Will the Seagate Momentus XT 500GB Hybrid SSD work in the new MBA?

Barcelona1107 · Dec 2, 2010, 11:37 AM

Hi,

I just purchased a new MBA. I thought that the 256GB SSD would work for me, but, it doesn't. Now I'm attempting to find the least expensive way in which to upgrade the internal drive.

As I was about to purchase a new 512GB SSD, the reseller informed me that I should try the Seagate drive referenced above. He said that it would work in the MBA with no problem. The price difference is huge. Axiom SSD = $1500, Momentus Hybrid SSD = $120. I'm not concerned about speed. I'm just tired of carrying my itunes library on an external USB drive.

I would appreciate any advice that's given. I love the new MBA. I just need more disk space in the unit. Here's a link to the drive in question: http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/pro...mentus-xt-kit/

Hellhammer · Dec 2, 2010, 11:40 AM

MBA uses a custom "blade-type" SSD. There is and has never been space for 2.5" HD. The previous models used 1.8" HDs

There is not much you can do. Do you really need all that music with you all the time? How about encoding them to smaller bitrate to save space?

alust2013 · Dec 2, 2010, 11:43 AM

Unfortunately as HH said, the only type of drive that will work is a blade-type SSD, and I believe the 256GB is the largest version of that currently.

Barcelona1107 · Dec 2, 2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellhammer

MBA uses a custom "blade-type" SSD. There is and has never been space for 2.5" HD. The previous models used 1.8" HDs

There is not much you can do. Do you really need all that music with you all the time? How about encoding them to smaller bitrate to save space?

I've tried. I just like having room to play with. :-) Does an upgrade blade ssd exist for purchase?

Thanks for the information.

Hellhammer · Dec 2, 2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barcelona1107

I've tried. I just like having room to play with. :-) Does an upgrade blade ssd exist for purchase?

Thanks for the information.

Currently the biggest one is 256GB. They aren't widely available yet so maybe in future there will be bigger one.

Barcelona1107 · Dec 2, 2010, 11:54 AM

Thanks everyone. I'll continue to take my external drive along until a better alternative is available. This exercise saved me tons of money and time.

KPOM · Dec 2, 2010, 12:09 PM

Eventually you'll be able to use the SDXC slot for higher capacities, but right now you can get a 64GB card for about $200.

WorldIRC · Dec 2, 2010, 12:14 PM

Why isn't the 256GB Blade sold as an option for the 11 "?

BeyondtheTech · Dec 2, 2010, 12:16 PM

Totally forgot about that SD card slot. That would have been sweet for us 11.6" Air users. Right now, I've got a 160GB 2.5" SATA drive tethered to it with my iTunes and iPhoto library. Hope they come out with something sooner, or I'm going to have to velcro the damn thing to the bottom of my Air.

Hellhammer · Dec 2, 2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldIRC

Why isn't the 256GB Blade sold as an option for the 11 "?

Possibly because 64GB and 128GB are one-sided (4x16GB or 4x32GB) but the 256GB model seems to be double-sided (8x32GB)

One-sided:

Double-sided:

Or Apple just wants people to pay more for the high-end 13"

rmhop81 · Dec 2, 2010, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barcelona1107

Hi,

I just purchased a new MBA. I thought that the 256GB SSD would work for me, but, it doesn't. Now I'm attempting to find the least expensive way in which to upgrade the internal drive.

As I was about to purchase a new 512GB SSD, the reseller informed me that I should try the Seagate drive referenced above. He said that it would work in the MBA with no problem. The price difference is huge. Axiom SSD = $1500, Momentus Hybrid SSD = $120. I'm not concerned about speed. I'm just tired of carrying my itunes library on an external USB drive.

I would appreciate any advice that's given. I love the new MBA. I just need more disk space in the unit. Here's a link to the drive in question: http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/pro...mentus-xt-kit/

like another poster said, why not get an SDHC? you could even get this for a microSD

http://www.amazon.com/elago-Mobile-m.../ref=pd_cp_e_1

crashnburn · Apr 28, 2012, 05:40 AM

Do the newer Macbook Airs have the same limitation? Unable to use standard market SSDs? & Hybrid HDDs like the XT?

simsaladimbamba · Apr 28, 2012, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

Do the newer Macbook Airs have the same limitation? Unable to use standard market SSDs? & Hybrid HDDs like the XT?

