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    Alienware 17 - Installing a 2.5" SSD in the optical drive bay

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by rudel.dietrich, Dec 14, 2013.

  1. rudel.dietrich

    rudel.dietrich Newbie

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    Hello everyone, I got excellent help last time and I am hoping I can get it again. I have an Alienware 17 with 2x 750 GB HDD in raid 0 and a 256 GB mSata card. I purchased a 500 GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD on a very good Black Friday deal.
    Finding reliable info online about the Alienware 17 is proving to be a challenge. I have seen allusions online of people who are running 3 SSD drives or 3 mechanical drives. Also, if you go onto the dell website that sells PCs to the middle east and use the configuration tool for the Alienware 17, you can install 3 750 GB HDD in Raid 0.
    Unless that is a misprint then I have to think that the third drive is installed where the optical drive goes. When you take apart the system, the optical drive sits in a bay that is much too large for a 2.5 inch drive. I have looked online at possible drive brackets and mounts but I have no idea what will fit.
    Also, the cable that goes to the BD is one I have not seen before. It is definitely not a Sata cable.

    So my question is, can a third drive be installed where the optical drive goes? If so, what mount do I need? And do I need to install a new cable or can I get a converter for the existing cable?

    Thanks in advance for any help.
     
  2. vs3074

    vs3074 Notebook Evangelist

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    Aw17 owners lounge, first page gives the info you need.

    6CTX5 2ND HDD Bracket for ODD bay

    Thanks
     
  3. rudel.dietrich

    rudel.dietrich Newbie

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    Thanks, I saw that after I posted. Can someone link me to a good part? The only ones I found after a search was on Amazon but they have horrible ratings and I hesitate to order one.
     
  4. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    I would recommend to install the SSD on the regular HDD slot and any regular HDD on the ODD side. :p