Compatible as bootable drive for T520? Samsung 850 EVO mSATA SSD

[happytimber]

The HD in my T520 failed and now I am trying to install a mSATA SSD as a bootable drive to increase the speed while buying a HD as the main storage. The compatibility of mSATA with T520, however, can be an issue.

I read from posts online that some other folks have tested Intel 310 mSATA, and it's compatible with T520.

But I personally like Samsung 850 EVO mSATA better than Intel 310 (a lot cheaper), and would like to ask you guys opinion as whether it will be compatible just like the Intel 310 does. Any input would be appreciated.
http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/memo ... Z-M5E250BW

In addition, as for the HD, I would use HGST 0J22423 1TB / 2,5 inch SATA, is there any reason to believe that it may not work? I have confirmed that it matches in terms of the physical dimensions (2.5'', 9.5mm), rpm (7200) and 3Gb/s, but just in case there is some factor that I don't know of.

Thanks a lot!

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

Neither of these drives should have any compatibility issues with your system. Having said that, I'm not a fan of TLC NAND found in EVOs, but it's your money to spend.

Happy upgrading.

[happytimber]

Thanks for your reply, ajkula66. What do you not like about the TLC NAND?

Welcome to the forum!

Neither of these drives should have any compatibility issues with your system. Having said that, I'm not a fan of TLC NAND found in EVOs, but it's your money to spend.

Happy upgrading.

[ajkula66]

Take a look at this thread, most notably at rkawakami's post:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 91#p773791

[happytimber]

Useful thread, thanks.

Just to verify, when you made said Samsung 850 EVO mSATA SSD would be compatible, you do realize I am referring to the mSATA, not the 2.5' version of it, do you?

Take a look at this thread, most notably at rkawakami's post:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 91#p773791

[happytimber]

Useful thread, thanks.

Just to verify, when you made said Samsung 850 EVO mSATA SSD would be compatible, you do realize I am referring to the mSATA, not the 2.5' version of it, do you?

What rkawakami talked about seems to be mostly the 2.5' SSD, if I am not mistaken.

Take a look at this thread, most notably at rkawakami's post:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 91#p773791

[ajkula66]

Just to verify, when you made said Samsung 850 EVO mSATA SSD would be compatible, you do realize I am referring to the mSATA, not the 2.5' version of it, do you?

I do realize that extremely well.

What you don't realize is that I've been running mSATA drives - some of them quite old by today's standards - in *20 series units for years now, and am far from being the only one around here doing the same thing...

[rkawakami]

What rkawakami talked about seems to be mostly the 2.5' SSD, if I am not mistaken.

It (SLC/MLC/TLC performance issues) actually applies to any drive using NAND Flash; be it 1.8", 2.5" or mSATA form-factors.

I'm late to the game when it comes to using SSD, but I've currently got one T420 running a 120GB Samsung 840 EVO mSATA drive. Have had no problems so far. I've been mainly using the system to mirror some contents of my web site so the existing data on the drive isn't altered that much; it only gets added to. I'll probably get around to putting a regular hard drive in the main bay some day...

Full disclosure note: I am currently an employee of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung. However, I bought the 840 drive off eBay since it was new AND cheap ($59 Feb. 2015) . I also have nothing to do with the hard drive/SSD storage group at Samsung.

[happytimber]

What rkawakami talked about seems to be mostly the 2.5' SSD, if I am not mistaken.

It (SLC/MLC/TLC performance issues) actually applies to any drive using NAND Flash; be it 1.8", 2.5" or mSATA form-factors.

I'm late to the game when it comes to using SSD, but I've currently got one T420 running a 120GB Samsung 840 EVO mSATA drive. Have had no problems so far. I've been mainly using the system to mirror some contents of my web site so the existing data on the drive isn't altered that much; it only gets added to. I'll probably get around to putting a regular hard drive in the main bay some day...

Full disclosure note: I am currently an employee of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung. However, I bought the 840 drive off eBay since it was new AND cheap ($59 Feb. 2015) . I also have nothing to do with the hard drive/SSD storage group at Samsung.

I can def. relate to the affordability argument. Thanks for your input!

[happytimber]

Just to verify, when you made said Samsung 850 EVO mSATA SSD would be compatible, you do realize I am referring to the mSATA, not the 2.5' version of it, do you?

I do realize that extremely well.

What you don't realize is that I've been running mSATA drives - some of them quite old by today's standards - in *20 series units for years now, and am far from being the only one around here doing the same thing...

Thanks for the confirmation. It's very reassuring!

[lembang]

@happytimber
I run crucial MX200 mSATA and evo 850 in the main bay.
I put my main OS in the msata and data on the samsung.
So far has no issue. Just to clear, I believe t520 is the same generation with t420 the msata SSD will only run SATA II speed. While the normal bay will run SATA III.