Mixing SSD and SATA Hard Drives

I am looking at buying a new M17x from Dell Australia and I want a 256 GB SSD as the C drive and a normal 500 GB HD as the D drive. I had a look at the on-line customiser and it didn't have this as an option. It gave me lots of other options but not the option to mix SSD drives and normal drives so I emailed Dell and asked.

This is the first reply - " you cant have 2 separate hard drives running at SATA and SSD"

Now that confused me because I have exactly that configuration already in a Clevo so I asked again and this time for a reason.

This is the second reply - "It is different technology all together. Either the machine install with solid state HD or SATA (single drive for alienware 17x). Alternate can get external hard drive connect through usb"

Can someone tell me why the M17x can't be configured with a SATA drive and a SSD? Or is the salesman full of s%#t.

 

I'm pretty sure they will only sell you two drives if they are in raid, therefore having an ssd and regular hdd isn't configurable.

Dell reps are pretty clueless and will give any excuse if they don't know the reason...

Best thing is for you to configure with one drive and pick the other one up and install it yourself; will take less than 10 mins.

 

Thanks EntityX. I had almost decided to install the second drive myself as you suggest, but I just wanted to make sure there is no reason why I couldn't mix the drives. I have read in this lounge about problems with SSD's but nothing like what he was mentioning and as he is obviously doesn't know his arse from his elbow I thought I would ask you guys.

One more question to those of you who have SSD's in Raid0. I initially had my Clevo installed with 2 x X-25M's in Raid0 but while the drives worked fine I couldn't take advantage of the new technology like Garbage Collection and Trim and could not install the new Intel RST drivers because of the Raid Controller in my laptop does not support it. So my question is does the new M17x Raid Controller operate with the new RST drivers?

 

To the OP, I had exactly the same requirement as you, ie. I wanted SSD as C, and a normal SATA HD drive as D for storage. Obviously, we can't configure it as such on the online website in Oz, and when I called up to try and do it through them, was a big FAIL as well because they said we couldn't do it(and also got the whole "use an external usb"???).

I ended up just ordering it with one SSD, and am planning to whack the second hd in myself(buying the barebones drive from MSY or something like that) when I get it. Only problem I foresee in doing this is that I don't think that in Oz, they won't automatically give us the second HD bracket...I've asked a few times and they've said I'm going to have to order it separately...

I'll wait till I get it(supposedly Friday next week) and check for the second HD bracket.

 

Right at this very moment I have a 160G Intel SSD installed in the internal HDD0 slot and a 300G Hitachi HDD (typical SATA drive) installed in the internal HDD1 slot.

Yes, it works fine.

No, you cannot combine the two in RAID (it wouldn't really make sense to anyways).

 

Hi ghostdunks. I would like to know when you get your computer. What I particularly want to know is do you get ALL the installation disks and did you get the caddy for the second drive. I am thinking of getting a 500 GB drive fitted by Dell and immediately wiping it and fitting it to the second drive position and fitting a good 256 SSD as the C Drive and then doing a clean install from the disks. If you like I can send you my email address.

 

you need to ask for the second caddy but if you ask for it when caling the rep you get it free

yes it handle RST

 

I'll let you know when I get it, should be next Friday according to the latest build status

I've been told this works in US, but I'm not certain this works in Australia. Works differently over there than it does here on a lot of stuff ie. we don't have option for the personalised engraving, etc... I know that in US, you're SUPPOSED to get the second caddy provided with the machine, and if it ships without it, you just need to ask for it and it'll be provided free. In Australia, after several emails to Dell Australia, I've been told that it does NOT come with second caddy, and if I read the order/invoice correctly, it actually has "single HDD bracket" listed as an item. Have also been told that we'll have to pay extra for it from spare parts later...

 

I downloaded the Service Manual and it shows a picture of the HD caddy and it looks identical to the same one fitted to my Clevo. Does anyone know if these are a standard caddy or does every manufacturer have there own?

 

i have 256GB dell sold SSD and a 640GB SATA HDD both installed in my M17xR2. yes they are working perfectly and yes, the caddy does come with the system.

 

you don't need to ask anymore, the caddy is included by default now. it was only with early orders that you had to ask.

 

^^ Agreed with Lozz. You no longer have to ask mine came with the empty caddy installed. I ordered mine in July with the single SSD drive and installed the Momentus XT 500GB myself. I think even 10minutes is a stretch, it took so little time to do, even double checking.
As far as performance, the Momentus XT is a little slow at times waking up, but when I say slow, I mean compared to the SSD. It is a great combination for people that want fast apps like 3D rendering and photoshop, etc while still having an internal drive to store the large amounts of data.
Luck to you. Cheers

 

I like my Hard Drive combo so far, 128gb Vertex 2 SSD, and 500gb Seagate Momentus XT.

 

Just want to clarify here because everyone is saying that the second caddy comes by default now, you don't have to ask, etc...etc.. The OP is ordering one from AUSTRALIA (ie. diff country, different practices, etc) and from what I can tell from other Australian owners and speaking to Dell support, it doesn't come with the unit unless you order the unit with 2 HDs.

If you're in the US, then yes undoubtedly you should be getting the caddy with the unit regardless of it being ordered with 1 or 2 HDs. If you're from other regions, mileage may vary.

I will confirm once I actually get my Australian unit next week as to latest practice

 

Are you still expecting it tomorrow? Can you feel the flu coming on. Maybe you need to take a sickie tomorrow

What graphics card did you opt for?