Which new MBAs? The 2010 MBA and 2011 MBA share the same form factor, and since the 2010 MBA can't accept 2.5" S-ATA HDDs or SSDs the 2011 MBA can't either.
The 2008 and 2009 MBAs accepted 1.8" S-ATA HDDs and SSDs.

Read the thread again to learn more about that, as Hellhammer is kind enough to go into more detail.

theSeb · Apr 28, 2012, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

Do the newer Macbook Airs have the same limitation? Unable to use standard market SSDs? & Hybrid HDDs like the XT?

Where do you propose a 2.5" drive should fit into the MBA exactly?

crashnburn · Apr 28, 2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theSeb

Where do you propose a 2.5" drive should fit into the MBA exactly?

I dont have a MBA. I use a Thinkpad X series for portability/ travel.

I have MBA on my radar but not being able to use standard market cost effective parts is an obvious issue, and the reason why I am hesitating going to a MBA.

How will they fit it in? I honestly dont claim to know. But, if/ when the prices for these special SSDs are close to normal Market SSD prices, I'd consider going down the MBA path.

Are they fairly / market value priced?

simsaladimbamba · Apr 28, 2012, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

Are they fairly / market value priced?

See for yourself.

All Taken · Apr 28, 2012, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

I dont have a MBA. I use a Thinkpad X series for portability/ travel.

I have MBA on my radar but not being able to use standard market cost effective parts is an obvious issue, and the reason why I am hesitating going to a MBA.

How will they fit it in? I honestly dont claim to know. But, if/ when the prices for these special SSDs are close to normal Market SSD prices, I'd consider going down the MBA path.

Are they fairly / market value priced?

If you buy a Blade X SSD from eBay it is actually cheaper than 2.5" form factor SSD tech in the same capacity. Market being smaller.

crashnburn · Apr 28, 2012, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All Taken

If you buy a Blade X SSD from eBay it is actually cheaper than 2.5" form factor SSD tech in the same capacity. Market being smaller.

I guess yes and no

There are some which are slightly higher priced on Ebay and used/ pulled ones are equally priced.

Thanks for the insights though. Gives me some mental comfort

One question if you have the answer. Can these SSDs be used inside the normal laptops.. somehow? With an adapter or so?

256 GB ones especially. Maybe inside a Thinkpad.. for now. If I get a MBA next year then I could migrate it.

cube · Apr 28, 2012, 08:29 AM

This is why I won't buy an MBA or a normal ultrabook.

The Aspire S3 is better.

bolen · Apr 28, 2012, 10:00 AM

OWC sells a 480 GB replacement drive for the Air (it's also faster SATA III):
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other...g/SSDAPE6G480/

Not cheap though..

shenan1982 · Apr 30, 2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldIRC

Why isn't the 256GB Blade sold as an option for the 11 "?

They're not? My MB air 11" has 256... ????

lil' brudder · Apr 30, 2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmhop81

like another poster said, why not get an SDHC? you could even get this for a microSD

http://www.amazon.com/elago-Mobile-m.../ref=pd_cp_e_1

Correct me if I'm wrong, but 2 potential problems:
#1, SDXC isn't featured on the MBA as far as I know - that's only on the MBP. I think it is just SDHC, though even that would be an improvement.

#2, does the OP have an 11" or a 13"? If the former, this is obviously not an option.

EDIT: Just actually looked at the link. That is super weird.

Just some thoughts.

All Taken · Apr 30, 2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnburn

I guess yes and no

There are some which are slightly higher priced on Ebay and used/ pulled ones are equally priced.

Thanks for the insights though. Gives me some mental comfort

One question if you have the answer. Can these SSDs be used inside the normal laptops.. somehow? With an adapter or so?

256 GB ones especially. Maybe inside a Thinkpad.. for now. If I get a MBA next year then I could migrate it.

With a blade x to sata converter yes, they cost on average 30 GBP delivered. I actually run a 128GB MacBook air toshiba ssd in my iMac with the said adaptor. M-sata to sata is not the same thing I case you see a claim of it being possible for air ssd.

screensaver400 · Apr 30, 2012, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldIRC

Why isn't the 256GB Blade sold as an option for the 11 "?

