Thinkpads Forum

I am out of space on the SSD that came in my 420s and I am looking to add internal storage in the easiest way possible (I don't want to replace current SSD with a larger one). I was thinking to get an ultrabay caddy SSD but I see internet posts about using a mSATA SSD in a PCIe slot (in order to keep the optical drive). Can I do this on the 420s? How do I tell if I have if I have a place for it? I am not too familiar with the insides of the machine.

Thanks

The T410s uses the 1.8" form factor HDD. The T420s uses the 7mm 2.5" HDD form factor. The standard drive size is a 2.5" 9mm drive for a laptop in the main hard drive bay.

Your T420s WWLAN slot is under your keyboard in the middle of the motherboard. I would suggest a SATA III mSATA card even though your bus only supports SATA II speeds. Your real world speeds would be in the 250's mb read and 230mb write speed on a fast mSATA SSD.

I just added a mSATA SSD to my T420s. It's very, very easy.

The mSATA slot is accessed from the bottom of the machine; it's under the same cover as the 2 RAM slots. This is different (and much easier) than the T420, T520, and W520 location under the keyboard.

Be aware that the mSATA SSD will only function at SATA II speeds, so it will be a bit slower than an equivalent SSD in the HD bay (SATA III).

eb wrote:The mSATA slot is accessed from the bottom of the machine; it's under the same cover as the 2 RAM slots. This is different (and much easier) than the T420, T520, and W520 location under the keyboard.

On the T420 the mSATA slot is not under the keyboard - it is underneath in the RAM slot area as you describe above. The second RAM slot and third PCI-e (if equipped) slot are under the keyboard.

eb wrote:I just added a mSATA SSD to my T420s. It's very, very easy.

Great, thanks. Now, how do I determine which mSATA SSD to purchase? Will any of them work?

mbarker wrote:
Great, thanks. Now, how do I determine which mSATA SSD to purchase? Will any of them work?

Well, could you please let us know how much space you need and the amount that you'd be willing to spend...I'm certain that we could come up with some recommendations...

ajkula66 wrote:
Well, could you please let us know how much space you need and the amount that you'd be willing to spend...I'm certain that we could come up with some recommendations...

I am mostly just trying to understand if anything advertised as a "mSATA SSD" will work with my machine or if I need to look for a certain specification. However, if you have recommendations of particular drives I am all ears....

How about 256GB for around $100?

mbarker wrote: I am mostly just trying to understand if anything advertised as a "mSATA SSD" will work with my machine or if I need to look for a certain specification.

Yes. mSATA is mSATA, unlike M.2...any mSATA will work.

However, if you have recommendations of particular drives I am all ears....

How about 256GB for around $100?

This is what I had in my last T420 and loved it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... gnorebbr=1

If you don't want to spend more than $100, this seems to be a very interesting drive, although I haven't tested it myself yet:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... gnorebbr=1

Happy shopping.

Either one of those drives will work great.

I myself am partial to the Samsung 850 EVO and PRO drives.

You haven't mentioned anything about size. But the 500GB drives can be had for around $200 which IMO, is a great deal.

[quote="theterminator93"]On the T420 the mSATA slot is not under the keyboard - it is underneath in the RAM slot area as you describe above. The second RAM slot and third PCI-e (if equipped) slot are under the keyboard.[/quote]

You are 100% correct. Thanks for the correction. (What was I thinking?)

To summarize:
T420, T420s: mSata slot easily accessed from underside.
T520, W520: mSata slot under the keyboard.

Update: I purchased the Crucial MX200 250GB. Took the memory cover off, snapped it in, booted up.

It does not appear as a drive in "Computer" (Windows 7). It DOES appear in "Device Manager," under Disk Drives, as Crucial_CT250MX200SSD3. Under properties it says it is working properly.

How do I get it a drive letter and get it to show up so I can use it?

I'd just remove the hard drive and do a fresh install of the OS on the mSATA.

ajkula66 wrote:I'd just remove the hard drive and do a fresh install of the OS on the mSATA.

I really don't want to do this. My main drive (also an SSD) is perfectly fine. I just need some extra storage.

OK, if you want to use the mSATA just for storage, click on the "start" button and type "Disk Management" into the search. You'll end up in the program that will enable you to format the drive and use it accordingly.

Got it, thanks!