Anyone willing to confirm drive types in Alienware 17 R2 (2015)

Documentation is vague on the 17 R2, and well as a bit contradictory. Pictures in the service manual seem to show space for 4 x m.2 ssd drives AND a 2.5 drive. However, the wording for the same caption says 4 ssd OR a 2.5. That can't be right, so some eyes-on confirmation would be great!

Since we have some folks getting their systems in hand now, would someone be willing to pop off the bottom panel and see what it will actually hold. I'm interested to find out how many drives it will hold, as well as the types of drives.

I'm thinking for addition m.2 ssd drives, it would be something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-MTS...e=UTF8&qid=1422198373&sr=1-3&keywords=m.2+ssd

And for the 2.5" 5400 HDD, it would be something like this:
Amazon.com: Samsung 850 Pro 512GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-7KE512BW): Computers & Accessories

Thanks in advance for confirming this for those of us still waiting on our orders!

 

In the service manual it shows a picture of a 2.5" drive along with an area for 4 m.2 ssd drives.
And some of the configurations on the website for the laptop are m.2 SSD with 5400 rpm drive. So I'm saying it does support it since there are configurations on the laptop builder.

But if it's listed as an option in the configuration on the website, I wonder why the service manual says OR but the configuration lets you have both.

Code:

1TB 5400RPM SATA 6Gb/s

128GB M.2 SSD (Boot) + 1TB 5400RPM (Storage)

256GB M.2 SSD (Boot) + 1TB 5400RPM (Storage)

512GB M.2 SSD (Boot) + 1TB 5400RPM (Storage)

 

Yeah, I've been through this discussion in another thread. The only way I can see the OR being exclusive is if one of the M.2 SATA chanels is shared. It would be a strange choice but allow for more fast-USB ports? I don't know the amount of 6Gbit/s the chipset supports, it's 6 max on mine.

I'm reckonong on being able to use 4xM.2 SSD's in addition to leaving the HDD in. I've just ordered a cheap, small M.2 SSD (64gb) to play with and use it as a cache for the HDD. We shall see...

 

another question - I see 42mm and 80mm m.2 ssd on amazon how do I know which I need and where does the screw come from? trying to order today - thanks for quick reply

 

The screw comes from the PRC.

 

I never noticed that but looking at the line drawing there appears to be a screw hole between the socket and the end of the one getting put in so both will probably fit. I was more looking at whether it needed PCIe or SATA interface but it's SATA.
I'm hoping the screws are already in the machine but I'll see when it arrives.
I went for a 'Transcend MTS800 - solid state drive - 64 GB - SATA 6Gb/s' to use as a cache for the HDD .

 

Lol I'm still waiting on someone to put eyes on it. I don't wanna speculate and end up ordering the wrong drives. My guess is it takes the 80 mm SATA III ssd (like in my OP) and the 2.5 one also liked for where the ratty hard HDD is currently.

My links were more for reference to what type and size of drives we'll need, as a complete guess based on the info we are given in the manual. That's what I need confirmation on though.

 

When I was looking over my order status I got a page with all the dell part numbers. It's been removed now but I posted it : http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-17-m17x/768890-new-aw17-r2-8.html#post9898158

So I'm getting a Samsung PM851 SATA M.2 .

This is from the manual ( ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-prod...top/alienware-17-r2_Reference Guide_en-us.pdf)

Interface SATA 6 Gbps

One 2.5 inch Hard drive

Four M.2 Solid State Drives

 

So we're thinking that both the m.2 and the 2.5" are SATA III right? Sorry, just now getting around to checking the link, and it appears the dell site is down lol....I can't even get to dell.com at the moment.

 

That is what the published specifications state. From my research the slowest method of access as opposed to PCIe M.2 . Not that milliseconds make much difference in use...

Edit: http://rog.asus.com/308552014/label...a-and-sata-express-the-differences-explained/

 

And the winner is... they're keyed type 'M'. Here's a detail photo of the two on the left. (Other two identical)

 

@zaubermac, were there any retaining screws in the empty bays? Thanks.

 

There aren't any screws in there. Really small size, 1 or 1.5 mm? Measured the bay, it's set up for the 80mm length drives, only one set of posts so only length supported. I'll post a photo later. They'll be listed as '2280'. I've seen in posts about M.2 drives that the screws come with the drives, just like regular 2.5's did. I don't have one to check though. Yet...

 

Thanks.

Hmm, that sucks. I just got one (Transcend MTS800) just to use as a HDD cache and no screw in the pack. Now I'm going to have to find out the size. Hopefully dell will know, they used to supply fully connected (transposer) drive bays even if unused back in the day.

Edit I just saw that '2280' on the box, listed as 'Form Factor'.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=770393

It's a M2 3.0mm. Confirmed in copied thread.
If you zoom in on the picture it even has it imprinted in the plastic.

