M14x Removal of Optical drives and replaced with.......

Hey guys, I just thought that we should have a thread to give people good advise and different things you can put in the place of the optical drive.

I also have a question regarding having 2 hdd/ssd

I know when you fill your hard drive to the max it results in your laptop becoming very slow... But what would happen if you filled your second hard drive that you have put in the place of the optical drive, would that still result in your laptop becoming slow ?

My idea was basically to replace the optical drive with a SSD/HDD and put all my games films and photos on it and leave my main hdd relatively empty so that the performance of the laptop isn't effected, would this work ?

Also which set up would you recommend out of these ?

( 1* stands for main HDD/SSD | 2* stands for a HDD/SSD in the place of the optical drive )

Option 1: 1* 500GB HDD / 2* 250GB SSD
Option 2: 1* 250GB SSD / 2* 500GB HDD
Option 3: 1* momentus xt hybrid drive 500 GB / 2* 250GB SSD
Option 4: 1* 250GB SSD / 2* momentus xt hybrid drive 500GB
Option 5: 1* 500GB HDD / 2* momentus xt hybrid drive 500GB
Option 6: 1* momentus xt hybrid drive 500 GB / 2* 500GB

I would like to keep as much battery life as i can but i also want good performance so just got to find the right balance

 

Maybe with a Diskette floppy drive??


Just kidding,
I want a blu-ray drive in my future m14x...

 

lmao.. that would be awesome

m14x with a retro style

 

I'm currently thinking:

A) 500GB Momentus XT | 1TB HDD (ODD)
B) 32GB SD Card | 750GB HDD | ODD

AFAIK you can boot from an SD card, I just don't know what the power would be, if it would actually be more efficient to use a fully-fledged SSD.

Also, if you are putting an SSD in, you either want a small one - like above - for only your OS, or a reasonably big one to include games, then put everything else on a mechanical drive.

 

Ok thanks for that, So are SSD more efficient power wise ? ( drains power less )

 

It depends on the drives and usage. No they are not always more power efficient. However, in the big scheme of things, HDD/SSD power consumption is a relatively small part of an m14x's overall power usage.

 

Usually SSDs are superior to their mechanical counterparts in every manner, except for costs. (Sometimes SSDs have a limited number of write-cycles, but that's complicated and usually not relevant.)

Whatever is on your SSD will benefit with a boost in speed. Pictures, music, documents, and movies should go on the slower mechanical drive for sure. The OS should go on the SSD. Other programs can be a toss up. Anything that you want to be faster should go on the SSD. If your OS boots from the SSD, but programs that run at startup (like anti-virus or things that update themselves) or on the mechanical HDD, then Windows will start up quickly, but then be slow for a bit while those startup programs launch from the slower HDD. If you want games to have shorter load times, put them on an SSD. If the game stutters due to loading things on the fly, putting it on the SSD will help. If you don't mind load times and don't have performance issues, put games on the HDD. Possibly put Word on the SSD so it starts up quickly, but put actual documents on the HDD. It comes down to preference. Just remember that programs that start when Windows does will slow you down if they are on HDD, so remove the autostart or put them on SSD.

I don't know the performance difference as SSDs or HDDs fill up. For both I would imagine they get worse as they fill, but I would guess that a full SSD is still faster than a fresh HDD. I don't know how a full SSD compares to a new one speedwise. If a full SSD is negligibly slower than a fresh one, fill it up with anything you want to be quicker. If the full SSD is noticeably slower, choose its contents more carefully.

 

SSDs usually use less power, and almost always require less cooling than mechanical drives. Power consumption with an SSD will almost certainly be less, but it may not be enough of a difference to be meaningful.

 

I know the Standard HDD/SDD port is a 3GB port but does anyone know if the optical drive port is also 3GB port or a 1.5 GB port?

Because if they are both 3GB, couldn't you potentially set up a raid-0 configuration?

 

Potentially, unless they're on different controllers (though I don't see why they would be).

 

Thanks for that chris it was very helpful... so i think i am best getting a ssd drive for the main hard drive... I want to try and get dell to give me the option to have a momentus 500 GB hard drive over the normal 500 GB hard drive.. i know on the m11x it was only like £40 differences or something crazy like that, just gonna have to try and haggle them to allow it I've done it before when i was trying to get a quote for the m11x.. they had a ESL deal that wouldnt let you choose the momentus but after some complaining he gave in lol.. hopefully with a bit of luck i might be able to get it on the m14x !

