Alienware X17 R2 Upgrading SSD and RAM
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2022
- In this video we show you how to upgrade the SSDs and RAM to the Max in the X17 r2.
Easus Cloning Product page link : prf.hn/l/wLOvQ5j
Buy this backup software at 50% off: bit.ly/3GAKh4d
Buy WD SN770 as shown in video: geni.us/K1sS
Buy the faster WD SN850 also tested: geni.us/1YHpU
Copper SSD heatsink: geni.us/HpAU
DDR5 Ram: geni.us/k6Krp
Laptop toolkit: geni.us/UXv9
* If you purchase something from our affiliate links we will get a small commission with no extra cost to you. This makes it possible for us to make more videos. Thank you! - Věda a technologie
This channel is getting better and better. Super fun to watch!
thanks a lot mate, appreciate the kind words
Hi! This is David from MASH IT 🥂 Loving the content as usual, keep doing your thing mate
Haha good to see you 😀
Very useful, to the point, no wasted time! Like everybody else I have cloned drives maybe a few hundred times and I always learn a thing or two I didn't know before on your vids. I used to be a Microsoft MCSE, the main thing I learned is there are no command line tricks, no magic nor sorcery to fixing Windows when it gets wonky which it inevitably does. I (used to) just keep a reserve drive with a Clean Windows install, programs pre-loaded and clone it over when Windows needed fixing. Although now, that just seems to get more difficult to do all the time. Not even the Samsung "Magician" cloning program works for that, and they make the SSD drives! I have not tried Todo if its easy as you say I'd switch over completely. But Macrium program seems to work the best of all the clone programs I tried, backup is fast, restoration is almost as fast too.
Once again you nailed it brother, I love the content 👌 Keep up the GREAT WORK 🔥🙂📽
Thanks a lot mate 😀👍
Thank you for this video bro! I didn't realise the ram was upgradable, that's great news. Also will you be able to do a video on re pasting the x17 R2? Your tutorials are awesome I love how you baby us through the steps. So I can definitely trust to follow your instructions when re pasting. I know it's a hard and tedious job on this laptop
At some point I will certainly be doing a repast guide. I have a few more videos to do first before I strip my 4k model down
@@MashITTech I second the request for a repasting guide! I've seen good reviews on Arctic MX-6 and was wondering how much of an impact it would make.
Thanks for another great video! Keep up the good work!
Thanks mate
Excellent tutorial! Just used this to update my moms laptop
Super helpful vid. I Just ordered the x17R2 and i got 2tb hard drive so i don't think i have to worry about that any time soon. i only got 16gb ram though because that was on sale (of course i just learnt if i had waited 2 days then i could have gotten the 32gb on sale...) so seeing how easy it is to change out makes me feel reassured in case I have to do it in the future. I'm hoping to have use it as my laptop for a while.
16gb will still be good for general use for quite some time, I just need more for my heavy video editing and VMs
@@MashITTech I've just gotten 32gb ram on sale so I'm going to upgrade that myself as i need more for the multitasking i do, just one more question. Everything I've read warns about Electrostatic discharge, how worried do I
need to be? I don't want to ruin my very expensive laptop.
Great vid, mate! I hate that the R2 was released 8 months after I received my R1…but I’m still loving mine.
To be fair other than cpu performance you are not missing much, the r1 is still an amazing machine 👍
@@MashITTech nice
Same happened to me 😢
@@MashITTech100%
Great Video, very easy to follow
Just got a x17 R2 with 1TB SSD and 64GB RAM and bought Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB off amazon, but didn't realise it didn't come with a heatsink. Saw your video and straight away ordered it. Appreciate it!
I got same configuration and bought on Amazon same Samsung 980 pro, did you do clone process? And put the Samsung on ssd1 slot? Any improvement?
Thanks
@@alejandrobarreto7787 No brother, I bought this as a second drive since Alienware's configuration for a second drive is expensive than buying off at Amazon. So I didn't clone it, configured it got storing games. And as for the performance the SSD that comes with is a Samsung PM9A1, which is basically the OEM version of the 980 Pro so the specs are similar. And you can view and control the retail 980 Pro in the Samsung's Magician but can only view the status of the OEM SSD in the software. That's the only advantage to the retail 980 Pro version.
