Thinkpads Forum

How: Make 7mm SSD fit & work in 9.5mm Caddy/Space on a Thinkpad? or X61T

So, can I make the 7mm Crucial M4 fit into the 9.5mm space of X61/ T61 / any standard HDD caddy/ slot on a Thinkpad?
If so, what do I need?

I want to get a 7mm assuming that when newer machines are out they could be thinner (e.g. X2xx / Newer Ultrabooks/ etc).

Right now its 9.5 mm in X61T, but in future machines might be thinner..
So should I opt for a 7mm drive instead? Future proofing?

Hi CnB,

I have a 7mm SSD in my X61S.
I simply shimmed with some firm cardboard which is taped in place.
Appears to be working fine.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

Weogo wrote:Hi CnB,

I have a 7mm SSD in my X61S.
I simply shimmed with some firm cardboard which is taped in place.
Appears to be working fine.

Thanks and good health, Weogo

Can this not work without a Cardboard or placeholder object? Say, just by latching it into the Hard Drive Caddy of the X61?

Quoting directly from a PDF file from Hitachi:

The new 7mm drives have a common connector and common mounting points with the 9.5mm models. See figure 2. No changes are required to interchange this new drive form factor into a 9.5mm space with a screw mounting.

http://www.hgst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/te ... eb2012.pdf

Since ThinkPads do use screw mounting (to the HDD caddy), it should be a direct fit with no modifications needed.

twistero wrote:Quoting directly from a PDF file from Hitachi:
Since ThinkPads do use screw mounting (to the HDD caddy), it should be a direct fit with no modifications needed.

The new 7mm drives have a common connector and common mounting points with the 9.5mm models. See figure 2. No changes are required to interchange this new drive form factor into a 9.5mm space with a screw mounting.

http://www.hgst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/te ... eb2012.pdf

Thank you so much for the link, quoting the information and taking the time to do so Twistero. I read the file and I think it should work fine. I wonder why the other poster was using Cardboard then?

Even though the screw mount points are compatible, there will still be a gap. I guess filling the gap with cardboard and tape provides some additional structural rigidity (the HDD caddy does feel slightly flimsy, after all), or at least peace of mind. Personally, I would fill the gap with something as well.

twistero wrote:Even though the screw mount points are compatible, there will still be a gap. I guess filling the gap with cardboard and tape provides some additional structural rigidity (the HDD caddy does feel slightly flimsy, after all), or at least peace of mind. Personally, I would fill the gap with something as well.

I guess I should ask the guys who got rid of their Placeholders by modding the 9.5 mm drives to 7 mm for theirs? Or just a piece of plastic?

crashnburn wrote: I guess I should ask the guys who got rid of their Placeholders by modding the 9.5 mm drives to 7 mm for theirs? Or just a piece of plastic?

Well I wouldn't go such lengths just to fill a gap. Cardboard should be fine, or fold-up paper, sheets from clear plastic folders... You get the idea.