Samsung SSD?

[jcarpenter]

I've got a W520 and have been drooling over the thought of an SSD. NewEgg has the 128 GB SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD128BW on sale for $139. Will this SSD fit the machine? Anyone have experience with this SSD?

Thx.

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

Any 2,5" SSD will fit.

mSata SSD's will fit as well if you don't use a WWAN card

[visitor]

I'm in the same boat, inclined to get a Samsung SSD, either the 830 or the new 840-Pro.
The one thing that is not clear to me is how the W520 will handle the fact that the 830 is 7mm instead of 9.5mm. How is the resulting gap addressed ? Is an adapter required, and if so where to get it ? Or would some domestic fix like tape take care of it ?
I wish some Samsung 830 user shares experience with us.
All the best.

Visitor
W520, X201s, X60s (Before: X31, T42, T23)

[basketb]

I'm in the same boat, inclined to get a Samsung SSD, either the 830 or the new 840-Pro.
The one thing that is not clear to me is how the W520 will handle the fact that the 830 is 7mm instead of 9.5mm. How is the resulting gap addressed ? Is an adapter required, and if so where to get it ? Or would some domestic fix like tape take care of it ?
I wish some Samsung 830 user shares experience with us.
All the best.

Visitor
W520, X201s, X60s (Before: X31, T42, T23)

I don't know whether it's required or not. But the W520s that shipped with an SSD come with so called "7.0 mm SSD spacer rails for 9.5 mm bay" around the SSD. According to the hardware maintenance manual ( http://download.lenovo.com/ibmdl/pub/pc ... f#page=133 ), the part number/FRU is 04W1641.

[visitor]

basketb, you're right, the manual does mention spacers. My W520 though came with a hard disk instead of SSD so no spacers but rubber rails to keep the HD in place and minimize vibration.
With the Intels it would be a perfect fit, but the Samsungs are 7mm, both the 830 and the 840-Pro.
The fact that SSDs don't have moving parts thus don't vibrate leads me into believing that they could be held in place by applying some domestic fill-in. Just can't think of what to use other than tape whose glue inevitably leaks.

Thanks for helping.

Visitor
W520, X201s, X60s (Before: X31, T42, T23)

[tinue]

...so no spacers but rubber rails to keep the HD in place and minimize vibration.
With the Intels it would be a perfect fit, but the Samsungs are 7mm, both the 830 and the 840-Pro.
The fact that SSDs don't have moving parts thus don't vibrate leads me into believing that they could be held in place by applying some domestic fill-in...

All I did was remove the stuff (metallic cage and plastic rubber thingies) from the built-in harddisk and applied it to the Samsung instead (I have a 840 Pro, 512GB). Even if I shake the machine I can't hear anything moving: The rubber thingies are flexible enough to hold the slightly thinner SSD tight. I have a W530 though, not a W520. I can't imagine that this makes a difference, though.

Regards, Martin

Edit: Apparently W520 and W530 are different... I just had another look at the hard disk bay, and saw that the plastic rubber thingies are made for 7mm drives. Apparently the hard disk that came with my machine is a 7mm magnetic drive. The rubber thingies have the same outer dimensions as the 9.5mm ones, but inside they have a smaller "hole" to take the smaller disk. The professional way to go would be to get the smaller rubber thingies. The 840pro did not come with any adapters, by the way.

[visitor]

tinue, that was one very clear and precise explanation especially having added the "Edit" part. Thank you so much !
My guess (and my risk) is that even though my HD's rubbers will be a bit loose with the 7mm SSD I may still be able to insert something to hold the unit more tightly given the rubbers' shape. Since my W520 will remain seated as desktop replacement I believe any possible wobble would be prevented.
I'm sure this thread will be of interest to other W users.
All the best,

Visitor
W520, X201s, X60s (Before: X31, T42, T23)

[tinue]

I'm sure that's no problem at all. If memory serves right, I had 9.5mm drives in 12mm rubbers in the past and I never had any problems. But it's been a long time since my A31p, so I may be wrong about this.
Anyway: You could just use a 2mm thick plank of wood or metal in the size of the hard disk, and stick both SSD and the mini plank into the rubbers. You would not even have to glue the plank on, because the rubber will hold them together.
Regards, Martin

[visitor]

Samsung 830 256gb on its way. Will let you know when I have it in place of original HD ... or standing by for an ultrabay adapter.
All the best,


Visitor
W520, X201s, X60s (Before: X31, T42, T23 )