However, Alienware 15 R3 and Alienware 17 R4 have the same mainboard. Setup and Specifications for Alienware 17 R4 Storage Table 1 says there are Two full-size M.2 PCIe/SATA drives and One half-size M.2 PCIe/SATA drive (SSD-2, SSD-3 & SSD-1).
Having taken off the rear panel, you see that the 15 R3 also has the SSD-1 slot with a M.2 socket. This should accommodate One M.2 2242 solid-state drive having interface type of SATA AHCI 6 Gbps, or PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe up to 32 Gbps with a capacity of Up to 1 TB. Although the 15 R3 Setup and Specifications have not been updated, a capacity of Up to 2 TB is anticipated to function.
We tried reaching you on a private message asking for the Service Tag but did not receive a response. Please feel free to reply to the private message whenever you are available.
2242 is compatible? Is the 2230 also compatible? Who sells a card that is compatible with this? I can't find one anywhere online. Can the other two (regular sized) M.2 slots (SSD-2 and SSD-3) also handle a 2TB card? The manual says 1TB has been tested, but I read that a 2TB could possibly work too. @crimsom
@crimsom I have added two 1TB KINGSTON KC2500 M.2 cards. I want to know if the Alienware 15 r3 can use two 2TB M.2 cards. Also, can the 2.5 SSD handle a 2TB? The HDD/SSD spot. Does this make sense?
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager the Dell Community is a user to user help forum. Users do not work for Dell and are not knowledgeable on every topic. Your Kingston KC2500 is a PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe solid state drive with read/write speeds up to 3,500/2,900MB/s. The Kingston KC2500 SSD is available in capacities from 250GB to 2TB.
This user can only speculate on whether the 15 R3 supports 2TB solid state drives, because we have not installed 2TB.
The main board HDD/SSD socket's interface is a slow SATA AHCI 6 Gbps and supports One 2.5-inch hard drive or SATA solid state drive. If not already installed, purchase of Caddy with SATA cable, is required to connect to the main board.
@crimsom I have searched EVERYWHERE online and I can not find a ( One M.2 2242 solid-state drive having interface type of SATA AHCI 6 Gbps, or PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe up to 32 Gbps with a capacity of Up to 1 TB ) for SSD-1 slot. Where can I find one that will fit this slot?
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager do not know what part of the world you hail from, click on general search for 2TB M.2 "2242" PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe. Then review the SSD candidate's performance, storage, read/write, etc. criteria with what you are prepared to pay and/or want. Search for Review of your SSD candidate's capability to confirm your selection.
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager my other laptop's HDD life status is Caution and it now refuses to Clone. Have purchased Crucial MX500 whose SATA SDD upgrades include 2TB capacity. Note that Crucial also provide their Storage Executive software tool that enables the Crucial MX500 SATA SSD to become even faster. You may wish to upgrade your 15 R3 HDD/SSD slot with the 2TB Crucial MX500.
The 15 R3 will take one, 2.5" SATA drive. If the system did not ship with a 2.5" drive, be sure you now have the mounting hardware required for a 2.5" drive -- open the system and check.
The m15 R3 will not take any 2.5" drive - these newer models are M.2 only.
crimsom
7 Technologist
•
6.1K Posts
0
October 31st, 2020 02:00
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager Setup and Specifications Alienware 15 R3 Table 1. System information says chipset is Intel CM236 or Intel CM238 and these support Up to PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe Solid State Drives. Then Alienware 15 R3 Storage Table 1 says there are Two M.2 2280 solid-state drives (SSD-2 & SSD-3, but no acknowledgement of SSD-1).
However, Alienware 15 R3 and Alienware 17 R4 have the same mainboard. Setup and Specifications for Alienware 17 R4 Storage Table 1 says there are Two full-size M.2 PCIe/SATA drives and One half-size M.2 PCIe/SATA drive (SSD-2, SSD-3 & SSD-1).
Having taken off the rear panel, you see that the 15 R3 also has the SSD-1 slot with a M.2 socket. This should accommodate One M.2 2242 solid-state drive having interface type of SATA AHCI 6 Gbps, or PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe up to 32 Gbps with a capacity of Up to 1 TB. Although the 15 R3 Setup and Specifications have not been updated, a capacity of Up to 2 TB is anticipated to function.
