Best SSD for SATA-modded T43p using Linux?

[Hierax_ca]

I figure since I've got an LXDE Linux working with PATA/IDE in an A31p the next step is to try a LXDE or XFCE Linux with SATA in a T43p...

So, I've got a SATA-modded T43p (2.26 GHz, 2GB RAM) that I want to install Linux on; what SSD would be recommended for putting in (I'm assuming only SATA1, not 2 or 3, speeds mean that newer SSDs might be overkill but they might have greater reliability and be cheaper than older SSDs)? e.g., would a Crucial MX100 work well (seem to be cheaper than either the M4 or MX200 without being worse and is cheaper than the M550)? Samsung, SanDisk, and Intel have SSD options too but they also are more expensive and not sure if any would be worth it in an older laptop like this?

Also, any advice if I want to do a dual-boot with XP on a regular (non-SATA-modded) T43p and have Linux on an SSD in a SATA UltraBay (I have heard that XP won't run well on an SSD, so I'm wondering about a dual-boot with each OS on on a separate drive)?

Thanks in advance for any advice/recommendations you can offer on how to best make this happen!

[Qing Dao]

XP will run well on an SSD. The problem is that it doesn't support the TRIM feature. In order to keep performance high, you would need to have a formatted partition that is significantly smaller than the total size of the drive. That coupled with the fact that you are limited to SATA-150 speeds means you have nothing to worry about.

[ajkula66]

Depends on how much space you need, and what you're looking to spend.

I'm running a 64GB version of Intel X-25E SLC SSD in my own T43pSF and loving it.

If you need more space, there are Micron SLC drives in 100, 200 and 400 (I think?) GB flavours but they tend to be on the expensive side. I've got a 100GB version in my T50.

Why SLC? Because in reality one doesn't need TRIM with it...and SATA-modded T43/p units are incapable of enabling TRIM in the main bay.

You own what is arguably the nicest 15" T43p in existence. Only the best will do for it...

Happy upgrading.

[Hierax_ca]

Thank You! As recommended, in my stunning T43pSF I now have one of those 32gb Intel SLC SSD smoothly running Linux MX-14 (that I am swapping back and forth with the Win7 Samsung SSD) and I'll soon be trying a 100gb Micron SLC SSD as well (I couldn't find an affordable 200gb Micron or 64gb Intel SLC SSD).

P.S., ajkula66, FWIW, I noticed that there are some recent Fujitsu 120gb and 240gb SLC SSDs out but it'll be a while before I can afford to try those out, and I'm not sure how they compare to the Intel and Micron's, but they might be worth a look to consider for your legendary T50...

[ajkula66]

Thank You! As recommended, in my stunning T43pSF I now have one of those 32gb Intel SLC SSD smoothly running Linux MX-14 (that I am swapping back and forth with the Win7 Samsung SSD) and I'll soon be trying a 100gb Micron SLC SSD as well (I couldn't find an affordable 200gb Micron or 64gb Intel SLC SSD).

Good to hear that great minds think alike. My second SSD in the T43pSF is a 32GB version of X-25E running CentOS...

P.S., ajkula66, FWIW, I noticed that there are some recent Fujitsu 120gb and 240gb SLC SSDs out but it'll be a while before I can afford to try those out, and I'm not sure how they compare to the Intel and Micron's, but they might be worth a look to consider for your legendary T50...

If I'm not mistaken these Fujis sport a SandForce controller and that's a huge "no-no-never-ever" in my book...

In all fairness, for my use a 100GB main drive is plenty...although I wouldn't say "no" to a reasonably priced 200GB version of the drive that I have.

[Norway Pad]

Seem like the X-25 is a good choice then, good to see. When I get my T43P motherboard back from SATA mod sometime this spring, I have an older 80GB Intel X-25 that will go into it. It's one of the first SSDs I (or maybe even my wife) ever bought, so it's been sitting vacant for some years, but now it will be brought back to life.

Why SLC? Because in reality one doesn't need TRIM with it...and SATA-modded T43/p units are incapable of enabling TRIM in the main bay.

Does that mean that Win7 can't run it's native TRIM, or does it mean that no TRIM can be done at all? Not even the function in Intel's SSD software for "optimizing"? I remember I used this software on my T60 while running SSD with XP.

[ajkula66]

Seem like the X-25 is a good choice then, good to see.

Do bear in mind that not all X-25 units were created equal...

