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    A few questions about the X220

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011.

  1. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just bought an X220 and expect it here in the next week.
    This is my first Thinkpad, so I am really excited. Somehow the staid, yet classy raven black Thinkpads with their business like keyboards and hardy outer shells excites me more than christmas tree lights and aluminium encased stick figures (you know what I am talking about ;-)
    Anyway, getting to the crux of the matter, I do have a couple of questions about the X220.

    1. I have specced the 250 gb 5400 RPM drive. HOW slow is a 5400 rpm drive vis-a-vis a 7200 rpm one.
    2. Can I swap the drive for a Momentus XT SSD HDD Hybrid without making serious modifications or opening up the casing?
    3. WHICH SATA drives can be used in the Expresscard/PCI-Express slot? Can we boot from them and make them run in tandem with the stock HDD??

    I have many more questions, but these are enough for the while.

    Thanks for your help.
     
    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
    #1
  2. fraushai

    fraushai Notebook Evangelist

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    1. 5400 is noticeably slower than the 7200, but if you want to upgrade I would strongly suggest going for a (mSATA) SSD. the improvement would be much more significant.
    2. Nope. X220 only houses 7mm drives while the XT is 9.5mm. With some modifications it might fit but it would definitely be quite some work
    3. not sure what you mean
     
    fraushai, Aug 22, 2011
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  3. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    My last query means, I want to know which SSD's can fit inside the Xpresscard slot, to give me a SSD + HDD combination.

    Thanks for the replies.
     
    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
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  4. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
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  5. AndromedaB

    AndromedaB Notebook Geek

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    the x220 has an empty mSATA slot where you can stick an ssd if you dont get the mobile broadband upgrade.
    as for the express card it's 54mm so anything should work IIRC (i dont think you can boot from your express card ssd btw)
     
    AndromedaB, Aug 22, 2011
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  6. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    Which one of the drives quoted above will fit into the WWAN slot.
    Not considering filling the Expresscard slot as I found out I can't boot from there.
     
    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
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  7. AndromedaB

    AndromedaB Notebook Geek

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    AndromedaB, Aug 22, 2011
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  8. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
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  9. AndromedaB

    AndromedaB Notebook Geek

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    AndromedaB, Aug 22, 2011
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  10. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
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  11. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    Specifications:



    Processor Intel® Core™ i5-2410M (2.30GHz base; 2.9GHz Max Turbo, 3MB Cache)
    Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 - English
    Total Memory 8GB PC3-10600 DDR3 1333MHz SDRAM SODIMM Memory
    Hard Drive 250GB, 5400RPM Serial ATA 2.5" Hard Drive
    Display 12.5” HD WXGA (1366 X 768) IPS , W/ 720p HD Camera
    Graphics Intel® HD Graphics 3000
    Optical Device Optical Not Included
    Keyboard/Pointing Device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
    Battery 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (Up to 2.5 Hours Run Time)
    Ethernet/Wireless Intel® Centrino Wireless-N 1000 (1x2 bgn)
    Mobile Broadband Integrated Wireless Wide Area Network upgradable
    Bluetooth Yes
    Integrated Camera Yes
    Color Black
    Fingerprint Reader Yes
    Form Factor Laptop
    Limited Warranty 1 Year Depot Warranty expired in 8/2012
     
    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
    #11
  12. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    How likely is it that the SSD I buy will NOT work in the laptop?? I am scared. But I must take the plunge if I want razor quick bootup! I think I will go in for it.
    Also, please let me know if I should change the 250 GB 5400 RPM drive for something faster. Will it make a difference?? My system drive will be the SSD and the storage drive will be the HDD
     
    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
    #12
  13. lineS of flight

    lineS of flight Notebook Virtuoso

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    On the question of the 5400 rpm drive, if you opt for a higher speed, you will definitely see the effects - positive effects in terms of speed etc. Don't know about your specific SSD question though. I am avoiding SSDs at the moment. The economics just don't add up - at least for me - at the moment.
     
    lineS of flight, Aug 22, 2011
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  14. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    If you're referring to the mSATA drive, I'd say the chances are good, but I don't have any experience with Mydigital. If you want to use a SSD in the bay, the choices are limited because the X220 uses a 7mm drive.
     
