Upgrading VPC-Z1 (with quad raid) to 1TB !

[Qwaarjet]

4xCrappy SSDs RAID > 2xTop-End SSDs RAID ? Just wondering, I have no idea...

Please explain how they're "crappy"? Samsung is top tier. Also, please point out these 1.8" 512gb "top end" SSD's? The highest capacity 1.8" for actual sale that I've seen are 300gb. Knowing that the Z1x is limitd to SATA II, I can say with abundant certainty that rocket365's setup will lay waste to anything else that could possibly work in the Z.

There is a 600gb 2.5" drive, so he could have had 1.2TB with 2x1.8 300gb + 1 2.5" 600gb for the grand total of $2150. More space, yes, but at the cost of his ODD, and a higher cost and LOWER performance.

OP pretty much said, I want the best, nothing else will do and gave the finger to his wallet. I think we can all respect that

[rocket365]

Nice work! How many curser blinks do you get at bootup?

Thanks, not sure what the blinks tell you as I am not into bios internals, but without show raid configuration, just one. With show raid configuration three.

[rocket365]

Let me first start by saying I love this... Overkill, with some overkill on top xD

Could we get some performance (I/O) tests plz ?
I'm just wondering how this setup fares against modern SSDs.

At a cost of something like 1500$, you could have gotten a 2x512Gb RAID array of top-end SSDs, stripped them, and installed them without any hassle.

4xCrappy SSDs RAID > 2xTop-End SSDs RAID ? Just wondering, I have no idea...

• I'll post the stats after the weekend.
• Unfortunately there is no space, even if you strip the case from the larger (>=512GB) 2,5'' SSD's and you would need an microSATA->SATA adapter and loose the BD-bay by installing two drives, as "Qwaarjet" mentioned. This worked in the VGN-Z (without loosing the bay), but in the VPC (at least my Z12) you have to stay with the new form factor or maybe you could install two Intel 1.8'' with the SSD-TOS cable, right now only up to 300GB, which might work.

[rocket365]

With 64KB stripe size defined in raid bios, latest intel raid driver.
If the transfer size is larger or equal 4KB, you get allmost >400MB/s write and ~500MB/s read transfer speed.

[daburch]

The MZRPA512HMFU drives are now available on Amazon for $199, the MZRPA256HMDR is $179. I bought 1 for my VPC-Z1190X CTO not realizing they wouldn't plug and play with the FPP-209 cable. It looks like I'm going to have to try this mod, but it seems that if they built these for Sony, then Sony must have a ribbon cable to match. Anyone ever have their Samsung equipped Z2 apart, or have access to the parts breakdown?

[ngvuanh]

This drive is for Z2 only, so there is no Z1 cable to fit this drive.

The MZRPA512HMFU drives are now available on Amazon for $199, the MZRPA256HMDR is $179. I bought 1 for my VPC-Z1190X CTO not realizing they wouldn't plug and play with the FPP-209 cable. It looks like I'm going to have to try this mod, but it seems that if they built these for Sony, then Sony must have a ribbon cable to match. Anyone ever have their Samsung equipped Z2 apart, or have access to the parts breakdown?

[daburch]

I got that, I'm asking if anyone ever recorded the part number for the Z2 FPP that connects 3 of these drives to the mobo. It would be easier to break out the one end of that ribbon to fit the Z1

[corrado85]

this is pretty Zionism of you to do this... wicked!

[daburch]

Does any one know where I can find the pinout for thes drives? I have a spare 256 (128+128) Samsung from the z12xx series I'd like to use in my desktop, by building a conversion to SATA.

[mobytoby]

The MZRPA512HMFU drives are now available on Amazon for $199, the MZRPA256HMDR is $179. I bought 1 for my VPC-Z1190X CTO not realizing they wouldn't plug and play with the FPP-209 cable. It looks like I'm going to have to try this mod, but it seems that if they built these for Sony, then Sony must have a ribbon cable to match. Anyone ever have their Samsung equipped Z2 apart, or have access to the parts breakdown?

If you get this working, plz let me know. The part number for the VPCz2 series PWB, FPC-224 FLEXIBLE PRINT is 1-884-606-12, but it only connects 1 drive according to the service manual .