The clone process is so easy its well worth doing if you need to change your primary drive. If you get stuck just add me on instagram and I can help you through it
@@MashITTech thanks, great videos! I’ll add you on instagram and post if you want a original heatsink and screw spare from Dell
I’m going to upgrade my x17 too. I’ll make sure I use your affiliate links 👍🏽
Thanks mate, that is very kind 👍
Great job, I enjoy your videos a lot.
Thanks so much 😀👍
Great Content..Very Very Useful...Thanks A Bunch ✊️👊💯✌️
Great video and love your attention to detail. Curious if you considered using SSD with heatsink built-in?
Thank you and yes I did consider it but unfortunately all the ssd with built in heatsinks are too think to fit in the laptop as you have hardly any space which is why I had to get the copper plates. The plates drop the temps by about 10c so we’ll worth it for the price
Just upgraded my R2 to 64 gigs of DDR 5 RAM. super happy with my laptop now :). All kudos to David’s channel here :).
Thank you mate, now go and enjoy that beast 😀
You guys are awesome! Thank you!
Thanks so much 👍
With so many people complaining about this laptop I was worried I made a mistake ordering it. Glad you choose to keep it and upgrade it as that means it was obviously working well for you. Didn't go with the 4K version as I'm only going to be using this for gaming and my only real concern is gaming related as such. Meaning I have to figure out how I'm going to go about getting the 10TB worth of games installed given there isn't enough space.
Likely going to have to go with the external drives I've already been using though I haven't shopped around for anything in about 2 years. Meaning hopefully, they have better options at small sizes than the 5GB Western Digital drives on the market. If not, I'm probably just going to make a M2 external drive as I ought to be able to use 4 of those in 1 housing around the same size as my current drives, though I'll have to figure out how to power and cool them in this kind of configuration. Anyway, will look around your channel to see if you covered portable storage options with this kind of use case. Not sure if it's a good idea to use a NAS and hotswap files on the fly given the writes might damage the drives, though I'm only saying this as it might be a good idea to cover such things as I don't see anyone covering it. Use to have to do this on the daily with smartphones as they wouldn't allow you to store apps on the expandable storage for them. So you'd basically just run some software to more or less hotlink files or outright swap files from one drive to the another during the use.
Off chance you read this, sorry. I just woke up. Put more words than needed and I know it.
For the moment your best bet is 4tb in the machine and a couple of fast externals, I like the Samsung T7's. I am sure soon we will start seeing single sided 4tb SSDs and as soon as I find any I will let everyone know as there is a lot of people in the same situation
Hello Dave. Subscribed and appreciate very much your straight talk and insight. Question: I just purchased the x17 R2 with the i9. Could you share any detail settings on what you did specifically to reduce thermals? What under voltage setting etc, approx? I’m very worried that I have made the wrong purchase and seriously concerned of overheating, over time.
Great as always. I had asked you about gen 3 and gen 4 ssds...but i now see that there is a cheaper gen 4...i will buy that one...thank you
Hello mate, yes the sn770 is an amazing drive and much cheaper yet still does 5000/5000 and has 5 years warranty, it’s an amazing drive 👍
@@MashITTech When I buy it, I will make the purchase via your affiliate amazon link...thanks again
Thank you that is very kind :)
Hello, great vid! I'm planning to get one as well and I'm going the same route of getting the cheapest hard drive and memory options. I'm also considering the cheapest screen option to save further since I'll be using external 4k monitor. Would you say that's a good idea or should I get a better screen option instead?
Hey David was curious what did you end up finding to be the prime overclock for you through msi afterburner on your alienware x17 r2? (core clock & Memory clock)
Hey, thanks for sharing these types of videos for us viewers!
Question: I know that you said the 12700 and 3070 Ti were the best bang for buck combo, but I was wondering if the 3080 ti would be worth it for the extra ram? Did you notice any noticeable improvements for video editing and rendering?
Also, I haven’t looked into builds in 7 years. Do you think a laptop is worth getting over a desktop, or are desktops still much cheaper spec for spec? And last question: what was your reasoning for getting a laptop over a desktop?
Ok, I am on my phone so will answer as best as I can but.. the 3080ti will give you better video editing performance due to the 16gb of vram especially for heavy 4K editing or above. If you are a heavy video editing then you can definitely make the argument for spending the extra, but it doesn’t make sense for gaming or other 3D work. A desktop is still a cheaper option for sure but the reason I got the laptop is for convenience, I edit in the office, at my house, at Gary’s office so being able to throw my laptop in my bag and edit or game everywhere is so handy. I have even built tiny powerful PCs but it still isn’t as convenient
@@MashITTech perfect answer, and thank you for taking time to answer despite being out haha. Yes, I edit videos in 4K but I’ve had to make proxies because my current setup is too weak, so it’s good to know the 3080TI with the extra VRAM will benefit my editing experience.
