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Uber Kommandanten Jager
1 Rookie
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40 Posts
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10670
October 29th, 2020 20:00
15 R3, M.2 SSD slots
I have recently added 2 m.2 SSD cards to my Alienware 15 R3. However, i see there is another m.2 SSD slot available. This slot is labeled SSD-1 and is smaller than the other two m.2 slots. I believe this is for a half sized M.2 card. I believe it's called a "msata". I would like to add more memory to my laptop, but I can't find a compatible component for this available slot. I would prefer a 1TB to 2TB card. Can someone provide the information I need for compatibility? Maybe a retailer link that has them in stock?
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Posted October 30th, 2020 14:00
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Posted 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
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Posted 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?
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]8415
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Posted 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.
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]8380
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Posted 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?8368
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Posted 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.
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]8346
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Posted 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.
[This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]1328
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Posted 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.
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crimsom
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6114 Posts
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Posted 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.
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