    ZaZ, Aug 22, 2011
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  15. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    I bought the MyDigital 64 gigger. Not a bad price. The installation process is dicey though, since I hate removing the keyboard in ANY laptop!
     
    frankmehta, Aug 22, 2011
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  16. DStaal

    DStaal Notebook Geek

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    On Thinkpads, it's considered a user-replaceable part. If you don't want to do it, take your laptop to any local computer repair place (Best Buy doesn't count) and ask them. It should take less than 10 minutes. Including them looking up and watching the video on how to do it.
     
    DStaal, Aug 22, 2011
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  17. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can someone put up the link to do this? I don't mind doing it myself if instructions are given to a T!
     
    frankmehta, Aug 23, 2011
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  18. DStaal

    DStaal Notebook Geek

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    Here you go: Service Videos

    There's no video labeled 'mSATA', but it's exactly the same as the WWAN, except you don't have to connect the antennas.
     
    DStaal, Aug 23, 2011
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  19. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks mate. Isnt tough at all ;)
     
    frankmehta, Aug 25, 2011
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  20. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a query again. The SPEC list of my X220 says WWAN upgradable. Does this have ANY bearing on my fitting an SSD in that slot??
     
    frankmehta, Aug 27, 2011
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  21. illini71

    illini71 Notebook Consultant

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    Now the question is when will you receive your laptop. I ordered from the Outlet on the 23rd. There warehouse is in the path of Irene...........
     
    illini71, Aug 27, 2011
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  22. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    I already got mine. just opened it today ;-)
    got two of them.
     
    frankmehta, Aug 27, 2011
    #22
  23. illini71

    illini71 Notebook Consultant

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    You dirty dog what day did you order, I just figured the 22nd.
     
    illini71, Aug 27, 2011
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  24. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    ordered two from eBay. super deals. one i5 full spec and.one i7 full spec. the i5 has 8 GB too. arrived in two days flat. and then four days to reach India ;-)
     
    frankmehta, Aug 27, 2011
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  25. illini71

    illini71 Notebook Consultant

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    Oh sorry, I thought you went through Lenovo. I will never go through Lenovo again, im waiting too long for a prebuilt laptop.
     
    illini71, Aug 27, 2011
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  26. Iucounu

    Iucounu Notebook Consultant

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    I've never had unreasonable delays ordering direct from Lenovo.
     
    Iucounu, Aug 27, 2011
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  27. illini71

    illini71 Notebook Consultant

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    How about the Outlet!
     
    illini71, Aug 27, 2011
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  28. dibbs

    dibbs Notebook Geek

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    Personally I would grab the an msata ssd and use the stock drive and see if you feel like you need to upgrade it after a few weeks of use. I don't think you would really notice much of a difference as your OS and most used programs will be on the ssd anyway, and the advantage of the slower HDD is perhaps less noise, heat and power consumption (I could be wrong on one of those).

    The msata combo is super sweet. I've never had an ssd before nor am I overly tech savvy and I did just fine installing it. I have to admit, it was pretty scary seeing my brand new laptop in pieces with the keyboard off to the side but I felt proud of myself for having done it. I've never gone that far into a computer before really. Boot up times and program load times are awesome and I'm dual booting linux and win 7 on the msata using my spinning drive for storage. What I like the most is that 90% of the time when I'm just browsing or word processing the computer is dead silent. Good luck!

    edit: I have the 80gb intel 310. I would say if you're on the fence about springing the extra $ for the 64gb mydigitial or 80gb intel (or others above 40gb) I would find a way to get it. I think I would feel too cramped with only 40gb and dual booting would not be an option. If you're a minimalist and just want a dozen or so reasonably sized programs you would probably be just fine with 40gb though. Just my 2 cents.
     
    dibbs, Aug 27, 2011
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  29. DStaal

    DStaal Notebook Geek

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    Only if you have the bad BIOS that occasionally blocks a mSATA from working. And even then, updating to the latest BIOS from Lenovo will fix you.
     
    DStaal, Aug 28, 2011
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  30. frankmehta

    frankmehta Notebook Enthusiast

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    the Stock samsung series 9 laptop ssd is an msata drive. will it work? I am snagging one of those too today.
     
    frankmehta, Aug 28, 2011
    #30