Thinkpad T400s - Intel 80GB SSD Option - G1/G2, More Info?

[gravejoker]

Looks like the the Intel 80GB SSD option is finally available for the T400s. Does anyone have the details of this Intel SSD? Is it G1 or G2? TRIM support? Any other information available?


Regards

[dpam]

Where do you see the 80GB SSD option? I just placed an order Thursday for the 64GB, and would cancel and upgrade - but checking the site order form right now I do not see that option.

[gravejoker]

It only shows up if you are have selected the Enhanced model. Doesnt show up under the base model.

[dpam]

Strange - It's an option on Enhanced but not on the model with Multi-Touch, which is what I ordered. Can't imagine why the different screen prevents the hard drive option, I bet they haven't upgraded the website yet. Thanks for pointing this out, will call Monday and see what I can find out - likely have to cancel and wait until they add to the site - ug.

[dpam]

Actually what's the best play here - upgrade to the Intel 80 for $100, or stay with the 64 for a while and let the Intel (and other) prices fall and upgrade in 6-9 months to a 240 for the same or less? I know the Intel is the state of the art, but how much better really in real world terms?

[edit] answering my one question, found this: looks way faster than the competition: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/774/1/

This brings up a question - Lenovo says they have all these Win7 enhancements - but from what I can tell don't provide an install disk. So when I have to do a fresh Win7/64 install, how the heck do I do it and still get the full Lenovo-treatment. Is it just applied via their updater?

Thanks for any ideas on both questions.

[miketoro]

My question: Isn't it still cheaper to buy the Intel SSD at NewEgg and install yourself? Same thing with the 4gb RAM? (The enhanced default is 3gb, which I think just up everyone would upgrade for $35 to 4gb, right?)

m.

[dpam]

Just spoke with Lenovo - the Intel X18 is not available on the multitouch due to pending compatiblity certification - not sure how a hard drive might be incompatible with a multi-touch display, but his guess was that since the MultiTouch is new, the X18 just hadn't been tested in it adequately. No idea if it would be tomorrow or next year - although he offered to try and check and let me know.

Anyone have any experience of how long these things take to get through review? I have a pending T400s order that I'll cancel and wait it out if it's likely to be just a few weeks.

Also, told me that the 64G SSD is a Sumsung, which from reviews suggests its far inferior to the Intel. <Update> Over in the Corsair forums there is a fairly consistent message, unconfirmed, that Samsung will be releasing TRIM support via a new firmware update tool. This won't necessarily make it as good as intel.

[dfumento]

Newegg's prices are very high. I'd use google.com/products or some other search engine and find a lower price. I got my 160 GB Gen 2 Intel X25-M SSD at Cost Central for about $475 compared with about $680 at Newegg.

[miketoro]

Newegg's prices are very high. I'd use google.com/products or some other search engine and find a lower price. I got my 160 GB Gen 2 Intel X25-M SSD at Cost Central for about $475 compared with about $680 at Newegg.

I noticed that, too. Zoomfly seems to have the best price. It's strange that these things range from $460-ish to almost $800 -- the Internet usually has a way of leveling things out.

I'm going to pick one up soon. Pulled the trigger on a t400s yesterday

[gravejoker]

What hard drive option did you order your's with?

I noticed that, too. Zoomfly seems to have the best price. It's strange that these things range from $460-ish to almost $800 -- the Internet usually has a way of leveling things out.

I'm going to pick one up soon. Pulled the trigger on a t400s yesterday

[dpam]

BTW: My 400s shipped Weds, 6 days after placing the order. Hoping for delivery in the AM, since I paid for 2 day. If it makes it from Hong Kong to Bumbf*ck PA in 48 hours I'll be [censored] impressed. But excited at the prospect...

[moore101]

According to our Lenovo inside sales rep there have been "quality issues" with the 80GB Intel SSDs and no systems will receive these drives. I asked for more details and will post them as soon as I get them.

I did push back and ask why they are still listed on Lenovo.com and the tabook, he said that is a mistake.

[miketoro]

What hard drive option did you order your's with?

The base 120gb drive. But I'm going to put the 160gb Intel SSD in there and a 320 or 500gb 7.2K drive in the Ultrabay.

[roberts5]

Strange. I ordered a system w/ the 128SSD on Wednesday then read this post. Checked the site and saw the 80GB option for the "Enhanced" version. Went back tonight, and the enhanced version is pulled altogether with no sign of the 80gb Intel drive. The sales rep I'm working with says they show an inventory of 0. She's getting back to me on Monday with more info. I'll post when I hear.

[roberts5]

Can anyone confirm the FRU # of the X18-M drive?

[moore101]

I received some information from a lead storage engineer at Lenovo and the Intel SSD that was going to be offered was the X25-M G1. It was decided not to offer the drive due to marketing reasons not technical reasons, too many other SSD options currently.

It was also mentioned that in their testing and benchmarking that the current Samsung, Toshiba, and Intel SSD all perform with a few percent of each other.

[dpam]

Now if Samsung will just ship their new TRIM driver/utility....