I may just go with a laptop like you… i work 70-80% from home, but I feel I would regret going with a desktop if I needed to do a little work out of town.
Subscribed. Thank you!
Thanks for the sub 😃👍 oh man, I hate working with proxies! My only other advice is to get at least 32gb either from dell or aftermarket
@@MashITTech yeah I upgraded to 32 gb on my current setup because the 16 gb ws limiting. I may even go 64 if it will benefit more
yep, that's why I got the 64gb. My projects are getting bigger and more complex so figured I would just get it now
Thank you for all your videos, especially the Alienware x17 R2. I purchased one as soon as the 4k screen became available. As I've watched your reviews and comparisons, I noticed I don't get as high benchmark results as you. Have you optimized any settings to get those benchmark numbers? I purchased a "loaded" system as I use it for my work which involves a lot of scientific computing as well as graphics in addition to some gaming.
Nvidia RTX 3080Ti 16Gb
4Tb Raid
4k screen
64 Gb RAM
i9 12900HK
Again, many thanks for your channel!!
David
what are you getting on a cinebench r23 run? you can ads me on instagram and we can look together if you would like
great video!
It's really quite amazing how much money you can sometimes save by upgrading yourself instead of buying the maxed out laptop.
This is what I always do, plus being a small channel with a tiny budget we often can’t afford to max the systems out when we order
Opened up the X17 R2 I just purchased and went to upgrade the SSD and no screw in the second slot. Where can I get the screw and what size is it? GREAT video BTW!
Oh that's really annoying! Mine came with a screw. You need a flat head M2.0 x 2.5mm, you will be able to pick up a small pack at most hardware stores or amazon/ebay.
Great video. Question: what is the max ram? Want 128bg for 3d modeling, point cloud work, rendering, etc.
It should be fine when kits are available but at the moment 32gb sticks are the largest you can get 😢
Great idea!!!
Hello nice video, keep it up!
I have a question tho, since I´ll get a x17 r2 this winter i wonder if I should pick the i7 or the i9.
I heard the i9 gets way hotter, but how much better is the performance even compared to the i7?
Greetings from Germany
Hello to you in Germany :) Now the i9 is essentially an i7 with higher turbo's and unlocked multiplier. The problem you have is the laptop can only handle 115w of CPU heat. Even the i7 does not hit full clocks at 115w so you are wasting your money going for the i9 as it performs marginally better
Got the i9 because I didn't even know they had it with the i7.
1. Great explained video to how upgrade the alienware x17 r2.
2. it Samsung 980 pro fit on?.
3. Thanks 🙏 for make content like this. 👍 You are amazing
980 pro fits and works perfectly but make sure you don’t get the one with the heat sink attached as that won’t fit 👍
Thank you for the Guide!
I want to swap my iMac 24 for an alienware x17 r2.
Interesting that you have both Machines. What do you use each for? and if you could only have one, which would you choose?
Hi Jacob, the iMac 24 on my desk is for studio use. It has my scripts bullet points in word, audacity running to record the video audio and it also gets used a lot for researching during video shoots. I would struggle to only have one machine due to the nature of my job but if I had to choose one it would be a x17r2 4K as it cuts through my work and I can game on it
@@MashITTech Makes sense :)
Ok, sorry I didn't get the notice when this went up so just watched it - where did you get the sweet Alienware desktop - my X17 R2 didn't have that. ha ha ha PS your videos helped me to chose my X17 over some other available options. The X17 seemed to be my best choice for all the various tasks I perform and game with high fps and smooth action. Thank you.
So glad I was able to help. The wallpaper only comes on the 4k model. I did host it for a while but it got removed. When I get a minute I will repost it and send you a link 👍
Got mine with 32gb ram and the 1tb ssd. Added a wad 850 2tb for games. Was the sweet spot for me !. I still wish the build quality was the same as the x14 !
