another 128GB SSD to a 128GB SSD base config? (DIY)

I recently purchased a VPCZ12AVJ with 128GB SSD. I am finding i am running out of space and looking in the future to upgrade it.

• Is it possible to upgrade a stock 128GB SSD to 256GB SSD by adding another Sony(Toshiba) 128GB Dual Sided SSD wafer? (64GBx2)
  
• Does a Z configured with SSD 128GB (RAID 0: 64GB×2) have a cable to connect a additional 128GB SSD Drive wafer to make it = 256GB (RAID 0: 64GB×4) ?
  
• Will the Z hardware detect the additional SSD automatically or does it need a special BIOS config?
  

I gained the following numbers from sony parts website but they have pretty vague details:

128GB?
VPCZ110GL 185757811 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL USD$271.54

256GB?
VPCZ110GL 185757911 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL USD$583.62

384GB?
VPCZ119FJ 185757611 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL USD$626.73

512GB?
VPCZ11AFJ 185757711 NAND BASED SSD INTERNAL USD$1,204.09

 

My VPC Z11 (128GB) used both sata connectors so I'm not sure how you'd go about adding another unless you swapped it with a 256gb drive.

Do a search, there's a way to use up to 2 unshelled 1.8" SSD's (off the shelf) if you order the micro sata connector for a VPC12 first.

 

Here you go: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/511578-how-replace-ssd-vaio-vpcz11-vpcz12-non-sony-ssd.html

 

Thanks for that information.

I haven't opened mine yet but I was hoping to add another original sony 128GB SSD. The off the shelf idea looks like a valuable alternative.

Hmm, i wonder if the 256GB SSD come with a different sata connector cable then. Looking at that page of the S/Y shape connector. It connects to both physical double sided drives (64x2). All 128GB SSD config are single physical double sided drive right? Thinking now replacing to full part 256GB would only be workable for that scenario.

 

If you want a cheaper solution and you dont care about your optical drive (who uses DVD drives anymore anyways? =p) you could replace the optical drive with an after-market HDD and just load pictures/videos/music on there and save your 128gb SSD in RAID for ur apps. Or, since you're going to spend that much money, you could get an aftermarket SSD and place it into DVD bay too.

 

I think they all use two connectors (same cable) but those with quad raid configs use port multipliers on the ssd itself. Problem with getting the 256 is you're going to have to trash your 128 I'm afraid.

 

I like my dvd-drive Replacing DVD drive with HDD/SSD sounds like a good idea too. Design choice by sony to not put a HDD/DVD combo option i understand now with the space restriction. No biggie i guess since external portable harddrive can compensate.

Port multipliers on the SSD board it self? Damn it!
And nobody would buy 2nd hand sony 128GB SSD unless they are on 64GB or something

Looked at 1.8 Mini harddrive idea (Samsung's Mini S1) in the SSD space. Even if it were to fit and work it seems the rpm is too slow to use a system drive (3600 rpm)

 

I think it is more likely this drives :
-64GB single sided (the one used in 196GB config in addition of 128GB double sided)
-128GB single sided (from 384GB config)
-128GB double sided (64GBx2), the interesting one to upgrade from 128 to 256GB
-256 double sided (128GBx2)

As $583.62 and $626.73 are very close prices I assume they are both 128GB, and this scheme maintain a x2 factor from single to double sided SSDs.
I definitely don't know wich one of the 128GB is single or double sided, we can assume both double sided is more expensive or, at the opposite, that NAND chips used for 128GB single sided are more expensive...

 

I think the best way to find out is that bunbuns opens his Z and checks whether he has one double-sided drive or two single-sided drives like those used in the 192 setups. Anyways, the cheapest would be to put in an off-the-shelf 256gb 1,8" drive with a Z12 connector and sell the proprietary drives.

 

can anyone give me a link that has a benchmark going head to head with this 256gb SSD raid o setup against 160gb intel x25m g2?

 

^dig around there are benchmarks posted elsewhere. The 2x raid factory setup pretty much ties the G2 (single) in reads and smokes it in rights. However in all the random tests the G2 shreds the factory raid drives.

 

you mean writes

 

^damn phone