Difficulty in installing SSD-buy with dell or seperate?

Hello, I'm going to purchase an M17 AW soon(though it doesn't say R2 or R3? Please explain), going around the forums I get the idea that things like RAM and memory, it's best to pick the most basic config.

I decide to go with stock HD: 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s. Later I'll buy an SSD: Newegg.com - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

The potential problem is, will it be okay for an amateur like me to install this SSD?

I own a laptop and have taken off the bottom casing to do some dusting. I'm confident in replacing the RAM since it's just plug in and done... but it seem installing SSD is a more complex process. I game and use computers alot but I know little of programming and computer hardware. I'll use this as my guide:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...install-ssd-instructions-recommendations.html

I'm getting this laptop for a better gaming experienced( my video card is the 6990), so it is really necessary to install an extra SSD?

Alternatively, should I opt for pre-installed, dell-prepared hybrid SSD: 500GB Hybrid Solid State Drive, costing 150$? I could definitely afford the extra cost-and perhaps saving me from totally screwing my laptop? Will the hybrid improve gaming?

Thanks for any input.

 

Welcome to the forums!

Installing an SSD-Drive is not hard at all. The m17x comes with the mounting-brackets etc. needed to do so, and all you need to do to get to the hard-drive bay is to remove the battery and beneath that, two screws.

Its a really harmelss job, and could potentially save you A LOT of money. I would rather go for an full-specced SSD, than the Hybrid drive, if you're allready spending the extra dough'..


Edit;
If you visit Youtube, they have a pretty good dissassembly video on their channel,
here it is;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j20wn96uac0


It doesent say on the website when you order if it is a R3 or R2, but i think that all m17xs ordered today will be R3, as its the newest one. (R stands for revision, i think..And its simply "upgrades" that has come along the way to give better performance in both hardware and cooling.)


Edit2:
BUT, be carefull when disassembling, you don't want to get yourse out of warranty, so keep in mind how things were assembled when you take it apart!
- Scott.

 

I have just done what you are asking about same disk too, having taken delivery of my M17R3 at 8am> One boot to test it was powering on then out came the screw driver. Back to full clean win 7 install all drivers loaded, using the SSD as boot disk, shipped HDD for data, took around 90 mins.

Installing the SSD harddisk was a breeze, Total time from start to finish was about 10 mins.

Take out the battery, remove 2 screws one each side and side the bottom off to access every thing. There is a photo guide on this forum, but cant find it at the moment.

For the reinstall I followed the guide you linked and worked fine. Take it slowly and step by step nothing went wrong at all. No harder than doing a memory upgrade.

In my last laptop I have a hybrid HDD and it improved things, however due the cache on the flash part you can be 100% sure the game is on there or all the game is. Yes it improved things but not all the time. Mostly helped boot time.

If you worried about screwing the laptop, do what I did. Removed the shipped HDD until you are happy everything is back working. That way you always have a back out plan.

Just moved to SSD in the m17x crazy fast, boot time is <17 second and all the games I have installed on the SSD seem alot fastest to to.

Personally I would take the $150 put it towards a SSD and keep the shipped HDD in the m17 too.

 

Get a regular SSD and install it yourself. READ the clean install instructions before hand as it makes this job easy enough for anyone.

 

Remember too that nearly all of the drivers you will need when you install Win 7 on your new SSD will already be on your original c: drive in the \Dell\Drivers folder/directory. Back them up (or just leave them in place on the original drive) and then copy the folder to your new SSD and install the drivers from there. Saves a ton of time finding, downloading and unpacking the Dell driver files. Also helps to add a brief description of what each driver folder contains to facilitate locating the one you want. The driver folder will vary somewhat depending on configuration, but should look similar to this.