Sorry if this is a stupid question.... But what is a "Raid-0" ?

and if it turns out to be a 1.5 GB port will i get the same speed out of my hard drives ?

 

RAID 0 is a hard drive system that reads or writes to multiple discs simultaneously. If you have a HDD with 4 discs, any file while be broken up into 4 blocks, with 1 block going to each disc. (In other words, each disc has 1/4th of the file). When reading the file later, it reads all four discs together. This means that in reading and writing, you would need (theoretically) only 1/4th the time as you would normally. Wikipedia has a better explanation that isn't very complicated.

 

lol like chris said, check wiki but it breaks it down very simple as to what a raid config is.

As for the drive speed...

If you put standard HDD 7200rpm drives on both ports, you most likely won't notice a difference, "Correct me if i'm wrong please"

As for an SSD, the 1.5 GB port might be slower than the 3 GB port.

" I know cause I had an m15x which I customized and it has a 3gb (Standard port) and a 1.5 gb port (the optical drive port) and I saw a difference in speed with the ports "

You might also wanna check out the M15x optical caddy replacement so you could see what u could potentially get yourself into lol http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/481238-guide-m15x-optical-drive-hdd-caddy-installation-56k-warning.html

 

RAID = redundant array of independent disks

If you have the appropriate hardware (or sometimes software nowadays), you can make 2 or more identical HDD's or SSD's into an array. There are many levels, indicating different levels of redundancy and disk configurations. The common ones you'll see are:

RAID 0 - Two or more disks (typically two) in a striped configuration with no redundancy. Total volume is equal to the combined capacity of the two drives and read speeds are substantially faster than a single drive. Typically used for system drives.

RAID 1 - Two disks in a mirrored configuration. All data exists on both disks and the total volume is equal to half the combined size of the two disks. One disk can fail and you don't lose anything. Typically used for storing critical data.

RAID 5 and RAID 10 (1+0) let you use 3 or more disks in configurations with varying levels of redundancy, performance, and storage space. Typically used for storing large amounts of data.

 

Ok thanks for the info guys... but do you think this will invalidate my warranty ?

and is there any other option other than putting a blu-ray player in there or a hard drive ?

How about extra batteries, is that possible ?

 

AW is good about user customization and I'm sure it wouldn't hurt your warranty. The only downside is if your blu ray ever broke, you'd have to mail it and wait weeks from the blu ray manufacturer to get you a replacement.

 

I would say u are limited to Bly-ray and hard drive , sry.

As long as u keep all the parts and dont damage anything you should be fine with warranty. Just don't break anything in the process.

 

Why would you need a hybrid drive when you have an SSD?

The point of a hybrid drive is that the SSD to to pricy and hence you cannot obtain one altogether. So there wouldn't be much point in having one as a secondary drive (with a SSD as primary) since the purpose of the hybrid drive is to run your most used programs faster, that purpose is removed when you have a SSD run them faster anyway (and run 250gb of them instead of just 4gb).

Otherwise I guess hybrid + 500gb for cheap yet still fast. If you can afford it then 250gb and 500gb.

 

I would put all the things I want to run fast on the ssd and everything else on the hybrid but the good thing is that if I repeatedly use something of the hybrid it will automatically make it go faster after 5 times I think it is... And anyway it almost the same price as a normal hard drive..so if I can haggle on the phone and get them to give me that instead the normal hard drives I might as well

 

Hi

I search a caddy for my futur Alienware M14X. Know where I can find one compatible?

Thanks.

 

This is just my ten cents, but as somebody who worked in a computer forensics lab and a clean room I had a few observations to share. Now while the performance benefits of an ssd cannot be overstated, there is a problem with these drives.

Do your research, as these things break down a lot more thN you would think, especially given the way the drive is made. If my sata drive breaks, i can replace the heads or regenerate the plist or do a dozen oher things necessary to repair, and/or recover my data. With most SSD drives, when they broke they became great paper weights and we had very little consistent success recovering data from the drives.

all of this on top of the fact that using a clean room is cost prohibitive for your average end user.

We had better success with hyrbid drives, fow what it is worth. Obviously, what i am saying actually applies to any hard drive on the market, but until ssd drives become cost effective and more reliable for long term use, I will pass.

 

That is why you just use your SSD for the OS and programs like word, photoshop, autocad, maybe some music.

