Getting an SSD for my Alienware laptop? (ALW14-2814SLV)

Hello once again,

Im a bit behind the times when it comes to laptops. I appreciate everyones help and patience.

Im wanting to get an SSD for my Alienware laptop. I heard my model ALW14-2814SLV is capable of having an SSD. I just dont know what SSD to buy and which ones might be compatible with my laptop.

Any insight would be valued help once again.

Sincerely,

Luo01

 

Almost any system is capable of having an SSD.

I'd recommend a 2.5" SATA3 model though for your system. Specifically, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 480GB or bigger with 30% OP'ing (over provisioning).

See:
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950DR9707&vpn=SDSSDXPS-480G-G25&manufacture=OTHERS

Good luck.

 

Great thanks ill take a look into that one. Specs seem top notch.

Can my laptop model have both the SSD, plus the HDD 750gb thats already installed?

Is there an extra spot in my laptop where this SSD can go or do I have to remove the old 750gb HDD? Can i put the SSD where the optical DVD drive is if I remove it? I heard something about that.

Anyway. Im getting an external bluray player so that wont matter.

Just trying to go the best method here

Luo01

 

I would get the Sandisk Extreme pro.... There is no need for Oping as it's built in.. Tiller just likes to OP everything .. I have the 240GB version of the previous model and it's quite good..

As for placing the SSD, you want to put it in the HDD slot and move the 750GB HDD to the optical disk slot as that slot runs at SATA 3.0GB/s whereas the main slot runs at 6.0GB/s... This way your SSD will run at full performance...

 

After owning almost more than 15 SSDs in the past few years, I learned that synthetic benchmarks mean nothing compared to real world performance and consistency. With that said, I switched from two 850 PRO 1TBs to two SanDisk EXTREME PRO 960GB SSDs and I can notice my system snappier, applications load faster, and creating an image using Macrium Reflect is 12 seconds faster with the SanDisk Extreme PRO plus they have a rock solid firmware.

Go for the SanDisk Extreme PRO that's the best SSD at the moment for real world performance and consistency and it has a 10 year warranty.

SanDisk FTW

 

True that.. I haven't had a firmware update at all for the last 1.5 years with my Sandisk Extreme II... Unlike Smasung which probably has had 10 of them

 

And I can have both drives in this laptop? Theres room or a slot to put the SSD?

Id still like to keep my 750gb 7200rpm HDD if I can for sure.

 

yes off-course

 

Ive read articles or forums regarding having to remove the old HDD to put the new SSD one in. I thought having to do that wouldnt make a lot of sense.

Maybe older laptop models. Anyway, where do I install the SSD. Will there be an empty slot already for it?

Where can I get all the software and drivers for the 'ALW14-2814SLV'.

Is there somewhere I can download it all, or buy copies of the discs?

 

Getting the drivers is easy: just go to Dell's website and navigate to the support page for your laptop model and you'll have every driver available.

 

Micron/Crucial, Sandisk Extreme, or Toshiba/OCZ/AMD Radeon R7 SSD, or Intel 730
Sandisk for best performance, Micron/Crucial for balance, Toshiba SSD for cheapness, intel for reliability/anti corruption

Absolutely NOTHING with a sandforce controller. Samsung still has to regain my trust after the 840 Evo debacle, so I would avoid them too.

 

While everyone else is trying to upsell you, I would get a Crucial BX100

 

Hey, I said Crucial didn't I?

 

The current CPU in my system is the i5-4200m.

Can I take that chip out and put upgrade to the i7-4700MQ? Is the chip removable?

 

yes, I upgraded my 4900MQ CPU to a 4940MX CPU

 

Just wanted to make sure the chip is upgradable/removable before hand. I would likely get a professional to remove the old chip and install the new one.

I called Canada computers and they said they would have to go deep into the computer to see if it is in fact upgradable with the processor. He also said it is not economicically feasible to go this route of upgrading.

Any thoughts? Could I in fact install this chip myself or would the difficulty be high. Ive build desktops from the processor up but ive never actually removed a CPU from a board, nor ever worked on a laptop.

 

Dell should have the service manual for the laptop on their support site, so you can take a look at it. It definitely won't be an easy swap, it's doable, but disassembling a laptop can be a delicate and long task. You'll also void your warranty unless you can call Dell and get them to do it for you. I know they offer the service for Precision laptops, but those come with much better customer support by default.

If it were me, I'd just DIY it, but I'm that crazy.

 

I looked it up and it seems you can.

Im also interested in upgrading my alienware 14 screen to a Full 1080p screen. I know the screens are removable as per the manual, but would a full 1080p screen be compatible? (Manual doesnt say) It shouldnt make any difference right? I would just have that better resolution.

 

upgrading to an HD screen on a tiny 14" laptop? that's insane man! things would look super tiny unless you wanna do DPI scaling but then not all programs would work fine with scaling! Heck, my 1920x1080 HD resolution on my 18.4 screen is already tiny that I have to do a 125% DPI scaling to make things look fine! don't even try man!

 

Im not sure what your talking about lol. What do you mean things will be tiny lol. The Alienware 14 mostly came with full 1080p displays. Mine was the step down from that. Im sure there would be a noticible difference when playing blurays.

Not sure what you mean by everything would be tiny lol. Most Alienware laptops all come with full 1080p displays now.

 

I'm with you on that. While I am extremely happy with my AW 15 I do have to run it at 125%. I'm used to 24-27" monitors so it does seem small doing some things.

I really don't think swapping the 14" screen would be worth it. If you want the full 1080p experience you might as well spend the cash on a 24" external monitor. It will probably cost around the same.

 

So you think swapping to a full HD will make that small of a difference? I was hoping to get a glossy screen also using IPS for a better movie experience. IMO. Its about 90 bucks to upgrade. Maybe a monitor is the way to go too. 90 bucks for a full 1080p monitor? I guess I would use an HDMI to connect a second monitor?

 

for 90 bucks thats not a bad deal at all. Totally your call man.

I will say that the 1080p ips display on my AW is significantly better than the one that came on last asus. More brightness and better colors. I'd say go for it for that price. I was figuring it would be double that.

 

Yeah its on a website called www.laptopscreen.com. They seem to have wharehouses In seattle for US. Vancouver for Canada and Gatwick for the UK.

Compatibility: ALIENWARE 14
IPS DISPLAY WIDE VIEW 14inch
WUXGA (1920X1080) Full HD
GLOSSY
LED
30PIN Led Socket

92.99 CAD.

I was even shocked at the price.

 

I just hope I dont have any compatibility problem.

Seems like people upgrade all the time. Im running the Intel HD 4000 as the base graphics card with the dedicated Gt 750m.

Dont even know if that even matters. But id hope it should just plug in and off we go.

 

as long as it'd not a 3D screen which uses different connectors, it is usually plug and play no need for anything else.

 

Im pretty sure its not a 3D screen. In fact im almost certain lol.

 

The AW14 doesn't have a 3D screen.. You will definetly be fine.. I know for a fact it is a 14" 1080p IPS pannel..

 

It turns out my model is actually ALW14-1250sLV. The native screen resolution is WXGA (1366x768).

This particular model did not come with an HD screen. Could one still be installed? Or would I have to replace other components. Its all 30pin LED socket. But would I have to replace the cable at all? I can get other Alienware 14 1080p Screens. A screen from a ALW14-1214sLV. That model has full 1080p screens. laptopscreen.com has them.

Couldn't I just plug in one of those and plug and play, or would other stuff have to be upgraded. My model has all the same graphics cards as models with full 1080p screens.