Alienware 17R3 and M.2 ports with Samsung 950 Pro report

link

ciao

 

Thanks! Looks like Alienware botched the potential by making one of them 2 channel. Could've had some insane read speeds. One drive is enough then!

 

Yep, you would need a higher end Clevo to get full NVMe RAID

 

So from the sounds of it, would this be the most practical set up?

1x m.2 (512GB) for the main boot.
1x Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSD.

(Of course the capacity is up to the individuals taste.)

But practically speaking, would that set up be ideal for our units given that we have one gimp m.2 port? What else could we utilize the gimp port with? Hmm...just another SSD?

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

Honestly I'd do 1x 512 m.2 (get the fastest one you can afford) and 1x 2tb HDD. Unless you already own the 1tb ssd. The SSD would hold windows and games. And let's be frank, you don't need your entire steam library installed at one time. All of your data, mp3, movies, questionable pictures, can go in the 2tb. It'll load even the largest movie files fast enough. Since there's no disc drive to pull out and free up another slot for a 2nd 2.5 hard drive, best to maximize the space you got.

 

Sounds like a plan. I already own a Samsung 850 Pro 1TB SSD so I'll just need to pick up a 512GB m.2 and it'll be all good to go eh?

Just to confirm, Windows along with Games like you've mentioned and Applications such as Photoshop etc.... all go on the 512GB m.2, while all the misc. junk goes on my Samsung Pro 1TB SSD yes?

Is there use for the 2nd m.2 port? The slower x2 one ....as the x4 m.2 port is where the 512GB m.2 will go...

 

Yes programs go on the boot drive, all personal data goes on the other. Helps a ton when you want to do a full format, less files to hunt around to back up.

The second m.2 could house another 512 if you have the funds. It didn't seem hugely slower than the x4 from earlier screenshots.

 

Is this the correct one?
Samsung 950 PRO -Series 512GB PCIe NVMe - M.2 Internal SSD 2-Inch MZ-V5P512BW

As for the second m.2 bay (slower one), if I remember correctly, it was mentioned that it was a bit slower on write speeds, but other than that it was fine.

 

Yup that's the one I got! From jet.com. But they don't have any in stock so Amazon it is.

And yea second bay is still way faster than raiding any 2.5 SSD.

 

Sounds great! ....your thoughts on the 850 m.2 ssd? Is the 950 m.2 overkill?

Could almost get two 850 m.2's for the same price as one 950 m.2 hmm. ..

Recommend to have two of the same type of m.2 sticks in both slots? Or doesn't matter?

I'm thinking of getting the 950 for the x4 slot and an 850 for the x2 slot, since that slot is slower anyway....

---

Update: So I've been looking and...on Amazon here are the prices. A pretty substantial difference.

Samsung 850 EVO 500 GB M.2 3.5-Inch SSD (MZ-N5E500BW) - $175.99 PRIME

Samsung 950 PRO -Series 512GB PCIe NVMe - M.2 Internal SSD 2-Inch MZ-V5P512BW - $328 PRIME

Wouldn't it be worth getting two 850 EVO's vs one 950 Pro? Although the 850 Evo is rated at 540R/500W and the Pro 2500R/1500W ... I guess it's all subjective to ones needs eh?

What would yall do?

• 2x 850's or 1x 950? or ...
  
• 1x 950 in the 4x slot and 1x 850 in the 2x slot?

Also, I've noticed the 850 states 3.5-inch? I'm confused

 

I'm a speed nut, so I would get another 950 and max out the speed in the second slot. Raiding two 850 will still not beat a single 950 in speed. But that's up to you and how much money you want to throw at speed. If you're going all out, go all out all the way (that's my non cost effective motto).

 

You're speaking my language That's my style...Go Big or Go Home LOL.... well within reason...but yea I've settled for 2x 950's...will be here Tuesday.

 

To give an extreme (and very wasteful example) I have a samsung 840 pro hooked up to my wii u to minimize load times. keep in mind the wii u usb ports are 2.0. Anyways, excellent choice, enjoy the extreme speeds!

 

That's gotta be the happiest yet most confused wii lol....it's mind is running faster than the body will allow...

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

No, I will purchase at the end of Jan for all my Cashback and discounts to align at XXXXX.com
It should some out to $39 delivered counting all my cashback and discounts to apply. I hope they have one in stock then.

