Intel 310 40Gb mSata enough as a boot/app drive??

Quick question. I would like to get a 40gb Intel 310 msata drive for my T420. Do you think 40gb (or whatever it is after formatting) will do for Windows 7 64-bit, MS Office 2010, Adobe Acrobat X, some other software (2-3 gb max), plus the ThinkVantage stuff and ThinkPad drivers?

 

It'll be big enough. I use the same programs and would get the 40gb 310 too except for the fact that it's rather slow. Worth spending the extra $75 for the 80gb even if you don't need the space.

 

that will be enough. but ssd drives perform much better if you can leave about 15%-25% of total space empty -- ssd tax!

 

OK, thanks for your replies. Currently, I cannot afford the 80gb one. I am not much familiar with SSDs, so will the 40GB mSata drive be faster than the WD Scorpio Black (wd5000bpkt) that I am intending to use as the data storage drive along with the mStata?

 

As for the free space that may be required, my (very rough) calculations go as follows:

- Win7 64bit (with hibernation disabled, unnecessary functions (e.g. tablet components) uninstalled, etc) ~ 16GB
- MS Office 2010 (only Word, Excel, Publisher, PPT, and installer files removed) ~ 1.5GB
- Acrobat X ~ 1.5GB
- Other lighter soft (e.g. Stata; 3Gb max)
- ThinkVantage ~ 1Gb?
- Misc ~ 2GB

Total space required ~ 25GB
Total space available after formatting ~ 37GB

Am I missing anything?

 

keep in mind Windows will grow when more and more updates are installed.

 

Yes.
(10 char)

 

I would not buy the 40GB if I were you. I would save for the 80GB if you really must use mSATA.

 

Do people think this is about right?

I have a related question. Is the 80GB ssd large enough to run Windows Pro 4 bit AND Ubuntu? Can anyone outline how an estimate for the required space?

 

Ubuntu: 2,7GB (or something like that) required if i remember correctly

EDIT: Can some one verify the 2/3GB? Official Ubuntu desktop minimal system requirements state 15GB?

 

Re: "I would not buy the 40GB if I were you. I would save for the 80GB if you really must use mSATA."

Thanks but would you care to elaborate? I am only after the performance bump compared to the Scorpio Black. That is, I don't really want the fastest SSD.

 

I just think it's a hassle trying to mange to 40GB. I have the 80GB and think it's a hassle.

 

NewEgg has a coupon code good through the end of today for 10% off all SSDs, if you're an e-blast subscriber (easy to set up)

NewEgg sells both Intel mSATA drives, so if you're located in the States, you can get $10 off the 40GB or $19 off the 80GB. After reading the specs, I bought the 80GB. While it cost more, if I don't buy it now, I'll want it eventually, and the performance specs are considerably better than the 40GB.

Coupon code is EMCKFJE23 .

 

Don't rush into buying from newegg unless you're sure what you want. Buy.com and Costcentral have both for nearly the same price as newegg's with coupon.

They do also have 20% off dvd burners though through today. I'll be ordering the 310 and a burner since the X220 doesn't have any optical drive.

 

OK, does anyone know where to buy the Intel 310 40Gb mSata drive besides Newegg?

When I google the model number SSDMAEMC040G2C1 I get multiple results but they all look different from the picture on Newegg. The one on Newegg does not have the casing whereas all other places sell the drive encased.

Are those the same drive? If so, will I need to take the drive out of the case in order to install it in the PCIe slot?

 

There's no case, it's a pci-e card. There are just wrong pictures shown on some sites. Costcentral and Buy.com are the cheapest:

Intel 40 GB Internal hard drive