Yeah the x14 was a solid beast but I wish they had made the gpu more powerful like the razer blade and g14
@@MashITTech Yep it has more than enough GPU thermal budget for that. Just the USB-C power brick that holds it back.
yeah that is true. I wish they could make the option of plugging in a charger for more power or capping the system back to 130w with the USBC, it would make it really versatile
Have you figured out how to make the speakers work? Mine sounds like mud when it's not crackling. It's enough to send it back.
Thanks for the video! I know that I'm late, but are you able to make a tutorial on how to set up raid 0?
Already done 😀👍 Alienware X17 R2 & 15 R2 | SSD Raid Array Testing and Guide
czcams.com/video/fPRszKFi0YQ/video.html
@@MashITTech Great! I just got my X17 R2 with 2 TB of storage, I also wanted to ask you if I had to swap out both drives? or can I just add one more and call it a day with RAID0 on
Great video! I did about the same thing to my X15 R5 except I only installed one 2T SSD but same ram. Is any other configuration I have to do on my ram? I’m fairly new to the PC world. On one of my games it still reading 8g. How do I allocate more ram for gaming?
do you mean the m15r5? You will probably need to upgrade the ram as dell used cheap high density ram in the r5. I have a video on it.
Enjoyed upgrading my X17 R1 with 64GB Kingston Fury DDR4 Ram and 4TB Samsung 980 Pro. The part number for the SSD thermal plate can be found on Amazon. Part # Dell C99KM. At the time I needed mine, Dell was out of stock. As well, of course after I ordered my R1, they came out with the R2 the following month smh.
hi! Love your videos! This video is the reason I bought a new 2 tb ssd to add to my x17r2. But I have an issue. I tried the set of steps you mentioned in the video and did everything the same way, but the drive does not show up in disk management. Is there any way to check if the ssd is properly connected apart from opening up the laptop and reconnecting the ssd and booting up the laptop again to check?
sorry, only just seen this! did you sort it? Does it show in BIOS?
This is an excellent video, very well explained. I am really smart, so I know how to do this already. But i can imagine if a very smart person wasn't sure on how to do this, they could watch this video and then know how to do it. But i already know how to do it.
Well I know you are really smart you are subscribed 😂
hi. great video. lots of great videos. i've been out of touch with PC stuff for so long that i'm practically a novice, so trying to learn a lot. i'm looking to buy the x17 r2, and going upgrade to use 2 x 4tb wd black sn850x. i've seen it done on other channels, but more amateurish. but you seen to indicate it isn't viable to use greater than 2tb. could you please indicate if you think using 2 x 4tb wd black sn850x would be possible / impossible / viable / unviable? and you refer to a previous video where you replace ssd rather than clone it, could you provide a link please? thank you
found your other video. another great video. would you please indicate if you think 2 x 4tb ns850x is possible. thank you
Wow sir keep it up
Haha thanks mate. We are working like crazy atm
Great info! Question: I got a 1 TB WD SN850X and my X17 R2 has a stock 1 TB drive (not sure what stock model is as I haven't looked). Would it make more sense to clone and then use the SN850X as my boot drive with a second partition for games, since it would be faster than the stock drive (I am assuming)? Or keep stock drive as boot and put games on the SN850X as a secondary drive? Thanks again for the informative vid!
Definitely use the sn850x as the boot drive as that is where you really want the speed! The games drive won’t benefit as much so makes sense using a cheaper drive for that 👍
@@MashITTech Thanks, that was my inclination as well - I appreciate the advice!
@@MashITTech I thought about cloning the stock drive to the new one, but I think I'd prefer a clean install. You mention you made a video on this but I'm not finding it - if you have a moment, would you mind replying with the link to your video? Thanks again!
Hello mash it! Could you please tell. How much would you recommend taking my alienware x17 r1 to the service center for repasting and dust cleaning,? 2. What thermal paste would you recommend for this laptop? maybe some gallium-silicone would do?
Hi Andrii, your laptop isn't that old does it really need a repast already? are you temps getting worse? I would just get a can of duster gas and blow out the vents and clean the fans.
Also did you undervolt the CPU like in my X17 r1 deep dive video?
