XPS 15 (9550) 512GB SSD + 16GB model. Can I add another HDD?

Hi all,

As the topic states, I'm curious if based on my non-4k screen config if anyone knows if this model supports the ability to add a second drive. I feel I will burn through that 512GB pretty quick with some of these 40GB+ games I have waiting to be installed. I've been contemplating all sorts of options for adding additional storage from buying a 256GB SDXC 150/MBs card, to buying a 2 or 3TB external USB 3.0 HDD. But I'd much rather add an additional internal drive.

I believe some people have mentioned around here it depends on the battery but I'm not 100% sure if that is the end all be all. I think it was the 84WHh battery in this one.

Any suggestions on what would be my best bet to adding storage? This laptop hasn't shipped yet so it's no rush.

 

84Wh battery takes up 2.5 inch hard drive slot. 56Wh does not, allowing room for a 2.5 inch, 7mm hard drive or SSD. Battery can be changed by removing case. All this is assuming your original purchase config doesn't come with a hard drive (meaning 2.5" slot is used).

 

So I understand this correctly, I can swap the battery for the smaller one and sacrifice battery life for the space to add an extra HDD. That's a pretty substantial sacrifice.

If I decided against this, would anyone be able to say if running games off an external 3.0 USB drive would be better than running games off of a fast USB stick or fast SDXC card?

 

Yes, a sacrifice I already made (to keep weight down).

Or, instead of USB 3, a Thunderbolt 3 drive enclosure when they come out - probably not a problem. But, for me they need to come up with a Thunderbolt 3 hub first....

 

The Thunderbolt option is interesting but very expensive. Those drives are about $400-$500+ (CAN). I assume USB 3.0 is quicker over SDXC but then it's an additional accessory to carry around.

Guess I'll just have to be picky about the games I install instead. Not sure I want to cut my battery life almost by half to add more storage.

 

As many have stated, going 56Whr battery will allow you put a total of two storage devices on your laptop:
>> M.2 slot (for use with an SSD, up to 512GB / 1TB in capacity).
>> 2.5" SATA slot (for use with an SSD up to 1TB, or mechanical HDD up to 2TB)

If you are using that storage capacity for applications / games, then you'll want an SSD in your 2.5" SATA drive slot. However, if most of your storage is being used by bulk media (movies, music, photos, videos, pr0n, etc), then you'll want to store that stuff on a 2TB 5400rpm hard drive. You specifically want a 5400rpm hard drive, because they are cooler and quieter than 7200rpm drives; and the type of content you are storing on that drive doesn't benefit at all from faster drive speeds.

As far as USB 3.0 drives go... I wouldn't recommend you use them to install applications / games. They are fine for bulk media storage that you occasionally access. But the fact that they are external (and therefore an inconvenience to move around) makes them less than ideal for applications / games. It's certainly possible, but I wouldn't recommend it.

As far as SD Cards... don't go down this route, for two reasons. 1) SD Cards actually have pretty slow random read speeds. The speed numbers you quoted (150MB/s) are sequential read speeds. But applications / games will primarily use random read patterns to load data; and SD cards are garbage for that type of workload; 2) SD cards have poor reliability. They were not intended to be used in a constantly-powered state, where you are constantly reading / writing to them as a primary storage device. They tend to overheat and become defective at a much higher failure rate than internal computer storage (like SSDs or HDDs). Because of that, I wouldn't recommend you use SD cards as a way to install applications / games. Instead, limit them to their intended use, which is in camera / camcorder scenarios, or for transfer of data between devices.

 

We I'm torn. I don't want to cut my battery in half for storage as battery life as we all know if pretty crucial. My Xbox One runs all games off a USB 3.0 2TB HDD and has zero issues. Loading times may or may not be longer but I've noticed no changes in actual performance of the games. I expect running off an SD I would see longer load times but technically I feel it should be possible.

I've been eyeing a Lexar 256GB SDXC: "high-speed performance-leverages UHS-II technology (U3) for a read transfer speed up to 1000x (150MB/s)". Sure, probably not ideal but after some heavy research I'm finding others who have successfully done it and even ran Steam from an SD after converting it to a permanent storage device. They won't be getting heavy use, only on the occasion where I'm using it for gaming. Even then I don't use my laptops regularly, so this could end up being a couple hrs in a week at best. If that.

 

Look at a Samsung t1 external ssd, very small and easy to carry around. Otherwise you can get an internal ssd and put it in an enclosure. They even have them for m.2 or msata drives.

Sent from my Venue 8 7840 using Tapatalk

 

Do you really need to fill up your SSD full of games? Just load the ones you plan on playing.. there is absolutely no reason to have like a dozen games all preloaded at one time.

But personally, get the smaller battery. From the sounds of it, you'll probably always have a charger nearby as gaming on battery never really makes much sense.

 

I'm in the same boat as you. My plan is to only load games and applications on the SSD, and any other media (movies, music etc) will go on an external hard drive.

 

Some people play a lot of different games or have slow internet speeds so they stock up so when friends want to play something, they don't need the few hours to download the game.

 

kent1146, i have the same problem as lundon...

I am planning to buy this model:

http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-15-9550-laptop/pd?oc=dncwx1631h&model_id=xps-15-9550-laptop

It comes with 56 W battery and 256gb SSD. Reading your answer, I think I can add a 2TB HD in it, right?

My problem now is to pinpoint what HD to buy. I was thinking in this product

http://www.amazon.com/Laptop-Drive-...id=1450491800&sr=1-4&keywords=2TB+5400rpm+xps

Since I am 100% beginner, It looks like a very big HD to put inside a very thin notebook.

Also, do I need to buy anything else? (cables, adapters, etc)

please help your little padawan!

 

Have the same model. Note 2.5" drive must be 7mm or less in thickness to fit.

Comes with a drive cage, but requires a special motherboard to 2.5" SATA cable that can only be ordered from Dell (XDYGX - "Cable,Hard Drive,SATA 7MM,9550/5510") after you have a Service Tag. It's on back order or whatever. I know of no one who has received one yet from Dell (I ordered mine Nov 6th) and, alternatively, no one has identified a third party vendor to purchase one from yet. You might want the 2 spacers as well (as shown in Service Manual), not sure what their part number is.

 

My replacement XDYGX should arrive on Dec 22nd, but I'm not sure since it has been delayed for a month.
I bought a 7mm WD hybrid drive - 1tb from amazon and I'll figure out about the spacers, they might be included in the package. I couldn't find an alternative with 2tb and 7mm.

 

For those interested in *>1TB SSD

Samsung offers a 2TB SSD....but it comes with a steep price.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2-5-Inch-Internal-MZ-75E2T0B-AM/dp/B010QD6W9I

 

I have a Seagate 4Tb 2.5" backup plus fast drive. It has 2 2Tb Hdd's in raid0, linked with a Usb 3.0 interface. I use bitlocker on that external drive and still get writing speeds between 220-230MB/s and reading speeds of 250 MB/s. That makes this drive faster then any common internal HDD. Very suitable for gaming You can also use a speedy USB drive, but speedy ones tend to be pricey for their size.