mSATA FAQ: A Basic Primer

[cr2250]

Bought one of the last few generic Renice 64gb! Thanks!

[Aluminum]

In my research I found some 70mm mSATA cards (built for tablets and/or netbooks). It should be worth noting that the cards for ThinkPads are 50mm in length so the 70mm models should be avoided.

-darren

I would avoid all older "minicard" models period, they don't even use the same signaling pattern of traces. Everything pre-mSATA is basically proprietary, like the asus netbook format etc.

No real loss, most of that stuff is significantly slower and older anyways


Random thought: really wish the x120e had come with mSATA, it only came before other models by a month or two. I suppose it saved them a little bit per unit cost, but they went to the trouble to keep the WWAN+SIM slots which is fairly rare in netbooks anyways. Having the option for dual drive would've completely cemented their model as the only ultraportable "serious user" fusion-class netbook in the market. It already has that title IMO, but better to lead by a foot than an inch

[bayernjuven]

Very nice post. Is there any way to re-align the SSD after re-installing the system from recovery images?

[LoneWolf15]

Very nice post. Is there any way to re-align the SSD after re-installing the system from recovery images?

Paragon Software makes a commercial product that reportedly does the job. I haven't used it myself.

Paragon Paragon Alignment Tool - Overview

[hp79]

Might also want to add in MyDigitalSSD. They're rebrands of the Renice. mSATA Solid State Drives | My Digital Discount

They've got the 64GB for $140, which blows away the 40GB Intel 310 for $99. The speeds on the Renice/MyDigitalSSD's are 270/200 compared to 170/70 for the intels. I'm considering the 64GB for mine (the 128GB is prohibitively expensive- I'll just order one of the slim 500GB internal hard drives to go with it if the 250GB isn't enough)

Just looking at Crystaldiskmark result from that site, the 4k random read write looks like half the speed of intel's soda creek. But they are over twice faster in sequential writes.

For me, I think the random read write speeds are more important, but then again, anything would be amazing compared to regular HDD, and also the price looks good for the 64gb model. I hope more manufacturers start making mSATA SSDs.

[MisterWuf]

The MyDigitalSSD drives use the Phison PS3105 SATA2 controller and the Renice drives use the SandForce 1200 controller. That, along with the fact that the capacities don't allign between product lines makes me think that the MyDigitalSSD drices are not relabeled Renice drives.

I have a 128G MyDigitalSSD on its way. If I ever get an X220 to put it in I'll report what I find.

-darren

[Colerunner]

On a scale from 1 to 10 what would you say the difficulty is for installing one? Would the intel be the best for a w520?

[hantanbl]

Installation involves

1) removing the keyboard to access the WWAN slot (Easy, scale 3)
2) Installtion of the mSata (Easy, scale 2)
3) the most challenging part for me was to put back the keyboard connector to the motherboard as the allowance for my hands access is very little (difficult, scale 7)

Make sure you have the W520 service manual for referal and good luck

On a scale from 1 to 10 what would you say the difficulty is for installing one? Would the intel be the best for a w520?

[ferganer80]

Installation involves

1) removing the keyboard to access the WWAN slot (Easy, scale 3)
2) Installtion of the mSata (Easy, scale 2)
3) the most challenging part for me was to put back the keyboard connector to the motherboard as the allowance for my hands access is very little (difficult, scale 7)

Make sure you have the W520 service manual for referal and good luck

Why did you remove the keyboard? The WWAN slot (shared with the RAM slot) is on the bottom of the T420 and it is very easy to access it - just takes a few seconds to unscrew and open the slot. Is it different for W520?

[hantanbl]

Why did you remove the keyboard? The WWAN slot (shared with the RAM slot) is on the bottom of the T420 and it is very easy to access it - just takes a few seconds to unscrew and open the slot. Is it different for W520?

yes it is different for W520. But removing the keyboard is easy.