Upgrading mSATA

So I have one coming in with these specs:

CPU: Core i7-3740QM (6MB Cache, 2.7GHz)
GPU: 2GB DDR5 NVIDIA 680M
RAM: 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM (4x4GB)
Storage: 64GB mSATA SSD + 750GB 7200RPM HDD

I'm adding in a Momentus XT 750GB SSHD when it comes and I was just wondering if I could swap out the 64GB mSATA for a Crucial M4 256GB mSATA without any issues - the rep from Dell told me there's a 50% chance of damaging the motherboard but I just wanted to make sure.

Has anyone done this before?

 

Hi. I have seen people do this - one guy put in 3 large SSD's and RAID'd them. If you're keeping the mechanical drive then just put in the new SSD in the spare drive bay, change the boot order and install windows. The cache technology is in hardware and firmware so it will continue to accelerate the original HD, you don't even need to install any drivers if you don't want to change it - that is why you can configure it from a keypress on the screen before the BIOS POST's

You will end up with a standalone SSD for boot and the 750 will be speeded up with the 64gb SSD cache.

And you'd be running your new SSD at sata2 speed in the mSATA port - although the speed difference is negligible on an SSD IMO

Good luck!

Edit +rep to Xenn0X (1st in line when i can!), thanks, you're the author of the thread I mentioned

 

jup i raided 3x 128GB in my laptop and in another r4 i did a triple 256GB setup.
crucial M4 has msata from 32GB to 256GB
Only thing is that's a big teardown to get to msata card, it's under the palm rest wich requires to remove keyboard/palmrest and even the screen needs to go off

 

Alrighty then. Thanks for your input!

Awesome. Complicated process but seems worth it! Thanks

 

What Dell rep told you that? I'd like to hear their explanation of how it would damage the MB.

Xenn0X, this has nothing to do with the thread, but your signature says Crucial Vengeance instead of Corsair!

 

I called up the Australian Dell number and the guy said something about possible overheating and that a 128GB mSATA would work fine but not a 256GB...

 

Well, I guess he came up with something that dell are concerned about with these machines. The mSata port has no extra ventilation since an SSD runs so much cooler. Obviously you should be able to use any size you like but dell have very specific temperature specs and any hardware not tested becomes a risk.

The 1st level guys are not always the sharpest tools in the box though they are learning their trade

 

The problem is more that you need to take the whole laptop apart to get to the msata, requires some practice..
if you break the topcover it's not in warrany. thinks thats why dell says "do not try this at home"

 

There is no problem installing a different drive. Make sure you keep the original components in case you need warranty coverage (we may ask you for that). The temperatures should not be a problem either. Sorry about the inconveniences with support.

 

Since the intel chipsets only have two gen3 sata ports then raiding 3 drives will force them all to gen2 speeds.

 

yes but the write is more important then read. running 2 sata3 ssd in raid 0 gives me 1000 mb/s read and 390 write.
running 3 in raid 0 gives me almost 200 mb/s more write and 200 less read.

 

I've been looking over the manual and some vids online so hopefully that works out well!

Awesome!


Thanks everyone!! Now just to wait for the 680M and the Killer card to be in stock

 

That Killer wifi card is overpriced junk.