SSD in x120e - which size?

[tbessie]

Hey all...

Having my X40 as my bedside computer for the last few years, I decided it was time to get a more modern tiny X-series laptop for travel purposes.

So I ordered an x120e, all the features tho' with minimal memory and disk, which I plan to replace with 8gb from Crucial and a 3rd-generation Intel SSD (due to be shipped 5/20, if Lenovo is correct).

One question, tho' - does the x120e take a regular 2.5" disk form factor? Or does it require something smaller? After years with the X40 and its quirky ZIF-connected PATA, I want to make sure I can easily replace what's in this baby.

- Tim

[ZaZ]

Yes, it uses a 2.5" hard drive.

[tbessie]

Yes, it uses a 2.5" hard drive.

Yay! Thanks!

- Tim

[force]

The hard drive that came in mine was a standard 9.5mm tall Western Digital Scorpio Black. I was expecting something from Hitachi or even Seagate.

[gear]

Mine was a 250GB 5400rpm WD Scorpio Blue; didn't stay for long...
this was 1-2 months before the ordering system only allowed 320gb/7200 (Black ?) ones.

[Colonel O'Neill]

Wow, really? They're shipping Scorpio Blacks with the laptops? Awesome

[tbessie]

When I swapped my hard drive, I noticed a little wrapped, twisted cable coming from the far corner of the drive bay and slipping in between two metal flanges into another part of the case.

It didn't look like that good of a placement for such a cable - since the SSD I replaced the drive with was a little thicker than the drive, I had to really squash that cable down in order to make it fit.

Does anyone know what that cable is? Or did someone at the Lenovo factory do a bad job of organizing when installing that cable?

- Tim

[force]

I think it's probably a poor wiring job. Notebooks are usually designed with a place for everything, so it probably just slipped out of the guide. I did notice that one of the wifi antennas was connected/routed in a strange orientation, so it could just be sloppiness/less attention to detail at the factory.

Also, my friend's x120e appears to have a Hitachi drive (320GB 7200rpm) based on the F12 boot device selection screen.

[hmmwv]

Mine is a 320G 7200rpm Hitachi drive.

[Bánh mì]

Lenovo (and IBM) have traditionally used Hitachi drives (formerly IBM drives before M&A with Hitachi). As a supply chain alternate I have seen (and received units with Seagate drives). Guess Western Digital made it to the supply chain now. Well anyway, now Hitachi has been acquired by Western Digital. Samsung's drive business is likely to be sold to Seagate thought I have not heard any reports of Samsung drives making it into Thinkpads unless the owner put one in after purchase.

[awolfe63]

The specs say either 7mm or 9.5mm will work. I have a regular 9.5mm SSD in mine. Works great. I had a Patriot Torqz SSD in there - but it was a drive that had failed before in another machine. I am going to use the X120e for something more mission-critical now, so I swapped in an Intel 320.