Remove SSD enclosure?

[Knocks]

I am shopping for a Crucial M550 SSD for my new Intel NUC, and the mSATA version is for some reason more expensive than the 2.5" one.

Has anyone tried removing the enclosure on these Crucial SSDs to expose the mSATA drive? I would much rather do that if possible than overpay by $60 for an enclosure I won't need.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

They're not mSATA internally.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7864/crucial-m550-review-128gb-256gb-512gb-and-1tb-models-tested

Look at the pictures.

 

[Knocks]

Thanks. Really don't want to part with $300 for an SSD, considering the computer itself cost $360. I was looking at the M500 at first but am a little afraid of the reported high temperatures.

My apartment gets really hot in the summer, and I prefer leave the A/C off but the computer on when I'm not at home. I don't want the M500 to melt the NUC and destroy my data, which is why I started considering the 550.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

My apartment gets really hot in the summer, and I prefer leave the A/C off but the computer on when I'm not at home. I don't want the M500 to melt the NUC and destroy my data, which is why I started considering the 550.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/crucial-m550-ssd-review,3772-11.html

Temperature is ultimately about total wattage burned. The 550 is marginally less power-hungry (and therefore theoretically cooler) than the 500, but they're both at the high end of the range for SSDs.

That said, the entire pack is separated by a few fractions of a watt. It won't matter in real life.

The M500 and M550 have adaptive performance - if they get too warm, they'll throttle themselves. So there's no real risk of melting the NUC. Your CPU will do the same thing. It's important in a NUC.

Destroying your data can happen to any drive for any reason. Back up, back up, back up, back up.

 

[Knocks]

Are there any other alternatives for a 512GB (or 480GB) drive under $300?

The 240GB version is only $120, but I would like a little more capacity without having to plug in an external drive too often.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Sure, lots.

The relatively inexpensive Mushkin was reviewed here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7555/mushkin-atlas-msata-240gb-480gb-review

 

[Knocks]

Looks like the M500 is still the best value:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...894&CatId=5300

I have coupons for free shipping and a $20 rebate, so the total will be $219.99.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Nice. Good luck.

And don't forget to back up!