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    AW 17 R3, what are my SSD options?

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by abdullah_mag, Aug 8, 2018.

  1. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm hoping NVMe would be supported, but even then idk what models work well with this.

    I'm looking to get me a 250~257gb m.2 ssd

    note: it will be used for storing my games, not as a boot drive
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2018
    abdullah_mag, Aug 8, 2018
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  2. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    For games use SATA based drives from MX500 m.2. Good performance and long warranty. 850/860 evo m.2 sadly don't have FW updates like 2.5" 850/860 evo.
    PCIe NVMe are best for booting OS and IO heavy apps. If you insist on NVMe drive get PM981 or 960/970 evo or WD Black 3d nvme 2018 edition, ADATA XPG SX8200 or HP EX920.
     
    Vasudev, Aug 8, 2018
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  3. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    i'm considering the 970 evo 250gb, but it will be exclusively for games (boot time is decent enough for me, i'd rather have more space for games)

    now the question is, can i individually choose nvme for just the ssd in bios and leave the hdd on AHCI (SSD in NVMe and HDD in AHCI as boot drive)??, how do i configure the ssd to have it as an extra storage??, and what kind of sequential speed can i expect from that 970 evo in the 17 r3?
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2018
    abdullah_mag, Aug 8, 2018
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  4. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Honestly you won't see a difference for games loading on SATA/NVMe drives at all.
    AHCI setting will do. I switched to AHCI and can run PM951 and 850 evo m.2.
     
    Vasudev, Aug 8, 2018
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  5. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    But can i have the SSD running in NVMe mode WHILE the HDD (Boot) is in AHCI?, or is the setting not available in the Bios and i will be stuck with an NVMe ssd in AHCI mode?.
     
    abdullah_mag, Aug 8, 2018
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  6. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    Alright i'm gonna pick up the mx500 250gb on my way home today.

    Does it require any setup to use as a new storage drive?
     
    abdullah_mag, Aug 8, 2018
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  7. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Install and plough any game(s). Make sure you install IRST driver 16.0.2.4.
    If you want to reduce heat, look into Advancing Gene heatsink which is compatible with numerous SSD m.2 SATA/PCIe.
     
    Vasudev, Aug 8, 2018
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  8. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    Why that irst driver specifically?
     
    abdullah_mag, Aug 8, 2018
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  9. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Spring update needs updated UWP/UWD drivers and IRST/DPTF/MEI drivers for best performance.
     
    Vasudev, Aug 9, 2018
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  10. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    alright will do, thanks for helping out.
     
    abdullah_mag, Aug 9, 2018
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  11. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    here's the benchmark i ran right after i installed the SSD, and the one with the higher readings was after i disabled write cache buffer, enabled momentum cache and over-provisioning (10% of capacity) in Crucial Storage Executive

    Apologies for the whatsapp phone camera snapshots, but i'm at work and don't have the screen captures with me.
     

    Attached Files:

    abdullah_mag, Aug 9, 2018
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  12. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Turn off Momentum cache, Phoenix warned there were data corruption after the file copy from windows copied file successfully and whilst opening those files you get error saying the file is corrupted.
    OP isn't needed at all.
     
    Vasudev, Aug 9, 2018
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  13. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    hmm, do you think momentum cache will be worth it if they fix this?, or is the performance gain negligible?

    and why no OP?

    edit: could also link the reply where phoenix said that?, i'd like to know the full story
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2018
    abdullah_mag, Aug 9, 2018
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  14. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Vasudev, Aug 9, 2018
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  15. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    abdullah_mag, Aug 9, 2018
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  16. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Stock SK Hynix?
     
    Vasudev, Aug 9, 2018
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  17. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    They're stock but not sure if hynix
     
    abdullah_mag, Aug 9, 2018
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  18. abdullah_mag

    abdullah_mag Notebook Evangelist

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    they're Micron memory sticks, just checked

    Curious why you're asking?
     
    abdullah_mag, Aug 9, 2018
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  19. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I'm looking for new RAM sticks and was eyeing Ballistix 2400MHz version only to be disappointed that its a hit or miss with AW BIOS. So, originally was looking at 16GB RAM but at the price and CAS, I am looking at standard Crucial 2133/2400MHz with 32GB(2x16GB)
     
    Vasudev, Aug 10, 2018
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