@@MashITTech While I'm playing on Mux switch( gpu only) I have annoying stutters(hickups) and cpu heats up and sometiemes even hit 90-100 celcius on thermal balanced mode in games like God of War. So that has become a trigger for it. I haven't actually undervolted it. It was recommended by dell support assist so idk that's why I'm puzzled
It will hit those temps, that’s normal as dell just let it boost. Give it an undervolt, it will make a massive difference. If that doesn’t solve it add me on Instagram and I will help
I have an alienware x17 r1, not r2. Are these parts still compatible with the r1? I would like to upgrade my storage space to hold more games. Whenever I launch Star Citizen, it sends me a message saying "To impove performance it is recommended to free up at least 8 GB of physical system memory before continuing. Currently you only have 6.6 GB available (of 16 GB installed)." Which component do I need to install to remedy this problem? Sorry I am not computer literate. Thanks! Great vid!
What's a better SSD that works with this laptop other than the mid card black
My ACC of my X17 R2 dosent let me create macros. Some ideas? Or change the color of individual keys in the keyboard.
Should I go for m15r7 i9 3070ti 32gb ram qhd 240hz or x17r2 i9 3070ti 16gb ram fhd 360hz both for 1900$
GREETINGS, would you recommend this laptop for graphic design
I've seen that a lot of laptop tech youtubers recommend setting battery theshold to prevent it from charging to 100% and prolong battery longevity. Have you ever tested it with laptops( especially with alienware ones?) Would you recommend doing it?
IF you use the laptop as a desktop replacement and rarely use it on battery (like most gaming laptops are used for) then it id definitely worth it. But if you use it on battery regularly then it doesn't help as much
Would recommend talking to the battery manufacture as this varies. Some batteries it matters, some it doesn't. The batteries I use doing that would violate the warranties on them. They also recommend that a full charge and discharge happens at least 3 times very 3 to 6 months rather than this. Leaving the batteries at 80% would have no real cost nor benefit. Keep in mind that Dell will have different parts from different manufactures in the same models of the computers. Alienware is likely doing the same, which means this question isn't easy to answer without knowing what battery is in your specific computer.
If you don't know how to check for this, it's normally always labelled on the batteries themselves.
Hello! I've just bought the same Crucial
64gb 4800Mhz.and I have the Same
Alienware X17 R2 with 16gb from of
manufactures. I just want to upgrade my
laptop like yourself in this video with same
rams but I've been experiencing an issue
and my first question is: how long does it
take for the laptop to boot the first time
with the new 64gb ram???? Because when
I installed the ram, the screen were all the
time in black and nothing appeared.. i
waited like 5 minutes. Do you know what
the problem might be?
Thank you so much!
Has the problem been solved now?
Hi there. Great videos. Just got a X15 R2. I have noticed that the charger doesn’t click into the charging port. there is half a mm space. Beside, when I close the panel and lift up the laptop to put in the bag, the panel hangs around and doesn’t really close. Do you have these issues with ur laptop?
my charging port sits snugly right into the laptop. You cannot see any of the barrel connector. The panels aren't magnetically held so there may be some play but I have tried to recreate that with mine and the hinge is so tight that it stays closed even when I flap it around
@@MashITTech Thanks man. I have replaced it once already as the speaker was not working properly and the hinge was not tight, the replacement has the same hinge issue.
I know you have already opened your X17 R2 to upgrade RAM and SSD, is there anything that can be done to tighten the hinge?
I am not really confident to open it and try it myself 😆
@@MashITTech BTW, I can see the barrel connector which is a pity, same with the previous one. I feel like Dell sends me some refurbished laptops 😆
hmm not sure, you don't see the hinges when you remove the base panel. You also need to remove the rear vent grill to get to the hinge. If I get a chance I will take a look for you
@@MashITTech Appreciate it. That would be awesome if you get the time.
I am on Dell now and see what they have to say about it.
Awesome video. Is there anything else that can be upgraded on that laptop. 🤔 👍👍👍
Thanks mate, unfortunately everything else is soldered 😢
Because you installed 2 drives couldn't you set up RAID? would it be faster if you did?
Oh what an idiot, I forgot to include the raid section. Thanks for mentioning it. Don’t bother, it gave no extra speed and makes your life more difficult if a drive fails or if you want to add a different capacity drive later. Read and writes were almost the same I was so disappointed
I have the same machine and one of the speakers is producing distorted sound. Is that something I can order and fix myself? It’s out of warranty but not sure where the speakers are and if it a laborious job
Open the cover and check is there is any piece of debris or screws on top of the speaker, my got same problem it was a screw that cause the issue
That's right, very often the captive washers from the screw come off and get stuck to the speaker as it is magnetised.
One question. I saw in your video for alienware m15 r7 that the laptop comes with a copper plate for the second empty ssd slot. Is it for all alienware m15 r7s?
