New SSD opt. for T4x : mSATA-to-IDE adapter ST663FD9 *PICS*

[Hans Gruber]

Once I get the T43p right, I am done with that series. Here is what I am looking at. http://www.ebay.com/itm/mSATA-to-2-5-PA ... 23474b07db

I will use a msata 128GB SSD drive. My questions is if the PATA connection on the T43 is ATA-100 or ATA-133. I assume it's a 100mb bus after seeing benchmarks with the conversion kits.

Please re-read this post in this thread: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 80#p760441

I can almost guarantee that the adapter that you are considering will not work in your T43 if you are planning to run an operating system which uses TRIM.

If you are planning to run with TRIM disabled, then you should look for a better adapter than one which contains the JM20330 chip.

I am using Win XP Pro with IBM recovery disks. I know the bus is SATA I and IBM converted it to a PATA drive 44pin. I think the T43 bus is ATA-6 which is 100mb bandwidth. Can you link the known good 2.5" enclosures on that are on Ebay?

I wanted to use a 128GB msata because it's light weigh but any 2.5" SSD will work for me.

[ajkula66]

I am using Win XP Pro with IBM recovery disks.

A horrible idea when an SSD is involved.

[Hans Gruber]

I have a full retail version of XP Pro as well. Is it a Win XP problem or a recovery disks issue?

[ajkula66]

Is it a Win XP problem or a recovery disks issue?

Both. XP was not designed to run on SSDs and it shows, but if that's the OS of your choice so be it. However, installing XP from retail media will enable you to align the partition properly without wasting a whole day in the process...

[Hans Gruber]

What if I do an image of the 80GB drive and copy that on the SSD drive?

[ajkula66]

What if I do an image of the 80GB drive and copy that on the SSD drive?

You'll still have to align it. Not worth it IMO. Clean install>aligning>tweaking>enjoying.

[Hans Gruber]

How about this adapter. I still have that 64GB Samsung 1.8" drive that you said been there done that. It has the JM20330 chip.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Notebook-1- ... 41968af58a

[ajkula66]

How about this adapter. I still have that 64GB Samsung 1.8" drive that you said been there done that. It has the JM20330 chip.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Notebook-1- ... 41968af58a

IDK. Never tried it and wouldn't try it, but that's me.

In case that you haven't noticed I'm pretty much dead set against using such contraptions in a T43/p system. To me personally, SATA-mod is the only way to go. Everything else is just a waste of time, and my time is expensive in more ways than just one.

The only adapter that I ever tried was the Addonics one which worked perfectly well in a T42p and left a lot to be desired - especially when compared to a SATA-mod - in a T43p.

Other members will have different opinions, as well as experiences. This is all that I've got regarding the issue at hand.

Good luck.

[Hans Gruber]

You have made your opinion clear several times. There are users getting 90mb reads and 80mb writes using the adapters. Obviously the Sata 1 conversion is better. It would have been nice if it were a Ultra 133 bus instead of PATA 100 standard.

This one is a mSata adapter and I could use a standard 2.5" HDD caddy to put it and the Msata adapter on.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-8-Inch-16pin- ... 4ae3e053fe

My read/write speeds are 39mb right now. If I can get 80-90mb reads, I would be happy.

[GACrabill]

You have made your opinion clear several times. There are users getting 90mb reads and 80mb writes using the adapters. Obviously the Sata 1 conversion is better. It would have been nice if it were a Ultra 133 bus instead of PATA 100 standard.

My read/write speeds are 39mb right now. If I can get 80-90mb reads, I would be happy.

I think that you are missing the point.
A different statement could be : "There are -NO- T43 users getting 90mb reads and 80mb writes using the adapters."

The T43 is different and many have tried to find an SSD solution for it using adapters ... almost all have failed.

Since no one has posted a T43 success story in this thread after seeing your T43 SSD goal, you can probably assume that it will be a futile effort involving wasted time and money.

I believe others have posted previously that the best solution for a T43 is a fast, large HDD (yes, it was probably George).

[Hans Gruber]

You have made your opinion clear several times. There are users getting 90mb reads and 80mb writes using the adapters. Obviously the Sata 1 conversion is better. It would have been nice if it were a Ultra 133 bus instead of PATA 100 standard.

My read/write speeds are 39mb right now. If I can get 80-90mb reads, I would be happy.

I think that you are missing the point.
A different statement could be : "There are -NO- T43 users getting 90mb reads and 80mb writes using the adapters."

The T43 is different and many have tried to find an SSD solution for it using adapters ... almost all have failed.

Since no one has posted a T43 success story in this thread after seeing your T43 SSD goal, you can probably assume that it will be a futile effort involving wasted time and money.

