T400 SSD, or mixed SSD HDD?

[Olivier]

Hello,

I am moving from the T41 to the T400, hopefully...
I am waiting on a seconds T400 and I like to have it running faster with a proper HDD.

Is there any input on those 2 drive below?
Big difference in capacity but I was told the T400 might not really like an SSD, then maybe the dual HDD might be a very good option? I put up with 33gb on the T41 for 2 years, then 120 would be OK for a while and the 720 will last a life time
The beasts:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-SDSSDX- ... XODKE9NZF4

http://www.pixmania-pro.co.uk/gb/uk/120 ... emory.html

I am looking to improve the memory as well. The more the merrier?

I got an XP CD, that can be used for it, got the genuine keys and all, but I think it was for a toshiba...
Or I might jump and go Linux. This could be a good fresh start...

Thank you
Olivier

[Tasurinchi]

SSD and Win XP is not the best couple, I would go for Linux or Windows 7 (or even Windows 8 if you don't mind the new metro interface)

Big difference in capacity but I was told the T400 might not really like an SSD

Never heard that before. I can't think of any reason why a T400 wouldn't like an SSD.

Best of both worlds would be to use the SSD as bootable drive and use a HDD for storage in the ultrabay, (instead of the optical drive).

Regarding RAM, the more the better of course, but keep in mind that if you purchase more than 4GB you better use a 64 bits operating system.

[Olivier]

Oh, SSD and XP not a good match....

Then it'll be linux

I like to keep the optical, to watch DVDs, burn Cds etc... I guess I could go for an external too...

How about the duall HDD, booting ish on the SSD and storing on the HDD?
Seems like a good option then?
XP might like it too?

If I got regular OS, not the 64 and I put 2X4gb, is it just a waste then?

Cheers.

[Tasurinchi]

I like to keep the optical, to watch DVDs, burn Cds etc... I guess I could go for an external too...

You can swap the ultrabay with the optical drive, no problem. It's not that you loose it, but you can't use both at the same time.

f I got regular OS, not the 64 and I put 2X4gb, is it just a waste then?

Yes. Basically everything above 3.2 GB is a waste of memory if you don't use a 64 bits OS, although there are some tricks to use the rest of the memory (personally I think that's not worth much).

A 64 bits SO will be much faster anyway. If you plan to use 8GB that would be my chosen way. I currently use my X200 with 8GB and Linux Mint 13 64bits and the thing flies!

[Olivier]

Linux Mint 64 gb.

That sound good

Thank you

I still think I might go with the 750 gb storage, to have it all in one place, not separate.

We'll see.
I was wondering if anyone used it before? I read mixed review about the sandisc SSD...

Olivier

[Tasurinchi]

I got a couple of Sandisks for the older SATA-I thinkpads I have, they still work fine...

Now you will probably get a different opinion from every user, but I personally would recommend the Intel SSDs, Crucial M4, Corsair or Samsung 840.

My 2 cents...

[Olivier]

Thank you but it was all about the price to start with...
This is why I had those 2, 70 pounds each is affordable.

Cheers.
Olivier

[jayton4]

That SanDisk Extreme is an awesome SSD. You can find bad reviews about any product.

The Momentus XT is not all that much better than a non-hybrid HDD.

The RAM is dirt cheap, get the 2x4GB and a 64bit OS on that Sandisk and you will not be disappointed.

[Cigarguy]

I have two T400. One have a Sandisk 240 GB SSD and it's fast. The other have a Seagate 500 MB Momentus XT. The Hybrid drives are not as fast as a SSD but significantly faster than a 7200 rpm HDD. The OS and program load is pretty fast. Overall I am happy with the hybrid drive and I got 2 more. I have 2 X61T and 2 X201 laptops that do not have built in Ultrabay and I wanted more capacity than 240 GB.

If you haven't already heard. The 1st and 2nd Gen Seagate hybrids used 4 and 8 GB SLC NAND which are really good but expensive. They've been discontinued in favoured of Seagate's SSHD drives which will be available in 2.5" and 3.5" formats. So far the only ones being released at the moment are the 2.5" with MLC NAND which are significantly cheaper and therefore the overall price of the drives are cheaper.

Ideally for me a SSD is the way to go but hybrids are currently a good compromise until 500+ GB SSD are a little bit cheaper.

[Olivier]

Thank you for the input.
What is the first generation SSHD? I have no idea what a 4 and 8 gb NAND is?

Should I look for those somewhere?