Unfortunately not, seems like luck! Some people seem to get them and others now. Very odd
@@MashITTech Okay. Thank you. But I think I can request Dell to put it for me when making the purchase. (in Japan currently)
Its worth a try and I know some users have phoned dell after receiving it and complained and got it sent for free
@@MashITTech Awesome
@@MashITTech I got the alienware m15 r7...I just placed the order using your link for the RAM.
Can I use double sided ssd for the m15 r7 I’m trying to install 8tb
Thank you for the video, I want to upgrade my SSD, from 1 TB to 3TB. I want to add 2TB in my slot one and keep the old 1TB as storage in slot 2. I check the link you provided and some of the reviews for the SSD aren't great. Do you recommend buying the SSD from dell? and eventually, I also want to upgrade my RAM from 32 to 64.
Oh I will have to have a look at the amazon reviews but I have used about 5 sn770 and 5 sn850 over the last year on various laptops and they have been great whilst also running a lot cooler than Samsung 980pro and I was always a big Samsung ssd buyer in the past. Don’t ever buy from dell, they will only sell you the same sn850 or Samsung 980pro but at massively inflated prices! Ram wise it’s very easy to upgrade the ram as per the video but if you don’t need it now wait for the price to come down a bit as ddr5 is still expensive as it is so new
@@MashITTech Thanks once again, I will buy this one from your link and get the tool kit to install it myself and you explained it very well in the video.
@@MashITTech I need your help. So I used the EaseUS to clone my 1TB ssd with the OS to the 2TB but now I have two ssd with OS on it. It does not allow me to format the old SSD with the OS.
@@guysketch9720 are you booting from the new 2tb? If so you will need to use diskpart to wipe the old 1tb. Add me on instagram if you need help doing that
@@MashITTech What's your Instagram? I messed up a lot with the cloning. I do really need your help
I upgraded to two 2 TB sn850x and 32 gb ram as you recommended. But ran into the blue screen of death so now it’s with repairs to do a fresh install of windows 11
Sorry to hear that! What did you clone with? I can help you with a fresh install, it’s really easy
@@MashITTech oh my goodness i wasn't expecting a response but thanks for the offer. I just took it to a local store to do it now i am watching the X16 review on your channel with my X17 R2 it runs perfect!
Is the WD BLACK SN850X the same as the SN850?
Just wanted to report back and say what a refreshing change after using the WD SN850X :)- I have one question though, Apart from EaseUS , if I decided to do a manual install, the disk is not being detected when trying a new Windows Install.. Have you seen this too? Windows 11 pro not from the Restore option. But if you think Cloning might be the best option.
I very often do a clean install but I didn’t try with the sn850x. I can’t think of a reason it wouldn’t show! Can you make sure it is showing in bios?
@@MashITTech I figured it out.. You will need to change in the BIOS from RAID to AHCI / NVME and perform a Clean install ... Gonna be doing it this weekend :) - Cheers! :)
The strange thing is my X17r2 came already set to AHCI! you would think they would all be the same
Any tips on the Alienware m15 R5 ryzen edition for the thermals I was wondering if maybe under volting the cpu with help with thermals any advice would be appreciated
I have a video on that, it’s old but still relevant: Alienware M15 R5 Deep Dive - Tweaking, Upgrading and Battery Life
czcams.com/video/ZUv0C_FWQHU/video.html
@@MashITTech still no luck for me unfortunately using the ryzen controller cpu jumps to 90 after starting a game and sits between 85-90
oh that's odd. how old is the laptop? could it have a dust build up? or maybe it didn't get the best paste job :(
After Upgrading the SSD, is it better to do a clean installation or is cloning okay? My tool kit will arrive tomorrow, therefore I will upgrade the ssd tomorrow
I prefer a clean install but cloning is easier
Im not if i passed it but did you make a video like this for the X17 R1?
Yes here is the link: Alienware X17 / X15 SSD upgrade featuring Gen 4 M.2 NVMe
czcams.com/video/_8KjrisaJbM/video.html
In this video I did a fresh windows install but you can clone the x17r1 like in this video if you prefer 👍
Hello, I have one question
FHD with 360 Hrz refresh rate screen version of x17 r2 is good?
yes, it is still a great screen especially for gaming. If you plan to do a lot of work too you might want to consider 4k but 360hz is the best option for pure gaming
Hi Mash IT, Thank you for your video. Does your Alienware X17r2 have problem with the left speaker. Mine sound cracked. One more thing, the 2nd GPU fan doesn't work, now it stop although I update Bios to the latest version. Just bought it 2 weeks ago.