 

Was actually supposed to be arriving yesterday, but the courier company called up the night before and cancelled the delivery because they hadn't got the laptop yet

Took a bit of chasing up on phone yesterday and today and its scheduled for delivery tomorrow AM. It damn well better come tomorrow cos I fly out on Mondays and return Friday evenings, so if they miss the delivery tomorrow, I'll have to wait a whole week before I actually see it.

I opted for the dual 5870's Xfire, like everyone suggested(eg. get the top graphics options and the screens, and upgrade everything else DIY), so am looking forward to pushing that baby! Will be looking to upgrade the CPU to the extreme chips soon as the prices become reasonable too

Am still hoping against expectations that it will come with the 2nd caddy, otherwise I foresee a lot of calling to tech support and complaining to get it for free.

 

Mate. I hope it does turn up for you to play with over the weekend.

 

Awesome, just called my concierge up, and supposedly my laptop's been delivered(well, there's a package for me that arrived today)...woohoo! time to play with it tonight

 

go home.........go home..........go home NOW!!!!

 

i just put in a crucial 256 gb ssd and i have a 300 gb hdd. i am still downloading files.it works fine. you are on and working fast.takes about 10 seconds to boot up. and i have a ? i want to know if you can put games on express card ssd's in case i run out of space again. use them as cartridges.lol

 

Sure you can use both. Depending on prices where you are at, I would just buy one hd and then buy the ssd myself. Because ssd is pricey, i usually keep the user files on the hdd and just reserve the ssd for os and games. There is a helpful guide over at overclock.net on how to do this.

I use my ssd drive as the master boot primary and while the secondary drive is also a primary partition, it is used mostly to store media files and data in the user folder. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks Guys.

I appreciate the feedback. As I said earlier that is exactly the config I have now in the Clevo.....160 GB SSD as the C drive and 500 GB normal HD as the D drive. It was just the goose at Dell telling me I couldn't mix n match my HD's in the M17x that prompted the question.

I see that Dell Australia has stopped offering single HD's as an option so rather than confuse some poor salesman and risk messing up my order I will probably just opt for 2 500GB HD's in RAID 1 and as soon as I get it I will un RAID and swap the C Drive for an Intel X-25M 160GB SSD I have at home. I wil just get a USB caddy for the drive I remove and use it as extra storage space for backups.

Ghostdunks ........... the suspense is killing me! Are you smiling or what

 

Mate, sorry about the wait, this weekend has been chockers with weddings and other stuff. Have had barely any time to play with my new toy but the time I have spent has been.... GREAT!!

When I first got back from airport, went straight to concierge and asked to pick up my packages. She just handed me one, and I'm thinking, hang on, this package seems a bit light.. Asked about another package and she said nope, only one package(which I knew to be the backpack). Went back to apartment to try and track down where my brand new toy had gone missing to.. Thankfully, concierge rang back another 15 mins later and said they had found the package. Someone had signed for it but didn't record it.. all was well though, as long as I got it!!

Have been playing with it for abit, love the rgb led screen and the pimped out lights . Also got a chance to check out the 2nd bay caddy. Worried me because I saw on the packing slip that came with it "Single HDD Bracket" and several Dell Product "Experts" I had been talking to and emailing had confirmed that I wouldn't get the second caddy with it. Took it apart to check for myself, and lo and behold, there was my second caddy!! Took that apart to make sure it had the interposer in there as well and all was good . To be honest though, I'm not sure if I got it with my machine because I made such a big fuss of it to the sales guy, over and over, or if it is standard practice now to include it with the machine here for Australian customers... Either way I'm a happy little camper and looking for a fast 7200 rpm notebook drive to whack in there now to work with the SSD.

 

I'm having a problem, but I'm guessing it's an isolated incident. I have an Intel X25 80GB as my primary, and the 750GB Western Digital 5,400 RPM (WD7500BPVT) as my secondary. I ran out of room on the 80GB pretty quickly, as one might imagine, so I threw a couple of games on the secondary. They were Age of Empires 2 and Counter-Strike Source. They are both really old games, yet both had stuttering issues running from the 750GB drive. The game would stutter, and as it did, you could see the HDD indicator light (the alien's eyes) going nuts. Once the lights quit blinking, the game resumes. I made some room on the SSD for these two games, and they run flawlessly on it. I'm guessing that the OS is accessing the drive while I'm playing, which is causing the stuttering. Needless to say, it sucks.

EDIT: Been doing some heavy research, and it turns out that this drive is just slower than hell. I just ordered the Samsung Spinpoint 640GB 7,200RPM drive a few minutes ago. I'll turn that 750GB drive into an external or something.

 

ghostdunks - can you confirm you got the disks to do a clean install. I am assuming a Windows disk and a second Dell disk with the drivers? I will probably put an order in by the end of this week so the computer is waiting for me when I come home. Enjoy your new toy

TurbodTalon I am sure you would have already checked but are there any background programs running, that are installed on the D Drive, that would want to be accessing your drive also.

 

Yup, got a Windows disk, and a second Dell "Resource" disk, with the drivers....although I'm pretty sure the drivers will be old. I downloaded all the latest drivers and firmware last night and am going to be wiping out the SSD, and installing from scratch, probably in the next few days.

BTW, there's a 10% coupon code out right now, which also covers the m17x I believe..
Dell Discount Coupon - 10% off Inspiron 17R, Studio 17 or Alienware M17x Laptops - OzBargain

 

ghostdunks, thanks.