Question 1

what sata cable do I buy to chook this product up, the mini sata?

Accepted Answer

This is commonly installed in a laptop with the proper seat/connection already installed on the mobo, mSATA/WWAN.

If that is what you are doing open up bottom panel(s) of laptop or sometimes it goes under the keyboard, search for a hardware manual of your laptop if necessary.

But I am guessing your question refers to a desktop install ?!!

In that case I don't know but a search for install mSATA card in desktop should answer your questions.

Question 2

How can I install a CT240M500SSD in my GA-Z87X-UD3X MOTHERBOARD? Adapter or cable or what?

Accepted Answer

You should be able to connect this SSD to you Motherboard by using either an adapter or cable. Newegg doesn't allow html, or links in our answers. So, I'll give you the model numbers on Newegg of the parts that would work. Just search the numbers I give you and it'll take you right to them.

Adapter: SY-ADA4 0050

Cable: CL-CAB40042

Hope this helped. Good luck!

Question 3

how can I use this in a desktop?

Accepted Answer

You would need to purchase an adapter (from mSATA to SATA), mount this card in the adapter, then connect the adapter to a regular SATA connector on the MB.

It would be a lot of trouble, but it could be done.

It would probably be cheaper and easier to buy a regular solid-state drive (SSD) and connect it to the SATA connector.

Question 4

Does it include the screw to mount it?

Accepted Answer

The one I got in February came with two screws.

Question 5

Adapter?

Accepted Answer

On 12/15/13,
I purchased Item 20-148-698	SSD 240GB|CRUCIAL CT240M500SSD3
In sales order 194035624.
This item is sold as a 240 GB SSD item but it does physically fit a laptop SSD opening without the use of an adapter which did not come with item or is available for purchase on a retail store.  Therefore, it cannot be used for the purpose it was purchased.
When I attempted to get a RMA for a refund, your system does not allow me to do so.
Please advise what I must do to get a refund or a 2.5” internal SSD for a laptop.
Thanks,
Jose Del

Question 6

I can tell from the reviews that some people have installed these in desktop PC's. There is nothing in the spec's about what kind of slot is needed (PCI)? Am I miss interpreting this? If not installed on a SATA bus, is this a waste of performance? 
Thanks

Accepted Answer

1. The connector on this specific card is the msata connector. Most desktop motherboards do not come with an mSATA connector. except for something like an intel NUC which is what i put it in.

2. yes it does look like pci but as per wiki: The connector is similar in appearance to a PCI Express Mini Card interface,[43] but is not electrically compatible

3. if you want to put a sata ssd into a laptop or desktop easier, you can get a standard sata ssd with the standard sata connector.

Mini-SATA (abbreviated as mSATA), which is distinct from the micro connector,[34] was announced by the Serial ATA International Organization on September 21, 2009.[42] Applications include netbooks, laptops and other devices that require a solid-state drive in a small footprint.

The connector is similar in appearance to a PCI Express Mini Card interface,[43] but is not electrically compatible; the data signals (TX±/RX± SATA, PETn0 PETp0 PERn0 PERp0 PCI Express) need a connection to the SATA host controller instead of the PCI Express host controller.

Question 7

I have an asus modelQ550LF.  Can I use this ssd in my computer? Thanks

Accepted Answer

If you open up your laptop and see an mSATA slot where this would fit, then yes. Some laptops have both a regular 2.5" SATA drive slot (or more than one) and a separate mSATA slot. A quick search doesn't turn up a mention of an mSATA slot on the Q550LF though.

It still should be possible to remove the existing hard drive (assuming you don't want to use it anymore, at least not internally), grab an mSATA drive, and an mSATA to 2.5" drive adapter, and install an mSATA drive in the 2.5" bay using the adapter, but what's the point? You can just buy a regular 2.5" form factor SSD instead.

For what it's worth, Crucial M500 comes in 2.5" versions too, though there are more competent competing products from others in the price range in the 2.5" form factor.

Question 8

Will this work with: GIGABYTE GA-970A-D3P AM3+/AM3 AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Thats my Mobo and I am new to SSD and really dont know, i see not specification for mSATA but dont know if it works the same as normal SSD just without the case?

Accepted Answer

Probably not. For all I know, mSATA drives are used in laptops as it needs a PCI-e (I think) connector not normally provided in a desktop motherboard. You are better off with a regular SATA III SSD.

Question 9

I have been searching around trying to see if this drive will plug into my Asus P5B Deluxe motherboard. Crucial's site says it's compatible, but where does it plug in.  I was thinking of setting this drive as my boot drive, can anyone help?

Accepted Answer

That is a desktop motherboard which means they have sata plugs. This is a Msata drive and is usually for laptops. You can still use it if you by an adapter then woild use it like a regular 2.5 ssd....but in that case you might as well get a standard ssd that has a protective case with mounting holes rather than a msata bare ssd that doesnt.

Question 10

Would there be a benefit to getting this SSD, if a motherboard (a) has an Intel H61 chipset, which does not support AHCI, and B) is only SATA II compatible? Or will non-AHCI and non-SATA III, cripple the SSD’s functionality in a system to a point that the cost does not justify the benefit in increased performance, if any? If the SSD was utilized for such a motherboard, would a user see a noticeable performance improvement, if any?

Accepted Answer

As others state here a SATA3 SSD in a SATA2 system will give a noticeable performance boost. No AHCI, however, will reduce the performance of any SSD because "command queueing" is part of AHCI and this is the feature that really gives an SSD it's wings. This drive is a great performance value. Be ABSOLUTELY sure you can use it - a mini SATA drives works only in an mSATA slot and will not work on standard SATA 2/3 connectors!

Questions & Answers