New SSD opt. for T4x : mSATA-to-IDE adapter ST663FD9 *PICS*

[dandreye]

stmok:

> I'm guessing by the various brands this mSATA-to-IDE adapter goes by (Addonics, Aleratec, Kuroutoshikou, LINDY, Delock, Lycom, etc); its all manufactured by the same company from Taiwan?

I reckon that's the case based at least on the pictures of Addonics/Aleratec/Kuroutoshikou/Lycom adapters seen so far although it's unlikely that anyone here has an ultimate evidence of that such as an email from the actual maker admitting to making them all. I've personally tried getting hold of anyone at Lycom several times and have never received a response, so unsure even if it's them who make those.

[automobus]

…/Ableconn IIDE-MSAT

Marvel 88SA8052 is not necessarily better than JMicron JM20330, and JMicron JM20330 has innumerable incompatibilities since 2008. More empirical evidence of these bridge chips being imperfect comes from MikeatOSX in 68kMLA Forums at 2016-04-19 on 'PowerBook 1400c and mSATA SSD'.

Wow, MikeatOSX photographed four LyCOM ST-173 at once!

[irus]

hi guys im thinking of doing this upgrade and will be buying Wave SSD msata 256gb from ebay from selled wavessd but i dont know which converter to buy the st663fd9 doesnt ship to india and the JM20330 based converters which are everywhere arent reported to be good. Any ideas which converter to go for?

[aussieguy]

I like to report to you folks some disappointing news.

The following specific ThinkPads do NOT work with SSD in the main HDD bay of these laptops. ie: Replacing original HDD with SSD technology.

This is the Intel graphics version.
=> T43 (Models: 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876)

Since certain R52 models use the same motherboard/systemboard...
=> R52 (Models: 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1958)

I tested a batch of these (surplus ex-company hardware) with the following SSD based solutions:
=> KingSpec 128GB 44-pin IDE (Model: KSD-PA25.6-128MS)
=> Plextor M5M 128GB mSATA (Model: PX-128M5M) with Addonics ADMS25IDE mSATA-to-IDE adapter
=> Plextor M6M 128GB mSATA (Model: PX-128M6M) with Addonics ADMS25IDE mSATA-to-IDE adapter
=> Samsung 850 EVO 128GB mSATA (Model: MZ-M5E120) with Addonics ADMS25IDE mSATA-to-IDE adapter

The BIOS will detect these SSDs fine (using the last official update OR modified one to not include the "Error 2010" message AND latest Embedded Controller firmware version). So you won't have a problem seeing these SSDs listed in BIOS boot order.

BUT, you will have the following problems:

* System will boot up longer than normal.

* Windows 7 (or newer) install setup will take a really long time to start the setup process. And then it won't be able to detect the SSD. When using diskpart, it'll say: There are no fixed disks to show.

* Windows XP install setup will see the drive and even allow you to install. But upon first reboot, it'll say: Operating System not found.

* Using Linux-based Parted Magic (from Ultimate Boot CD):
=> GSmartControl will accurately detect the presence of SSD; Model number, Serial number, firmware version, SSD capacity and sector size are detected...Even be able to read SMART functions. You can run a health check and all SSDs will have no issue.
=> Using GParted to partition/format the SSD will cause system to lock up.

To verify the above 3 mSATA solutions aren't the problem, I installed them into a ThinkPad L520 (which has mSATA port) and verified their health via Samsung's Magician software or Plextor's Plextools under Windows 7.

I then checked and verified the Addonics ADMS25IDE mSATA-to-IDE adapter with Addonics 2.5" to 3.5" IDE HDD Converter in an old desktop PC; to make sure the adapter wasn't the problem.

So in conclusion...
If you have a ThinkPad T43 with Radeon graphics (Models: 26xx), it'll work. (High probability of success with SSDs using Marvell-based controller).
If you have a ThinkPad T43 with Intel graphics (Models: 187x), it won't work. You'll have to use the optical drive bay (Ultrabay slim HDD adapter?)...Or just dump this ThinkPad model for another that is known to support SSDs out-of-the-box.

There's also a 2nd reason to dump ThinkPad T43 with Intel graphics...Windows 10. There is no driver support for Intel graphics. You have to use the default Windows graphics driver.

...As for these surplus ex-company ThinkPad hardware, going to slap Windows 7 on them and let disadvantaged kids have them; to learn coding?

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

I like to report to you folks some disappointing news.

Many a thanks for a very thorough post/investigation/update. You've likely stopped at least some forum members from making an expensive - given the value of these machines nowadays - mistake.

As for these surplus ex-company ThinkPad hardware, going to slap Windows 7 on them and let disadvantaged kids have them; to learn coding?

Even if these kids were just to learn proper use of Office and some other basic software - let alone coding - you'll have accomplished a lot, and I'm certain that their gratitude will follow you.

Hope you enjoy your stay on TPF.

[irus]

after reading some more posts it seems like the adapter problems are mostly with T43 not with T42 which im interested in upgrading. I've ordered the parts waiting for them to come in and will report how it goes.

[irus]

installed samsung 850 PRO on the T42 here are the benchmarks!

https://s31.postimg.org/n0e6xem17/850_PRO.jpg

[dandreye]

installed samsung 850 PRO on the T42 here are the benchmarks!
https://s31.postimg.org/n0e6xem17/850_PRO.jpg

4K rates look not bad at all: I only get ~17-19MB/s 4K Read out of a second hand PM830 (MZMPC128HBFU) in my T42 for instance.
https://s32.postimg.org/vr5jthdjp/CDM51 ... 000_L1.png

Which adapter is that with btw? Mine is Lycom ST-173-7.

