Alienware 14 - Can I really use the mSATA SSD as Cache only (not bootable)?

Hi there!

I just chatted with Dell support, but they didn't bring any light to my problem.

At the moment, there are 3 different configurations for an Alienware 14, the options for the harddisks are:
1) 750GB, and an option for 750GB + 80GB SSD mSATA as Cache
2) 750GB, and an option for 750GB + 80GB SSD mSATA as Cache
3) 750GB, and an option for 750GB + 80GB SSD mSATA as Cache or another option 750GB + 256GB SSD

As far as I know, the Alienware 14 has one slot for a 2.5" harddisk and one slot for a mSATA disk. By knowing this, I assume that the 256GB SSD from the third option is also a mSATA.

If you choose option 3 (compared to option 2), you also have to buy a faster CPU, a better graphic card and more system memory, which I don't need. I'm just interested in a SSD as system drive (without Cache).

According to Dell support, booting from a SSD is only possible if I choose the 750GB+256GB from option 3 (with all the other things that are better in option 3 than in option 2, but which I don't need, it's about EUR 600,- more expensive).

I asked why it's only possible to boot from the 256GB SSD mSATA, but not from the 80GB SSD mSATA (which can only be configured as Cache), they replied that they only know about configurations that are on their homepage and do not have any other information. They also said that, if I need a bootable SSD, a Dell technician has to come to my place and replace the SSD.

My questions are now:
Are there really mSATA SSDs that are not bootable (the hardware itself)?
Is it a simple BIOS setting which I can change and then the 80GB mSATA SSD is bootable?
Or is the option with 750GB+80GB mSATA SSD as Cache fast enough?

Thanks!

 

Why don't you just get the cheapest configuration that would meet your needs (not including a mSATA SSD) and then purchase an mSATA separately? Currently you can snag a 240GB mSATA SSD's on Amazon for like $150. This would be WAY cheaper and would guarantee that you could use the SSD as the boot drive. Then, simply clone your HDD to your new SSD and you're in business.

To answer your questions:

1) I believe there are mSATA SSD's that are designed as caching drives, but can still be used as a normal SSD. See here: Amazon.com : MyDigitalSSD SC2 Super Cache 2 50mm SATA III 6G mSATA SSD Solid State Drive (128GB with FNet HybriDisk) : Computer Internal Solid State Drives : Computers & Accessories
2) Unless I'm mistaken, you'll have to re-install Windows on the SSD as it comes configured from the factory as a cache drive on the lower configs
3) Caching is much faster than a regular spindle HDD, but doesn't seem to hold up to using the SSD as the primary boot drive (as far as speed goes). Will it be fast enough? Totally depends on what you consider fast..... I would recommend you do some research on SSD caching vs regular SSDs.

 

You can boot from any mSATA, of course it would be better to have more space. The Alienware 14 can have 3 hard drives. 1 mSATA, 1 on HDD bay and 1 on ODD bay. I believe that the last option does not have an ODD, it would be because it would be installed on that slot.

 

Correct, I bought one with the standard HD. I now have 2 x 250gb evo and just recieved my mSata 250gb evo. Running the two current evo's in raid 0, will be adding the mSata making it 3 x 250 on raid 0 this weekend.

 

Thanks for all the answers.

So the Dell Support didn't say the truth when he said that I'm not allowed to do that because of warranty?

The option to buy the normal 750GB harddisk configuration and then simply add a own mSATA drive would be best then, thanks!

 

I'm waiting for my 120 Gb msata sdd to arrive at the begin of next week, my intention is to use it as a primary boot drive (os). I will tell you how it goes. (btw it's a Kingston ssdnow ms200, 120Gb)

 

That would be nice, thanks!

 

Just checked out the shipment, it is due today, the disk may arrive at any time today , i will report back.