Send it back. Dell has a 30day return for any reason. Their "techs" are dreadful so I would not even bother with them. Just send it back and order another. BUT, you are under a time crunch so don't dilly dally on this.
No issues at all with my x17 or x15 in the studio. You need to call dell support
@@razter6678 Yeah. I love to but I am in Vietnam. Waited for 7 weeks to get this one. 😅 Thank you.
@@MashITTech That sounds strange due to the seller they told me 9/10 alienware laptop get the problem of the left speaker. I think - like you say - I should contact Dell Viet Nam. Hope they would fixed it. Thank you.
I returned my x17 r 2 mine, has same problem, on the left speaker Dell send me new unit after 6weeks, the new X17 got same problem, I find in the second unit when I opened the case to install a new ssd, there was a piece of washer for screws when they asamble, this little piece is allocated just on top of the speaker creating an noise, my recommendation is open the lid just removing screws and check if something on top of the speakers they are just facing up whe you open the case, try before stay for hours dealing with Dell and wait weeks like me for a simple issue, piece of debris just on top of the speaker
Bro, I just upgraded to 64 gb 2 days ago. Although, I'm having an issue with backlight bleed at the bottom of the bezle. It's a 360hz screen. How much is normal? I might return it if it's not normal. Thanks!
Can you add me to Instagram and send me a pic? I will have a look for you
if I want to clean dust in my M17 R4, do I need to take apart the whole thing or just the lid?
just remove the base plate and clean away what you can. Then use some duster gas to blow in through the vents to clear them
@@MashITTech thanks!that's easy just when I was putting in an ssd
Can I make a request for a video? No one has a video on disassembling and cleaning the x17 r2. Would be awesome if you could make one :)
Where I get a little spare time I will try and knock something up :)
@@MashITTech awesome, thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. Love the channel 👍🏼
Hello, I just bought the Alienware x17 r2 with 1tb of storage. Can i just buy one 2tb ssd and that way have a total storage of 3tb? Or do both drives have to use the same amount?
The drives are completely independent so yes you can just add another 2tb for a total of 3tb 👍
@Mash IT is it possible to upgrade X17 r2 internal Graphic card?
Can I do same upgrade in 14inchs is it possible?
Looking to upgrade my X17 R2 with more Memory. Did you notice any difference in FPS gains after installing?
it would be minimal depending on how much you are currently using. If you are going from 16 to 32 you will see some increased FPS in some games but 32 to 64 will give no benefit to games, only specific applications such as Video editing, VMs, some development etc
Hi. Waiting for Dell to ship my m17 r5 with 500gb option. Does Dell also not include the heatsink in this model? And is the ssd that comes from Dell slow?
Dell only usually includes the SSD for the drives you buy from Dell, so the secondary slot will have no heatsink. The heatsinks I have linked work well and are cheap or you can contact Dell and ask for one. The drives Dell supply are average and they use multiple model so there is no way to know how fast it is without testing it when it arrives
@@MashITTech Wow. Thanks for the heads up. So I am assuming the ssd bracket is something I must also buy? I was able to buy the heatsink for $4.00 shipped from Dell. Does it come with the thermal pad?
you only need the heatsink, it should be supplied with the thermal tape so you should be good to go
Hi! Can I upgrade the Ssd of my X15R2 using directly a Samsung 980 with heatsink or I have to buy the Ssd and separately a plate such as the Sabrent?
The heatsinks that come on some SSDs are designed for desktops and therefore are way too thick for a laptop. That plate I used was a slim copper plate very similar to the OEM plate that Dell used and dropped the temps by over 10c 👍
@@MashITTech so may I use any thin copper plate that I find on Amazon? Thanks for all ♥️
the one I linked? if so yes, it is great. you will already have one on your primary drive so you just need one for the second slot
Hey, your satisfied with Windows 11 on this machine? Im experiencing some blue screens randomly that appears that is been caused by poor power management on windows 11.
I’ve only had issues with win11 on 1 out of 4 separate computers. So I think it was the computer.
Also windows 11 is the best version of windows I’ve ever seen as a Linux and MacOS fan.
i have a 1TB (2 x 512GB) PCIe M.2 SSD RAID0 on my x17 r2. is it possible to upgrade my ssd with a 2tb?
