Thinkpads Forum

My SSD is filling up slowly and my msata slot is already filled up with a WWAN. What are my other options for fast "not really external" additional storage (at least the read/write speed of a conventional hard drive). I could leave a faster SD card in the SD slot or can I do something similar for the express card slot with a CF or SD card (I dont plan on other devices). Which bus (SD Card or Express) is faster? Thanks a bunch!

I know the obvious answer is to get a bigger SSD but its a hassle to reload everything or am i crazy?

What machine are you referencing? Depending on the machine, the SD card and Express Card slots may both be USB-based, in which case their speeds would be similar, or the Express Card interface may be faster.

Some alternatives for fast-access space, depending on type and amount you need, would be:
- add memory, and partition some of it as a RAM-disk,
- remove the internal WWAN card in favor of an Express Card device (much less obtrusive than a USB stick!), making room to install an mSATA device,
- replace your existing SSD with a larger one.

All around, given the fast-dropping prices of SSDs, replacing the SSD with a larger one may be the optimal solution price-wise, convenience-wise, and technically.

I'm using an x220 w/ the ricoh card reader. I'm guessing its really really slow. ugh.