cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

7.0mm and 9.5mm SSD

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Wow!! Another mega corporation with HORRIBLE product documentation.

Is there one simple place on the Intel site to find the model number for the 320 series SSD drives that are 7.0mm? Geez the dumb PDF http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/325212.pdf http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/325212.pdf that you can download indicate that the 320 comes in 40GB, 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 300GB, 600GB capacities in both 7.0mm and 9.5mm but you can't find a model number anywhere!! How hard would that have been to do?

So after searching, which I should not have to do this should just be part of the "Products >> SSD" page, I found this link http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/47/64/476434_476434.pdf http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/47/64/476434_476434.pdf.

So for all of you that are buying a Lenovo and will be surprised that it can only accept a 7.0mm drive and want an SSD ....

9 REPLIES 9

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

The T420 takes normal 9.5mm SSDs. The T420s, X220, and X220t need the short drives. I don't know about the X1.

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

Nibs,

I hope you are correct but until I receive my T420 I will not know for certainty. What I do know is that Lenovo's site makes no mention of the height of the drive. Lenovo's sales staff directed me to a document http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf http://www.lenovo.com/psref/pdf/tabook.pdf and it is vague regarding the height of the drive, indicating "Some" configurations may have 9.5mm or they may have 7.0mm drives, but no clear indication.

What I do know is that after spending several days searching for information regarding SSD's and the T420, I have found numerous forum entries from users who recently purchased T420 to find they had 7.0mm drives. The individuals did not state that they had purchased T420s but T420 and my experience with people who would attempt to upgrade the hard drive in their laptops themselves would lead me to believe they would clearly specify which model they owned, I could be wrong.

In any event both Lenovo and Intel should be ashamed of the poor information provided on their respective web sites. Consumers should not have to rely on forums or extensive searches to find product information. As I stated before I should be able to click on "Products" then "Solid State Drives & Caching" and then there should be a CLEAR link to all the models of SSD's. That is sadly not the case. Only after searching the Intel site and clicking on various links to PDF's did I stumble upon the document that listed the different SSD models. That document indicates there are three 7.0mm drives in the 320 series but under the "Where to buy" section of the website http://www.intel.com/buy/components/ssd/embedded.htm?fmlid=1&sSKU=-1 http://www.intel.com/buy/components/ssd/embedded.htm?fmlid=1&sSKU=-1 after selecting the 320 series there are only 6 options and all are for 9.5mm. That is pathetic.

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

The fact that you haven't seemed to figure out that all the drives are 7.0mm and use a plastic "spacer" to extend their height to 9.5mm is pretty amazing, especially for someone who's going on and on about "the state of misinformation". The "spacer" can be removed, but I believe you'll also need shorter screws (which DuckieHo at Intel can provide). You can /message/129550 read more about it if you want.

idata
Esteemed Contributor III

The T420 is capable of using a 9.5 mm drive. I know because I am typing this right now on a T420 that has 9.5mm drive. An Intel 320 in the 9.5mm size fit perfectly in my machine. Lenovo may decide to ship your T420 with a 7.0mm drive; however, it will be able to support a 9.5mm drive. If it is shipped with a 7.0 mm drive you may need to purchase or ask Lenovo nicely for a harddrive cage (and possibly bumpers / spacers) that are capable of being used with a 9.5mm drive. If your computer has not shipped yet, I would also try asking your rep to make sure it comes with a 9.5mm drive.

The 320 does have a plastic spacer. My understanding is that it can be removed and replaced with shorter screws. However, the drive says right on it that removal of any screw or the label voids the warranty. The post koitsu linked to was edited by an admin to read that removal of the picture frame voids the warranty. Warranty is not something I would want voided on the 320 right now. Mine died (8MB bug) in less than 24 hours of use.