M17x R2 - ssd upgrade

Hi!

I would really appreciate some advice on adding an ssd hd to my m17x r2

I'm currently interested in buying
Intel 330 Series Solid-State Drive 240 GB SATA 6 Gb/s 2.5-Inch - SSDSC2CT240A3K5

what I would like to know is:
1. Will my alienware support it?
2. Can I add it to my 500gb hd
3. Can I install it without voiding the warranty?
4. Is it a good hd for my alienware

thanks a lot!

m17x r2,2 x 5870, i7 720q, 500gb, 4gb

 

Yes , your R2 will support just about any SSD currently for sale.

If you mean can you extend the volume on your HDD onto your new SSD, then yes. But I would recommend installing your SSD into HDD Bay 0, and moving your 500 GB drive into HDD Bay 1. Then clean install windows onto your new SSD and install all your programs on there as well. Use your HDD only for storing your files and stuff. That way you get the speed of your SSD and still have storage for your files on a second drive.

No, installing an SSD or HDD will not void your warranty, unless you drop your notebook while installing it and the system breaks in half. I don't think Alienware will cover you in that instance.

To be honest, there are better SSDs out there. It all depends on your budget. If you can afford ~$250 then go with a Vertex 4 or Crucial M4. Those two will give you a lot of bang for your buck. Realize it doesn't matter if the SSD is SATA III or not (most SSDs today will be SATA III) because the R2 is limited to SATA II speeds anyway. Check around on newegg and amazon for competitive prices on the SSDs.

 

I have the same SSD and it works great. Best mod I have done to my setup.

 

thank you very much that was very helpful!

the prices at newegg:
Intel 330 Series Solid-State Drive 240 GB HD for 140$

Crucial V4 CT256V4SSD2 2.5" 256GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) SSD Only 160$

Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD2 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) 200$

and the OCZ VTX4-25SAT3-256G 2.5" 256GB for 200$

Is the OCZ / M4 really worth the extra money or should i go with the V4 / Intell?
What would the difference in performance be between all 4?

Thanks!

P.S.
I have the advanced warranty, so in theory I should be able to bring them 2 halves of what used to be an m17x and get it fixed

 

I know the M4 and Vertex 4 have come highly recommended by other users around this forum. I actually got a Kingston HyperX SSD. It was a bit more, but I trust Kingston's brand name for RAM so I thought I'd give their SSDs a chance. All's I can say about the Intel SSDs is what the Frys associates told me when I was shopping around. And that was the Intel sandforce drives have a tendency to go bad more often than they should. Now whether or not that is the case with other Intel SSD users in this forum is another story. You already have one person who uses an Intel SSD and it works great for them. It's up to you. If you want to get a good price on a decent SSD, then go with the Intel. If you want better quality and reliability, then go with the OCZ or Crucial brands. If you want to pay for performance, the Samsung or Kingston. As I said in my first reply, it depends on your budget and preference.

 

It is personal, but I don't buy SandForce anymore just on principle of the hibernation/resume BSODs they used to get, and hence I chose 160GB Intel 320 series with Intel controller. If the 830 series drop enough, I'll retire my 160GB Intel SSDs for 256 GB Samsung or 512 GB.

 

The Intel would give you better overall performance than both the Crucial drives, but the Vertex 4 is the obvious best performer. Would notice a difference in real world, probably not much. But if knowing you have one of the fastest drives is important to you, and you are willing to dish the extra cash, then definitely go for it. Reliability wise, I'd say all of them are equal. Personally, I would choose the Intel just because that is a great deal you found there.

 

did this upgrade last year on my r3.. i bought the 256gb samsung.. used norton ghost then which came free with the ssd, but last weekend i decided to do a clean install.. i had my ssd on bay 0 and my hdd on bay 1.. all programs are on the ssd and files on the hdd.. i say go for it.. once you go ssd, you will not want any hdd on your computer.. eveything is just quicker.. especially po rn.. .. i kiiiddd..

 

I upgraded to the Intel 330 SSD about a month ago. My m17x R2 had TWO 500GB drives. Had to sacrifice the extra space for the speed but well worth it!!

Now the 120GB SSD occupies HDD 0 and the other 500GB left in HDD 1 bay.

It is recommended to do a clean install to get the maximum speed benefit. Also you'll be left with a nice clean spify Windows.

Keep only programs on the SSD. Storage should be on a normal HDD, especially if you torrent. Torrent will shorten the life of an SSD.

 

I did a lot of googling before I purchased the 330. I read good and bad about all 3. One did not "stand out" above the rest as far as reliability, performance, user reviews, doa arrivals, etc. As with any product everyone likes something different. At the end of the day a coin flip determined my purchase.

 

This is good advice, I'll leave you this article to find all the different drivers for your system in one place.

Exactly, as long as no component is damaged because of the upgrade the warranty won't be voided. However keep the original parts to avoid any confusion.

Even though the R2 is limited to SATA2 speeds, if you ever purchase another system that does support Sata3 speeds, you can enjoy the SSD at it's full capacity then.

 

Apart from the SATA2 limitation if you pick up a SATA3 drive, you should be aware that the PM55 chipset in our motherboard has issues with 4K read/writes with SSD's. Read more about it here and here for an explanation of the problem and workarounds.

 

@Nospheratu thanks for the links. This will be very helpful to a lot of people.