New Hard Drive fot X41 (PIC WARNING)

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xena08 · #1 Post by **xena08** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:02 pm

Hello,

I want to upgrade my X41 with a new hard drive, but I don`t know which one will fit. How can I tell? I will buy it from ebay.

#2 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:19 pm

You need a 4200rpm 1.8" IDE drive. Very rare, and very expensive. The largest capacity for an X41 is 60GB

X41 drive on EBay

xena08 · #3 Post by **xena08** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:52 pm

Didn`t know that...

What is my options for some more gigs on this machine? I considered the WD Passport external HD, but I read too many reports on some malfunctions after a year.

Also, will 1gbx2 slots from a x61 fit x41? I know about the limitation of 1.5gb but what will happen?

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 1:07 pm

The X41 takes PC2-4200 RAM, the X61 takes PC2-5300 RAM. This swap would work, but the RAM would run at the lower speed. If you have .5GB fixed RAM onboard, you'd want to install 1x1GB stick of PC2-5300. The X41 has one open/available RAM slot. External storage, I like the WD Passport Elite line. I have a 320GB.

xena08 · #5 Post by **xena08** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:40 pm

Got u. Thx.

nchoe123 · #6 Post by **nchoe123** » Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:30 pm

I ordered a 2gb sodimm for my X41.

it shouldn't be a problem, I think. even if it only shows 2gb instead of the 2.5, i'd rather that than 1.5. what the heck, it was only $22.

Frank · #7 Post by **Frank** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:11 am

Harryc wrote:You need a 4200rpm 1.8" IDE drive. Very rare, and very expensive. The largest capacity for an X41 is 60GB

That's not correct. With an IDE to ZIF Adapter capacities up to 160GB are possible (Toshiba HDD). Or you can use a SSD like the Mtron in this Link: http://www.think4d.de/nbb/x41_ssd.htm

#8 Post by **Harryc** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:01 am

Technically speaking, based on standard options that originally came with X41's what I posted is correct. My understanding is that the 1.8" drives for the X41's were not ZIF. Please post a link to this adapter since other members will benefit from it. Lenovo came out with an option recently for X41 drives that used a new connector/adapter, but again it was expensive and the capacities offered were still small. Search the forum for threads on it.

dwilsonfl · #9 Post by **dwilsonfl** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:09 am

I'm interested in solutions like that because I'm looking at the X31 and the X40 and trying to decide which would be a good choice. The HDD on the X40/41 scares me. Pay $250 for a laptop and HD dies and your pocketbook takes a real hit.

x412008 · #10 Post by **x412008** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:19 pm

Hi Frank. Do you have some more info about what ZIF to IDE Adapter and SSD is working on X41, product number or link if (webshop) if you have.

BTW. What's the speed on this sollution compared to CF-Adapter with Transflash 300x. (I get about 43 MBs).

Thanks

tim S · #11 Post by **tim S** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:40 pm

There is a thread here that links to photos on a German site which shows a Samsung ZIF drive in an X40.
It requires an IDE to ZIF adapter, somewhat like a CF adapter, and a flexable ribbon cable from the drive to the adapter. The cable is flexable enough to be folded over from the end of the drive to the adapter. And the drive is thin enough to slide under the adapter.
All in all it seems to be a good fit. The problem is the price.
I'm sticking with a fast CF card for now.
Tim S

x412008 · #12 Post by **x412008** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:56 pm

Hi Tim S. I know about the German link, but if someone can come up with some info about the R/W speeds, and what parts needed and where to buy them, so I don't order something that doesen't work, it would be great!!

tim S · #13 Post by **tim S** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:42 pm

Right now, as I wrote above, the CF card is the way to go.
All I know for a fact is that fast CF cards, 300X etc, work very well as a relatively inexpensive way to speed up the X40/41 series.
I have a San Disk Exteme III 16G card in an Addonics adapter and now my X40 is faster than the original drive by far, faster than Linux by far. Not exactly scientific but it works for me!
Tim S

Frank · #14 Post by **Frank** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:03 am

Harryc wrote: Please post a link to this adapter since other members will benefit from it. Lenovo came out with an option recently for X41 drives that used a new connector/adapter, but again it was expensive and the capacities offered were still small. Search the forum for threads on it.

I know this special and expensive Lenovo Adapter but as you can see in the photos: you dont need this badly available thing. Just one cheap from ebay like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/1-8-TOSHIBA-Hard-Dr ... 0288203310
(but you must remove the 5V-3.3V voltage converter)

x412008 wrote:BTW. What's the speed on this sollution compared to CF-Adapter with Transflash 300x. (I get about 43 MBs).

A lot of faster and the good thing too: you can use Vista without any performance problems. Before the Mtron ZIF ssd i used a sandisk extreme IV 8gb and the transcend 300x 16gb and both are noticeable solwer especially the transcend, because the important random write performance is truly bad. (see the atto benchmarks in the german forum: http://www.thinkpad-forum.de/thinkpad-h ... chsthread/ )

#15 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:11 am

Frank wrote: ... (but you must remove the 5V-3.3V voltage converter)

Frank, thanks for the information. Most of us can't read German. Would it be possible for you to translate and post the instructions for this converter removal?

