mSATA SSD's for Y480

[malch]

I have a Y480 and would like to add a mSATA SSD.

According to Crucial the 128GB m4 mSATA drive is not compatible with the Y480:

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT128M4SSD3

I have also looked at the Intel 80GB mSATA drive:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/796905-REG/Intel_SSDMAEMC080G2C1_2_5_mSATA_MLC_310.html

which is 4.85 mm thick versus 3.6-3.8mm for some other devices. I am concerned the Intel may not fit.

Question 1:

What mSATA drives are known to work with the Y480?

Question 2:

I want to make the new SSD my system drive. So no worries with needing the special BIOS required to use the SSD as a caching drive.

I lean towards performing a clean Windows install using a generic Windows 7 ISO from Digital River (versus cloning from the existing HDD). I assuming this will require some messing around with drivers and leave me without the Lenovo tools like the Onekey Recovery which I don't much care for and would be happy to jettison.

Anyone think that's a bad idea or have any useful tips?

[malch]

Nobody added a mSATA device to a Y480?

[fischerms80]

I am using an OCZ Nocti 120gb msata card in my Y480 as boot device. Can not use Lenovo/Intel Rapid drive feature since the genius's at Lenovo decide to use Bios 36 on msata ssd/hdd ordered units and for non msata ssd orders Bios 34. Any way have boot times from cold of 15 to 30 seconds.

[kostadinbal]

What? You boot time is from 15 to 30 seconds? I'm using Lenovo EE Boot optimizer , i have a 5400 rpm HDD and my Y570 boots for 33 seconds

[malch]

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fischerms80 wrote:

I am using an OCZ Nocti 120gb msata card in my Y480 as boot device. Can not use Lenovo/Intel Rapid drive feature since the genius's at Lenovo decide to use Bios 36 on msata ssd/hdd ordered units and for non msata ssd orders Bios 34. Any way have boot times from cold of 15 to 30 seconds.

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Thanks for that.

Yeah, it's a shame they nuked RapidDrive from the BIOS but not a biggie for me as I'd prefer to to put Windows on the SSD.

How did you install Windows on the new drive? Clone from the HDD?

[malch · Accepted solution]

I ultimately installed a Crucial M4 mSATA drive:

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT128M4SSD3

It works great!

[azndiabolo]

Hey I'm thinking about installing an SSD in my y570 and the crucial looks great (though I have to figure out if it'll fit), but I was wondering if you could go over how you installed windows onto your SSD? Thanks!

[drdolil99]

My boot time on my y480 is 9 seconds to the password screen and another 3 after I enter the password. I am using a Vector 120GB SSD and put my 750GB HD in my CD bay.