Aftermarket mini PCIe SSD options for Precision M4500

I finally convinced my employer to spring for a new Precision M4500. In order to do so, I had to pare the price down to around $2k, which I did by opting out of the 64GB SSD MiniCard. I figured I could always install it later.

It's later.

Dell support didn't know the specs on the 64GB SSD option, or even a manufacturer. I've seen a few mini PCIe SSDs around, some PATA, some SATA, some apparently proprietary.

Has anyone successfully installed an aftermarket mini PCIe SSD in a M4500? Any models or types that are known to work (or not work)?

 

Don't know but subscribing, maybe someone else can chime in.

 

Why do you want it?

What are the rest of your specs?

 

I want it because:

• Lower power consumption
• Better I/O performance
• Higher reliability
• Additional storage

I use this machine for my work, which is very I/O intensive. I'd like to have an SSD for the system drive, which will handle pagefile and application loading I/O. I already have the module that replaces the DVD drive with a 2.5" HDD, which means I can have a 2.5" SSD for the performance-critical I/O work, and a large slow 2.5" mechanical drive for data storage.

I don't know what other specs you need; it's a brand new M4500 with Core i7-720QM, 4GB RAM, bluetooth, wifi, but NO WLAN, so the expansion slot where the SSD is installed is free.

 

Supposedly, any miniPCIe SSD should work since Dell has attached an I/O controller to that port. PM havoctex (might have misspelled his name) since he works for Dell.

 

Thanks for the pointer, unfortunately I don't have the ability to PM yet.

 

Just an update for anyone else interested in the answer to this question:

One of my coworkers has a new M6500 with the built-in SSD option. I'm assuming the M6500 and M4500 use the same SSD minicard, so I asked him what he has.

Device manager reports it as a Samsung SSD PM800 mSATA. I found a datasheet here.

According to the datasheet, it looks like it's a SATA device which happens to use a mini-PCIe connector. It's 50mm long.

This leads me to believe that I could expect any 50mm mini PCI-e SATA SSD to work, but the 70mm variants and those that are PATA probably would not.

Anyone disagree with any of that?

 

I too would like a definitive answer to this for my m6500. Anelson, that all sounds right. Dell told me today I couldn't order a mini-SSD after purchase from them....wth?

 

Interesting, I got a quote for one from Dell for my M6500 that according to the rep is "the only one that would work".

Item #: 342-1251
"64GB Solid State Minicard Drive for Mobile Precision M4500"

(it says M4500 on the quote even though I have an M6500)

 

I bought one for my M6500 and it fits just fine.