I believe others have posted previously that the best solution for a T43 is a fast, large HDD (yes, it was probably George).

George made his opinion clear SATA mod or nothing. He was getting 120-130mb reads with his SATA Mod. The 80-90mb reads are with the adapters.

[GACrabill]

The 80-90mb reads are with the adapters.

But -NOT- in a T43.

[Hans Gruber]

Because of that SATA to Pata conversion on the T43 I am assuming. A hardware issue. Good point.

[ajkula66]

Because of that SATA to Pata conversion on the T43 I am assuming. A hardware issue. Good point.

Exactly. The point that I've been making throughout this entire thread. Too much of a "hit or miss" for my liking. Way too much.

[Recife]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f362/ ... xubt9h.jpg

Finally the parts I ordered back in January made it!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f362/ ... tl89iq.jpg

All set!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f362/ ... smes2e.jpg

Looks promising!!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f362/ ... az7y1u.jpg

Let down by the 7500 gpu! I'm under the impression I can get a better video graphics driver but haven't found one yet.

Under light use for a relatively short period of time so far the results are very positive.

[Recife]

I've installed a HP ATI 9000 driver that seems to be doing the trick for win 7 Ultimate

[GACrabill]

Let down by the 7500 gpu! I'm under the impression I can get a better video graphics driver but haven't found one yet.

With Win7 you will need to be using video driver version "6.14.10.6606".

I found it here: http://www.magicdriver.com/driver133572 ... .6606.html

Many folks on this forum have been using this version of the driver for years with NO problems.

[Recife]

With Win7 you will need to be using video driver version "6.14.10.6606".

I found it here :
http://www.magicdriver.com/driver133572 ... .6606.html

Many folks on this forum have been using this version of the driver for years with NO problems.

Thanks for reassuring me, that seems to be the driver I've gone for although my Windows rating for graphics still remains at 1.0. I'll download the driver from your link for safekeeping in case I need it!!

A big thank you to all the contributors on here, my T42 now has a second lease of life and usability!!

[GACrabill]

... that seems to be the driver I've gone for although my Windows rating for graphics still remains at 1.0.

With video driver version "6.14.10.6606", your WEI graphics scores should change from 1.0/1.0 to 1.9/1.0.

[Recife]

... that seems to be the driver I've gone for although my Windows rating for graphics still remains at 1.0.

With video driver version "6.14.10.6606", your WEI graphics scores should change from 1.0/1.0 to 1.9/1.0.

You're right, however when I download the link it's a RAR file that Windows Media Center opens.

Trying to find a solution/alternative download as we speak!!

[GACrabill]

You're right, however when I download the link it's a RAR file that Windows Media Center opens.

Trying to find a solution/alternative download as we speak!!

RAR files can be opened/extracted/unzipped using the free 7-ZIP :
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/7_zip.html

[Recife]

You're right, however when I download the link it's a RAR file that Windows Media Center opens.

Trying to find a solution/alternative download as we speak!!

RAR files can be opened/extracted/unzipped using the free 7-ZIP :
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/7_zip.html

I really appreciate your help but this seems to be leading me ever further down the rabbit hole.

I had previously tried to use WINRAR, now I tried to install 7 ZIP, neither seem to open the ATi file and try to install it like a driver.

I think I must be missing a step or something..

[Recife]

Found the driver and installed it!!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaXz0pa1Mvo

EDIT: As you predicted graphics now score 1.9!!

[Recife]

My T42 was running so well that I was planning to take it to work and leave it there as sometimes there are no desktops free for me to prepare classes. Today I got it out to install preyproject on it but straight away I noticed it was running very slow and laggy. A typical example is when I downloaded the preyproject software and just at the point it finishes downloading, in terms of file size, but before it completely finishes and lets you launch it will hang for a good few minutes before finally finishing. Also when I tried to check windows update it simply wouldn't open properly before giving me the (not responding) message.

I'm currently running a few hardware testing programs and I suppose I will shortly put the old 40gb HDD to rule out that side of the issue.

I have all the kit to set up the ultrabay as the boot drive with a WB 320gb HDD, so maybe that will be a potential solution if it turns out to be the Lycom IDE adapter.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: It seems I may have had some unnecessary programs coming on at startup and also superfetch was turned off. Haven't had time to see if things are reliably running as fast as before.

[GACrabill]

EDIT: It seems I may have had some unnecessary programs coming on at startup and also superfetch was turned off. Haven't had time to see if things are reliably running as fast as before.

'Superfetch' is often turned off or disabled when an SSD is used.

