The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    M4 crucial 256gb and Alienware

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Stampy, Dec 26, 2011.

  1. Stampy

    Stampy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yo merry christmas to everybody!
    I bought a m4 crucial 256Gb today and before installing it, I was doing research online but a couple questions remain unanswered. I was hoping that some of you might be able to help me (again :p):
    -I never updated my BIOS (Don't know which version it is in) Is it necessary to obtain better performance?
    -The firmware guide .pdf file asks us to change setting to IDE (because AHCI would block the update). If I installed windows 7 on with AHCI BIOS setting isn't that possibly going to lead to BSOD? possibly during the install (which would be fatale)
    -Is it possible to do the firmware update WITHOUT any OS on it yet (just out of the box)?

    -How to check which firmware is installed already?
    Thanks everyone for the help :) and spend nice holidays!
     
    Stampy, Dec 26, 2011
    #1
  2. ValkerieFire

    ValkerieFire God Follower

    Reputations:
    1,551
    Messages:
    1,419
    Likes Received:
    23
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I have the same SSD. You made a great choice.

    1) No bios update is necessary.
    2) Updating the firmware (and which mode it is done in) will not affect your windows 7 install. Boot in IDE, run the update, then switch back into achi to reboot windows. I have done it several times.
    3) Yes the firmware can be updated with no OS, I have done this also. All you need to do is download and burn the update CD/DVD, and it will do all the work.
    4) the firmware version from the factory will be on the SSD label on the outside of the body. You can also run HWinfo32 or 64 or Crystaldisk info for the firmware version.
     
    ValkerieFire, Dec 26, 2011
    #2
  3. Stampy

    Stampy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks a lot buddy! It seems I am already with the latest firmware! therefore will only need to plug in and install win7 ! Thanks for confirming this was a good choice :) I did notice for a while now that people on this forum seemed very happy with it! Well you have some fun now and happy holidays!
     
    Stampy, Dec 26, 2011
    #3
  4. Stampy

    Stampy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Here's my numbers for the M4 using crystal disk mark, seems somewhat almost half of what it should be in 4kqd32 read speeds:
    All - READ:/Write:
    Seq: 469.4/244.6
    512k:339.8/244.1
    4K: 19.87/46.62
    4KQD32:192.9/194.9
     
    Stampy, Dec 27, 2011
    #4
  5. Xenn0X

    Xenn0X Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    177
    Messages:
    547
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    all ok.
    just put it in port 1 of the system and flash the drive to 0009 for the speed upgrade.
    my system is still on a04 bios.
     
    Xenn0X, Dec 27, 2011
    #5
  6. Stampy

    Stampy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks for a quick answer :) drive's firmware is 0009 already, also the m4 is currently in port 1. I saw people (with m4 128GB) with 300 in 4k qd32 speeds... in this forum. Also I don't understand why my old and slower (and 3gb/s) kingston would boot up faster...
     
    Stampy, Dec 27, 2011
    #6