The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Will the WD Black² (Dual HDD+SSD) Fit on the Alienware M14x R2

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by astec23, May 13, 2014.

  1. astec23

    astec23 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Hi! I am searching for answers about this. I am looking to upgrade my Laptop's 750GB HDD to the
    WD Black Dual Drive (120GB SSD + 1TB HDD).

    My problem is about the size of the hard drive bay if it will fit.

    WD Black Specs

    These are the measurements of the SSD
    wdsfMobile_Black2.jpg

    I found from most of the videos and posts that the common SSD they use on the alienware m14x r2
    are those with height of only 7mm, and the WD Black needs 9.5mm in height.

    Will it fit my hard drive bay or not? Thanks!!
     
    astec23, May 13, 2014
    #1
    Mr. Fox likes this.
  2. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Yes that drive will fit just fine in the r2.
    Though from what I hear, it would be cheaper to buy a 120gb msata drive, and a 1tb hdd and just use those instead of the new wd blacks.
     
    ejohnson, May 13, 2014
    #2
    Mr. Fox likes this.
  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,436
    Messages:
    58,194
    Likes Received:
    17,909
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Or just a 256GB SSD lol. The WD black should only be considered if you need SSD + HDD space and have 0 other options for expansion.
     
    Meaker@Sager, May 13, 2014
    #3
    Mr. Fox likes this.
  4. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,346
    Likes Received:
    70,720
    Trophy Points:
    931
    ^^^What Meaker and ejohnson have said is right on point... this option will deliver mediocre performance compared to a discrete SSD solution.

    Western Digital Black2 Dual Drive review: Not the killer storage upgrade it could be | PCWorld

    The WD Black2 Review: World's First 2.5" Dual-Drive | AnandTech

    Conceptually, it's a really cool idea for a machine limited to one available drive bay, but the execution leaves something to be desired. In terms of performance, you would be better off with a 1TB or 2TB 2.5" HDD with an inexpensive 32GB or 64GB mSATA cache-accelerating it than you would be with this option.
     
    Mr. Fox, May 13, 2014
    #4
    CptXabaras and Alienware-Wasserman like this.
  5. Alienware-Wasserman

    Alienware-Wasserman Company Representative

    Reputations:
    75
    Messages:
    194
    Likes Received:
    74
    Trophy Points:
    41
    As the three gentlemen said before me,
    It is a matter of performance versus storage capacity.
    Those two options that Mr.Fox states are very interesting indeed.
     
    Alienware-Wasserman, May 14, 2014
    #5
    Mr. Fox likes this.
  6. astec23

    astec23 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    6
    im kind of new to this whole SSD thing guys,

    so you mean i can fit another drive(in this case, an SSD) on my alienware m14x

    and i can use it as the main boot drive, then use the old HDD and use it as storage drive?

    Thanks for the replies anyway. :)
     
    astec23, May 16, 2014
    #6
  7. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Yes, remove the bottom cover (2 screws, then it slides off)
    remove the battery (2 screws, then unplug it)
    there is a open slot next to the wifi card (short one with 2 wires coming off it)
    this is your dmc/msata slot.

    You can plug in a msata drive here and use it to boot from. Or you can install a 64gb caching drive there like I have.
     
    ejohnson, May 16, 2014
    #7
  8. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Exacty that, all you need to do is change the boot priority to the SSD.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, May 16, 2014
    #8