HDD options on m17x R5...

So I'm really confused as to the HDD options. I ended up going with the 1TB 5400 + 80 mSATA HDD because its more than enough room for me, but 5400? Really? Since when is this the 'new cool' thing?

Am I missing something? I get that there is an 80gb SSD partition on it, but when I install stuff, do I install on the boot partition? Or the 5400 1TB?

I'm sorry, I tried searching for this info to no avail...

 

Hi, you won't even see the 80gb drive, the RAID firmware intercepts and redirects HDD requests and uses the SSD up to it's capacity, when it will automatically overwrite any older, less used data. As far as the OS is concerned all it sees it the HDD.

The slowness of the HDD should not show at all in normal use unless you're using more than 80gb of data.

When you need more space you can put in a dedicated SSD and leave the original HDD cached for a super fast setup

HTH

 

Micky

so I turned off the drive caching so i could clone the OS off the 1TB drive to a 500gb ssd I had, now how can I turn it back on?

 

Oh that is sweet!!!! Thanks so much!

 

@CSHawkeye81,

Hi, it should show as an option in the IRST software or you might have to use the hot-key combo at boot to get into the RAID bios. If by 'turning off' you mean you disabled the RAID bios by changing the drive access method in the bios then you could in a world of hurt. Turning it back on can cause a BSOD at the end of win load and the only way I know how to fix it is to re-install in the correct mode. Although there must be a better way!

If you turned it off in the software then it (cache SSD) should be available for use against the existing HDD (see doc below).

Chipset Software — Intel® Smart Response Technology User Guide

 

Micky, quick question: When I decide to get an SSD (Which will probably be soon), once I install it, is just plug and play or will I have to reformat?

 

It's very simple. Just put the new drive in the spare bay, change the boot order in the bios and install windows (or clone) to the new drive.

Any problems and you can switch the boot order back and be running on the original drive. Once you are happy it's all working you can format or whatever you want with the original HDD.

 

You actually will see 11gb of this ssd. Since you can only use 64gb of the ssd. But since how the ssd is formatted it is a 76gb partition that will get 64gb used for caching and the other for use of storage.

 

Thanks, didn't know that - makes it kinda messy unless you just leave it unformatted. I wonder how dell set it up?

 

Thanks guys was able to fix mine. I had to first delete the partition off the 80GB msata and then restart Intel RST to allow me to setup the caching.

 

I'm not exactly sure how they set it up :\. Honestly you don't need any more then 64gb cache drive the 80gb is redundant as you can tell. I can show you what it looks like in windows with the 11gb partition.

 

the problem for me is finding a 7200rpm 1TB HDD that's 7mm thick but most of the HDDs i've seen are 9.5mm or 15mm even the HGST 1TB 7200rpm HDD is 9.5mm according to the official datasheet.

 

The HGST 1TB will fit in the Alienware 17.

 

- Here is the picture of how it looks that 10.5gb partition is what is left. Anyway as always you are welcome. Thanks for the rep .

 

Thanks you're welcome.

I can't see dell formatting the remainder though. It will confuse people as to what to use it for. I have also read (apocryphal) that leaving a good piece of slack improves performance. Probably more of a benchmark thing than actual noticeable. Makes little sense to me

 

EDITED: NM, change ma setup