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    Install SSD M.2 on new Alienware 15 help

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Chaunky, Feb 5, 2015.

  1. Chaunky

    Chaunky Newbie

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    I just recently bought an Alienware 15. Decided to buy a SSD separately. I bought the Crucial M500 240GB SATA M.2. So I just received the SSD in the mail, but it comes with no screw. I was watching some videos of old alienware installs, and they all have a screw for the SSD. My question is, do I need a screw, and if I do, what kind of screw should I get? If anyone has a link to a video install of this SSD on the new AWs that would be amazing. Thanks for the help.
     
    Chaunky, Feb 5, 2015
    #1
  2. CSHawkeye81

    CSHawkeye81 Notebook Deity

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    CSHawkeye81, Feb 5, 2015
    #2
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  3. Chaunky

    Chaunky Newbie

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    Chaunky, Feb 5, 2015
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  4. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    It's a small phillips screwdriver.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Feb 5, 2015
    #4
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  5. Aescher

    Aescher Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you have a Fastenal store close by they can get them and quoted me $.06 each. No minimum quantity. just ask for a M2.0 x 3 mm phillips machine screw (Just like the one CSHawkeye81 linked to). If they don't have them in stock they will have them usually next day and you don't have to pay shipping or anything. I always try to give the local guys a shot at getting what I need before buying online if I can, even though it is < $1.00 :)
     
    Aescher, Feb 6, 2015
    #5
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  6. JDawggS316

    JDawggS316 Notebook Consultant

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    JDawggS316, Feb 6, 2015
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  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    It should be the same yes.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Feb 7, 2015
    #7
  8. Kamzan

    Kamzan Notebook Deity

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    so basically m.2 sata and Msata are two different things ? and the 15 can only take M.2 sata ?
    any recommendations for a cheap and yet fast M.2sata ?
     
    Kamzan, Feb 9, 2015
    #8
  9. scodino

    scodino Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, its different:

    (1) mSata
    (2)M.2

    [​IMG]

    However there are different m.2 sizes. I dont know which one fits in Alienware.
     
    scodino, Feb 13, 2015
    #9
  10. jrfox87

    jrfox87 Notebook Consultant

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    Has it been determined whether the Alienware 15 can do PCI-Express on the M.2 slot or is it limited to SATA III?
     
    jrfox87, Feb 14, 2015
    #10
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  11. scodino

    scodino Notebook Enthusiast

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    Good question...
     
    scodino, Feb 16, 2015
    #11
  12. zachary77

    zachary77 Notebook Consultant

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    Unfortunately, they don't use the PCI-Express format or I would have sprung for one of the lightning fast new Samsungs.
     
    zachary77, Feb 16, 2015
    #12
  13. jrfox87

    jrfox87 Notebook Consultant

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    Where did you find that out? I've been looking everywhere and havent been able to find anything that specifies either way.
     
    jrfox87, Feb 16, 2015
    #13
  14. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    You can tell from the key of the M.2 slot.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Feb 16, 2015
    #14
  15. zachary77

    zachary77 Notebook Consultant

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    It has been confirmed by a handful of veterans on this board. I was a little bummed to hear the news.....
     
    zachary77, Feb 16, 2015
    #15
  16. Dmv816cheese

    Dmv816cheese Newbie

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    Dmv816cheese, Feb 17, 2015
    #16
  17. Dmv816cheese

    Dmv816cheese Newbie

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    2015 alienware 15 970m
     
    Dmv816cheese, Feb 17, 2015
    #17
  18. jrfox87

    jrfox87 Notebook Consultant

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    That SSD will work just fine inside the Alienware 15. However, it is not an M.2 style SSD, it will have to replace the existing hard drive in the machine, so if you wanted to have both an ssd and a regular hard drive in your machine then that is not the type of ssd you want.
     
    jrfox87, Feb 17, 2015
    #18
  19. Dmv816cheese

    Dmv816cheese Newbie

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    Thank you.
     
    Dmv816cheese, Feb 17, 2015
    #19
  20. bumbo2

    bumbo2 Notebook Deity

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    Did you guy notice that the m15 has 4 m.2 slot?!
     
    bumbo2, Feb 17, 2015
    #20
  21. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    4x m,2 SATA yes, the only similar implementation is the MSI GT72, I like how alienware lay it out better.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Feb 17, 2015
    #21
  22. JRam

    JRam Newbie

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    Visit the following blog for instructions about howq to install M.2 SSD and Migrate OS without losing recovery partition

    alienwaretips.wordpress.com

    Everything written in this website is done by me form my alienware 15 R2.
     
    JRam, Feb 13, 2016
    #22