Installing SSD's in RAID 0

Hello everyone,
I know some people asked this question before, but I didn't find threads like this with the search tool.
So I currently have a single 320gb 7200rpm HDD in my R3 and I wanted to switch to SSD's in raid0. Does this make sense or should I just buy one SSD and install the system on it for faster boot?? I don't need more than 250gb so memory is not that important. I wanted to buy 2 128gb crucial M4.

If that's a good idea could you tell me what I need to do for that (besides from installing the drives)?

I'll buy it on amazon and there are 3 options:
-7mm
-9.5mm
-9.5mm with bracket

which one do I need? I think the one with bracket because I heard the m3 doesn't have a bracket (if the bracket is what I think it is) for it's second drive.

cheers,
SSalp

 

a single ssd in sata 6gb/s would be really fast. and it would leave a slot open for a spinning drive. 128gb m4 is 122.49 on amazon and the 256gb is 179.99. the 256gb is a much better buy. install the a08 bios and put it in the slot that is always sata 6gb/s. that is what i recommend.

i dont think in real world use you could tell the difference between sata 6gb/s and raid 0 sata 3gb/s

the ones with a bracket are probably a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch adapter for a desktop. everything you need is already inside your r3. all you need is the drive.

 

What do you mean 9.5mm with a bracket? Are they talking about the SSD spacer shim to make it 7mm? AFAIK all dual drive bay Alienwares give you the 2nd HDD bracket, interposer and screws in the accessories box.

Just set your SATA Operation to RAID, reboot the machine and hit Ctrl + I to enter RAID Utility, create a new RAID array, set to RAID 0, set stripe size, save settings, reboot and reinstall Windows. You MAY need the RAID driver on a flash drive, but my Alienware Windows 7 disc automatically saw the RAID array (already had RAID driver slipstreamed into it) and just install Windows.

 

ok thank you. I rarely have over 200gb on my hard drive so I thought why not use the second slot. If I buy a 256gb SSD, I won't use my spinning drive.
I just saw you wrote 3gb/s raid 0. why is it getting slower with raid0?
And I bought my laptop in september/october 2011 so the BIOS is still a08 isn't it? I never updated it.
And what thickness (it probably is the thickness) fits in the R3? 7mm or 9,5mm?

 

It isn't that much slower, I believe the R3 has an issue with BIOS beyond A08 with keeping SATA 3 speeds. R3 supports 9.5mm drives maximum.

 

I read that. Where can I see which BIOS I have?

 

to my knowledge to run a raid setup in an r3, you are going to be using sata 2which is 3gb/s because the r3 had troubles with sata 3 which is 6gb/s. the speed difference between a raid 0 running sata 2 and a single drive running sata 3 would be indistingishable in real world usage plus you could save some money by buying one 256gb drive over two 128gb drives. with the a08 bios, one of the drive bays is always sata 3. the other is scetchy sata 3, meaning its only sata 3 sometimes, if ever.

 

Guess you're right. Then I'll buy one 256gb. I have more than enough with my current 320gb(+1tb external, I carry data around a lot so it's not on my computer) drive so I think that will fit.
The middle one is the one with sata3 amirite?
Thanks for advice

 

run alienautopsy and click on detailed system information.

 

Ok I still have a08

The middle one is the one with sata3 amirite?
Do I have to do some software related things or just plug in the SSD

 

yes, port 1
a clean install is recommended, use the guide found in the owners lounge for driver install order.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...r-install-order-guide-alienware-systems.html#