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    Installing Intel 320 Series SSD on E420 w/ HDD

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by michaelarnold42, Jun 1, 2011.

  1. michaelarnold42

    michaelarnold42 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm trying to upgrade my system by installing an 80gb Intel 320 Series SSD along side a 7200rpm HDD. I've seen where people replace the HDD with the SSD but how can I have them both installed on the laptop? i.e. where do I hook up the SSD?
     
    michaelarnold42, Jun 1, 2011
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  2. michaelarnold42

    michaelarnold42 Notebook Enthusiast

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    So I'm guessing that this can't be done unless I remove my existing HDD?
     
    michaelarnold42, Jun 2, 2011
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  3. Zuwxiv

    Zuwxiv Notebook Guru

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    Some people accomplish it by using the UltraBay caddy. This means taking out your CD / DVD drive, and replacing it with a hard drive tray and the hard drive of yoru choice.

    Others use the 310 series SSD, which uses an MSATA drive. Essentially, it's a much smaller drive that plugs in elsewhere on your computer. (Micro-SATA)

    I'm not sure if the E420 supports either of these. Their tech-specs listing for the E420 isn't up right nwo.

    Generally, you'd get much better perforamnce out of just replacing the HDD with the SSD, and then buying an external case. Just throw your old 7200rpm HDD into the enclosure and you have a portable hard drive for lots of data, and a fast SSD to use on the go.
     
    Zuwxiv, Jun 2, 2011
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  4. michaelarnold42

    michaelarnold42 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Since there isn't any UltraBay on the E420, is there another place where the SSD can be hooked up keeping the HDD in its original place? ( I can remove the spacer on the 320, that shouldn't be a problem, I'm just looking for an interface to plug it into)
     
    michaelarnold42, Jun 2, 2011
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  5. Karamazovmm

    Karamazovmm Overthinking? Always!

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    aside putting a caddy or getting an intel 310, no you wont be able to keep the 320 and the HDD.

    and you are already going to need to remove the spacer on the 320, since the height is 9mm with it
     
    Karamazovmm, Jun 2, 2011
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  6. wahooza

    wahooza Newbie

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    any luck getting SSD and 2nd HDD on your e420? i want to do this too just like my t60
     
    wahooza, Jul 18, 2011
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  7. michaelarnold42

    michaelarnold42 Notebook Enthusiast

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    nope not yet. When opened it up, there was barely enough space for a SSD.
     
    michaelarnold42, Jul 21, 2011
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  8. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Only way you can get both is to get a caddy. Also moving to Edge/X1/X120e subforum
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Jul 21, 2011
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  9. wahooza

    wahooza Newbie

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    where can i buy a caddy? i've googled but havent found anything for e420
     
    wahooza, Jul 23, 2011
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  10. sandrodz

    sandrodz Notebook Consultant

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    It has Integrated tray-load DVD drive, my guess it's soldiered to MB. So no way to use caddy.
     
    sandrodz, Jul 31, 2011
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  11. thomasw333

    thomasw333 Notebook Evangelist

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    I was under the impression that the E420 had an msata slot above the hdd, by above i mean closer to the screen, it looks like the msata hdd goes right there and you should be able to use the intel msata ssd concurrently with the standard hdd.
     
    thomasw333, Aug 6, 2011
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  12. thomasw333

    thomasw333 Notebook Evangelist

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    Nobody went back and checked?
     
    thomasw333, Aug 11, 2011
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  13. thetoast

    thetoast Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't have an e420 so I can't say for sure, but I feel confident in saying that you're wrong. When, in the history of laptops, has an optical drive been soldered to the logic board? The OP's solution would almost certainly be solved with a bay caddy like this:

    Optical Bay HDD Caddy to replace Slot-Loading Optical,9.5,SATA [OBHD9-SATA-SATA-NF] - $42.00 : NewmodeUS, Hard Drive Caddys for Notebooks

    That's for a 9.5mm height bay, and is friendly with the slot-load bay style.

     
    thetoast, Aug 11, 2011
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  14. thomasw333

    thomasw333 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah I should have said something, the dvd drive is held in with one screw, it is not soldered in.
     
    thomasw333, Aug 12, 2011
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  15. thomasw333

    thomasw333 Notebook Evangelist

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    The e420 comes with a manual and it shows you how to break the latop down, if you do not own an E420, get the manual from Lenovo.com
     
    thomasw333, Aug 12, 2011
    #15