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    SSD Speed Problem

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by KiMie89, Jul 6, 2014.

  1. KiMie89

    KiMie89 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi guys. :hi2:
    i got low speed problem with my new msata plextor 256gb ssd that i'd installed into my alienware m17xr4.
    i ran a test with Crystal Disk Info and found out that the sequential read and write speed was just half of it performance.
    Plextor advertised that this 256gb M6M ssd could go up to 520MB/s sequential read speed and up to 420MB/s sequential write speed.
    Is there something i should be worrying about?

    my alienware specs :
    Alienware M17xR4
    Intel Core i7-3740QM
    16GB 1600MHz ram
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M (2 GB)
    PLEXTOR PX-256M6M
    Bios A12

    Untitled.jpg
     
    KiMie89, Jul 6, 2014
    #1
  2. FrozenSolid

    FrozenSolid Notebook Evangelist

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    How did you install the SSD? Did you do a clean Win installation or use a copy / mirror program?
     
    FrozenSolid, Jul 6, 2014
    #2
  3. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    The M17x R4 MSATA slot is only a SATA 2 port. Hence the slower speeds. Only the 2.5 inch bays offer the full speeds.
     
    widezu69, Jul 6, 2014
    #3
    radji likes this.
  4. KiMie89

    KiMie89 Notebook Consultant

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    i plug in the msata ssd into the msata slot, set to AHCI and then perform a clean win installation.
     
    KiMie89, Jul 7, 2014
    #4
  5. radji

    radji Farewell, Solenya...

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    There's your answer. The mSATA on the R4 is only capable of SATA II speeds. Your SSD's highest speed ratings are dependent upon your mSATA port supporting SATA III.
     
    radji, Jul 7, 2014
    #5
  6. KiMie89

    KiMie89 Notebook Consultant

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    i checked the ssd with speccy and found out that it using SATA II 3.0Gb/s transfer mode instead of SATA III 6.0Gb/s. Is this what causing it? Is there anything i can make so that it run as SATA III 6.0Gb/s?
    View attachment 113784

    Did u mean that for instance i install 512GB M5Pro plextor ssd with SATA III 6.0Gb/s at 2.5 inch bays it will run as SATA III 6.0Gb/s instead of SATA II 3.0Gb/s?
     
    KiMie89, Jul 7, 2014
    #6
  7. KiMie89

    KiMie89 Notebook Consultant

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    What kind of alienware having mSATA port that can support SATA III? Is it the new alienware which are alienware 17 and 18?
     
    KiMie89, Jul 7, 2014
    #7
  8. widezu69

    widezu69 Goodbye Alienware

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    The mSATA slot will only run at SATA 2 speeds. This is due to the Ivy Bridge architecture. Ivy Bridge only supports 2 SATA 3 ports on its native chipset, this is also present on desktop motherboards. Any 2.5 in SSD in the bays will run at full speeds. You are also correct, the new Alienware systems 17 and 18 have more SATA 3 ports because Haswell has support for more.
     
    widezu69, Jul 7, 2014
    #8
  9. amitvig22

    amitvig22 Notebook Consultant

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    Like people said, i was'nt aware of it and i too bought a MSATA thinking i'd add more and get three SSD's. Getting too greedy isn't good i guess. I ended up buying a normal SSD in the end as well.
     
    amitvig22, Jul 7, 2014
    #9