[irus]

installed samsung 850 PRO on the T42 here are the benchmarks! https://s31.postimg.org/n0e6xem17/850_PRO.jpg

4K rates look not bad at all: I only get ~17-19MB/s 4K Read out of a second hand PM830 (MZMPC128HBFU) in my T42 for instance. https://s32.postimg.org/vr5jthdjp/CDM51 ... 000_L1.png

Which adapter is that with btw? Mine is Lycom ST-173-7.

im using the same adapter as yetanfou: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 20#p742797

[irus]

i just installed a kingdian msata ssd 120gb using a jmicron converter and it is working normally, benchmarks are right up there but it seems to be heating up considerably. what could be causing it to heat up abnormally?

[RealBlackStuff]

The words Cheap and Chinese and Junk come to mind...

[irus]

seems msata ssd run hot in general.. the acceptable operating temp is 0-70C and this is running at 50-55C, will let this pass.

[ajkula66]

seems msata ssd run hot in general.. the acceptable operating temp is 0-70C and this is running at 50-55C, will let this pass.

I don't see how such temps would not introduce throttling...at all.

[irus]

seems msata ssd run hot in general.. the acceptable operating temp is 0-70C and this is running at 50-55C, will let this pass.

I don't see how such temps would not introduce throttling...at all.

throttle at 50 Celsius?

[ajkula66]

throttle at 50 Celsius?

Yep.

Roll your eyes all you want. Had you taken the time to explore the issue at hand, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation.

[irus]

There is one post talking about Crucial mSATA running hot. Is that what you are talking about?

[irus]

benchmarks for those interested in finding out how kingdian SSD 120gb performs. No thermal throttling and runs as good as 850PRO for the t42!

[Metallo]

Hi all,

have just finished the W7 Pro installation on my T40, did all the Windows Updates and installed Crystal Disk Mark 5 to measure the new performance.

Below the new SD/Adapter combination:

Samsung 850 EVO mSATA 250GB SATA III
Ableconn IIDE-MSAT mSATA SSD to 2.5-Inch IDE Adapter

BIOS, I am currently on 3.23 (1RETDRWW)
TRIM is enabled by default.



I am satisfied, the PC runs smoothly and no issues at all, it worked out of the box.

Alex

[nex86]

Where can I buy this adapter?
I cannot find them anywhere on ebay.
I got one from DeLock which does 35MB/s sequential read/write at max, but I know for sure that the SSD or the laptop aren't limiting, so its probably the controller of the adapter.

I just checked, my adapter got the Marvell 88SA8052 controller just like the Ablecon adapter, it also looks the same.
But I don't know why I'm only getting 32-25MB/s at max.. ? Tried 3 different SSDs from 3 different brands, Samsung, Dogfish and Kingston and they all perform the same.
Tested in 4 different laptops, Acer Travelmate 292, Sony PCG-GRT915M, Targa Traveller 826ws, Thinkpad R51, all perform the same.

[olex126]

Nex86:

I have two spare of these Ableconn adapters, each New-In-The-Box. I can sell you one if you can't find any locally.

I purchased a half-dozen a few years back, and have upgraded different older Thinkpads with them...2 x X41T units, T40, T42, etc. They are a solidly-built adapter (albeit somewhat expensive...current retail is $66 + shipping) and work well.

$50 U.S. + postage, payment by Paypal, shipping via Canada Post Expresspost.

Regards.

Dave

EDIT: Realized after I posted that these units did not fit in the X41T's that I have, I had to use a Chinese adapter to fit those units, due to the weird hard-drive size....I tried using the Ableconn units...they work fine, but their length makes them protrude from the laptop body.

[nex86]

I have two spare of these Ableconn adapters....

Hi Dave,
just to make clear,
I have this one: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00ELC ... UTF8&psc=1
Which are apparently identical to the Ableconn adapters (same Marvell 88SA8052 chipset).
But as stated above, I'm not getting the expected performance out of it.
I just want to make sure they are able to get sequential speeds of 80+ mb/s before buying these again..

also runs in UDMA2, just checked.

[olex126]

Nex86...

I will pull out a couple of units tomorrow and check what the results are.

(Just recently moved and have 40+ Thinkpads and accessories still in boxes to sort & unpack....and my box labeling system leaves a LOT to be desired, so it may take some time to find them ! Will post the results.

Regards.

Dave

[nex86]

thanks, can you check if it runs in UDMA5 mode or higher?
mine only runs in UDMA2, no matter where I connect it to.

[GACrabill]

Please tell us which OS you are using and what specific SSD you are using.

[nex86]

currently using Windows XP on an Samsung PM830
But I learned that OS and SSD aren't the issue.
Tried Windows 7 and different SSDs, they all run in UDMA2 mode.

[ibrazhko]

Hi nex86,

Tried Windows 7 and different SSDs, they all run in UDMA2 mode.

Which machine are you using? T40?
My suggestion is to make sure that your BIOS is updated to the latest version. The problem with UDMA33 speeds is, unfortunately, related to the way some ThinkPads check whether a drive is capable of speeds higher than UDMA33. For some models, this bug/feature was fixed with a BIOS update, so make sure you do that.

You can read more on this issue in this thread.