Installing SSD question - M11X R3

A few quick questions...

I am going to buy an M11x R3, looking to purchase a SATA 2 SSD 128/120GB.

What is a good SSD for the M11x?

After I install the SSD, do I use respawn to get the optimus, aliensense features back? Or do I simply locate the drivers/software on the dell site?

Thanks in advance.

 

m4 ssd is the best for loading games and sometimes you get a fps increase due to the access time. and after the new firmware 0009 that increased the preformance by 20% and gaming preformance by 33% it now has the best access time of any ssd out there

 

You wont be able to use respawn cause it will require a HDD or SSD the same size as the one you want to use the respawn from. I tried to use the respawn i made from a 320GB HDD to a 128 SSD and its a no go.

 

crapxorz.


What do i do then?

 

Fresh Install

 

An alternative to KurtH's suggestion is to clone the HDD and write the image to the SSD - most folk seem to like Acronis TrueImage, but I prefer Paragon Backup & Recovery... Just create an image of the HDD to an external hard drive, create boot media as per the instructions and boot off that with the new SSD installed to write the image to the new drive.

A major point to note is that the SSD is smaller, so shrink the partition to that size. To do this, you'll have to turn off the pagefile, etc. and use a defrag and reorder programme like Auslogic to move the stuff Windows sticks at the end of the partition. Also worth removing as much data from the HDD as possible to speed things up.

 

Thanks for great information, much appreciated.

 

OK I thought I would bump up this thread rather than creating a new one. I am awaiting the delivery of my m11xr3, I would have gone for the SSD upgrade however the price put me off and I knew with the correct research beforehand I would be capable of doing it myself for a much cheaper price.

My question to you guys is, is there a proper guide at all anywhere on how to do this? Say one with step by step instructions and with screenshot's and all.

I'm a bit of a noob so wanted the best guide possible to get this done.

Thanks in advance for any help, Tom.

EDIT: Or is it as simple as this guys suggests?

"Upon arrival, boot up the system, do the initial OS setup, launch AlienRespawn and create the recovery media.

Swap in the new HDD/SSD, boot up with the recovery media and follow the prompts to restore your factory image.

Poof, all done - aftermarket drive is in and you can setup your system and go from there.

That recovery media is very handy. Make sure you create it and stash it away for a rainy troublesome day."

 

@OP you mention a SATA 2 SSD but you want to make sure you get a SATA 3 6gb/s as the R3 can handle the newer models.

It is very easy to do a complete reinstall from scratch just use the CD that came with your R3 and create a bootable USB drive and install it onto the SSD and download the latest drivers from the Dell website. I didn't need respawn at all.

 

No, this is absolutely wrong.

@tomcannon - Yes, it really IS that simple. Those are the EXACT steps i used when i put in my 128GB Crucial M4, and not a single problem was had. I have my recovery media handy and use it every format. Couldn't be any easier.

 

The problem you are going to face with Respawn is that is uses 18gb of the SSD for a recovery partition when it reinstalls that means you will only be left with 100GB on the SSD. Also the factory installation is full of bloatware and your OS will start at 30GB of junk when a factory reinstall starts you off with the barebone 15GB.

That is fine I suppose but what I mentioned above gives you a clean install with all of the SSD space and it is a 5 minute job to download the drivers from the Dell website. The disc that comes with your R3 is the OEM disc and you can create a bootable USB as many times as you like.

 

Brilliant, thank you, I was hoping someone would say that! One more question, I understand that speed and performance will increase dramatically with an SSD but will it only be with software installed on the SSD. Of course the OS will be on the SSD so in general performance will increase overall but If I were to use the HDD as a removable hard drive and had games on there would it all still run faster?

Basically do I buy a 256GB SSD so I have space for my OS and games or just have the 128GB SSD for the OS and have the games on the HDD?

I know there will be space left over on a 128 SSD after the OS for some games but of course not all of them, especially the size of games now.

Any opinions or personal experience on this subject is greatly appreciated, Tom.

I have a USB DVD drive anyway so wouldn't need to create a bootable USB. I see what your saying about a fresh install taking up less space. You say it's a five minute job to get all the drivers from Dell? Is this so, is that all the alienware stuff to, like GPU controls and aliensense or whatever it's called (facial recognition) all that stuff. I want to have the machine as it would be if I had just ordered it so I suppose the Respawn route is best for me, although the extra space of a fresh install is appealing. Hhhmmm, decisions decisions!

 

Even easier for you then. Best thing to do if you want to do a fresh install is to still do the Respawn onto a healthy usb stick or drive so that you have a backup of the original factory installation for when you sell it. Again, it really is that simple though if you use respawn or the OEM disc you just go to the Dell website and download all the drivers + software it is a 5 minute job.

You do not get aliensense on this model you have to download it and pay for it now. You get all of the software from the website drivers page that includes AlienFx and the command centre + all the features and you can even download the Alien stardock mycolours software which turns your desktop into Breed.

Take a look at this awesome post as well that includes a TON of alienware downloadable features

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...stomization-themes-wallpaper-collections.html

 

Sweet, thank you very much! Now just got to decide whether to go for 128 or 256. You have any experience on my question above? About speed/performance of games installed on the secondary HDD?

 

What people are saying about the M4 is right it is the SSD to go for and the 128GB is best bang for buck. Sadly mine just died on me and I am having to send it back I seem to have been really unlucky to get a dud from amazon so I am switching back to my old Kingston SSD instead. Any SSD will give you a huge boost as long as it is SATA III 6gb/s but the M4 is a fantastic deal.

P.s I updated my above post with some more information.

 

Thank you, I think I'll go for the 128gb Crucial M4 with a fresh install then. You've been very helpful so I've repped you (I think!). Oh yeah do you know then if games installed on the secondary HDD will run slower than on the primary SSD? If not then I'll just have the SSD for the OS and HDD as a removable drive for all my games.

 

An SSD will have a minimal effect on gaming if any difference at all. What it will effect is the loading times and boot and shutdown times and other things such as the general access requests you make for instance asking software to start. As a whole it makes a big difference because everything seems faster.

If you run games from an external hard drive you may face latency due to the restrictions and speeds of the USB port and your load times will be slower.

 

Ok thank you again! I think you have answered just about every question I have, just have to see what I can afford!

Tom

 

Good luck you wont regret it and soon they will release the new refresh which will be a lot higher in price so dont wait too long

 

Ha, fair point! I have thought of one other question!!! Will the SSD be a straight swap for the HDD or do I need certain cables or a mounting bracket as it's smaller?

EDIT: they're not smaller are they? They're both 2.5". Don't know where I got that from!

Sorry for all the questions!

 

Straight swap.

Remove the back panel undo the 3 screws holding it in place and gently remove the adaptor on the connectors and slot it onto your new SSD (It is a small piece of plastic that connects the HDD vertically to the SATA Slot, it just pulls off) and then undo the 4 screws that hold the HDD to the bracket and fit your SSD then put it all back together.

 

Wicked, As long as it's a straight swap I'm sure I'll be able to work it out.

Thanks once again!