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    Studio XPS 16 - 2 SSD's possible?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Synthesia, Nov 15, 2009.

  1. Synthesia

    Synthesia Notebook Evangelist

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    Hey guys, I'm contemplating buying this Dell laptop but I was wondering if its possible to get it with 2 SSD's somehow? Sony's 13,1" Z-Series has the option for 2x 256GB SSD's in a RAID and that'd be great on this Dell model too (or are there any other Dell models that allow SSD - apart from the Alienware series)?

    Thanks guys,
     
    Synthesia, Nov 15, 2009
    #1
  2. Ollie222

    Ollie222 Notebook Consultant

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    To my knowledge there is only space for one standard 2.5" hdd inside the laptop.

    The only options would be to:-

    • replace the dvd drive with a second hdd which I think should be possible using a hdd caddy
    • use an external drive, the machine does have esata
    • use a compactflash ssd but you're limited on size and speeds are generally slow.

    I think the Dell Studio 17 has provision for 2 hdd's so check those out.
     
    Ollie222, Nov 15, 2009
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  3. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You can replace the ODD w/ another HDD or SSD (can be as low as $20 for the two caddies via eBay). Nando has a few threads on it:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=388625
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5106978

    First link is the caddy to put a HDD/SSD into your ODD slot, second is a caddy for your ODD externally. The sXPS 16 supports the 12.5mm high 2.5" 1TB drive and you can use a SSD in the main slot or just two SSDs (not sure if it's RAID0 capable). Or you can just externally run it via eSATA (connector in second link).
     
    sgogeta4, Nov 15, 2009
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  4. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    It really depends to on what type of connection the optical drive uses ... no?

    If it is SATA, you will get full benefit of the SSD. If it is PATA, you may max out at 100 (or is it 133) MB/s. SSDs range from 150 to 250 MB/s plus or minus so a PATA connection is going to cap out the performance to half of what an SSD can use.

    Or ... am I missing something?
     
    theoak, Nov 15, 2009
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  5. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The sXPS 16 uses SATA.
     
    sgogeta4, Nov 15, 2009
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  6. theoak

    theoak Notebook Consultant

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    So ... its all good then!
     
    theoak, Nov 16, 2009
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  7. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

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    The ODD in the XPS 16 is internal rather than a slot loaded one ... I too am wondering if it's possible to remove the internal ODD and place a 2nd hard drive in there without too much difficulty (ie without needing to remove the screen etc). Am waiting for someone else to give it a go and report their results back!
     
    drteflon, Nov 16, 2009
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  8. iaTa

    iaTa Do Not Feed

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    iaTa, Nov 16, 2009
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  9. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Excellent. I think I'll give it a go when my machine arrives in a week or so. Thanks iaTa.
     
    drteflon, Nov 16, 2009
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  10. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If you go to Dell Support and check out the manual for your notebook model, replacing the ODD is a very simple procedure (there are pics on how to do it in the manual). I completely forgot about the removable faceplate part, good catch, iaTa.
     
    sgogeta4, Nov 16, 2009
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  11. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks iaTa and sgogeta4. Looking at your sig iaTa I would presume that you have replaced your ODD with an SSD. What kind of caddy have you used for your ODD?
     
    drteflon, Nov 16, 2009
    #11
  12. thodoris kountouriot

    thodoris kountouriot Notebook Guru

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    I think that if a 512gb ssd will be soon available, there is no need to replace the drive.
     
    thodoris kountouriot, Nov 17, 2009
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  13. iaTa

    iaTa Do Not Feed

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    Depends what you use your laptop for. I store many gigs of 1080p video so I need lots of space which doesn't have to be blazing fast. Replacing your ODD with an HDD means you can buy a relatively inexpensive small SSD for your OS and a few programs / games and then use the HDD for data storage. Much more cost effective.

    I don't use a caddy for my ODD, I just use one of these:

    http://newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=235
     
    iaTa, Nov 17, 2009
    #13
  14. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks iaTa. Was planning to buy one of those cables but they're unfortunately out of stock... couldn't locate another source for them so may have to wait until they come into stock again.
     
    drteflon, Nov 17, 2009
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  15. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    eBay has several listings for SATA to eSATA or SATA to USB cables.
     
    sgogeta4, Nov 17, 2009
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  16. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

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    One more question - the dell XPS 16 series(1640 and 1645) - does the optical drive have a slim esata connection on the back or the standard 22pin esata connection on the back? I can find the 22 pin and power over esata cable on ebay but it is more difficult to locate the slim esata connection cable. (Have done a search but couldn't clearly find an answer).
     
    drteflon, Nov 18, 2009
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  17. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Should be standard SATA (even desktop SATA plugs should work).
     
    sgogeta4, Nov 18, 2009
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  18. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

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    True ... if a standard SSD fits/connects properly the optical drive should be standard SATA too ... may order one from ebay when the laptop arrives.
     
    drteflon, Nov 18, 2009
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  19. Snowiffic

    Snowiffic Newbie

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    So this one would fit perfectly in the SXPS16? (1645). I've read all the ODD topics and I'm still all lost about it.

    Would the product linked above give me the feature to put a 2,5" hdd in the odd drive and it would fit perfectly? What about the color differences and such?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    Snowiffic, Dec 4, 2009
    #19
  20. iaTa

    iaTa Do Not Feed

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    Yes that's right.

    The colour is not important as we have a slot loading ODD!
     
    iaTa, Dec 4, 2009
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  21. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    I wonder if we put 2 SSDs into the SXPS 16 and then RAID 0 them, what the speeds will be like?
     
    fred2028, Dec 4, 2009
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  22. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If I recall correctly, it would be better to do SSD/HDD combo. While speeds go up with 2xSSD in RAID0, capacity is still low and overhead increases (due to loading up RAID drivers), so in the end 2xSSD in RAID0 is slower than SSD/HDD combo.
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 4, 2009
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  23. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    The dream:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96dWOEa4Djs
     
    fred2028, Dec 4, 2009
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  24. winks2872

    winks2872 Notebook Consultant

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    ill let you know.. i just ordered a second 256gb ssd and the chassie
     
    winks2872, Dec 4, 2009
    #24
  25. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There is a point where pure speed can overcome the overhead, but if you're willing to get me 10x SSDs, I'll be happy to tell you :D
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 4, 2009
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  26. iaTa

    iaTa Do Not Feed

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    We don't have hardware RAID on the 1640 so it would have to be software RAID anyway - i.e. not worth the overhead.

    You are best with the SSD in the HDD void and the HDD + caddy in the ODD void as people have had difficulties booting off the HDD/SSD in the ODD void.
     
    iaTa, Dec 4, 2009
    #26
  27. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    Would it not be possible to get a mini PCIe RAID controller?
     
    funky monk, Dec 4, 2009
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  28. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Still don't think they are good (if they even are real) hardware RAID solutions though...
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 4, 2009
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  29. vic_zz

    vic_zz Newbie

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    I bought the OBHD on the website and the cable as well in your link. The OBHD caddy works perfect!!
    But the cable seems too big on the SATA end, how did u use it?
     
    vic_zz, Dec 31, 2009
    #29
  30. fredskis

    fredskis Newbie

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    fredskis, Jan 8, 2010
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  31. WalrusDJ

    WalrusDJ Notebook Enthusiast

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    Wondering if the optical drive will work in an external enclosure without a bezel? Can't seem to find a slot load bezel to put on a case.
     
    WalrusDJ, Feb 6, 2010
    #31