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    M17x R3 and SATA speed

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Beradon, Dec 5, 2012.

  1. Beradon

    Beradon Notebook Evangelist

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    Hey all, tried to search, albeit unsuccessfully for the reason this occurred.

    I've recently dropped Windows 8 on my M17xR3 and noticed that my SSD (OCZ Solid 3) is getting SATA II speeds. I figured it might be the default windows driver so I installed the Intel driver, which also gave me SATA II speeds (and even identified it as an SATA II connection).

    Has anyone run across this and know a fix? This exact same setup worked fine in Windows 7 at SATA III speeds.
     
    Beradon, Dec 5, 2012
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  2. airacutie

    airacutie Notebook Consultant

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    Hmm, it worked in Win 7 and its not working in Win 8? Strange. I have not noticed any speed difference in my setup. I was about to write to check which port do you use (only one is SATA III as far as I know) but this is strange.
     
    airacutie, Dec 6, 2012
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  3. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    Did you update your bios by any chance? I believe the latest ones from Dell downgrade the R3 to sata II....
     
    MickyD1234, Dec 6, 2012
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  4. j95

    j95 Notebook Deity

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    j95, Dec 6, 2012
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  5. Beradon

    Beradon Notebook Evangelist

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    I believe this may be my problem, I'll update it and post back. Thanks a bunch. Why would they do such a thing
     
    Beradon, Dec 6, 2012
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  6. martin541

    martin541 Notebook Consultant

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    because there was a issue with running 2 sata 3 drives so they took sata 3 away ever since the A09 BIOS even though SATA 3 works perfectly fine in the middle drive
     
    martin541, Dec 6, 2012
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  7. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    From what I read they had so many problems trying to get the machine to work with their published specs of both drive bays at sata III, the documentation was pulled and re-issued with only sata II stated. I've seen a couple of people that managed to get dell to replace their machines with R4's as they purchased when sata III was advertised.
     
    MickyD1234, Dec 6, 2012
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  8. j95

    j95 Notebook Deity

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    For better performance uninstall Intel RST, if the bios is in raid mode follow this first http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-blue-screens-when-ahci-mode.html#post8298325 then enter the bios and set it to AHCI, run the Intel INF Update Utility
    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?lang=eng&DwnldID=19596 Windows 7 http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...keyword=Intel®+Driver+Update+Utility&lang=eng Windows 8
     
    j95, Dec 6, 2012
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  9. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    This is completely right. You will need an unlocked BIOS to be able to run it at SATA III again. It was changed to SATA II to avoid issues due to stability.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Dec 7, 2012
    #9