T43 SSD Mod Alternatives

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Thanks to all of those who contributed to the SSD Mod discussion. From my own research it has led to that the Mod has the lowest cost and highest theoretical performance, except for the case where a 8GB Express Card SSD as readyboost/eBoostr can be cheaper.

I am eager to do the Marvel Chip Bypass, however I have no electronics background and need to have near SSD speed asap for a trip. I thought USB Drive with eBoostr would be a cheap and fast solution, and I have use for the USB drives later on.

1. Would I be better off using a USB drive as boot drive than a readyboost drive?
2. If so, is it straigthforward to set up boot from USB Stick under WinXP, without tinkering? I read it is, just to confirm with those who has actual experience, and if possible please share the model of the drive used?
3. Should I opt for fastest USB 3.0 Flash Drive (4K read) there is and will I reap the full benefit of a fast drive through the USB 2.0 port?
4. Would I see significant improvement system overall responsiveness?

Theoretically, recent USB Flash Drive in 2013 should be able to reach 4K read in the 10MB/s range, (write 1MB/sec range). That is already in high multiple of the T43's 60GB 7200RPM's 0.6MB/s 4K read and write, so I assumed the answer to all my questions is yes:)

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

Let me try to answer some of your questions...

1) No clue. But...

2) AFAIK there's no way to use it a a ready boost drive under XP, that's Vista/W7 territory.

3) No.

4) Most likely not.

If you need "near SSD" speed you should be looking into a newer machine with a SSD - R60/T60 generation is quite inexpensive nowadays - or pay for a full SATA mod on that T43 if you like it *that* much...this is coming from someone whose own T43p has survived just about every and any mod imaginable under the sun.

Good luck.

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Thanks for the T60 dual core idea.

The "readyBoost" would be done through eBoostr, or Win7, as suggested.

Do you think it's the USB or the flash drive lacks the speed to make the difference? or the single core on T43 is considered obsolete these days hence the SSD is a better investment on an T60?

The only thing I like about the old T43 is the 1400x1050 screen for spreadsheeting, the old age is it's own anti-theft device, and that I won't feel bad if it is totaled or lost.

[ajkula66]

Do you think it's the USB or the flash drive lacks the speed to make the difference? or the single core on T43 is considered obsolete these days hence the SSD is a better investment on an T60?

Both. While I'd never give up my heavily modded T43p (you can see it here: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=107072) it's showing its age in certain respects, mostly with 2GB RAM limit.

The only thing I like about the old T43 is the 1400x1050 screen for spreadsheeting, the old age is it's own anti-theft device, and that I won't feel bad if it is totaled or lost.

Well, you can still get that resolution on R60/T60, and if it's 14" even on T61...and *60 series can be had for a song nowadays...

My $0.02 only...