Aurora R7, adding SATA SSD

Question

Hi all,

I have had my R7 for over 3 years and my computer is running out of space. I got a 2TB m2 SSD as the booting drive and a 1TB SATA HDD(the HDD was the original hard drive that comes with the desktop). Now I want to add a new SATA SSD for my R7 and I am not sure if this is possible. I am kind of a noob in this area.

1 Is it possible to add a SATA SSD to my R7?

2 Can I purchase a 4TB SATA SSD and use it on my R7? I have heard that for SATA SSD, only 2TB or less is compatible...is that true?

("the only limit is the over 2TB limit using MBR formatted drives, if you run w10-64bit it will use GPT format by default and there are NO LIMITS, (not till the 2050 year and huge exabyte drives are sold, if ever." by savvy2 in another discussion) I am not sure if I understand it correctly. If I have a win10 64-bit system, then I can add a 4TB SATA SSD?

3 Should I upgrade my power supply if I add the SATA SSD. My original R7 has GTX 1080, 16GB, 1TB HDD and I have upgraded it to GTX 1080(same), 64GB of ram and 2TB m2 SSD(booting drive) + 1TB HDD(same)

4 Does R7 have physical space for an additional SATA SSD? I have heard people saying they just stick the SATA SSD on the side of the R7 and I also have heard people saying there is room to put SATA SSD inside and secure it.

Thanks all!

redxps630 · Answer

Re:

1 Is it possible to add a SATA SSD to my R7?
Yes you can have up to two 2.5 sata ssd. See R7 storage spec

Your computer supports one of the following configurations:

One U.2 drive and two 2.5-inch hard drives
One M.2 2280 solid-state drive, one 3.5-inch hard drive, and two 2.5-inch hard drives
One 3.5-inch hard drive and two 2.5-inch hard drives

2 Can I purchase a 4TB SATA SSD and use it on my R7?

Yes. >2TB drive needs to be initialized using gpt partition scheme (not mbr).

Win 10 64 is good idea for OS on boot drive, but it is not prerequisite to installing > 2 TB data drive.

3 Should I upgrade my power supply if I add the SATA SSD.

No, ssd uses little power. no worries there.

4 Does R7 have physical space for an additional SATA SSD?

yes. you have two 2.5 bays + one 3.5 bay. See AW support video for R5.

Video applies to R7 chassis too.

PS

users have used >2 TB hdd in Windows XP. It is not a new concept in Win 10.

Windows understands GPT just fine and is happy to use them regardless of 32-bit vs 64-bit.

GPT and MBR disks can be mixed on systems that support GPT.

Systems that support UEFI require that boot partition must reside on a GPT disk. Other data disks can be either MBR or GPT.

Vanadiel · Answer

1. Yes, R7 supports up to 2 x 2.5 inch SATA drives

2. Yes. The R7 has only be validated by up to 2 TB drives, but that does not mean it will not work.

Format in GPT format and you should be ok.

3. Drives use very little power. The power draw of an extra SSD/HDD is not going to require a PSU upgrade.

4. Yes, there is room.

R7 specifications

R7 Service Manual

redxps630 · Answer

You need to initialize the new empty 4 TB ssd (using GPT partition) and then format it in NTFS.  Sorry these are computer jargons.

Alienware Desktops

Aurora R7, adding SATA SSD

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