Can we put an 80GB solid state hard drive into a Toshiba net book?
Submitted: Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:05
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Member - G N (VIC)
Hi all
Finaly getting to have a go at setting up a mapping / GPS system.
We are looking at putting a 80GB hard drive into a small toshiba netbook, tech man thinks it is possible.
Do any pc guru's know of any reasons why this wont work?
Details of toshiba below.
Kind Regards'
GN
PLL10A-01E02H Toshiba NB100 1.6GHz Notebook - Windows XP
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Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512k L2 cache) Mobile Intel 82945GSE with ICH7-M Chipset, 120GB 5400 rpm 2.5" SATA HDD, 1GB DDR2 533 Ram, 8.9" WSVGA TFT Active Matrix (1024x600) resolution 180 NIT, 10/100 Mbps TX LAN,
Bridge Media slot 2-in-1, Touchpad, VGA D sub 15 pin, 3 x USB, RJ45, Microphone, headphone port, Integrated Atheros Wireless 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR, Intel High Definition Audio Sound, Stereo Speakers, 1.3Mega Pixel Web Cam, 4 cell 5000mAh Lithium-Ion battery (up to 3.5 hours), 225mm(W) x 190.5mm(D) x 29.5/33mm(H), From 1.050 kgs, Genuine Windows XP
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Reply By: Cane Toad - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:10
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:10
Just a question but why not just buy a GPS system?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:41
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:41
Hi Cane Toad
because we are led to believe we will have more map options if running a pc and not be limited to particular versions etc because of opperating system.
as
well as having other uses also.
Regards
GN
FollowupID:
633274
Reply By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:27
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:27
Why do you want to put a 80GbB drive when it already has a 120GB?
AnswerID:
365570
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:32
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:32
Probably as in the heading Solid state.
If the techie says so do you need any more confirmation.
As long as the machine will accept it no reason not to work.
May depend on how it is formatted.
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Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:42
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:42
Hi
Yep for the solid state hard drive, sorry i should of repeated the solid state bit in the main section
regards'GN
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:44
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:44
techie is a mate Graham H and says 90% sure, thats why i am trying to do a bit of a
check up.
cheers
GN
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:29
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:29
Make sure it's SATA and not IDE.
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Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:45
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 21:45
HI Mike DID
Tech will obviouly know but what is the diff?
GN
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bushwhacker - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:08
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:08
SATA is newer technology, different connection to a standard IDE, SATA uses 7 pin connector cable, old IDE uses 40 pin connector (I think). SATA tranfers data faster.... besides that, if you have SATA now, you will need the new solid state hard drive to be compatible, so you can just plug it in. 'Whacker
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Reply By: GerryP - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:11
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:11
Hi GN,
I know others will have their own opinions and that's great, but discussion about hard drives versus solid state drives comes up from time to time.
From my own experience over many years and always running a laptop while on the move, not only navigating using moving map, but also continuously logging my tracks (in other words it is always accessing the drive), I have never had a problem with a hard drive failing or even playing up. And that is over arguably some of the worst corrugated road sections in the country. I think you'll find that laptop hard drives are pretty robust.
Personally, I would give it a go as is and also enjoy the extra storage space on the 120G for storing your digital pics.
Just my thoughts - don't want to hijack the thread with a pro/con HDD vs solid state argument.
Cheers
Gerry
AnswerID:
365590
Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:27
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 22:27
Hi GerryP
I kind of agree and have considered this option.
the reasons i want to go the solid state are
I dont want to risk damage to my present lap top as it has much work stuff etc
Present laptop is bit bulky to store under
seat and cannot run it on its side i dont think?
THe small laptop set up puts out less heat, is easy to locat when running
Still running leaf spring
suspension so when we go real bush stuff is literaly bouncing off the dash 50mm most of the time if corrigated
dont plan on storing pics when 8meg pixel slr card 1M stores 300 pics for $15 now not $180 like 4 years ago
please comment.
Kind regards
GN
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: GerryP - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 12:46
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 12:46
I see your predicament. I have my lappy mounted on the cargo barrier and it sits in some foam supports to dampen out the really rough bits. I then run to a 7 inch screen which pops out of a single DIN slot. Bit painful if you want to change anything on the computer, but I usually load the track I want to follow, turn on moving map and that's about it - just keep the arrow on the colored line till you get where you are going.
Certainly trying to have it mounted on the dash would make it a lot worse over the bumpy bits.
Cheers and good luck
Gerry
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Reply By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 00:40
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 00:40
G N
One thing, a Solid state has a finite amount of use. do not run defrag as every time you do that one less time it will be able to be used..
Richard
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - G N (VIC) - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 07:57
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 07:57
Hi Richard
Thanks for info, do you think i going the wrong way ? am i realy likley to "wear it out"?
Regards GN
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 21:18
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 21:18
GN
I'm not sure, I have read PC user mag for 10-15 years, and learn most of my PC stuff from them.
Solid state is a robust data storage system, I think the use of the finite maybe in the millions, trillions, no differant to SD & CF cards.
Richard
FollowupID:
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Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:22
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:22
2 things...
As some others have said standard drives generally dont have any problems. Been running a standard drive in my Acer over some VERY serious corrugations and so far so good.
The other point is performance of an SSD can degrade over time. The issue is
the block size that it uses to write data. Gets a bit technical but basically when an SSD is new it is blank, obviously, and the controller knows that. When it has been used a bit the vacant areas of the disk are not actually blank, if they have been written to before. They are just marked as blank, but in order to re-use that block the controller must first do an erase. It can't simply overwrite the data like a regular drive can.
Also, the smallest data block in an SSD is 512k, so even a 1k text file takes 512k of disk space, so if youhave lots of small files your file storage is very innefficient. Probably not a real issue for you as maps and photos tend to be slightly bigger than 512K ;-))
A good explanation can be found
Here at Computerworld.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:36
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:36
I should add that regardless of the slow down issue, the SSD should still outperform a standard drive. Just don't be too dissapointed when it's speed halves or worse.
If it were my decision I'd put another regular drive in it. Much cheaper option. Wait for the cost of SSD's to become a little more competitive..
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:40
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:40
I should add that regardless of the slow down issue, the SSD should still outperform a standard drive. Just don't be too dissapointed when it's speed halves or worse.
If it were my decision I'd put another regular drive in it. Much cheaper option. Wait for the cost of SSD's to become a little more competitive..
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 12:07
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 12:07
Oops..
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Reply By: _gmd_pps - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 21:51
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 21:51
I have a PC with 2x 120GB Sata drives in my truck mounted against the rear wall of the cabin and I also have the save PC with an 80GB Sata drive running on my boat and believe me the pounding on the boat is quite a bit rougher than any track. I have had no problems since installation (over 2 years ago).
Solid state drives for a low end car pc is overkill.
I have 2 Sata drives because they are mirrored and if one really goes I still have the other one. I run my mp3's (roughly 60GB), my nav software, internet, email, dvd's etc from this system.
I also have a full blown PC in the slide-on camper with 3.5 inch drives.
Several high capacity drives for my images and also never had a problem so far, but again the discs are mirrored just in case
good luck
gmd
AnswerID:
365751