Need a 7mm SSD please

[raildogg]

Hi everyone, I am looking for a good 7mm SSD. I know that the Samsung 830s and 840s are 7mm but are there better alternatives?

I cannot find a Samsung 830 256GB for a good price. I am not too sure about the new 840 series either. The Pro version of the 840 is more pricey than I am willing to spend. I don't do anything extravagant so will the regular 840 be just fine? How does it compare to the Intel 520?

I am interested in the Intel 520 series since they are offered in the 7mm form. The 180GB SSD I am using right now is Intel but I'm not sure if it is 520. It is extremely fast and the startups seem to be faster than the 830 but I have not tested it. However, most of the 520s that are sold seem to be 9.5mm. Best Buy has a Intel 520 180GB for $129.99 right now but it is 9.5mm.

Any other recommendations?

I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you.

 

[Coup27]

Intel SSD's are all 7mm with a black 2.5mm spacer screwed on the top. You can remove that spacer to turn it into a 7mm high SSD but you won't get any shorter screws to screw it together. You could tape it back together with some electrical insulation tape and you'll have a secure Intel 7mm SSD for your laptop. Or you could email Intel, find out the spec on the screws and order some online or even request some. Either way, it's all possible.

If you are not a heavy user then a Samsung 840 would be fine. Anything from Plextor would be an option but I don't know the height on them.

 

[raildogg]

Intel SSD's are all 7mm with a black 2.5mm spacer screwed on the top. You can remove that spacer to turn it into a 7mm high SSD but you won't get any shorter screws to screw it together. You could tape it back together with some electrical insulation tape and you'll have a secure Intel 7mm SSD for your laptop. Or you could email Intel, find out the spec on the screws and order some online or even request some. Either way, it's all possible.

If you are not a heavy user then a Samsung 840 would be fine. Anything from Plextor would be an option but I don't know the height on them.

I would rather not do that since that will probably void the battery. I guess I could get the 840 but after using this Intel 180GB SSD in this laptop for a bit, I'm looking for something as fast. In all likelihood, I probably will not be able to tell a difference.

I appreciate your response.

 

[jwilliams4200]

The 256GB Plextor M5Pro is on sale for $200 now at amazon. That is a good price for an excellent SSD. And it is 7mm in height.

 

[Coup27]

I would rather not do that since that will probably void the battery. I guess I could get the 840 but after using this Intel 180GB SSD in this laptop for a bit, I'm looking for something as fast. In all likelihood, I probably will not be able to tell a difference.

I appreciate your response.

Battery? Removing the spacer does not void your warranty, if they didn't want you to remove it they would have just made the chassis 9.5mm.

As mentioned above, Plextor's are a good option, I just didn't know their height.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

Removing the spacer will not void the warranty or damaged the imaginary battery either.

 

[raildogg]

jwilliams4200, thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out. It does look like a very nice SSD.

Coup27, I meant the warranty .

This SSD will be replacing the 7mm hard drive in a laptop so maybe the screws won't be needed if I do remove the spacer? I can use the screws that held the hard drive in place in the caddy and use those on the Intel 520? Thank you for the response.

It's Not Lupus, rofl.

 

[tweakboy]

Just title the headline that you need a good SSD. no need to mention 7mm no or nos ?

 

[Coup27]

You don't actually need any shorter screws because as you have said, once it is snugly fitted into a laptop the covers cannot separate anyway. IMO however this is not the point. An Intel SSD is a premium product and for the paultry amount of 4 additional screws, they should be provided. Alternatively they should do what Samsung do and sell a 7mm chassis and provide a plastic 2.5mm spacer for you to slot in should you need it.

The screws which fix the existing HDD into the caddy will still be required. You will need these when you fix whichever SSD you choose into the caddy. A quick look online for the screw spec shows the following which can be bought from laptopscrews.com for $2.25 (although I don't know your actual location):


M2x3mm OEM Wafer Head LaptopMachine Screw

Average Overall Length: 3.52mm
Average Head Width: 2.90mm
Average Head Thickness: 0.62
Thread Pitch: 0.40
Drive: Phillips
Item #10004

Or you could email Intel and tell them to stop being a skank and send you some screws. Or you could use electrical insulation tape

 

[raildogg]

Coup27, forgive me if I'm not reading you right. In my last post I meant to ask you whether or not the screws that hold the hard drive to the little caddy in the laptop can be used to hold the new Intel 520? If not, then the the link you provided will be very helpful.

Also, looking at Newegg's website, on the up close shots of the Intel 520 SSD, it says that if any of the screws are removed, the warranty is voided. Here is the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

Thank you for your help.

