X40 ssd recommendations ?

[lightweightthinkpad]

X40 ssd recommendations ?

I did not succeed at installing openbsd on a USB drive and running the os from that. I am a total newb but I'd like to purchase a ssd hd then install an os onto it.

Tips or recommendations are appreciated

Also will I need just the hard drive cover or also the hd caddy (tray)?

[Cigarguy]

I don't have a X40 but I believe that this machine do not have SATA connection, only PATA, so getting a SSD is not that easy. A PATA to SATA converter with a 1.8" SSD might be doable but it won't be easy nor cheap.

[twistero]

You've got a few options:

1. 1.8 inch ZIF SSD + 44-pin-IDE to ZIF adapter. A list of such SSDs here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/solid-s ... lable.html
Most eBay adapters are made for 2.5 inch hard drive bays and expects 5V on the power supply. The X40 only supplies 3.3V, therefore some minor modification is required. There are also X40/X41 specific adapters that do not require such mods.

2. mSATA SSD + 44-pin-IDE to mSATA adapter. Adapters can be bought on eBay; pick the 3.3V version instead of the 5V version.

3. CF card + 44-pin-IDE to CF adapter.


You probably won't need the HDD caddy, since you should remove the palm rest when installing these non-standard parts anyway.

[ganon11000]

The msata to ide option is awesome, I get 87mb/s out of mine on a X41 with a ide to sata chip inside the laptop

[lightweightthinkpad]

Thank you for the well thought out responses.

I will probably go with option 2 suggested by twistero

I was going to pull the trigger on this 3.3v 44 pin IDE to msata card

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-E-MSATA-SSD ... 416ec7eb57

But then I saw this package deal

http://www.ebay.com/itm/mSATA-SSD-to-2- ... 2ec772af31

Which includes the msata hd. However one thing that irks me is it says Input voltage 3.3v optional...? Will I need to set jumpers on that adapter card?

Any suggestions ? I'd like to buy the package deal because it will include a msata hd but I'm confused in regards to the voltage.

Can't wait till my x40 is rocking and rolling !!! I hate typing on an iPad

[ganon11000]

There are 2 editions because mSATA is 3.3V and NORMAL IDE is 5V but the x40/41 have 3.3V IDE which is what the voltage is about!

Now the package you've found has the 5V edition which you'll need to modify to use in a x40/41!

I got the 3.3V adapter (£14) and a crucial m4 64gb for £65 but look on amazon for msata as there are cheaper ones!

*update*
32gb crucial m4
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0082PVK8 ... -3&pi=SL75

One of the main reasons I went with a 500MB/s m4 is when I upgrade I don't need a new ssd!

[lightweightthinkpad]

Thanks again everyone for the feedback I just purchased

New Crucial M4 32GB mSATA3 Solid State Drive (MLC) SSD SATA III CT032M4SSD3

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Crucial-M4- ... 2c67cdb8a7


and

PCI-E MSATA SSD 50MM 3.3V to 1.8" IDE 3.3V 44PIN SSD FOR IBM X40 X41 HDD Adapter

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-E-MSATA-SSD ... 416ec7eb57

Thank you ganon11000 for the feedback and looking over those two links. I'm glad I didn't buy that incorrect 5v package deal.

Once I get the items I'll open up the x40 install the drives, and then I'll find a USB DVD/CD drive to install the operating system from.

[ganon11000]

Just remember to disable trim as its not supported on the adapter!

[lightweightthinkpad]

Is there any software or link you can suggest for this?

Will I need to do this for other operating systems like Ubuntu openbsd etc?

[ganon11000]

Do this guide but remove "discard" (disable TRIM)To enable automatic TRIM on a drive or partition, they need to be mounted with the discard option in fstab. Firstly backup your fstab then open it for editing:

sudo cp /etc/fstab ~/fstab-backup
gksudo gedit /etc/fstab
Add discard to the fstab options entry (comma separated) for the SSD drive or each partition.

UUID=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 / ext4 discard,errors=remount-ro 0 1
Close and save fstab, then reboot and automatic TRIM should now be working.

As for windows vista and below it doesn't support trim. But for windows 7 & 8 you need to enter this command in a elevated command prompt:
fsutil behavior set disabledeletenotify 1


PS. My YouTube video of the process is almost finished!

[lightweightthinkpad]

will there be any issues with trim on xp sense it is not supported? I plan on running xp at first and then partitioning and getting another OS on the msata HD

[ganon11000]

No issues since it only freezes when the trim command is sent (you get 5 seconds of use then trim freezes it for 5!)

[ganon11000]

This is a YouTube video I did of the process:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JO6f1EFbPyA

[joedab]

I am wondering why you guys would go to all the trouble of doing a pata to msata if there are kingspec pata SSD available as a quick swap job. Is there a specific advantage?

[Tasurinchi]

Those Kingspecs are (in)famous for having high failure rates. I don't think the support TRIM too.

[joedab]

though is there anyway of enabling TRIM on a kingspec if the motherboard doesn't support it? Or do you need a drive that natively supports TRIM in order to fool the x40 into supporting TRIM through software?

[Tasurinchi]

My understanding is that the controller of the drive must support it.

Welcome to the forum btw!

[Python.p]

At 1st sorry for digging out dead topic. But i found it via search and think is most relevant

Does anybody have experience with this http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1-8-HDD-ZIF ... 25826dc9c9 in combination with KingSpec 64GB 1,8 ZIF ? I have one left from dead D430.

Thank you

[gdemonta]

First, thank you for pointing me to the msata adapter and the 3.3V trick! Following this thread , I'll give my feedback on 1.8 ssd conversion on X40.

