17 R2, SSD/Memory upgrade questions?

Question

I Almost never ask for help with these kinds of things. I've spend 3 days researching the 2 upgrades I would like to do. Just would like someone to confirm or deny what I've gathered from 5 or 6 sources. The SSD is where I have the most confusion. The sata3 stops the pc from taking advantage of the PCIe SSD drive correct? So I would get the same performance from  ADATA Ultimate Series: SU630 1.92TB Internal SATA Solid State Drive - Newegg.com As I would Corsair Force MP510 M.2 2280 1.92TB PCI-Express 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.3 3D TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) CSSD-F1920GBMP510 - Newegg.com or even getting 2 of  Timetec 1TB 3D NAND NVMe Gen3x4 PCIe M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Drive - Newegg.com Are the any NVMe SSD that would be worth the extra $? From what I read the understanding I have is that NVMe is way faster but the Motherboard on the 17r2 only offers sata3 speeds so it was a waste? I Don't really understand the interface difference and don't want to buy the wrong things. As far a the Memory upgrade going from 8 to 16 GB Is there really a difference between? Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3L 1600 (PC3L 12800) Laptop Memory Model CT2KIT102464BF160B - Newegg.com And G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3L 1600 (PC3L 12800) Laptop Memory Model F3-1600C11D-16GRSL - Newegg.com Thanks for any and all feed back and Explanations  Alienware 17 R2 Memory: 8 GB Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4710HQ CPU @ 2.50GHz[Cores 4] [Logical processors 8] Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home

JOcean · Accepted Answer

Where the conflict comes in is that per the specs from Dell, you can have either 4 M.2 drives or a 2.5' SATA drive but apparently not both. But both the M.2 and 2.5' drives are SATA interface so an NVMe SSD would not be compatible and a waste of money since you would have to return them. Though the NVMe SSD is faster by far, this video may offer some insight into everyday performance of M.2 SATA drives.

crimsom · Accepted Answer

Hi @Juggalomayhem

I am still trying to get the answer and apparently the motherboard M.2 connector is SATA III (B key) [Source].

Just like you, have gone full circle only to discover that motherboard is designed to accept only SATA drives.

We have determined that one 2.5" HDD/SSD and four M.2 SSD drives can both be physically installed in the Alienware 17 R2, provided they both have the SATA III interface connector. Now we need to check that BIOS will acknowledge this combined combination.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Juggalomayhem  thank you for sharing image. Have rotated image and inserted four arrows where the M.2 cards are installed. Are you saying that your four M.2 slots do not work?

Juggalomayhem · Answer

So we know that the same mother board in my system shipped with both a m.2 and a 2.5 installed working, and have read multiple threads where it is know to work.

Confused on why that is. Is there something I am missing cause from my understanding of how the HD protocols work it is easy for me to assume the owner manual is incorrect.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Juggalomayhem welcome to this user to user forum.

To resolve what is says in the Alienware 17 R2 Manuals and Documents and what is physically in your 17 R2, take the rear panel off and have a look for how many M.2 slots you can see.

Please share a picture. Thanks.

Juggalomayhem · Answer

My 4 M.2 slots are Empty. When I bought the PC there was an upgrade option for a 1TB WD HHD (which is what i currently have) and add 250gb SSD I declined at the time and planned on doing the upgrade in the future. I have also seen other 17R2 with that configuration.My unitUnit showing both shipped this way from dell

Juggalomayhem · Answer

@JOcean @crimsom

So are these compatible, and Can you run a HDD and SSD?

https://www.newegg.com/western-digital-blue-1tb/p/N82E16820250092?Item=N82E16820250092 SSD

https://www.newegg.com/crucial-16gb-204-pin-ddr3-so-dimm/p/N82E16820148614?Item=9SIAKD3B5T1247 memory

any other different suggestions?

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Juggalomayhem have attempted to zoom into image to determine the M.2 connector interface is M keyed. Have a look at How to distinguish the differences between M.2 cards to confirm M.2 connector interface is "M keyed using the PCIe x 4 bus". M.2 connector interface is M keyed, so NVMe card can be installed.

Screenshot 2021-01-03 013833.jpg Screenshot 2021-01-03 014440.jpg

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Juggalomayhem  There is one 2.5' bay into which you can install a SATA HDD, or a SATA SSD. There are four M.2 slots into which you can install a SATA, PCIe, NVMe drives. Installing OS (C:) onto M.2 NVMe drive is the best option.

Juggalomayhem · Answer

So, that goes against everything that I read. The M.2 Slots on this Motherboard are sata3 so the NVMe wont even work as the PC is lacking the PCIe Protocols for the M.2 port?

Juggalomayhem · Answer

I assume they do, never have used them. There is conflicting information on whether or not you use both a HDD & SSD on my system.

Juggalomayhem · Answer

Hey @crimsom Thank you for taking the time to confirm what i was reading/seeing.

Cool so I'm not losing my mind

I'm going to end up using

https://www.newegg.com/crucial-mx500-2tb/p/N82E16820156175?Item=N82E16820156175

I know Bios will accept it, and in my case there will be no performance difference. No reason to dig any further.

also shout out to @JOcean for helping confirm things aswell

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Juggalomayhem  would it be possible to zoom into one of your M.2 connectors and share the image?

Alienware

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