Precision 3431 Replace HD with larger-capacity HD model.

Question

We purchased a Precision 3431 with a 500GB SSD boot drive and a Data storage 1TB HD. I want to replace the 1TB HD with a 10TB HD. Doing that has raised all sorts of strange issues and I'd like to understand what kind of beast I'm dealing with here.

While it needs no RAID intentionally, yet the UEFI SATA setting is set to RAID instead of Disabled or AHCI.
If I switch it to AHCI the it won't boot.

If I'm willing to re-install windows on the SSD, can I switch to AHCI and expect the SSD to still work?

I have been told that 4TB is the max size of HD on this computer but no reason why that would be.
Does that mean it doesn't match up with GPT spec's???

I've tried installing a pci-e SATA III controller but it doesn't seem to be recognized as installed.
I formatted the new hard drive on another computer with a basic 10TB volume.
It still is not recognized.

The computer has the newer Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) installed which will deal with Optane which I don't have. It's also very "cartoonish" and doesn't do more than show devices but seems to have no controls.Might I install an older version of IRST?

I don't need a Server. A decent workstation will do.
Any productive recommendations?

DELL-Cares · Answer

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fcm339 · Answer

OK. So the answer I received says this:

Thank you. This system model supports the following storage options,

Two NVMe M.2 2280 SSD; PCIe 4, Up to 32 Gbps—Up to 1 TB

One Solid State Drive Optane Memory Module (SSD),M.2 2230,PCIe, Up to 32 Gbps—Up to 32 GB

Two 2.5 inch,SATA AHCI, Up to 6 Gbps—Up to 4 TB

One 3.5 inch,SATA AHCI, Up to 6 Gbps—Up to 4 TB

So, I am rather shocked by the 4TB hard drive capacity limit and it means that this computer is not suitable for meeting our needs.
Yet, we have it in hand and would seek to work around the limitation. So, there are two key questions:

1) What causes the 4TB limit? Surely not GPT! So, what is it?
I note that Walmart offered a Precison 3431 with a 6TB hard drive. So it's not like it's impossible to go beyond 4TB.

2) How to work around this limit?

Precision Fixed Workstations

Precision 3431 Replace HD with larger-capacity HD model.

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