I was reading the possibilty to partition the msata drive, let say to leave a secondary 20Gb partition and to use it as cache drive for the secondary hdd, but haven't found a clear procedure on how to do it. it would be an intresting option

 

Ok, the ssd has arrived and installed.

As a precaution, i did remove the hdd, installed the msata sdd and installed windows and all the drivers. Once done, i reinstalled the hdd and formatted it.

Boot up order in bios is set to: msata > DVD drive> HDD

I confirm msata ssd works flawlessly as a primary OS boot drive on our M14.

 

Yes and No

One tip on owning an Alienware is Never ask Dell support questions about it go to Alienware support. The reason for this is as you have suffered. Dell don't have people trained fully in understanding the Alienware Gaming Laptop warranties and terms.

For a Dell you can't touch it for fear of voiding your warranty but Alienware knows that gamers mostly know what they are doing and tend to want to upgrade so they allow for this but don't cover the DIY installed parts in any service or warranty and they can only carry out remote diagnostic if your system is at factory config.

So after this long wall of text yes they didn't tell the "Truth" but more out of ignorance of Alienware policies rather than misleading you.

WhiteStar

 

I think the person you chatted to slightly misled you, and he was meaning that any after market parts you 'add' or 'swap' into your machine will not be covered by Dell warranty. There is no rule that states adding or changing components will invalidate your warranty, working on your machine is not outlawed and neither is upgrading components that are not purchased from Dell - it's just that Dell will obviously not honour warranty on parts they did not provide. They may also ask you to put your machine back to original factory configuration if you ever need to go through any trouble shooting steps with Dell....this I see as being fair, as if you add parts that are not validated by Dell, it's not really their problem to help diagnose any future problem. This is why I always recommend keeping any original parts so that you can put the machine back to its original configuration - if you don't, and the machine needs to be RMA'd, you're gonna lose those upgraded components, which no one wants.

Bottom line is this. Working on your machine, changing parts etc does NOT void your warranty - the caveat of "you break it, you buy it" does apply, though - if you damage your machine or parts whilst working on it yourself, you are responsible and warranty service would be entirely at Dell's discretion.

 

Hello, I own an Alienware 14 and I want to improve hard disk I/O since I want to use it for video editing.
Now I have an 700GB WD + 64 GB mSATA, and I thought there was only place for 2 disks, but reading your messages I found there is place for 3 disks. Am I right?

It`s possible....
-To install an SSD like Samsung pro 850 in that empty drive? Is it SATAm mSATA?
- After trying it, to install another SSD instead of HDD and use them in Raid 0 mode?. So there would be mSATA (Windows + Premiere) + (SSD + SSD) in Raid 0 mode

Thanks! I´m a bit confused.

 

There is room for an mSATA and two 2.5" SSDs/HDDs. One of these 2.5" drives is the DVD drive, or the Optical drive. You'll have to use a caddy bay to use a 2.5" drive.
However, I think the ODD bay runs at SATA II, so if you were to RAID 0 two SSDs, it would have to be the mSATA and the primary SSD.

 

Thanks Game7a1! I´m happy to have found this forum. I was thinking about the possibility to sell my laptop and buy a desktop one for video editing because lack of performance but I think I will give a try to change HDD disk to SSD and see the results.

Two more questions:
- How do I know if ODD bay runs at SATA II or SATA III? I have found a discussion you have had in http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-14-m14x/764528-why-odd-bay-running-sata2-my-aw14-2.html and I don´t see clear. I downloaded Pc Wizard from CPUID as suggested in How do I determine if my computer can handle SATA II or SATA... - HP Support Forum - 2352227
and here is the result:


So it seems it uses intel 8 series c220 chipset that works with SATA III...what do you think?

- I think I will take one SSD first, another SSD later. (If I can combine the ODD and another port, perfect, if not, I will combine them in mSATA and SATA) Is it difficult to configure discs? (RAID system, make one of them bootable,etc... is it easy to migrate existing data from one to another? ( maybe a good tool, or resource)

Thanks sincerely!