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I want to install an SSD with a caddy on my T420i. There are so many types of SSD nowadays. Are there any restrictions as far as which type of SSD you can put in?

alosito wrote:I want to install an SSD with a caddy on my T420i. There are so many types of SSD nowadays. Are there any restrictions as far as which type of SSD you can put in?

I think the guys on here kind of prefer the Samsung or Intel but do some searching and reading I am sure not an expert. I do have one in the T520 here but Steve who I purchased the computer from installed it.

I have Silicon Power S70 SSD 2.5" SATA 240GB in my T420 for six months. Great price and speed and long warranty - 5 years. I am happy with it and will by another one for my daughter's T500.

alosito wrote:I want to install an SSD with a caddy on my T420i. There are so many types of SSD nowadays. Are there any restrictions as far as which type of SSD you can put in?

Well, you can install an mSATA SSD in the WWAN slot or a 2.5" one in the main bay.

Now, how much space do you need and what's your budget for this upgrade?

alosito wrote:I want to install an SSD with a caddy on my T420i. There are so many types of SSD nowadays. Are there any restrictions as far as which type of SSD you can put in?

With the T420 you have two options for SSD. A sata III ssd or a msata ssd.

If you're planning to get a sata III 2.5" drive, get one with at least 64gb. Many would say 32gb is too small for a windows 7 64bit install. You can also pick up a sata II or slower drive but it won't be as fast. There are also 1.8" SSD drives, but you'll need to pick up the lenovo 1.8" to 2.5" converter for it to work.

Another option is to pick up a msata SSD drive. Doing this you won't need to install the drive caddy. Since you can just install this in the open slot and continue to use your 2.5" drive.

http://i.imgur.com/FAzUTsH.jpg

And a 64GB SSD is way slower than a 128GB - let alone 256GB - unit...so that's a rather bad piece of advice.

Nevertheless, welcome to the TPF, zyzz!

ajkula66 wrote:And a 64GB SSD is way slower than a 128GB - let alone 256GB - unit...so that's a rather bad piece of advice.

Nevertheless, welcome to the TPF, zyzz!

Thanks!

I just wanted to let him know to get a minimum of 64gb SSD.


But OP look into a Samsung EVO SSD drive.

Win 7 64bit runs about 40GB with all the service packs and updates. Food for thought.

Win 7 64bit runs about 40GB with all the service packs and updates. Food for thought.

My 60GB mSATA SSD (~55GB usable) is split into a 40GB Windows 7 partition and the rest for Linux.
The Windows partition has ~30% free space, while Linux has ~77% free.

But yeah, having more space is definitely better.

axur-delmeria wrote:
But yeah, having more space is definitely better.

It's not 2008 anymore. My first SSD - a 32GB Intel X25-E - cost more than $600. I'm pretty sure I still have the invoice somewhere...

Nowadays, one can pick up - at least in the U.S. - a decent 240GB unit for $100 or thereabouts...

It's not 2008 anymore.

I wasn't recommending that a 60GB SSD is OK, only that Windows 7 can fit in it. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I bought mine: my primary OS is Linux, which means the Windows partition won't be filled with temp files, system restore, and other cruft.

Getting a bigger SSD is definitely better, as the price per gigabyte is much lower, and there's have lots of room for expansion.

Nowadays, one can pick up - at least in the U.S. - a decent 240GB unit for $100 or thereabouts...

I don't know if the Crucial BX100 250GB qualifies as a decent SSD, but that's around how much it costs in my country.