JP
All eyes may be on Dell’s newer Inspiron Mini 10 netbook right now, but that doesn’t stop loyal tinkerers wanting to add some extra oomph to their Dell Inspiron Mini 9 machines. Arch-modder JKK has flipped out the standard SSD that Dell supply with the 8.9-inch budget ultraportable and replaced it with an 128GB RunCore SSD.
Video after the cut
Unlike some hacks it’s not just a case of whipping open the base-plate and dropping in the new drive. Instead there’s some desoldering to be done – to get the original memory out – and then some Dremelling to clear space for the new RunCore SSD.
The end result is a netbook that scores 72.71 MB/s and 49.90 MB/s on sequential read and write scores, considerably higher than anything the original storage was offering. The RunCore SSD itself runs to nigh-on $400, though, making it more expensive than the netbook itself; this is probably a mod you’ll look at and admire, rather one you’ll try at home yourself.