I'm hoping people wouldn't be using these SSD's as a source for sensitive data because even still, they haven't proven to be very reliable, they degrade over time and like the Hengst says, data is usually not recoverable.

 

So it seems momentus xt hybrid drive is the recommended choice then ?..

Is the SSD partition of it equally as good as a normal SSD ?

 

The SSD part of it is only a 4GB part, and it is used just to increase read and write times to the physical part of the drive. Everything is written on the disks. Hency the word "Hybrid". It is not necessarily an SSD but it has increased read/write times without the negative impact of price/storage like standard SSD's

 

There's no partition. It's a 4GB SSD, and a 496GB HDD, appearring as one 500GB drive. (465GB when formatted)

 

Hi

Anyone know where can i find caddy for Alienware M14X. if not what size shld i purchase ?

Thanks.

 

SATA Hard Drive HDD caddy Apple MacBook Pro 13" 15" 17" on eBay.ca (item 180543686619 end time 04-May-11 06:54:51 EDT)

this is the caddy i used for the alienware m14x.

i got my two ssd's in it and i am satisfied.

 

nvm........

 

I'm gonna buy it and see how it goes! gonna put a 500GB in its place!

 

Could you please take lots of pictures or even better make a video because I really want to do this but I've never opened up a laptop or a computer before so I wouldn't have a clue, theres lots of rep in it for you

 

Does an extra battery wired back to make a 16-cell (8+8) fit the space?

Think of the possibilities...

 

thats exactly what i want to happen...i bet we'd get 10+ hours (and the weight might go up quite a bit haha)

 

I dont think it would be that heavy would it? I mean theyre not like the batteries that dell used to supply them with..

 

Batteries Are always heavy, they are filled with acid that is heavy. Its like their only downside haha

 

Actually laptop batteries aren't filled with acid, but yes they're still heavy

 

Can you confirm the optical drive is 9.5mm tick? to use the one you link or a 12.7mm will fit too?

 

I am also very interested in replacing the optical drive with a second HDD. If anyone knows the thickness of the drive. 9.7 or 12.5 please confirm. Thanks.

 

same here waiting for the answer so i can order heee

 

That is the 9.5mm and it will fit on any laptop with 12.7 or 9.5mm ODD but the question i ask is the ODD that comes with the M14X a 12.7mm thick because i already have a caddy of that size and you can fit bigger drives on those like the western digital 1TB 12.5mm

 

i think i will get a small ssd like 120 gb and get a 1tb secondary hdd

 

what's the sata for the optical drive right now on the m14x? sata2?

 

how about replacing it with nothing? or just an air outlet, try and get it cooler so the fan stops flaring up? don't know much about modding but better ventilation might help.

 

That actually might not be a bad idea, except that I think the keyboard relies on something being their for support.

 

Since I'm getting a replacement M14x soon anyway (build quality issue on the left palmrest - clicks when pressure is applied) - I decided I would try to use my OWC Data Doubler from my MacBook Pro (which I am selling anyway, so I had to remove the drive and put the MBP back to stock) as a replacement for my optical drive on the M14x. In short: no go. But I took pics of the process so it will hopefully help some of you guys get an idea of what you're in for. It's not nearly as easy as a Mac to tear this baby down..surprise!

[click to enlarge any of these images]

Back cover open:


Optical drive removed:


The optical drive itself (for those curious):


Removing the SATA ribbon cable - it's cheapo quality and just taped on:


SATA ribbon cable removed and on display:


Optical drive is housed in a cage - which causes the problem for me:


Attempted to put that cage on my OWC Data Doubler - FAIL:


Without that cage fitting, the OWC Data Doubler just swims in there freely:


Cage back on the optical drive - for illustration purposes:

 

So as somebody looking to add a blue ray drive, have we determined if we need a 9.5 sized slot load sata drive or will the 12 work?

 

The info was right above you in one of my pictures.

9.5.

 

ahh so back to my original question as to whether a 9.5 slot loading sata blu ray drive even exists to buy right now. Looks like I will be waiting.

 

I haven't been able to find anyone that manufactures 9.5mm drives that are SLOT load. HIDevolution has an option to include a bluray upgrade, but I'm not sure what drive they are using. They won't tell me. If anyone else can find out from them, it would be very helpful!

 

This? Panasonic UJ232A 9.5mm Ultra Slim Blu-ray Burner Reader | eBay

 

is there any 1TB hard drives out there that are 9.5 mm ?