mSATA upgrade

I'd like to upgrade my 500GB HDD by adding a mSATA SDD. Somewhere possibly around 120GB or up. does anyone know the specs that are crucial in finding one compatible? Anything in particular i'd need to know or look for when choosing one? is there a max size that would fit in the m14X r2? Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Howdy newbie. Welcome to the forums. :hi2: One thing that always helps us with your query is to post your complete systems specs.

Just an mSATA SSD will be your chief requirement. That pretty much singles it out from the other ones. There really is no "max size" when it comes to hard drive or SSD sizes in computers anymore. Most, if not all, systems will accept any of the storage volume sizes on today's market. If you're wanting to get the most out of your SSD, then go with a SATA III mSATA SSD (as opposed to a SATA II). It will run at a faster transfer speed than the SATA II. That is the only other major requisite other than Brand. 128GB should be fine for using the mSATA as your Windows and programs drive. If you have a lot of programs that take up a large amount of space, then you can consider a 256GB mSATA SSD. There are other SSD specs which I could bore you with, so I'll keep it short. Every drive is rated for it's read and write speeds at different levels. Those levels determine how well the SSD will perform with certain tasks. For example, you could buy an SSD that is great in 4k random read speeds, but the SSD doesn't perform well for you because you do a lot of sequential reads/writes and the SSD you picked out doesn't match up in that attribute. Telling us what you would be using M14x for will help us help you in determining what qualities in an SSD you should be looking for.

 

I'd say i'll be employing the laptop on a 50/50 gaming and work usage basis. No huge programs as of yet.Will be adding games however. all i have at this point is the 500HDD so i'm assuming there's a slot for the mSATA to go. Would it be best used to start apps? would the OS have to be reinstalled on this? I was originally asking about compatibility due to the SMART feature i was reading about. And i will admit im fairly ignorant as to how that and the RAID systems operate. OS thanks for the help. I'll post system stats below.

Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7 3820QM @ 2.70GHz 57 °C
Ivy Bridge 22nm Technology
RAM
8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-11-28)
Motherboard
Alienware M14xR2 (U3E1) 28 °C
Graphics
Generic PnP Monitor (1600x900@60Hz)
Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
Hard Drives
466GB W51R7HKP (RAID)
Optical Drives
MATA DVD+-RW UJ8A7
Audio
Sound Blaster Recon3Di

 

RAID denotes using two hard drives as one unit for either speed or data protection (RAID 0 vs RAID 1). The only reason your system would be configured into RAID mode is if the M14x already came with a mSATA drive. If it comes with an mSATA from factory, then the mSATA is configured as cache drive. That means the mSATA is there to speed up the existing hard drive without itself being used a a storage volume. This can be checked in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology toolbox (it's in you programs list). Open it up and see how many discs it lists in the right hand column. If it shows two discs with one being "accelerated" then you have an mSATA already installed and it's being used a cache drive for the hard drive's benefit. If there is only one system volume in the right hand column, then you only have the hard drive installed on your system.

If you get a large mSATA SSD then yes, you would want to install Windows on it (a clean install) and use it for your primary drive (for OS and programs), leaving your existing hard drive to be a storage drive for all your files and such. SMART will not cause any incompatibility issues as far as SSD's are concerned.

 

Thank you so much for the help. Now i actually do believe i have a msata 32gb drive according to the Intel window. Everything else i've used to look has not shown this SSD. It says its a Samsung SSD PM830 32GB cache drive, Raid 0...? So i do have one, being used for cache which definitely seems to quicken the system. Guess I'm wondering what to do now that it's there....32 GB is small, can't hold the OS, and ill run out of room with just the 500HDD. So would the best thing to do be getting a larger SSD? it wouldn't be used for cache then, more for OS storage right? Or upgrade to a 750 HDD AND a ;larger msata? Then I'd have to reinstall the OS and everything else right? Which I'm worried about since this was purchased secondhand and i don't have backup discs. I realize you may not have time for all this but any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

That would be the normal route, yes. A 128GB mSATA for your OS drive (256GB if you have a lot of games and/or programs) and a 750GB HDD for storage. If you have the service tag in your name and a current warranty, you can get in touch with the Alienware reps here in the forums and request the recovery discs for your M14x.

 

A good combo will be Crucial M4 128GB or 256GB Msata for operating system and games and a Seagate Momentus XT 750GB for storage eg music movies and so on.

 

I second that.

 

That's pretty good You can also try running the O.S on the 32 GB one and putting all files and software in the 500GB one. Still 128GB would be ideal.