Hi! any chance that you would know whether a Samsung 980 pro 2tb works with the x17r2?
Yes it sure does
@@MashITTech thank you!
Is the Alienware the cheapest high end gaming laptop available in the UK? What about Legions and MSI?
Legion is a little cheaper but the availability of legion is shocking at the moment. Msi, asus and razer are incredibly expensive
Hi, do you hit high temps with the x17 r2 while playing?
Yes I do. I am going to make a video on how to improve that
Would the WD - BLACK SN850X 4TB Internal SSD PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe be a good choice?
The 4tb is double sided! let me see if it will fit. Give me a couple of hours
I installed the Crucial 2x16 (32) Ram from my 2x8 (16) and got worse frames... help
I have the same laptop but mine doesn't have that black film or paper thing on the ram is that okay?
That's unusual! I have had 7 models in this year and they all had it! IT won't matter if you don't, it just helps prevent heat on the base plate
TY
I have the m15 r6 with 2 ssd slots and rated at 64 gb ram max. Will the ddr 5 fit in my laptop?
No sorry, r6 is ddr4 only. It’s only 12th gen intel and 6000 series ryzen that can use the ddr5
My R1 2021, starting to get orange along the frame, I tried to swipe it off with acetone it worked but it comes back. Anyone having the same problem? I’ve been using it for 1 year 5 months
I'm a user of Alienware X17 R2, is it compatible with Crucial's CT2K16G56C46S5 RAM?
That’s the 5600mhz kit isn’t it? If so, sorry I haven’t tested it yet
David, my friend, I did something stupid, please help me!
I used my friend's bootable flash drive to format my Alienware x17.
Now all my essential software is gone including the command center. I tried to install it separately but it says it's incompatible. What should I do?
Is there any way I can restore my laptop to its original state?
oh no! add me on instagram and we can work it out together. my insta: mashittech
Can this run tarkov on 4K? What would be the best settings for quality + performance ?
I don't have tarok but Gary does so I will ask him to bring it on an external drive next week if that's ok (we don't work the weekend)
@@MashITTech thanks so much will stay tuned
Can I install 4TB SSD on single M.2 or there is a limit that can recognize??
there is no limit, the trouble with most 4tb is they are double sided. You can use the p3 plus 4tb as that is single sided but not the fastest performer
What is the best starting Configuration to buy, if you want to Upgrade?
1)Hdd: 512 -> 2 TB is only 200€ at Dell. Seems fair, and then add another 2 TB on your own?
2) RAM: 16 -> 32 is 300€. Seems too expensive? Better to add your self?
Thanks mate
Ok, so the X15 is soldered ram. But the X17 is removable?? I'm interested now. What an odd choice by Alienware.
They just went too thin with the X15! I would rather they made it the same thickness as the X17 and given it upgradable ram
It has 2 gen 4 ports?????? I thought only slot 0 was gen four? How do I find out what I have?
Yes all r2 models have 2 gen 4 slots
Does the x17 r1 have two pcie gen 4 slots?
Yes it does. When they first released the X17r1 the second slot didnt run at full speed but they released a BIOS update which fixed that
Do you recommend DDR4 or DDR5 I don't understand the difference.
DDR4 is for older laptop, you need DDR5 for the x17r2. I have put a link to amazon if you are not sure
The SSD heatsink is Dell part no. CM99KM. Skip all the hassle I went through and just quote this to your dell Spare Parts person. Not sure why spend 5k on a laptop to use a thirdparty heatsink that needs a rubber band to hold it on... My X17 came with what appears to be an OEM version of the Samsung Pro SSD range as it looked similar and performer the same as the additional 980 pro I installed (just under 7000 read speed👌)
Thanks for this info mate, I just couldn't be bothered to sit on hold to Dell 🤣
Can you upgrade cpu or graphics card this way?
No, both soldered to motherboard
What does disconnecting that cable do?
Disconnects the battery to stop you getting a short
Will an SN850X fit in this installation?
1 and 2tb will be fine, 4tb is double sided so I am not sure it will fit! If I get time tomorrow I will try and fit my 4tb for you
Hi, i have M17 R4 can i upgrade the SSD to Gen 4?
the gen 4 drive will work but will be capped at gen 3 speeds due to the port being only gen 3. Sorry :(