It is: http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC969LL/A?

You can't get it with just 2GB of RAM, though (that's the only other difference between the base and high-end 11" MBA).

raftr · Apr 30, 2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmhop81

like another poster said, why not get an SDHC? you could even get this for a microSD

It might be worth noting, SD slot is a USB 2.0 connection, it is always going to be slower. This shouldn't be a problem for storage, but if, for instance, you want to store photos on it, browsing them will not be anywhere as fast as on the SSD.

Dec 2, 2010, 11:43 AM	#3
alust2013 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: On the fence	Unfortunately as HH said, the only type of drive that will work is a blade-type SSD, and I believe the 256GB is the largest version of that currently. __________________ a computer with some GHz and a few GB, some stuff to play music. -witty comment here-
	0

Apr 28, 2012, 05:40 AM	#12
crashnburn macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2009	Do the newer Macbook Airs have the same limitation? Unable to use standard market SSDs? & Hybrid HDDs like the XT? __________________ Factory Unlocked 4.2.1: Pros & Cons of Updating to 4.3/ 4.3.1 esp when Jailbroken? Migrate from 1G to i4 iPhone 4 - 16GB - Factory Unlocked iPhone 1G - 8GB - SimUnlocked 3.1.2Modem Fw: 04.05.04_G
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Apr 28, 2012, 10:00 AM	#20
bolen macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sweden	OWC sells a 480 GB replacement drive for the Air (it's also faster SATA III): http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other...g/SSDAPE6G480/ Not cheap though.. __________________ iMac 27" \| i7 2.93GHz \| 8GB DDR3 \| HD5850 M \| OWC 115GB SSD+1 TB HDD MacBook Pro 15" \| i7 2.2 GHz \| 8GB DDR3 \| HD6750M 64 GB iPhone 4S 32 GB iPad
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Dec 2, 2010, 11:37 AM	#1
Barcelona1107 macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2010	Will the Seagate Momentus XT 500GB Hybrid SSD work in the new MBA? Hi, I just purchased a new MBA. I thought that the 256GB SSD would work for me, but, it doesn't. Now I'm attempting to find the least expensive way in which to upgrade the internal drive. As I was about to purchase a new 512GB SSD, the reseller informed me that I should try the Seagate drive referenced above. He said that it would work in the MBA with no problem. The price difference is huge. Axiom SSD = $1500, Momentus Hybrid SSD = $120. I'm not concerned about speed. I'm just tired of carrying my itunes library on an external USB drive. I would appreciate any advice that's given. I love the new MBA. I just need more disk space in the unit. Here's a link to the drive in question: http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/pro...mentus-xt-kit/
	0

Dec 2, 2010, 11:40 AM	#2
Hellhammer Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Helsinki, Finland	MBA uses a custom "blade-type" SSD. There is and has never been space for 2.5" HD. The previous models used 1.8" HDs There is not much you can do. Do you really need all that music with you all the time? How about encoding them to smaller bitrate to save space? __________________ SSD Editor for AnandTech You can also follow me in Twitter!
	1

Dec 2, 2010, 11:54 AM	#6
Barcelona1107 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2010	Thanks everyone. I'll continue to take my external drive along until a better alternative is available. This exercise saved me tons of money and time.
	0

Dec 2, 2010, 12:09 PM	#7
KPOM macrumors 604 Join Date: Oct 2010	Eventually you'll be able to use the SDXC slot for higher capacities, but right now you can get a 64GB card for about $200.
	1

Dec 2, 2010, 12:14 PM	#8
WorldIRC macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2005	Why isn't the 256GB Blade sold as an option for the 11 "?
	0

Dec 2, 2010, 12:16 PM	#9
BeyondtheTech macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2007	Totally forgot about that SD card slot. That would have been sweet for us 11.6" Air users. Right now, I've got a 160GB 2.5" SATA drive tethered to it with my iTunes and iPhoto library. Hope they come out with something sooner, or I'm going to have to velcro the damn thing to the bottom of my Air.
	0

Apr 28, 2012, 08:29 AM	#19
cube macrumors 604 Join Date: May 2004	This is why I won't buy an MBA or a normal ultrabook. The Aspire S3 is better.
	0