T480 disk options - and I searched

[GhostriderTx]

Hopefully quick questions but didn't find answers. I have a T480 on order with the 500GB drive. I plan to replace with SSD. Has anyone put 1TB in the drive slot? Otherwise I probably will go half that. I can't imagine it wouldn't work and power/cooling should be fine for an SSD over spinning.
Second - I am ordering a MyDigitalSSD m.2 NVME in 2242 size since it seems to be the only 2242 NVME you can actually buy right now. Has anyone tried this one yet? For the price it is worth the risk but wondering.
Edit to add - the 512 or 1TB SSD is a direct replacment for the spinning drive not a m.2 in a carrier

[w0qj]

Hey GhostriderTx,

1. According to our region which still has top T480 specs:
~support for up to 1 TB hard disk (SATA interface) ==> SATA interface, or
~support for up to 1 TB M.2 PCIe NVMe OPAL2 SSD ==> M.2 PCIe NVMe interface
www.lenovo.com/hk/en/laptops/thinkpad/t ... 2TP2TT4800

2. However, please be aware that your T480 is stuck with the interface that you've ordered with HDD or SSD.

ie: If you ordered a SATA hard drive, you cannot switch to a M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD; the interface is physically different.

ie: If you ordered a M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, you cannot switch to a SATA HDD; again the interface is physically different.

3. Please note that the main M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD is "2280" form factor (ie: 22mm X 80mm) which is now prevalent.

I'm confused why you wish to get a another SSD, the MyDigitalSSD m.2 NVMe SSD in 2242 size (ie: 22mm X 42mm) size SSD
There is absolutely no need for a 2nd SSD.

"2242" size SSD is not cost efficient per GB, and should only be used for in addition to your main 2.5" HDD.

Therefore if you decide to use a main "2280" size M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, there is no need to get a second "2242" size SSD. Simply not cost effective.

4. Do have fun choosing specs for your new ThinkPad

[GhostriderTx]

Thank you - a follow up. Yes I am ordering with a 500GB SATA. However I am not sure you answer is correct about switching. From other questions I thought the 2.5 inch drive or the 2280 were interchangeable if you ordered the appropriate kit. IE the 2280 fits into a carrier because of the different interface and that carrier plugs into the same connection as the 500 GB SATA. It doesn;t matter since I am not ordering the 2280 but someone else may want to do this

I want the 2242 size because I want a second drive and 2242 will fit in the WWAN slot. I will replace the 500GB SATA with either a 500GB or 1TB SATA in 2.5 inch factor and have a 2242 card for a second drive. I will boot from the 2242 and have data on SATA

[w0qj]

OK, other folks do this too!
Do have fun with your new T480

...I will replace the 500GB SATA with either a 500GB or 1TB SATA in 2.5 inch factor and have a 2242 card for a second drive.
I will boot from the 2242 and have data on SATA.

[RealBlackStuff]

T480 (and a few others) has indeed options for both 2280 M.2 and 2.5" SATA , by just swapping a cable:
CABLE,M.2,SSD CABLES INTERNAL 00UR496
CABLE,HDD,SSD CABLES INTERNAL 00UR495

[GhostriderTx]

Those two disk options worked fine

[mvan]

I have done this. No major problems but I would like to note two things:

1). The only drive I could find are the SN520 drives of Western Digital. These don't have OPAL, so hence no Full Disk encryption.

2). On boot, the bios once in a while swaps the labels nvme0 and nvme1 between the drives.
This can be confusing when installing an OS.
By using UUIDs it should not give a problem, but you are warned.

[opsman]

Hi MVAN,

Not sure if this will get through to you but I have just bought a T480 and, like you, want to put in a 2242 NVME card. I have been looking at the WD SN530 but am unsure if I need one with just a B key (one slot in between the pins) or one with a B&M key as well (two slots in between the pins)?
Which one did you buy and get to work?

Phil

[RealBlackStuff]

Get a B&M key SSD.
Also see this interesting tidbit.

[dont_think_feel]

Hi MVAN,

Not sure if this will get through to you but I have just bought a T480 and, like you, want to put in a 2242 NVME card. I have been looking at the WD SN530 but am unsure if I need one with just a B key (one slot in between the pins) or one with a B&M key as well (two slots in between the pins)?
Which one did you buy and get to work?

Phil

I recently got a A485 (T480 but with an AMD CPU instead of an Intel CPU), and I would advise you to get an SSD with a B&M key. I bought an 2242 NVMe SSD that was M key like the WD SN530 and that did not fit. Make sure you get a B&M key. I got a SK Hynix BC501 and that fits. If you insist on WD, make sure it's the SN520.

[opsman]

Thanks for the reply.

I had spotted a couple of You Tube Videos that said the same thing so also got a SK Hynix NVME SSD with B&M keys and fitted it in the WWAN slot. Using it for extra storage and it seems to work really well.

Thanks again.

[dont_think_feel]

Thanks for the reply.

I had spotted a couple of You Tube Videos that said the same thing so also got a SK Hynix NVME SSD with B&M keys and fitted it in the WWAN slot. Using it for extra storage and it seems to work really well.

Thanks again.

Glad I could give some helpful input.