Few questions before I order M17x R3 next week!

Hi Guys,

First of all, I am quite new to this forum and have been following it for few weeks now.

I am planning to order below specs:
PROCESSOR: Intel® Core™ i7-2720QM Processor (2.2GHz, 1600 MHz DDR3, 6M cache)

OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64bit (English)

DISPLAY: HD DISPLAY17.3" Full HD (1920x1080) WLED LCD Panel

MEMORY: 8GB Dual Channel 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM (2 X 4GB)

HARD DRIVE: 256GB Solid State Drive as HDD 0 (OS & Apps) and 750GB as HDD 1 (Data)

OPTICAL DRIVE: 8X DVD + /-RW Drive with DVD + R double layer write capability

VIDEO CARD: 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon™ HD 6970M

Please take note I have emailed my rep the above configuration just and waiting for his reply.

I read lot of threads but I could not find anyone who has ordered SSD + HDD together from Dell. Mostly everyone has ordered Single HDD/SSD and then installed themselves the 2nd drive later.

So my first question is does Dell allow to order both (SSD + HDD) together from them (asking this coz have not gotten reply from sales rep yet)?
If yes! then BIOS option will be set to AHCI or RAID? I read in some thread that Dell ships single HDD with RAID option set in BIOS.

I hope that does not degrade performance of SSD. Also, I dont really have enough time to reinstall windows n stuff. I just want to confirm this thing so that I can instruct the sales rep accordingly before ordering something which costs S$5000!!!!

Appreciate your help everyone!

 

Just spoke with Dell on phone and told them I want ssd n hdd..they told me it won't work! I told them thr are so many ppl using ssd as primary and hdd for storage for m17x..he seems to be surprised!

Is it really tat hard to install ssd n hdd together? Or they r just being lazy?

 

I'd imagine it would be as simple as reinstalling windows with raid disabled. I've never owned an SSD so I'm not certain.

I know you don't want to reinstall because you don't have time, but on the flipside, there's really no reason to be spending $5000 for the upgrades you want just cause you don't want to do them yourself, especially considering that RAM and HDD are 10-15 minute replacements anyhow. Dell overcharges on them big time.

 

I read a bit here n there on how to install SSD..Do you have any link to thread for step-by-step installation of SSD? Do you guys also know which are the compatible SSD which will fit in R3? Sorry I dont know much about SSD n all since its my first time!

Actually I am not gonna be spending S$5000 for upgrades...its just that the laptop costs around $4500 (w/o SSD) and around $5000 (with SSD). Its a little expensive here in singapore!!!

 

You can change your RAM to 4gb and buy it off market which is cheaper and very easy to install.

For a ssd over 200gb this was one has great reviews and the one I will most likely get when they R3 available in UK:
Crucial CTFDDAC256MAG-1G1 2.5-inch Solid State Drive (256GB,Real SSD,C300,SATA 6GB/S): Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

In singapore, we just have option of 8gb and 16gb. So that I am not going to get aftermarket.

However I am considering purchasing SSD from dell and then put 2nd drive around 1tb myself for storage.

 

OK! after going through some of the old & new threads...it seems Dell is shipping Samsung PM810 (470 series if im not wrong)! In Singapore if i order it will cost me around S$600-650 where as dell is charging me the same..

So my take is to order this beast with the SSD and buy a seagate hdd 500gb+++ (2.5" and 9.5mm thick?) later and install it for storage myself!

If i am not wrong after I install second hdd physically I will have to activate it in device manager and then format it so that I can start using...

Please correct me if I am wrong or missing any steps!! Just feel very excited and can't wait to order once these facts are confirmed!

I am really sorry to bother everyone with my questions!! Thanks for all your replies

 

Damn, what do you guys do for a living which warrants a purchase of over $2500 for a laptop? Or rather, what do your parents do which allows them to letcha buy something that expensive? Wouldn't you rather put a down payment on a FT-86??

You should try to order over the phone btw, and haggle them to get WHATEVER config you want, and make it as close to $1500 total as possible. Some people have been able to get 15% off and NBD just by haggling.

Let us know how it goes!

 

I am still waiting for my rep to email me the quote and answer few queries I have. Once that stage is done then I will start bargaining

Will let you guys know how it went! Please pray for me so that I will get 15% off