X220 Possible Universal SSD Solution *UPDATED

[iamdmc]

Been a while since I've posted in the forums so hi everyone!

My question is this: instead of wasting time trying to find 7mm tall SSDs for the X220, why not disassemble the SSD and use it like that (beside the warranty issue)?

This way you can use any drive, including the OCZ Vertex 3 or Crucial M4 (the two fastest mainstream drives on the market) without worrying that they don't suit the 7mm height problem.

As an aside: why would Lenovo make this strange decision? They could have accommodated the extra 2mm somehow. I've owned a lot of ThinkPads, and of the design choices that bother me most, 1.8" SSD's and this 7mm HDD are the most perplexing (and vexing). It's one of the reasons I'm selling my X300.

***Update
Most 9mm SSD drives should fit in the 7mm slot, if you don't use the rubber shock mounts (not necessary for SSDs), and don't use the caddy. If you don't plan on removing the SSD anytime soon this is an ideal solution. It's a snug fit, but that means that it won't bang around the inside of your laptop.

The caveat is that removal will be a challenge when I decide to upgrade, and will likely require plyers.

***Second Update

Removal only requires a screwdriver, removing one screw from the corner of the SSD, then putting the screwdriver in the hole from the screw and pulling it out. No pliers necessary! That's good, because although the Agility 3 is OK, I'm not very impressed with the performance of it. Burst 300MB/s, average 170MB/s (according to CrystalDiskMark and HDTune). Varying performance across identical hardware too (ie different performance on 2 X220's, configured spec-for-spec the same)

Happy SSD'ing

[Harryc]

I decided to ditch all of that and go for the 80GB mSATA Intel 310. That way I can keep a large conventional drive running in the machine for storage.

[iamdmc]

But a Vertex 3 with 550MB/s read, 500MB/s write (max) sure beats the mSATA

[Harryc]

Yes, but it wouldn't make a lick of difference to me as far as what I use a laptop for. The 310 has plenty of speed...

Sustained Sequential Reads
Up to 200 MB/s (80GB)
Sustained Sequential Writes
Up to 70 MB/s (80GB)

Not to mention I am used to the X25-m, which I still think is a speed demon....

Sustained Sequential Read: up to 250MB/s
Sustained Sequential Write:
up to 70MB/s (80GB drive)
up to 100MB/s (120GB drive)
up to 100MB/s (160GB drive)

The X25-M is pretty similar in performance to the 310...then there's that extra drive advantage. Heck I could also put a Vertex drive in as a storage (or dual boot) drive later on. It's just the right decision for me. YMMV.

[pkincy]

Newegg had the 7 mm high X25-M in stock yesterday in 160 GB size.

[SetTainte]

Notebook Review Forum: List of drives that are compatible with the x220

[bill bolton]

As an aside: why would Lenovo make this strange decision?

Since the whole laptop sector is in the process of changing to 7mm thick drives, there's nothing strange about the decision.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[iamdmc]

Strange that they would do it before anyone else does. In the process isn't "current"

Strange that they put their customers in the position a lot of us are in now

It's just bothersome is all

and if you're going to use the "forward thinking" argument, then why not put USB 3.0 onto the non-i7 models like HP is doing with the ProBook 4x30x series?

[visionviper]

Notebook Review Forum: List of drives that are compatible with the x220

I also have a list going on the forum that focuses on SSDs (see my signature below).

Strange that they would do it before anyone else does. In the process isn't "current"

Strange that they put their customers in the position a lot of us are in now

It's just bothersome is all

and if you're going to use the "forward thinking" argument, then why not put USB 3.0 onto the non-i7 models like HP is doing with the ProBook 4x30x series?

*insert forward thinking argument here*

I'd rather have a 7mm drive stock than have to buy an adapter later down the road to use 7mm drives.

[bill bolton]

Strange that they would do it before anyone else does.

7mm drives have been on the market for at least a year and I see that Hitachi released what they called their "2nd generation" 7mm HDDs a few months ago. 7mm drives have been deployed in a number of commercial portable devices over that time and it is a very clear direction across the whole mobility device market.... again, there is nothing in any way strange about this.

• “Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cheers,

Bill B.

[erik]

and on the same note, intel's 2.5" SSDs have all been 7mm since inception save for the 510 series (which isn't made in-house).   intel knew the change to 7mm was coming over four years ago.

[iamdmc]

They also made the X-18M
thinking that all drives would go to the 1.8" form factor because it made so much sense.

and yet...

Just ordered an Agility 3 on sale for $79, which I will test thoroughly, then disassemble and insert gently into my X220.

Will post back results in a month's time

[iamdmc]

Good News, everyone!

You can fit a 9mm SSD into the 7mm slot if you don't use the useless rubber "shock mounting" brackets. Since an SSD can handle many times the G forces as an HDD, and has no moving parts (ergo solid state), you don't need the rubber parts.

I was considering disassembling the drive, but then I realized that the slot was just large enough for a 9mm SSD

I used an OCZ Agility 3 (60GB) that I picked up for $79. Along with the 2x4GB Kingston RAM I bought for $45 (22.49 each) it makes a worthwhile upgrade.