 

I have installed my new 950 pro M.2 by using Samsung Migration tool and the system boots and runs well . One thing i have a problem with is that when I install the NVMe drivers from Samsung's website I get this error:
"Setup
Samsung NVM Express Device is not connected. connect the device and try again
"
So I cannot install the Samsungdrivers

 

Hmm...unless you absolutely need it, I'd skip out on the drivers and just run it as is. Samsung Magican and Intel RAPID are both visual inflation for the eyes for the most part. There's a great explanation on why this is by a fellow NBR member. I'll find it when I get back to the office.

Or you can search for my thread in installing and setting up the Samsung m.2 ssd...I've compiled a lot of good info and findings on there.




Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

Thanks, yeah links would be a real time saver.
I have been getting pretty good crystal mark scores with out them. But I'm a compulsive driver updater so not being able to even complete my first install esp paying $300 for it is a let down. I also noticed that Magician will not Optimus the OS for me, it's functions are greyed out.
Thanks again!

 

Hi, in the bios you Raid or AHCI.

it happened to me, with raids had problems with drivers, while putting ahci on win10 is seen correctly and installed the drv nvme.

Ciao

 

Right, but my cloned 950 pro will not boot when I change the bios to AHCI. O believe I would have to do a fresh install to use ACHI.

 

I have two HD's on my 17R3
1 - OEM 1 TB HGST
1 - Samsung 950 Pro M.2 (cloned from the HGST in RAID Mode)
I went into the bios to change the boot order (because the way it is set up I boot to the OEM HGST) to boot to the 950 pro but I haven't been able to finger it out.

Boot option #1 [Windows Boot Manager]
Boot option #2 [Windows Boot Manager]
I mean which drive is #1 and #2, so confusing!
Is thie where I disable one or the other?
This isn't intuitive and i think I ahve tried every option but I still cannot get this to boot o my 95o Pro unless I remove the OEM HGST drive.
Is there a guide , walk-through on this because the manuals weren't any help.
Thank god for forums!
Thanks

 

If you cloned the HGST on the 950 Pro, just you take away the HD 1TB, please start the AW17 (raid) and should start the 950Pro as the boot, the limit makes you do a reboot to upgrade win10 with the new boot SSD.

For RAID / AHCI search the web, how to modify the registry to win this option, I would not give you wrong information.

Ciao

 

Thank you, but when I put the 1T B HGST back it wont boot to the 950 Pro, it only boots to the 1TB HGST.
THat's my problem, it only boots to the 1TB HGST when they are both installed in my 17R3
Thanks for the Raid/ahci tip, I will look on the ned for advice.

 

Can you change the boot order in your BIOS?

 

Then you're sure you have cloned all the partitions from a hard drive (even hidden ones)
1TB to 950Pro?

Ciao

 

Thank you, but when I put the 1TB HGST back in (As a socondary drive) it wont boot to the 950 Pro, it only boots to the 1TB HGST when they are both connected.
That's my problem, it only boots to the 1TB HGST when they are both connected. I have no ideas how to change the boot order in the bios.
Thanks for the Raid/AHCI tip, I will look on the net for advice on how to edit my registry to allow that
.

I am not sure how to do that. It is very confusing to me. Can you tell me how please?

 

Yes, when I pull the oem drive I can boot to the new cloned 950 pro. But only the own HGST will boot when they are bo th connected. Grrr.

 

I''m not in front of my machine and won't be for a few hours. There should be something in the BIOS about Boot Order though. it may be the HDD is listed before the SSD in that list.

 

Exactly! But every computer I have owned before this one, it will list each hard drive BY NAME so I can telll and change the boot order. This bios describes them with the same names:
Boot option #1 [Windows Boot Manager]
Boot option #2 [Windows Boot Manager]

I would have expected something like:
Boot option #1 [1TB HGST]
Boot option #2 [500 GB Samsung pro]

grrr
I must be missing something obvious.

 

Try just swapping 1 and 2 then see which it boots to.

 

Yeah it's a nightmare dealing with this. I just only have one bookable volume and delete other volumes

 

this may sound stupid / not be reality but i just found a solution for my boot order problem! this may work for you

I had my 256gb pcie drive recently replaced by dell - I wsa using my 500GB m.2 as a boot drive while waiting for this service through Jan.