Edited where the imprint is.

 

Totally agree after seeing your photo. I did google that Toshiba part number from the service manual photo and it pulls up a b-m drive. I haven't searched deeper yet, but I guess that means b-m drives are compatible with m slots? The service manual photo of that Toshiba drive does look like it has 2 key slots.

 

Has anyone received their system yet and has an m.2 ssd from the factory? I'd really like to know if the ssd that comes from the factory has two key notches (b-m) despite the board slot having only 1 key.

 

Never mind all. Just1tree was able to confirm this drive fits, and that's exactly what I needed to know:

http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-MTS...=1423419982&sr=8-1&keywords=m.2+ssd+transcend

 

I think it's designed to go in any way up, hence the two slots on the SSD and one on the board. The instructions to install one do not mention which way up it goes and the design means someone does not end up trying to force it in . ? Can't be sure but I have one I am looking at.

 

Could someone please recommend a 2tb 7200rpm drive to replace the 1tb with? In my current model I have a 256ssd with a 1tb 5400 and 1tb 7200. Since these new models take away the additional slot I would like to replace my two 1tb drives with a good 2tb one... must be 7200rpm though. Thank you!

 

So its probably common knowledge now that all 4 m.2 slots are not pcie but limited to sata's 6gb/s cap.

Is there any point in buying a 2 lane or 4 lane m.2 pcie if your laptop only supports sataIII? Could we max out the 750mb/s completely?

This is really disappointing, what's the point of having 4 m.2 slots if they don't support raid or go faster than 750mb/s???

 

I can confirm the 4 m.2 slots. They are 80 mm size. On a side note, since there is only one 2.5 drive slot, I went with this today:
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1190
I literally bought this laptop from Fry's last night. I purchased the hard drive with a price match from New Egg. I did the hard drive clone procedure, it went without a single hitch. I put the hard drive in, it booted off the solid state in 18 seconds. I can live with that.

I'll put a single 256 m.2 in later when I find one on sale.

 

i bought a plextor m6e 256gb and i'll update once it arrives. I think some other have been unsuccessful in getting theirs online but i want to try

 

Well I got the Plextor m6e 256gb and installed it and I have questioned Alienware support and Plextor Support and it should work so they said it was DOA I sent it back to Newegg and waiting for another if it doesn't show up in the BIOS then there is an issue and the slot we have in the Alienware 17R2 2015 is M & B keyed slotted so in fact the M only drives will not work as M key has 5 pins on the right and the Samsung PM851 M.2 512GB that comes with mine has the slot on both sides but the the Mainboard the key is on the Left and needs 6 pins so there is no way you can install Samsung XP941 (PCIe x4) as the key is on the Right so you can't install it so that's why I went after the Plextor M6e M.2 (PCIe x2) so I'm just hoping it was DOA and the next one works. I find this picture confusing PCIe or SATA controller doesn't matter so they say? https://www.ramcity.com.au/blog/m.2-ngff-ssd-compatibility-list/189?&ship_country=CA



I will post back once I get the replacement and I got my fingers crossed that it shows in the BIOS this time. Also I took the 2.5 HDD out and put in a Samsung 850 Pro Series Internal Solid State Drive (SSD), 2.5-Inch, 512GB SATA III, 3-D Vertical and it works above the specs and the installed PM851 M.2 512GB. And also the screw does not come with the Plextor so I had to go to a PC shop with the current screw and found 3 others just in case I can use all 4 M.2 slots.

Cheers,

TH

 

dude that is not going to work, me and 2 other people (one here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/alienware-13-m-2-drive-is-not-recognized.771963/ and another on the dell forums) have tried and failed. These models are wired to support sata not pcie and it will never work, i even checked the bios and its a physical problem not something that can be fixed with a new bios. I'd love to be wrong but i doubt it. I can't believe alienware support actually said that.

Ramcity is right, but they are talking about desktops not laptops. Desktop mobo's are wired to support BOTH sata and pci-e, i don't know of any laptops that do that.

 

@#$%#$%%$#$%$# Really I guess the RMA should be a refund instead of replacement! Are you sure as I would have to do it right away?

Thanks,

TH

 

uh no idea. Its going to cost me $40 plus shipping to get an RMA so i am not even sure atm. I might just keep it.
I'm really curious about alienware support though, maybe it is a bios issue after all. Can you ask more pointed questions?

 

Na thanks I will go with a compatible M.2 or just get a refund.

Thanks again,

TH

 

The latest mobile chipsets support up to 4 SATA III channels (as this machine will).

