SSD to HDD - 1.8" or 2.5"?

Hi all,

I got the 8Gb SSD model. I use it mostly for Linux and OSX, and found it's kinda slow in OSX.
My plan now is to switch to a HDD, two main reasons:
* Speed
* Space: 8 Gb is not enogh for both operating systems + applications

I need your opinion about which one should I install: 1.8" ZIF (120Gb) or 2.5" SATA (250Gb) ???
The SATA is cheaper, but I guess it will procude more heat, drain more battery and will make the netbook heavier...
The ZIF should be straight forward to change, but I should manage to solder the SATA connnector inside, this shouldn't be an issue.

Suggestions, PROS and CONS please!
Great forum by the way!
Thanks,
luy

 

If soldering the connectors is not a problem then go for the 2.5"
* Faster
* More Storage
* And as you said, cheaper!

It should be a lot heavier, I'm using Aspire One A150-Aw which is the 2.5" hard drive version and I think it's very light.
If I remember correctly, SSD, 3-cell is 0.99KG and HDD, 3-cell is 1.26KG.

 

I did the 2.5" mod which required soldering. I did it because I think 1.8" HDDs are way too slow, low capacity and expensive. For the same price as a 60GB Zif drive you can buy a 250GB SATA (at least where I live). Its also harder find a Zif drive. However, 1.8" is the only HDD option if you can't solder.

- After I did the mod the weight increase is only slightly noticable. A 2.5" HDD is still pretty damn light.
- Heat is increased a little but only if you're copying GBs of data.
- I haven't noticed a significant hit on battery life compared to the old SSD. I'm sure its less, but it isnt really noticable.

 

Thanks guys,
I'm going for the 2.5"

Thanks a lot for your inputs!

 

would this work??

http://www.toshibastorage.com/main.aspx?Path=StorageSolutions/1.8-inchHardDiskDrives/MKxx29GSGSeries

you'd still have to solder, but its better for the batterylife i guess.

cheers

 

I don't think that you would see much of a difference, and plus, it would cost more.

 

And for performance it will never catch its 2.5" siblings.

 

Sell your SSD-equipped A110 and buy an A150 instead. I bought my A110 in November 2008 for £179. Sold it last week on ebay for £142 and bought a new A150 with 160GB HD for £189.

The difference in price (£47) would have barely covered the cost of the SATA connector and a decent 2.5" HD and I got a new AA1 with a 12month warranty.

1.8" HDs are slow and expensive. Even if you solder the SATA connector onto your A110 motherboard you will still be missing several other SMT components that are also present on the A150 motherboard. You can also kiss your warranty goodbye.

 

42 pounds seems to get you a 320GB HDD when I convert it to AUD. SATA cables cost nothing, most people should have a spare sata cable lying around. I just cut up a cable for the mod. Its only costly if you go the risky/difficult route and attempt to solder the SMT sata connector (which may be too big and your hdd won't clear the daughter board pcb). Making your own sata connector costs close to nothing and isnt particularly difficult.

Irrelavent, my mod is working great. The missing SMT stuff doesn't matter. Also I couldn't care less about the warranty.

I weighed up the costs and it turned out I saved a little bit of cash and ended up with a better specced netbook. I would have to point out that in other countries, the price between the HDD and SSD versions is negligible and you probably shouldve just bought the HDD version in the first place. But selling your netbook will inevitably give u a hit of depreciation and you might still be probably better off doing the mod.

 

Almost. A 320GB 5400rpm drive costs 50 GBP. 320GB 7200rpm is nearer 70 GBP. 42 GBP will net you a 160GB drive in the UK.

Glad it turned out OK for you. I have read reports of power regulation and EMI issues after some DIY SATA upgrades. My A110 didn't look too healthy when I replaced the SSD with a 1.8" HD.

Indeed. There was quite a difference in price between the A110 and A150 in the UK last November, almost 70 GBP. The gap is down to 20 GBP now.