Did you simply use the old power and SATA cables from the HDD? Also does anyone know the power consumption of a HDD vs a SSD. I know about all the variables, just would like a low end estimate. That way I know the minimum difference regardless of which SSD I purchase.

Yes, I used the original cable, but I did have to unscrew it from the chassis.  I'll post a picture as soon as I can.

Here is a photo of the SSD in the chassis.

Notice the two screws just to the right, in front of the fan. That's where the cable originally was installed so that the HDD would slide into it and dock with it.   Since the SSD mounted in it's 3.5" adapter was just a few mm off, I had to unscrew it and plug it in to make it work.

Notice also that I installed the 3.5" adapter towards the back of the drive tray, which left me room for the cable.

Nice job SirVeloz.  I will be putting my Samsung 830 256GB in Monday after I pick it up from FedEx.  I'll send you any questions, if they pop up.  I assume you put the Alienware theme back on the x51...  I probably won't get that far on Monday, but should have a functioning computer by the time I get to sleep.

Yep, I just used the install DVDs that came with the system to reinstall Win7 and the main drivers.

I didn't bother to install Roxio or CyberDVD, but you can get those from the download locker if you want them.  The basic wallpapers were already on the Win7 DVD, but for some reason, the alienware profile pics were not.  So I hooked up the Seagate through a USB drive dock and grabbed them there before I wiped the drive.

From what I understand, there is an unused SATA connector inside the case so I was wondering why you didn't simply add the SDD and install the OS and applications on that one while retaining the HDD for less demanding storage?

That is one of the steps I have on the upgrade path along with the GTX 660 if it ends up using less than 150 watts.

I'd ideally like to do the same and add an SSD so I can use the HDD for extra storage plus also to back-up the SDD. It's a shame that the drive wouldn't quite connect with the adapter.

Want to use one out of my M71x R1 that chews through SSDs, it's now back on it's original HDD - 3 x OCZ Vertex 2's and 1 x Samsung 830 killed by it. The OCZ's had to go back each time as they were permanently nuked, the Samsung went as well last week, but fortunately after leaving it disconnected for a day I could read the data off it and seems to have survived.

**Note to anyone using an SSD** back up regularly i.e. at least twice a month probably more. When they "go" they usually go without any warning and without any chance of getting your data back as easily as a normal HDD.

Didn't want to go through it all again so have given up hope of ever getting a reliable SSD into the laptop (now that it's no longer my main gaming machine) - something is incompatible with sleep/hibernate, but no-one will admit where the problem is but my money is on the SSDs seeing as I've never had a similar problem with the HDD in 3 years. As I don't use sleep/hibernate with the X51 I hope to be ok.

**Note to anyone using an SSD** back up regularly i.e. at least twice a month probably more. When they "go" they usually go without any warning and without any chance of getting your data back as easily as a normal HDD.

Thanks for the insight!

From what I understand, there is an unused SATA connector inside the case so I was wondering why you didn't simply add the SDD and install the OS and applications on that one while retaining the HDD for less demanding storage?

I didn't really take note if there was another SATA port, I'm sure there probably is, however, the case is so cramped, I don't know where you'd put another drive in there.

I wound up purchasing an external USB 3 enclosure and hooking up the old HDD that way. Seems to work fine, and gives me plenty of extra space.  Plus the stuff I store on there doesn't need to be blazing fast, so I don't even notice the connection speed difference.