Is X40's SD slot ReadyBoost compatible?

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akeskira · #1 Post by **akeskira** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:22 am

Hi,

As every X40 user knows, its 1.8" HD is really, really slow. With XP it's been somehow acceptable, but I almost cried when I installed Vista and started using it. The HD really slows everything down even though there is nothing wrong in the CPU or amount of available memory (1.3 GHz & 1.28 GB).

Do you know if the X40's built-in SD slot is ReadyBoost capable? I only have some generic 512 MB SD-card to test with, and that failed Vista's ReadyBoost compatibility (speed) test. Before I go and buy a lightning-fast 2 GB SD-card, I'd like to know whether the SD-slot itself can support high transfer and access speeds.

The greatest disadvantage of the 1.8" HD in X40 is the extremely poor random access speed, and I would guess the ReadyBoost caching could show considerable improvements in the perceived responsiveness if really supported by the hardware. A protruding USB thumb drive is not really an option though... Something in the PCMCIA card slot would be, but as far as I know, "external" card readers (PCMCIA reader is external in this sense) are not supported by the ReadyBoost feature.

Thanks in advance!

Antti

akeskira · #2 Post by **akeskira** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:32 pm

Answering my own question with first hand experiences:

1) The built-it SD slot IS ReadyBoost capable
2) Max supported SD card size seems to be 2 GB
3) Vista FEELS much more responsive using ReadyBoost

Conclusion: I definitely suggest spending a few dozen dollars for a fast SD card to speed up the otherwise sluggish HD.

I'm using Transcend 2 GB 150x SD card which uses a NAND flash chip. So far, so good...

akao · #3 Post by **akao** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:32 am

Hi,

Have you tried 4gb cards that aren't SDHC?

akeskira · #4 Post by **akeskira** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:38 am

akao wrote:Hi,

Have you tried 4gb cards that aren't SDHC?

Nope, I didn't want to risk it because of the problems of returning opened memory card packages here in Finland. But after an exhaustive googling I came to the conclusion that even though bigger than 2 GB cards may be recognized by the X40, the reliability can suffer.

Rune B · #5 Post by **Rune B** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:17 pm

akeskira wrote:Answering my own question with first hand experiences:

1) The built-it SD slot IS ReadyBoost capable
2) Max supported SD card size seems to be 2 GB
3) Vista FEELS much more responsive using ReadyBoost

Conclusion: I definitely suggest spending a few dozen dollars for a fast SD card to speed up the otherwise sluggish HD.

I'm using Transcend 2 GB 150x SD card which uses a NAND flash chip. So far, so good...

I read this the other day, and were happy to hear, as i was wondering the same. Today i purchased the exact same Transcend 150x 2GB SD card, but Vista still says that the device isn't quick enough, why is this?
I have tried to set performance as highest priority in the SD-card reader driver but still isn't working, do you use any 3rd party driver or else?

My machine is a x41 2525-3CG, but that shouldn't do the difference..

EDIT
I formatted it as NTFS and it is curently working, so that was the hurdle, just to inform you[/b]

#6 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:22 pm

Rune B wrote:EDIT
I formatted it as NTFS and it is curently working, so that was the hurdle, just to inform you[/b]

You had to format the SD card with NTFS? Really?

Still, that's good info ...

shinjiplus · #7 Post by **shinjiplus** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:05 pm

thanks for the results guys!

is the speed now directly comparable to XP, slower, or faster?

how are all the thinkpad drivers and thinkvantage tools? is it 100% supported? last i saw, some devices were unknown according to the vista upgrade advisor.

thanks!

cchsiao · #8 Post by **cchsiao** » Thu May 24, 2007 7:33 pm

Today I tried installing VISTA on my X41t and the SD I got didn't support Readyboost, no matter what format I use to format the card. My card is 133x, so I guess it's no that slow. However, I don't know... probably the transfer rate is just around the edge, since the first time I plug in the SD card, it really asks me if I wanna enable Readyboost, but just once. Later on I can't see this option anymore. Any ideas?

billp117 · #9 Post by **billp117** » Thu May 24, 2007 11:39 pm

You get one shot to make your SD memory work. If it fails, Vista will not recognize the memory in the future. There are some work-a -rounds to kind of make it work...but they are all bypassing the reality that the memory would not really make things any faster by writing to the SD.

Just my two cents...want to buy some of my 2 GB memory cards? I have a bunch of them and none of them worked. 

You can go to the Ultra Memory site and read how it can be done...but you are just wasting your time on the subject.

I finally got a 1 GB Memorex Travel USB memory card to get recognized but never really noticed anything working faster.

shinjiplus · #10 Post by **shinjiplus** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:07 pm

to answer my own question:

using a Kingmax 2GB card (rated at 133x/150x, can't remember since it's not labelled on card or packaging) ReadyBoost does indeed detect the card and passes the test.

in one word, vista is SLOW using the vista basic UI (aero is not even an option for me).

i would not recommend running vista on the X41.

RageRover · #11 Post by **RageRover** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:48 pm

I was actually just thinking about using the SD slot on my X30 for readyboost...but don't even know if I can get Vista to run on the X30! Lenovo has yet to release any drivers.

That said, I wonder if a solid state pcmcia card would work for you guys?

As far as your slow 1.8" HDs are concerned, faster ones are comming out soon, as the "UMPC" (ultra mobile PC) market is about to boom. Not to mention all the iPods and ipod like devices out there (which all use a 1.8" drive).

If you are willing to part with some cash and some HD space, you can pick up a 32gb solid state drive for about $500. But if you wait a little bit, the price of SSDs are dropping fast (the price of memory chips in general has been falling)...

If I had an X40, I'd put a 4gb SSD (which i have seen pop up on eBay for not too much) and use an external HD. But it also depends what you use your computer for.

mattbiernat · #12 Post by **mattbiernat** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 2:25 am

RageRover wrote: If I had an X40, I'd put a 4gb SSD (which i have seen pop up on eBay for not too much) and use an external HD. But it also depends what you use your computer for.

did anyone try this?

akao · #13 Post by **akao** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:41 am

My experience differs. Whenever my SD card is being read or written, my mouse cursor pauses, and it feels like the whole machine pauses. Perhaps I didn't install the right drivers under Vista, but I found using the SD card actually slowed the whole computer down.

The most visible way to test this is to put the computer into standy / hibernate and then resume. You should see your SD card being read like mad, and in my case the cursor keeps freezing.

I've had two different motherboards on my X40, so it is not isolated. This problem does not appear on other laptops with a built-in SD reader, like the Dell D420.

#14 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:31 am

I think it's the low-end Ricoh SD reader chipset -- the CF reader on my X31 has the same behaviour.

pxa270 · #15 Post by **pxa270** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:41 am

[please ignore]

meshua · #16 Post by **meshua** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:12 pm

RageRover wrote:[...]but don't even know if I can get Vista to run on the X30!

Ouchh!! That hurts!

I'd never had such nightmares about X30 and Vista engaged

Brgds, Torsten.

Is X40's SD slot ReadyBoost compatible?

Is X40's SD slot ReadyBoost compatible?

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