[Stevo]

and on the same note, intel's 2.5" SSDs have all been 7mm since inception save for the 510 series (which isn't made in-house).   intel knew the change to 7mm was coming over four years ago.

It's still a shame they don't include a shorter set of screws with the drive though, even in the retail box.

S

[erik]

It's still a shame they don't include a shorter set of screws with the drive though, even in the retail box.

agreed.   perhaps they know it would contradict their own decal stating that opening the drive voids the warranty.   they know everyone will take a peek inside once all the screws are out!

[khtse]

Good News, everyone!

You can fit a 9mm SSD into the 7mm slot if you don't use the useless rubber "shock mounting" brackets. Since an SSD can handle many times the G forces as an HDD, and has no moving parts (ergo solid state), you don't need the rubber parts.

I was considering disassembling the drive, but then I realized that the slot was just large enough for a 9mm SSD

I used an OCZ Agility 3 (60GB) that I picked up for $79. Along with the 2x4GB Kingston RAM I bought for $45 (22.49 each) it makes a worthwhile upgrade.

I'm getting a x220, and right now my SSD choices are the Crucial M4 256GB and Vertex 3 240GB. The M4 has removable spacer, but the Vertex doesn't. The Vertex gets better reviews, and is currently cheaper on newegg after rebates too.

How tight/loose is the fit is the Agility 3 without the caddy and rubber brackets? I guess I will just install it into the X220 without the caddy, and if there is loose I will just shim the drive with some papers/rubber/whatever-spacer so that it doesn't move.

[visionviper]

I'm getting a x220, and right now my SSD choices are the Crucial M4 256GB and Vertex 3 240GB. The M4 has removable spacer, but the Vertex doesn't. The Vertex gets better reviews, and is currently cheaper on newegg after rebates too.

How tight/loose is the fit is the Agility 3 without the caddy and rubber brackets? I guess I will just install it into the X220 without the caddy, and if there is loose I will just shim the drive with some papers/rubber/whatever-spacer so that it doesn't move.

Personally I'd opt for the Crucial. The memory is Micron, the controller is Micron, etc. Micron makes all the important parts that go into the drive. And they are based out of Boise, ID (go PacNW!). OCZ has had their share of problems when it has come to providing consistent product. This is something they are supposed to have worked on, but OCZ's SSD past is just a little too colorful for me (part issues, failure rates).

[khtse]

Personally I'd opt for the Crucial. The memory is Micron, the controller is Micron, etc. Micron makes all the important parts that go into the drive. And they are based out of Boise, ID (go PacNW!). OCZ has had their share of problems when it has come to providing consistent product. This is something they are supposed to have worked on, but OCZ's SSD past is just a little too colorful for me (part issues, failure rates).

Yup, I guess I will go with Crucial M4, although right now I'm using an OCZ Agility (don't remmeber 1 or 2...) on my X200, and it has been working fine for over a year. While most reviews seem to suggest that OCZ Vertex 3 is the best choice as far as performance go right now, user reviews on various forums and etailers tell another story. It seems that they are having some significant compatibility problem and firmwares are still being updated very often.

My X220 order won't be shipped in two weeks it seems... let's see if there will be any deal on the M4 these two weeks.

[iamdmc]

As mentioned, I purchased identical hardware from Lenovo, then identical SSDs from OCZ (Agility 3 64GB for $79/each). I'm getting very different read/writes based on CrystalDiskMark and HDtune. My Dad's "seems" to be performing better. Same firmware (2.06 - haven't upgraded to 2.09 yet for fear of brickage). I'm a bit disillusioned with OCZ. Still, $79 for a current gen SSD isn't bad, and I know I'll want to upgrade both of our laptops eventually, after which those SSDs will be repurposed into a RAID0 array for their HTPC desktop.

To answer your question, it's a tight fit. To describe how tight without resorting to vulgarities not fit for this forum, I'll just say that it's "like a glove". No wiggle, no space, nothing.

You could try the Vertex 3. According to a lot of benchmarks the Vertex 3 and M4 test very similarly. I used to like OCZ better, but now I'm wondering if I made the right choice.

[khtse]

I was waiting for SSD deal to pop up before my X220 ships. Well, just got an email that my X220 had been shipped, that is quick.

Looking around to see if there is deal for the 256GB M4 and found that it is currently $20 off with coupon LION2920 on superbiiz.com (419.99-20 = 399.99). But discovered that on the same site, they have the bulk version of it, Micron RealSSD C400 256GB for $408.99 (they are the same drive, Crucial's is just Micron's with sticker) and you get $10 off (=308.99)with coupon ABCDEFG (one has to be really lazy to come up with such coupon...). Free shipping but too bad that tax has to be paid on that site.

Anyone knows any better deal for the 256GB M4/C400?

[whoven]

I have a X220 and installed a OCZ Vertex 3 256GB. It just fits in the X220 without any space left.
Put scotch tape on the SSD to pull it out of the slot. That works well.
The OCZ vertex 3 is really very fast as the X220 does have Sata 3.

I needed to update the firmware of the SSD from 2.06 to 2.15 as the system freezes occasionally.
Only 30 seconds but it' not what you want with the X220.

when you order a X220, consider the HD premium (IPS panel) screen. It's very good from all angles.