MSata vs mini PCIe

I think I have this right...mini PCIe is for periphery cards (e.g. wifi) but sometimes can be used for SSDs, while mSATA is used for SSDs, and nothing else, right?
The T430s has both a mSATA (for a boot/storage SSD) and a mini PCIe (populated by the wifi module), yes?
Tangentaly related...
On eBay, I see there is a 4gb intel "turbo cache" memory module that fits mini PCIe; says it's for Thinkpads T400 and X200. For example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-4G-4GB-Turbo-Cache-M​emory-Half-Size-Mini-PCI-E-Card-For-Thinkpad-T400-​...
I assume this module could not be used as a storage or boot drive? Since it says it's for cache, it would get erased upon powering down or restting, yes?
I'm scheming on using a small PCIe-based SSD coupled with a full size PCIe adapter card for a simple boot drive on a FreeNAS server.

wiki comes through...
mSATA
An mSATA SSD on top of a 2.5 inch SATA drive
Mini-SATA, which is distinct from the micro connector, was announced by the Serial ATA International Organization on September 21, 2009.[29] Applications include netbooks and other devices that require a smaller solid-state drive. The connector is similar in appearance to a PCI Express Mini Card interface,[30] and is electrically compatible; however, the data signals (TX±/RX± SATA, PETn0 PETp0 PERn0 PERp0 PCI-express) need connection to the SATA host controller instead of the PCI-express host controller. Due to the absence of a standard for quite some time, there is still some confusion around this subject. For host devices which support either an mSATA SSD or mini-PCIe card interchangeably, this application note from NXP explains how to use a PCI-express/SATA router chip. This chip is essentially a four-channel bi-directional multiplexer. The vast majority of computer motherboards however have single-purpose headers which may support one of either an mSATA SSD or mini-PCIe card, but not both interchangeably.
So I'm guessing the Lenovo is interchangable?

Similar Messages

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    Hi pedalpete and welcome to the community,
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    T430u, x301, x200T, x61T, x61, x32, x41T, x40, U160, ThinkPad Tablet 1838-22R, Z500 touch, Yoga Tab 2 Windows 8.1, Yoga Tablet 3 Pro
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    Solved!
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    Hi guys. I don't think that will ever work. Only the new systems (Huron River-based) coming out this year will support the mSATA 80GB SodaCreek drives.
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    Aryeh Goretsky
    I am a volunteer and neither a Lenovo nor a Microsoft employee. • Dexter is a good dog • Dexter je dobrý pes
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