Extra drive caddy in Alienware 17 ?

Hi,
I'm interested in the new Alienware 17 with 4th Gen i7-4700MQ ; 16GB ram; 500GB (8GB Hybrid, 5400 RPM) ; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M 2GB GDDR5.

I plan to add a 256GB ssd as the boot drive and keep the 500GB as the data drive. I want to install a full size SSD (Kingston HyperX).

If I order only 1 drive now, will there be a second 2.5" hard drive bracket (caddy / cage) to mount my upgrade drive in the future? Or will I have to order it separately?

 

Yup there will be a 2nd caddy in there.

 

i still say you're better off getting an MSATA SSD as it frees up the second 2.5" bay.

 

If he goes this route, he will need to request a screw to hold the mSATA SSD down. It's different from that of the HDD screws. For some reason, you can't order one through Dell. So, I suppose asking Technical Support to send one is the only option. In other words, if your system does not come with an mSATA SSD from the factory, it will not be "mSATA ready" out of the box because of this missing screw. It kind of sucks...

Or if you don't mind, you can remove one from another part of the system, and then use that. (They're shiny, chrome screws.) Just make sure wherever you remove it from, there is more than 1 holding down the part, lol. I don't recommend this as your first option. Technical Support is the way to go.

EDIT: Found the exact screw necessary to install an mSATA SSD on eBay: http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...drive-caddy-alienware-17-a-2.html#post9595845

 

what screw type does it use btw cos i know i am in the same boat but i would like to use the MSATA slot?

i wonder if it is regularly available from any PC shop

 

Have you actually seen one of the newest Alienware 17 R1 with an extra caddy in it?

 

And what is the maximum size (height) for the hard drives? I was thinking of the HGST Travelstar 2.5-Inch 1TB 7200RPM 0S03563 which is 9.5mm in height.

 

I have 2 of them in raid in my m17xr4 along with a 256gb msata.
But 9.5 is the standard size for laptop drives.

 

Cool thanks

 

So if I understand well, it's confirmed that there's a 2nd caddy in the M17x-4. So there's a good chance that there's also an extra caddy in the 17 R1. Am I OK to assume that?

 

Not always, you can be completely sure by opening it and checking of course.

 

It uses the same kind of screw used to hold your internal wireless adapter. In fact the slot looks the same.

 

But has to have a name for it though.

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the msata screw is a m2 x3 size. Here is some:

http://www.amazon.com/Team-Associat...F8&qid=1394844367&sr=8-1&keywords=msata+screw

 

cool but it's an addon item meaning i have to buy it with something else...it can't be bought on its own.

 

Those don't look anything like the screws in the Alienware, lol.

 

I ordered those exact screws to put msata cards in dozens of laptops for clients and they are the same size/thread in the aw. The head is a little different but they work.

 

I found what appear to be the exact same screws used in Dell/Alienware systems on eBay: 100pcs M 2 x 3 mm Laptop Screws IBM HP Sony Dell Gateway Compaq Acer Sharp | eBay. Just ordered some myself. When they arrive, I'll let you guys know if they fit. The size is correct and they look exactly like them, so I'm assuming they'll work out.

EDIT: On topic: All of the AW 17's have the exact same amount of HDD bays, no matter what configuration you order. So, the answer is yes, Neil. It will come with another bracket and four screws.

 

oh good!

 

If you put in an msata crucial's come with the correct size screw needed.

 

Super cool J.!! Thank you very much for the information. And thanks to both shinji257 and you for the screws.

 

I went to Canada computers and they said they don't come with screws... Strange really!

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It can take some time for those from China..

Here's another option (will be about $11 with shipping though):

Rhino Laptop Assorted Replacement Screw Kit Model #AS-11 (Frys.com #7229923)

FRYS.com | Rhino

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