Alienware M17xR4 Memorry + SSD Upgrade

anthony566 · 28 Oct 2015 at 11:53

Hi I have an Alienware M17xR4 with 6 gig of memory and no SSD and would like to upgrade the memory and add an SSD, I am assuming it will be better to replace the current memory with say 2 x 8 gig sticks rather than add 2 x 4 gig sticks to the existing 6 gig ??

And the SSD I want to use as the boot drive so looking at a 250 gig one and then use the current one as extra storage.

Can I ask you to confirm what I'm looking to do makes sense and maybe link the replacement parts that I should be using in this laptop.

Thanks in advance.

I had a look on OCK and thought these would do the trick ??

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/king...olid-state-drive-shss37a-240gb-hd-087-ks.html

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/king...kit-of-2-1.35v-hx316ls9ibk2-16-my-186-ks.html

I have no idea about the memory really so all assistance will be appreciated.

Maundie · 28 Oct 2015 at 12:13

With the SSD you need to check if it needs to be 7mm or if a 9mm one will fit (or simply buy a 7mm one as it will usually come with a spacer) but the best thing to do with regards to the memory if it has 6Gb currently isn't that enough, I would take the current RAM out and then check the speeds of that and match it up.

How many RAM slots does the laptop actually have as most only have 2 so you would need to remove the current RAM and then install the 2 x new cards?

anthony566 · 28 Oct 2015 at 12:31

Maundie said:
With the SSD you need to check if it needs to be 7mm or if a 9mm one will fit (or simply buy a 7mm one as it will usually come with a spacer) but the best thing to do with regards to the memory if it has 6Gb currently isn't that enough, I would take the current RAM out and then check the speeds of that and match it up.

How many RAM slots does the laptop actually have as most only have 2 so you would need to remove the current RAM and then install the 2 x new cards?

Thanks Maundie ...

There are 4 memory slots in this laptop I am assuming ( as I have not checked yet but will do when I get home on Thursday ) that the laptop has 3 2 gig sticks in it ?? not sure if not I will have to remove the keyboard as two slots are under the keyboard and two are located in the bottom access area. I will also check the drive height.

On the question of memory I have since been told that it uses DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.35V but will open it up to confirm.

anthony566 · 5 Nov 2015 at 11:16

Just an update and a request for help ...

I have purchased 16 gig of memory ( 2 x 8 gig ) and this has been installed in place of the 1 x 4 gig & 1 x 2 gig memory sticks.

My next task is to install the SSD and I need help on how to set this up... I will be keeping the current drive for additional storage as the laptop has two HDD slots but my questions are :

1 Does it matter which location the SSD is in ? do I need to put the SSD in the slot that the current HDD is in ?
2 How do I copy the current drive data to the SSD ? it has windows 10 installed.

Mariusz · 5 Nov 2015 at 15:03

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18576917

Use Macrium reflect, works great.

anthony566 · 25 Mar 2016 at 23:46

I know I opened this a while ago but I still have not done this yet ...... I am going to install the memory on Sunday as I need to take the thing apart to use the slots under the keyboard but I would still like to know the steps for the SSD ...

Do I install the SSD in the empty slot then do the copy to the SSD and change the boot drive in the bios ?? then format the old drive or will the SSD have to be in the bay that the current drive is in ??

I really should know the answer to this but its been a long time since I have done this.