A few year ago I bought a Pata Kingspec SSD: it failed 6 months later... So as it has already been stated, stay away from them.
Now that I've come across this new solution of using an IDE-mSata adapter with a maSATA SSD, I bought them to try them.

First I bought an adapter from this seller:
seller "freegift2010" who"]PCI-E mSATA SSD 50MM 3.3V to 1.8" IDE 3.3V 44-pin SSD FOR IBM X40 X41 HDD Adapter

And a Transcend MSA370 64GB mSATA SATA III on Amazon

I was so eager to test it that I didn't unscrew the chassis screws and mis aligned the IDE pins, anyway the SSD wasn't recognized by the X40.
I thought I might have bricked the SSD, so I returned the Transcend and tried another one: A Kingston SMS200S3/60G. Same problem.

So I order a new adapter, from this seller because it's half the price.
seller "2015hiworld" who"]PCI-E mSATA SSD 50MM 3.3V to 1.8" IDE 3.3V 44-pin SSD FOR IBM X40 X41 HDD Adapter

The drive is still not recognised. So I compare the 2, and I notice that a chip is missing from the second one (right adapter on the picture). I also remove the QC check sticker on the first one, and I see that below a soldering point is missing (left adapter on the picture)!!!!


Then I checked the following thread, which gives very insightfull information regarding different techniques for 2.5" ssd conversion, and followed Automobus link. It's another adapter, solving one of the main problem of the previous one: it comes with a case! As the other one are just maintained by the IDE plug, which is not enough.
I'll keep you posted!

[automobus]

gdemonta, if you do not already own a electrical multimeter, then I advise you to get one. It is a good investment.

A few year ago I bought a Pata Kingspec SSD: it failed 6 months later... So as it has already been stated, stay away from them.
…
I see that below a soldering point is missing

I would like to remind everyone, CompactFlash is a more reusable investment than "44-pin SSD", and often comes with lifetime guaranteed replacement.

In ThinkWiki article "How to put SATA in old ThinkPads" is photos of an adapter board which did not work until a blob of solder was applied to fix it.

I hope N-1801 works well for you.

[gdemonta]

Thank you Automobus for the insight, changing parts is as far as I'm willing to go for this! I want to avoid soldering or use a multimeter as much as I can!

[gdemonta]

I have finally received the new adapter... and no luck still doesn't work. I tried quickly so I'll try again during the week.

[automobus]

gdemonta, please point us to what you bought. If you got the one which I refer to as N-1801, then check the voltage selection switch, which position is it in?

If 5V is selected, then it will not work in X40. It is harmless: X40 supplies 3.3 volt, which is below dropout of 5-to-3.3 voltage regulator.

If 3.3V is selected, then maybe you received a defective part? Be careful, do not connect the module to a 5 volt source when switch is in 3.3V position.

[fastoy]

though is there anyway of enabling TRIM on a kingspec if the motherboard doesn't support it? Or do you need a drive that natively supports TRIM in order to fool the x40 into supporting TRIM through software?

Without TRIM your new SSD will slowly grind to almost a halt. I installed a Kingspec in my X40 and it ran like a scalded dog for a while. Eventually it got so slow that I put the original HDD back in.

TRIM is your friend and really a necessity on an SSD.

[gdemonta]

gdemonta, please point us to what you bought. If you got the one which I refer to as N-1801, then check the voltage selection switch, which position is it in?

I bought the one with the volt selection switch. I got it working , the problem was that only one ide row was plugged in, the adapter is not perfectly aligned with the ide plug, I had to remove the 2 screws closer to the ide plug and it was finally recognized .
Then I installed Windows 7, I successfully installed the video driver thanks to the usual trick. But even like this chrome was very slow and the system itself was slow. So I think I'll just return the ssd, put the original hdd back, install Windows xp and I'll be finished!
I only wanted to experiment and if successful, resell it but it was really too slow. Unless someone knows any trick to make Windows 7 faster on a 10 years old laptop? (I had already setup Windows with performances optimized, removing the nice graphical stuff).
I know Linux would be the best solution but to resell it its might not be as successful

[automobus]

That is disappointing. (I had highly hoped, N-1801 would be a ideal retrofit.) Does it have the four side screw holes, like original Hitachi drive? The photos in eBay listing are all top-down perspective, do not show side walls.

[gdemonta]

My x40 is very old, so I think the slowness comes from it, but I've seen people using their x40 with Windows 7.
The adapter doesn't have the screws on the sides, but it's not really a problem, you can remove it with a flat screwdriver.
I would still say it's the ultimate retrofit. The plastic box really nails it, except of course the fact that you have to be careful when you plug it in.

[Thomas789]

Did anybody else also have problems inserting the mSata drive into the adapter? I bought the adapter from the same Ebay seller "freegift2010" mentioned above and a Crucial MX200 250GB mSATA SSD (directly from Crucial). The contact pins can't be fully inserted into the slot though; there are 1-2 mm still visible, and on the other side the holes do not quite match up with the points to fix the drive. The same problems exists with the USB-drive enclosure (ZTC Skyboard) that I bought to clone my existing hard drive onto the SSD.
I am afraid to use any undue force to insert the drive deeper.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Thomas789]

Did anybody else also have problems inserting the mSata drive into the adapter? I bought the adapter from the same Ebay seller "freegift2010" mentioned above and a Crucial MX200 250GB mSATA SSD (directly from Crucial). The contact pins can't be fully inserted into the slot though; there are 1-2 mm still visible, and on the other side the holes do not quite match up with the points to fix the drive. The same problems exists with the USB-drive enclosure (ZTC Skyboard) that I bought to clone my existing hard drive onto the SSD.
I am afraid to use any undue force to insert the drive deeper.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Just an update: I solved this particular problem now. I just fiddled around a little bit (inserting the mSata at a slight angle first) and then it was OK.

Thomas