X41 2525-63G With 2GB Ram + SSD 32GB Runcore Pro IV

[TomBer83]

Hello guys, I'm from Italy and I get one of these great laptops!

I read all the threads and now I'm going to upgrade the memory and hard disk.

I ordered a Kingstone KVR667D2S5/2G 2GB PC2 - 5300 CL5 200 pin SODIMM from Amazon.it, price € 22 all inclusive XD

Same for Hdd SSD, 32 GB RunCore Pro IV 1.8" 5 mm ZIF PATA Plus, paid approximately €65

I have already received and assembled the RAM and it works perfectly!!! No problems of any kind....

Tomorrow I will get the hard drive, I'll mount and install the operating system and then I will let you know how it works


EDIT: I also bought a SDHC Samsung 32gb CL10, this memory works perfectly even if it is 32gb but it is very slow...maybe this is a sd slot's fault?

Link to SDHC http://www.samsung.com/it/consumer/pc-p ... GA/EU-spec

[Tasurinchi]

Welcome to the forum!

That's a nice TP you have there!

Same for Hdd SSD, 32 GB RunCore Pro IV 1.8" 5 mm ZIF PATA Plus, paid approximately €65

Do you also get the ZIF to IDE adapter with it? Or have you ordered it separately?

[TomBer83]

Do you also get the ZIF to IDE adapter with it? Or have you ordered it separately?

I forgot that I need an adapter.... OMG! You mean a ZIF to IDE 44-pin adapter? Where can i purchase it?

This one should work? http://www.ebay.it/itm/Compact-Flash-CF ... 168wt_1393

Another question... do you know if this notebook get a second bay for hard drive? And where is it? ^^

[twistero]

Yes, you need a ZIF to 44-pin IDE adapter. The one you linked is a CF adapter.
Either get something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/130768692519 unsolder the LEDs and unsolder/bypass the voltage regulator, or just get http://www.ebay.com/itm/251116983093 which works out of the box.

The SD reader is slow. There's nothing wrong about it.

The X41 does not have a second bay for hard drive. You can use an optical drive / second hard drive on the X4 dock or X4 UltraBase, but that adds to the bulk.

[Tasurinchi]

For the adapter you'd need something like this.

Another question... do you know if this notebook get a second bay for hard drive? And where is it?

Not in the notebook itself, but IIRC you can buy a dock and use an HDD Adapter instead of the optical drive. More details here


Edit: D@rn! Twistero was faster...

[TomBer83]

Yes, you need a ZIF to 44-pin IDE adapter. The one you linked is a CF adapter.
Either get something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/130768692519 unsolder the LEDs and unsolder/bypass the voltage regulator, or just get http://www.ebay.com/itm/251116983093 which works out of the box.

So maybe this http://www.ebay.com/itm/251116983093 is better because in the other way it seems to stay less firm...

if I use this adapter I have to remove all anyway or just the tray (to connect the ssd to the IDE port)?

thanks XD

[Tasurinchi]

From all ZIF drives I've installed in my X4x machines I've always removed the keyboard and palmrest to make sure the adapter sits tight. In one case I have even removed the hard disk assembly.

You should download the HMM (hardware maintenance manual) anyway. It's always good to keep that document at hand: See http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-59181

[twistero]

The caddy's shape should make it impossible to insert the wrong way or off to one side, so you probably can install it without taking the machine apart. Still, I suggest taking the keyboard and palm rest off for the installation.
For one thing, this caddy does not have the protrusions that snap on to the HDD cover, so you might have trouble pushing it all the way in, and there's no way to pull it out once inserted, unless you take the palm rest off. So you might as well get some practice disassembling.

[TomBer83]

Ok do u think it would be fine if I do exactly what is described in this guide http://www.think4d.de/nbb/x41_ssd.htm

Another question: The PCMCIA slot is standard or also in this case the speed of an SDHC card should be slow?

Thanks

EDIT: I really have not yet understood if this solution http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-1-8-HDD-CE- ... 3a77bd1335 works good or maybe it doesn't fit inside the old hitachi slot...


EDIT2: It seems that the last solution is not good.... or at least so the seller told me..

[TomBer83]

Sorry guys but... what about the AHCI and trim? Are these functions supported? Or these work only with sata interface? Thanks

[Tasurinchi]

EDIT2: It seems that the last solution is not good.... or at least so the seller told me..

It does work. I've used three of those adapters without any problem. I prefer them over the other solution because the ZIF drive/SSD fits nicely on the adapter.

Sorry guys but... what about the AHCI and trim? Are these functions supported? Or these work only with sata interface? Thanks

That depends on the SSD itself. My MachXtreme SSD supports trim (at least the package says so). I still have an old Sandisk SSD without TRIM support, there are workarounds to delete data from such an SSD. Check a little bit the threads of the X4 subforum for more info.

[TomBer83]

That depends on the SSD itself. My MachXtreme SSD supports trim (at least the package says so). I still have an old Sandisk SSD without TRIM support, there are workarounds to delete data from such an SSD. Check a little bit the threads of the X4 subforum for more info.

I know that Runcore Pro IV supports trim but i don't know if AHCI (necessary for trim) is available in bios options for this notebook..

P.S. I get last bios update (mod for 2010 error skip)

[TomBer83]

Done! It works well!

Now i try to install windows 7.... do you think i have to use a lite version?

Where could i find the drivers? thanks XD

[TomBer83]

I think Windows 7 is a fail for this laptop.... the problem is the cpu not the ram or hdd.....

I've installed Windows XP Pro and it works great XD


Thanks for help

[Tasurinchi]

I think Windows 7 is a fail for this laptop

I can't comment on a "plain" X41, but Win7 runs great in my X41T with 2GB RAM and SSD... And I'm quite sure I'm not the only one doing this...

My 2 cents...