Frank · #16 Post by **Frank** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:16 am

There is an english manual for an other application (mp3 player) with the same problem: http://www.riovolution.org/post/12086

The problem: normally the 44pin ide interface provides 5V for 2.5" ide hard drives. in the case of the thinkpad x40 and x41 the voltage at the ide port is already 3.3V but all these ide2zif adapters are designed for the 2.5" case. so you have to remove the voltage regulator because the 3.3V from the x41 ide port would be transformed to 1.x V: under the limit for an zif drive which need 3.3V (the mtron zif ssd is 3.3V, also the toshiba zif hard drives)

So you must remove the regulator and solder the voltageline as you can see in these two photos:
http://www.think4d.de/nbb/pic/002.jpg (the same adapters: one without voltage regulator an soldered and the other original)
http://www.think4d.de/nbb/pic/003.jpg

#17 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:28 am

So, after you remove the voltage regulator, you must solder the two pins together that I have circled below...correct?

Frank · #18 Post by **Frank** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:02 pm

correct

... so the 3.3V can directly flow through

#19 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:04 pm

So there you have it X41 owners, Merry Xmas from Frank

.

Frank, thank-you.

#20 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:03 pm

Frank, do you think that this drive would work with the adapter?

Frank · #21 Post by **Frank** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:15 am

Normally* every ZIF drive will work in the X40 oder X41 (with the modified adapter). But 1st: there is no workaround for the known 2010 bios error (X41 with sata bridge), so you have to live with this waste of time at the bios post. 2nd: your link is an harddrive with 8 mm height but normally this is no problem. it's still a litte bit cramped.

*in the internet i've seen user experiences with Mtron SSDs (5 and 8mm height) and Toshiba harddrives (both heights too). in germany you can't buy the 1.8" samsung drives but i dont think, that this wont work.

#22 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:30 am

OK thanks. So you think the Samsung drive might be cramped but should work, and that we'll still get a 2010 boot error message. I don't know much about X41 BIOS, but I know that on T43's there is a setting in BIOS to not stop on this error. I wonder if the same setting is in the X41 BIOS? You can see what we have in mind for a project at this link. Any thoughts you might have as to how we might be successful would be appreciated.

Frank · #23 Post by **Frank** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:18 am

I know the T43 bios and this is exactly the same problem on the X41 but also with the same bios setting to not stop on this error:
http://www.think4d.de/nba/pic/007.jpg

cmarti · #24 Post by **cmarti** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:19 am

Harryc wrote:I know that on T43's there is a setting in BIOS to not stop on this error.

Where is that setting I look for it last night but cannot find it. (T43p)

cmarti · #25 Post by **cmarti** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:24 am

Nevermind....

I found how to:

Disable the message error 2010:

A recent BIOS for your machine may provide the option to disable need to press Esc after the message (under Startup -> Boot after message for Hard drive...). However, the delay and beeps are still enforced. Note that the error message could indicate a real problem, which will not be resolved by disabling the message.

Thanks.

j-dawg · #26 Post by **j-dawg** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:13 pm

This is very cool. I was a fan of the X3-series for its performance, but having played with an X40 I can say I'd definitely prefer its tininess--it is miniscule. Having the option of a decent hard drive is the icing on a delicious cake.

Not that I need any more computers. But if I did, you know.

mrobo · #27 Post by **mrobo** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:22 am

will the samsung 160gb zif 1.8 hd 4200rpm drive with adapter fit the x41 tablet ? will it speed up the Tablet ?
thx!

Mr. Goodbar · #28 Post by **Mr. Goodbar** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:14 pm

tim S wrote:Right now, as I wrote above, the CF card is the way to go.
All I know for a fact is that fast CF cards, 300X etc, work very well as a relatively inexpensive way to speed up the X40/41 series.
I have a San Disk Exteme III 16G card in an Addonics adapter and now my X40 is faster than the original drive by far, faster than Linux by far. Not exactly scientific but it works for me!
Tim S

I'm trying to replace a loud X41 40GB Hitachi drive with..anything else, really. This Addonics adapter+CF solution sounds pretty good. But which adapter are you using? I only see 2.5" adapters on their site, and the X41 has 1.8" drive. (Or am I totally wrong there?)

Thanks!

sjthinkpader · #29 Post by **sjthinkpader** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:56 pm

While the CF solution is still a good solution, things had progressed quite a bit since the last update on this old thread. You must have done a search to find this thread, did you not find the information in the SSD thread in Stickies useful? There are other newer threads that discussed CF and SSDs too.

Mr. Goodbar · #30 Post by **Mr. Goodbar** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:15 pm

sjthinkpader wrote:While the CF solution is still a good solution, things had progressed quite a bit since the last update on this old thread. You must have done a search to find this thread, did you not find the information in the SSD thread in Stickies useful? There are other newer threads that discussed CF and SSDs too.

Still reading all the threads..found this one first and was intrigued with the CF adapter solution. Thanks.

New Hard Drive fot X41 (PIC WARNING)

New Hard Drive fot X41 (PIC WARNING)

Will 1gbx2 slots from a x61 fit x41

addonics adapter for CF

Re: New Hard Drive fot X41 (PIC WARNING)

Re: New Hard Drive fot X41 (PIC WARNING)

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