Now, if the SSHD is faster then a 7200rpm HDD, this will do me nicely, I have a really slow 5200rpm ( I think?) IDE 40gb at the moment in the T41 and the slowness of it is unbearable...
I trully can't take it anymore... Then again, if the mix breed is faster , woohoo!!! Bob's your uncle

Thank you

[Cigarguy]

Here some good info on the new drives: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6816/seag ... rid-drives

I haven't found the new drives anywhere yet.

[basketb]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B99JUBQ

[Cigarguy]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B99JUBQ

Thanks for the link, but that's for shipping within the US only. The OP and myself are not from the US. It's coming our way. Just not here yet.

[piledriver]

That SanDisk Extreme is an awesome SSD. You can find bad reviews about any product.

The Momentus XT is not all that much better than a non-hybrid HDD.

The RAM is dirt cheap, get the 2x4GB and a 64bit OS on that Sandisk and you will not be disappointed.

The 750GB Momentus XT I installed in my X200T cut my boot times by ~2/3, and it seems to no longer be IO bound even with ~insane disc access.

I can make -j4 android-x86 while crusing the web or working in Libreoffice now, it couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time with the original WD Blue---day and night difference, like a brand new machine.

It has the amusing issue now with 8gb RAM that it takes ~2-3 times longer to restore from hibernation than from cold boot.

[jayton4]

Thank you for the input.
What is the first generation SSHD? I have no idea what a 4 and 8 gb NAND is?

The Momentus XT 500GB drive is first generation with the SSD portion being 4GB. The second generation drives are 750GB and 8GB of NAND. NAND is the technology of flash that is used in SSDs.

I have a really slow 5200rpm ( I think?) IDE 40gb at the moment in the T41 and the slowness of it is unbearable... Then again, if the mix breed is faster , woohoo!!!

Let's slow down there. If you have an IDE, then neither drive is going to help speed up that T41. I thought we were talking about a T400?

The 750GB Momentus XT I installed in my X200T cut my boot times by ~2/3, and it seems to no longer be IO bound even with ~insane disc access.

That is the ONLY difference I noticed on my First generation 500GB Momentus XT. Loading applications took close to the same time. Perhaps the 750GB drives are better with loading programs. I do not reboot that often, so it is less purposeful for me. For me, I prefer straight up SSD speed and then put the big storage capacity in the ultrabay.

[Cigarguy]

I prefer straight up SSD speed and then put the big storage capacity in the ultrabay.

My preference too, that's why I have 8 SSDs and growing. Not all machine have an Ultrabay. Some Thinkpads (my X61 and X201 for example), that can only take 1 drive with a drive in the docking station being to bulky to lug around and 240 GB is not quite enough, a 500 GB hybrid serves just the purpose. As I said hybrids are nowhere near as fast as a SSD but they are significantly faster than a 7200 rpm spinner and they have the capacity of a spinner. It's a good compromise on occasion.

That's assuming you'd have at lease SATA I. On IDE only, I'd get the cheapest 320 GB 7200 rpm spinner in the classifieds for $20-$30ish and call it a day.

[ajkula66]

On IDE only, I'd get the cheapest 320 GB 7200 rpm spinner in the classifieds for $20-$30ish and call it a day.

No such drive in laptop format with an IDE interface I'm sorry to say. 320GB yes, but 5400rpm...and that's as big as they ever got.

The biggest 7200rpm IDE drive was either 100 or 120GB...long since discontiued...

[Olivier]

Hello All.

just to say its a SATA I am looking for. I also have an older T41 with IDE, sooo slow...

Anyway, I am very happy with the T400 so far. I run Linux Mint 64 with only 1gb RAM and 80 5400rpm drive... And its faster then the T41
Was suppose to get some memory today but we had a wee missunderstanding when ordering them, then I got some next week me think. 8gb wil do it nicely

Still not sure about the SSD or the Hibrid. The new 1TB Hibrid look good, then I might as well wait a wee bit for it to come here and get it or get a 750 even cheaper? Is the new 1TB faster then the previous 750 model? Same?

A also got a HDD bay which is really handy. Cost a tenner new It was for a MAC but with a little cut ot on the side it fit nicely
I think I'll do a window boot on that one as some files I need to play with only use windows, then I'l had two system in one. Should be OK, no?

All the best.
Olivier

[Cigarguy]

Since you already have a HDD in the Ultrabay, go for the SSD. Hybrids are nice in certain applications but it's still not a SSD. SSDs is/are the future.

[Olivier]

Waiting on an SSD, 256GB Plextor PX-256M5P extreme, I thought I may as well pay a wee more and get the 5 year garanty and the peace of mind
Got good reviews too...


Thank you all

Olivier