X-25E - available in 32 and 64GB only - is SLC, where "E" stands for "Enterprise"

X-25M - available in 40GB, 80GB and some other sizes IIRC - is MLC, and "M" means "Mainstream"

Does that mean that Win7 can't run it's native TRIM, or does it mean that no TRIM can be done at all? Not even the function in Intel's SSD software for "optimizing"? I remember I used this software on my T60 while running SSD with XP.

Well, the issue is twofold/threefold...

a) X-25E does not support TRIM and neither does the first generation of X-25M. Second generation of the latter does, but only above certain firmware version.

b) T43/p when SATA-modded doesn't support TRIM in the main bay either.

c) The "optimizing" option isn't available from Intel's SSD Toolbox on my T43pSF with the X-25E and I'd venture a guess that it would stay that way even with a newer drive that supports TRIM in theory.

That's all I've got for now.

[Norway Pad]

Thanks for the information, that was an aspect of the SATA converted T43 (And X-25 SSDs) that I wasn't aware of. I knew somewhere in the back of my mind that X-25 was recommended as a good choice for these machines, but without knowing the details. And the devil is in the details.

So when I get the machine going, I will do a Win7 install on the X-25 and see if the Toolbox's optimizing function works. And if it doesn't, I would think there is no sense in even using this drive in this machine? I don't know how performance will degrade, but I have always believed that TRIM / optimizing is vital for the long time performance of SSDs. (Apparently except for the SLC ones) That's a bummer, as I have kept this SSD with the sole intent of using it in the T43. And the few 64GB X-25s I see on eBay are quite pricey.

[ajkula66]

And the devil is in the details.

Indeed it is.

So when I get the machine going, I will do a Win7 install on the X-25 and see if the Toolbox's optimizing function works. And if it doesn't, I would think there is no sense in even using this drive in this machine? I don't know how performance will degrade, but I have always believed that TRIM / optimizing is vital for the long time performance of SSDs. (Apparently except for the SLC ones) That's a bummer, as I have kept this SSD with the sole intent of using it in the T43. And the few 64GB X-25s I see on eBay are quite pricey.

The way I look at it, and have been going about it accordingly for the longest time...

Once I create a setup that *just works* on a particular system - my (various) T43pSF and my wife's R500 being the current lab rabbits - I take an image of the drive and save it. By re-installing the OS from that image every six months or so the machine always feels fresh, and there's no residual bloat to slow it down.

While I haven't measured related data in any type of remotely scientific manner, I'd still venture a guess that by this approach one could get away from slowdowns that could appear due to the lack of system's ability to TRIM the SSD.

Obviously, YMMV.

[Norway Pad]

That's maybe a way to get around it. I also make images of my machines when they're ok and configured like I want them, so the imaging is something I do no matter what.

Do you initialize or in some way erase the whole drive before you reapply your image? As far as I understand, the core of the problem with MLC is that unused blocks of memory cells that still contain old data can't be overwritten directly like a HDD does, but needs to be erased first. So if you get to the point where there are not enough free blocks to write to anymore, only blocks with old data, this required erase before write slows down your writes. And that's where TRIM or optimizing comes into the picture, as they erase the unused blocks. But as long as new stuff is just written to the drive, like an image, I would almost think the unused blocks containing data still won't be erased unless you wipe or initialize the drive? Or does the imaging actively write to the *entire* drive, so that all blocks are written to, and empty blocks are set to "empty", meaning erased?

I will anyway try my X-25 SSD in the T43 and just see how it behaves. And your reimaging approach will most likely be just good enough. We're not talking about a daily driver here, it's after all an old computer where it's thanks to RBS' good engineering and soldering skills that you are able to run a SATA SSD in the first place.

[ajkula66]

Do you initialize or in some way erase the whole drive before you reapply your image?

Yes. Secure erase is the way to go. Might be somewhat of a pain to get it working on older Intels, but Parted Magic should work fine. Eventually.

I will anyway try my X-25 SSD in the T43 and just see how it behaves. And your reimaging approach will most likely be just good enough. We're not talking about a daily driver here, it's after all an old computer where it's thanks to RBS' good engineering and soldering skills that you are able to run a SATA SSD in the first place.

Indeed...

[Hierax_ca]

Intel X25-E in both 32gb and 64gb drives and Micron 100gb SLCs are all working great -- Thanks again for the recommendations!