Adding msata drive to XPS8500

Hi csru,

To install the Operating system, the size of the mSATA HDD should be 128 GB and above. Since you have 256 GB of mSATA HDD, you can connect and install the whole Operating system on the mSATA HDD.

Before installing you will have to disable the Acceleration and also change the mSATA operation.

To disable the Acceleration follow the steps given below:

Step1. Launch Intel RST UI from system tray.

Step2. Select “Accelerate” Tab, click “Disable acceleration”.

Step3. Click “Reset to available” to reset volume.

Once the Acceleration is disabled, install the new mSATA HDD. Next restart the system and at the Dell logo tap the F2 key every two seconds. This will open the ‘Setup Utility’ screen. Click ‘Advanced’  à Onboard Device Configuration à SATA Mode. Select AHCI from the SATA mode pop-up box.

Now you can install the Operating system on the mSATA drive.

Please reply for further assistance.

This is a little dig up. But I have a 7520 (Inspiron 15R SE) with the mSata 32gb SSD with Intel Smart Response and I just installed a 128gb SSD in the main slot and move my 5400 rpm 1TB to the optical drive within a cady. I would like to know if it is worth it to use SRT with the main SSD or is it possible to configured it for the 1TB ?

Thank you

Hi Sujatha,

This is what I've done. But somehow, I still have the 32gb mSATA SSD on my laptop. I was just wondering if it could have been used to accelerate the system.

Thank you

Hi absrtp,

Since you have upgraded to 128 GB SSD drive, RST is not required. You may directly install the Operating system on the SSD driver and use the 1TB HDD for data storage.

Hi absrtp,