When first turning-on a PC, the anti-virus trys to go to the internet to get updates and then run a scan in the background. Also, Windows Update runs in the background to see if there are updates to be installed. Both of these tasks are background tasks, not easily noticeable, consume lots of memory and CPU power, and can make the first 10-30 minutes after turning-on an older PC seem like an eternity before it becomes really 'useable'.

Let it sit 'turned-on' for awhile before resorting to other drastic measures ... it may run fine once the auto-update stuff finishes.

[Recife]

Yeah, thanks, it seems that background programs running are indeed the likely cause.

I'll switch off automatic updates and look into scheduling the anti-virus scans or something as I need it to just turn on and be productive as far as word processing/ppt/internet if I bother taking it to work.

As for Superfetch, which I knew nothing about until five minutes ago, it seems the current consensus has changed from the previous fears of 'wearing out' older SSDs to recognising that Superfetch is one of the biggest advantages that W7 has over XP and that modern SSDs can handle it.

[automobus]

Today I got it out to install preyproject on it but straight away I noticed it was running very slow and laggy. A typical example is when I downloaded the preyproject software and just at the point it finishes downloading, in terms of file size, but before it completely finishes and lets you launch it will hang for a good few minutes before finally finishing. Also when I tried to check windows update it simply wouldn't open properly before giving me the (not responding) message.

After download data receive completes, browser requests malware scan of downloaded data, before signalling 'complete' and turning over to user. Even if you did not install discrete 'malware scanner' software, such a software is a built-in feature of Windows Seven, which will examine newly downloaded files unless you have disabled it.

I can also imagine, however unlikely, this is a problem with "block discard" "trim". What if, as flashdisc was used and aged, time to perform block-erase increased by a very small amount. So slightly longer, just long enough that bridge chip times-out on the command, fails to pass result to host, causing Operating System to time-out waiting and proceed to next storage operation. As unlikely and far-fetched as it may be, I would test this, if I were in your shoes. Restart Windows with discard/trim feature disabled, then download that file and run Windows Update once again.

[jmudrick]

You have made your opinion clear several times. There are users getting 90mb reads and 80mb writes using the adapters. Obviously the Sata 1 conversion is better. It would have been nice if it were a Ultra 133 bus instead of PATA 100 standard.

My read/write speeds are 39mb right now. If I can get 80-90mb reads, I would be happy.

I think that you are missing the point.
A different statement could be : "There are -NO- T43 users getting 90mb reads and 80mb writes using the adapters."

The T43 is different and many have tried to find an SSD solution for it using adapters ... almost all have failed.

Since no one has posted a T43 success story in this thread after seeing your T43 SSD goal, you can probably assume that it will be a futile effort involving wasted time and money.

I believe others have posted previously that the best solution for a T43 is a fast, large HDD (yes, it was probably George).

Perhaps that should read the best solution on a Windows install. Under Lubuntu the KingSpec PATA SSD as boot drive is Plug n Play, zero issues. 20 seconds from power on to log in and I still have my ultrabay available, no matter adapters, no soldering. It may be a hassle with Windows but certainly not with Lubuntu.

[Hans Gruber]

Perhaps that should read the best solution on a Windows install. Under Lubuntu the KingSpec PATA SSD as boot drive is Plug n Play, zero issues. 20 seconds from power on to log in and I still have my ultrabay available, no matter adapters, no soldering. It may be a hassle with Windows but certainly not with Lubuntu.

Your PATA SSD is an interesting solution for the T43.

[automobus]

Pardon my poor etiquette, as I cross-post. I repeat my note here because, I think its subject (address selection jumper) is an important aspect to be aware of, when selecting an ATA bridge device.

Under Lubuntu the KingSpec PATA SSD as boot drive is Plug n Play, zero issues. 20 seconds from power on to log in and I still have my ultrabay available, no matter adapters, no soldering. It may be a hassle with Windows but certainly not with Lubuntu.

The KingSpec PATA SSD is a "retrofit" product (essentially: guts of CompactFlash card in differently-shaped body), which does not correctly implement physical interface. Kingspec had umpteen years of prior art to imitate; even so, they chose different drive address selection jumper positions. It may not be a hassle with T43, but certainly is with other ThinkPads (and almost certainly, PowerBooks)

I made a text illustration of jumper positions, used by IBM in ThinkPad, used by LyCOM in ST-173, used by rest of industry, but NOT used by Kingpec.

drive address selection jumper positions since 1996:
43                                        1  49 47
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •   • • 
• • • • • • • • • • • •   • • • • • • • • •   • • 
44                                        2  50 48

1  49 47
•   • •  DEVICE0 (Master)
•   • •  none
2  50 48

1  49 47
•   • #  DEVICE1 (Slave)
•   • #  47=48
2  50 48

1  49 47
•   • •  Cable Selection (CS)
•   #=#  50=48
2  50 48

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