 

[Coup27]

Yes, the existing screws which hold the HDD into the caddy can be reused to hold the SSD into the caddy. My link was for the replacement shorter screws if you chose to remove the spacer from an Intel SSD.

It does say that but I've seen Intel reps on their support site say that it doesn't invalidate the warranty. Either way I've taken apart a 320 series before and there would be no way at all for Intel to know whether the screws have been removed or not. Just keep those 4 screws and the spacer and if later you have a problem just screw it back together.

If it does indeed void your warranty, it's an incredibly stupid design from Intel to rule themselves out of the 7mm market.

Just get an 840 or Plextor and save yourself the hassle. It can be done but if you are concerned about warranty then it's not worth the hassle.

 

[raildogg]

I am still interested in the Intel 520 despite the warranty concerns. Like you said, I can put it back together. You are very right in that many laptops accept 7mm so Intel should have a product geared for that, especially since the Ultrabook platform is theirs. After using the Intel 520 for a bit, I find that its a very nice product.

Thanks a lot.

 

[kmmatney]

I think if you remove the spacer piece on the Intel SSD, you will need shorter screws to keep the lid on, or will need to use some tape to keep it closed. I personally wouldn't have a problem doing that. Since it's Intel, you'll probably never need the 5-year warranty, but you can keep the screws and spacer around just in case. I believe Intel does make 7 mm SSDs as well (maybe the 330 series)

 

[ShintaiDK]

Atleast on Intel drives you just remove the spacer and screw the screws back in. Its designed for it. I bet Samsugn and others uses the same principle.

 

[Coup27]

Atleast on Intel drives you just remove the spacer and screw the screws back in. Its designed for it. I bet Samsugn and others uses the same principle.

Have you not read a word of this thread?

 

[ShintaiDK]

Have you not read a word of this thread?

Obviously not well enough. What did I miss?

I transformed X25M G1/G2 and 320 series to 7mm just by removing the spacer and put the screws back in.

 

[jwilliams4200]

I transformed X25M G1/G2 and 320 series to 7mm just by removing the spacer and put the screws back in.

Do you have any pictures?

If yours are anything like mine, the screws cannot be tightened down so that the head fits tightly to the case -- the screws are too long without the spacer.

 

[Coup27]

Do you have any pictures?

If yours are anything like mine, the screws cannot be tightened down so that the head fits tightly to the case -- the screws are too long without the spacer.

I think it's a safe assumption that all Intel SSDs are supplied with the same length screws. I also tried to put my 320 back together with the supplied screws and found them to be too long. There are many threads on the subject which has lead to people ordering their own screws as I linked to above.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Do you have any pictures?

If yours are anything like mine, the screws cannot be tightened down so that the head fits tightly to the case -- the screws are too long without the spacer.

Not easily since I would have to take it out of the HTPC. But looking at the Anandtech 520 review. Then I think you are right. It seems they changed the screws at some point :| Unless I am just senile and there was extra screws in the packages.

 

[raildogg]

You don't actually need any shorter screws because as you have said, once it is snugly fitted into a laptop the covers cannot separate anyway. IMO however this is not the point. An Intel SSD is a premium product and for the paultry amount of 4 additional screws, they should be provided. Alternatively they should do what Samsung do and sell a 7mm chassis and provide a plastic 2.5mm spacer for you to slot in should you need it.

The screws which fix the existing HDD into the caddy will still be required. You will need these when you fix whichever SSD you choose into the caddy. A quick look online for the screw spec shows the following which can be bought from laptopscrews.com for $2.25 (although I don't know your actual location):


M2x3mm OEM Wafer Head LaptopMachine Screw

Average Overall Length: 3.52mm
Average Head Width: 2.90mm
Average Head Thickness: 0.62
Thread Pitch: 0.40
Drive: Phillips
Item #10004

Or you could email Intel and tell them to stop being a skank and send you some screws. Or you could use electrical insulation tape

I just bought the Intel 520 180GB SSD so I may go to the hardware store to buy some of these screws. Do they have to fit the exact description? Can any general M2X3mm screws fit or they should be ordered from this website?

 

[Coup27]

I'll be very surprised if you can find those type of screws at a store. The head width has to be less than 3.5mm otherwise it won't fit into the recess. If you can find an M2x3 with a flat head measuring no more than 3.5mm across then it should fit..

 

[raildogg]

I'll be very surprised if you can find those type of screws at a store. The head width has to be less than 3.5mm otherwise it won't fit into the recess. If you can find an M2x3 with a flat head measuring no more than 3.5mm across then it should fit..

I am going to go ahead and order those screws just in case the ones in the store don't fit. Thank you so much for the help. I really appreciate it.

Thanks to everyone for their help as well.

 

[Coup27]

No problem. Let me know how you get on when you receive the drive and the screws.

Cheers.