Cloned the 500GB to the 256 - couldnt get it to boot by default off the 256 (like you) and it would continue to boot off the 500gb.

Just now I physically opened up my laptop, removed the 500gb m.2, let it boot fully into windows on the 256 (by default because no 500GB M.2), then shut down

Just put the 500gb M.2 back in and it is booting to the 256 drive by default.

not sure if you tried this but it would appear the bios decides to keep booting to the last known physically installed bootable disk? unless i'm tripipng my pc is working fine now re: boot order, and it was only until i physically 1.) have only the boot volume i want in there, boot off it fully, 2.) shut down and install other disks

 

Yes, I have booted a few time to the 500GB Pro M.2 and then put the OEM 1tb in to no avail.
You should be able to choose any bootable HD in the bios, I don't get why you can't here. maybe time for a call to AW but I HATE calling for tech support.

 

AW has the worst BIOS info when it comes to boot order...sucks I know...What were they thinking...right?

Your boot issues are due to not having "all" the recovery files having transferred/cloned over to your m.2.

To avoid this issue...well let's just say after a lot of trial and error....the best thing to do was to do a fresh install on the m.2 with only the m.2 in your computer. I had then plugged in my 2.5" 850 Pro SSD and it was good to go...

 

I wanna make sure I got this right:
I have AW17R3 with 256 SSD Boot and 1TB HDD. I ordered the 512 950Pro yesterday.
For best performance the 950 has to go into the 1st slot where the 256GB is now?

I can or cant clone the 256 to the 512 using macrium?

If not I have to take out the 256 SSD and the 1TB HDD and fresh install Win10 then connect the other 2 drives after first boot?

What bios settings do I need for best performance of the 950 Pro with the 256GB SSD and the 1TB HDD installed at the same time?

Where does the samsung driver install come into play with my setup?

 

Put the 950 Pro in Slot #1 and do a fresh Windows install if you can.

Then put the 256 in Slot #2 to use as a slave drive.

Use 1.2.3 BIOS.

Install the Samsung NVMe Driver from their website for the 950 Pro. However, do not install Magician.

 

I have latest BIOS installed. What is the best method for installing win 10 on the new drive?

 

If the latest BIOS gives you issues, install v1.2.3 ....it's the most stable without bugs at the moment...that's what most people have rolled back to.

You can download Windows 10 and create a USB recovery to do a fresh install.

 

Not sure if I'm off here. But from what I have read is that AW doesn't Allow Raid 0. Not sure if that is what is tripping everyone up. I am not an expert though so do not quote me. Also fro. What I have read is install your driver to your ssd before cloning. I have been on many forums and everyone seems to have a different way to do it. I have just been readin and reading to see if it's even worth buying the 950 pro vs just getting a 850 evo M.2 for half the price. I'm not and Expert here just relaying what I have read. I could be completely wrong.

 

So are you guys even experiencing a difference from moving to a PCIe from a Sata M.2. I currently have a AW 15 R2.

 

Where is 1.2.3 available from? The dell site only has 1.2.8

 

Concerning the Alienware 15 R2 ... has anyone found any specs and/or technical data that confirm or deny that the two M.2 slots support PCie x4 on slot 1, and PCie x2 on slot 2? Can anyone confirm if they are only SATA III speed, or will we get PCIe x4 Gen 3.0 speed The only information given in the service manual related to this is the following:

1. Interface SATA 6 Gbps
2. Hard drive One 2.5‑inch drive
3. Solid‑state drive Two M.2 PCIe/SATA drives

Does this mean that the M.2 slots are limited to 6Gbps? Has it been determined whether the Alienware 15 R2 can do PCI-Express on the M.2 slot or is it limited to SATA III?

 

The AW15 R2 operates exactly the same as the AW17 R3 as they share the same motherboard and BIOS updates. The PCIe slots definitely run at x4 and x2 for slot 1 and 2 respectively. I currently run a Samsung SM951 in slot 1 and a PM951 in slot 2.

I can tell you, even the slower slot is faster than SATA 3 speed.......

 

Statically speaking the 960 pro is better than 960 evo and far superior to the 850 pro.
960 has a few key changes that have tripled the speed.
In terms of real life speed 960 evo 1Tb is the same as 960 pro 1TB.
The 960 evo 256 gig is slower tho but again in real life it's close.