 

I just started a chat on Dell and asked the guy about the SSD ports, are they SATA III or SATA Express. He went and asked one of the tech guys, and he said that the ports are indeed SATA Express and they are backwards compatible with SATAIII. Now don;t shoot the messenger, lol, I'm just relaying what they told me. My AW17 arrives Friday and I'm going to plunge into the Samsung SSD and see if the AW17 2015 really is SATA Express. I'll get it at Amazon so I can return it for the Crucial M200 if Dell was wrong. I'll write back and let you know what happens.

==========================
UPDATE (30 minutes later): I got back from my staff meeting and read the REST of the thread. So the hardware isn't even physically capable of SATA Express, lol! Amazing how Dell will lie, intentionally or not. Who did the chat rep ask, the contracted janitor??

 

Yeah the m.2 slots are sata III. The pcie cards aren't going to work.

 

Yeah...
I ordered the Crucial MX200 today, 256GB for my C: for OS & Apps (my AW17 is coming with only the 1TB 5400RPM "I can't believe Dell still uses 5400rpm" drive.

 

Got my AW17 R2 yesterday. Mine was the 1TB 5400rpm drive ONLY. I used Acronis TrueImage 2015 to grab the image off the 1TB drive, then I installed this Crucial MX200 256GB M.2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0446076&PID=6156889&SID=i6yk8rkgna00r31000053

I don;t have a screw yet, just letting the case cover hold it in place until I get over to Ace Hardware. I thought I would have a screw small enough in my colection but no go. ANYWAY, this M.2 drive is b-m keyed and works just fine in the m-keyed slot which is absolutely SATA III. I booted up from the Acronis CD with an external DVD burner via USB, threw the image on the M.2 SSD (TrueImage lets you move an image from a 1TB drive to a 256GB drive), and my AW17 is up and running and happy. NO big news with this post, just wanted to confirm what I used and that it all worked. I did put a SanDisk Extreme 480GB SSD in the bay, the 5400rpm drive will go in a $12 Sabrent external case as a backup drive. Oh, I also pulled the two 4GB sticks of ram and installed two Crucial 8GB sticks that I already had.

Anyone know the actual screw size for the Sata M.2 card?

 

I might add that this is my first AW after owning several cheaply made Inspirons. The build quality on the AW is truly awesome. Best keyboard that I've ever touched on a laptop (trackpad too, and I usually hate those).

 

Think of it this way, with an x16 gpu you can't get 4x pci express ssds at sata iii speeds (4x available from chipset is gen 2) meaning one or two slots could be pci express. If they were different dell would have marked them as such.

It's likely the m.2 slots are gen III while the 2.5 inch is gen II along with the optical drive. This would max the chipset out for ports.

 

bumping this thread with a question.
Does anyone know what the maximum depth is for a hard drive in the AW17? 7mm, 9.5mm?
I think it should work with 9.5mm drives, but I wanted to double check.

 

I can here to ask the same thing:

Does anyone know what the maximum depth is for a hard drive in the AW17? 7mm, 9.5mm?

Thanks!
Aroc

 

Well I found out this week that the 2.5 inch drive is drive 0 so the 3 of 4 M.2 Sata III slots are 1, 2, 3 and 4 runs on SATA II not SATA III as I found and was wondering why the 4th slot would not go above 280+Mbps see here http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/images/diagrams/hm87-chipset-diagram-3x2.jpg

Also from Samsung Magician:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. From Speccy:

So what good if they came out with RAID support I told Alienware Support?

TH

 

The chipset supports 4 SATA III ports so it depends how they have distributed everything. 3 drives do pretty much max the chipset to CPU connection so you only get a tiny speed improvement, but it does limit total capacity I suppose.

 

Well, if one wanted to do RAID with SSDs, they would use slots 0 - 3, and have slot 4 be the boot OS (this is assuming one uses either software or hardware/firmware RAID). I've done RAID across different SATAs, and it was terrible.
I wonder which 2 the AW15 has. Slots 1 and 2, 2 and 3, or 3 and 4? Probably the first one, but it would be good to check on.

 

Or you would have to leave Slot 4 empty not sure if Slot 4 is Isolated? So you would have to use 1 2.5 SSD and 3 M.2's SATA III all the same size like 4 250GB. Also Mushkin said that they coming out with a special M.2 2280 SATA III in the fall 2015: http://poweredbymushkin.com/index.p...rives/1174-any-worth-while-m-2-ssd-plans.html

TH

 

Great info.. So the m.2 slot in the 17R2 that's labeled as slot 4 is a SATAII port?

 

To answer my own question:

• 9.5mm (2.5 inch) hard disk bay.

I received an Alienware 17 R2 for a colleague. The drive from the factory was a HGST 7K1000-1000, 1 TB, 7200 rpm, SATA 6.0Gb/s, 9.5 mm, (DP/N: 097DYV) drive. He's pleased because that gives him an upgrade path to a (likely slower) 2TB drive for when he needs more storage.