DELL-Cares
Moderator
•
27.6K Posts
0
October 30th, 2020 14:00
We tried reaching you on a private message asking for the Service Tag but did not receive a response. Please feel free to reply to the private message whenever you are available.
Uber Kommandanten Jager
1 Rookie
•
40 Posts
0
October 31st, 2020 21:00
2242 is compatible? Is the 2230 also compatible? Who sells a card that is compatible with this? I can't find one anywhere online. Can the other two (regular sized) M.2 slots (SSD-2 and SSD-3) also handle a 2TB card? The manual says 1TB has been tested, but I read that a 2TB could possibly work too. @crimsom
crimsom
7 Technologist
•
6.1K Posts
0
October 31st, 2020 22:00
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager what are the two m.2 SSD cards that you have recently added to your Alienware 15 R3?
Uber Kommandanten Jager
1 Rookie
•
40 Posts
0
November 1st, 2020 15:00
@crimsom I have added two 1TB KINGSTON KC2500 M.2 cards. I want to know if the Alienware 15 r3 can use two 2TB M.2 cards. Also, can the 2.5 SSD handle a 2TB? The HDD/SSD spot. Does this make sense?
crimsom
7 Technologist
•
6.1K Posts
0
November 2nd, 2020 16:00
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager the Dell Community is a user to user help forum. Users do not work for Dell and are not knowledgeable on every topic. Your Kingston KC2500 is a PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe solid state drive with read/write speeds up to 3,500/2,900MB/s. The Kingston KC2500 SSD is available in capacities from 250GB to 2TB.
This user can only speculate on whether the 15 R3 supports 2TB solid state drives, because we have not installed 2TB.
The main board HDD/SSD socket's interface is a slow SATA AHCI 6 Gbps and supports One 2.5-inch hard drive or SATA solid state drive. If not already installed, purchase of Caddy with SATA cable, is required to connect to the main board.
Uber Kommandanten Jager
1 Rookie
•
40 Posts
0
November 6th, 2020 19:00
@crimsom
I have searched EVERYWHERE online and I can not find a ( One M.2 2242 solid-state drive having interface type of SATA AHCI 6 Gbps, or PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe up to 32 Gbps with a capacity of Up to 1 TB ) for SSD-1 slot. Where can I find one that will fit this slot?
crimsom
7 Technologist
•
6.1K Posts
0
November 6th, 2020 22:00
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager do not know what part of the world you hail from, click on general search for 2TB M.2 "2242" PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe. Then review the SSD candidate's performance, storage, read/write, etc. criteria with what you are prepared to pay and/or want. Search for Review of your SSD candidate's capability to confirm your selection.
crimsom
7 Technologist
•
6.1K Posts
0
November 8th, 2020 14:00
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager please be aware that the HDD caddy can be converted into a SSD caddy by the addition of a M.2 SSD to 2.5in SATA Adapter.
crimsom
7 Technologist
•
6.1K Posts
0
November 10th, 2020 09:00
Hi @Uber Kommandanten Jager my other laptop's HDD life status is Caution and it now refuses to Clone. Have purchased Crucial MX500 whose SATA SDD upgrades include 2TB capacity. Note that Crucial also provide their Storage Executive software tool that enables the Crucial MX500 SATA SSD to become even faster. You may wish to upgrade your 15 R3 HDD/SSD slot with the 2TB Crucial MX500.
M.2 SATA AHCI slots do not accept M.2 PCIe NVMe drives
romaKhamraksa
2 Posts
0
June 27th, 2021 00:00
do the alienware 15 r3 is compatible with crucial mx500 1tb 2.5" Sata ssd
ejn63
10 Elder
•
30.7K Posts
0
June 27th, 2021 04:00
The 15 R3 will take one, 2.5" SATA drive. If the system did not ship with a 2.5" drive, be sure you now have the mounting hardware required for a 2.5" drive -- open the system and check.
The m15 R3 will not take any 2.5" drive - these newer models are M.2 only.