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September 2nd, 2016 09:00

M2 PCIe SSD configuration for Alienware Alpha R2

I purchased a R2 with configuration with M2 PCIe SSD 256GB. However when I check the info in Dell Support app, the SSD is connected to SATA not PCIe. And the signal speed is SATA 6GB.

I suspect that this SSD is a M2 SATA SSD. Not a PCIe I have chosen.

I saw online posts others' R2 comes with Toshiba nvme SSD (THNSN5512GPU7) but mine is Samsung CM871a model. CM871a is a very bad performance model.

Appreciate some help and clarification from Dell.

2 Posts

September 26th, 2016 15:00

No that is incorrect. R1 has only one PCIe slot which is Wifi but R2 has one more to use M.2 SSD. Your SSD used SATA interface because the SSD you got is a SATA M.2 SSD. If you use a PCIe one (m key) it will run on PCIe interface. It even supports NVM express protocol if you are using SSD like pm951 or 950 pro.

Contact Eimy and she might be able to arrange a replacement for you.

But to be honest on daily uses there is not much difference. And PCIe SSD runs very hot and causes loud fan noise.

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4.4K Posts

September 2nd, 2016 16:00

Hi,

Please send me a PM with the Service Tag so I can check the configuration.

1 Message

September 14th, 2016 15:00

Wow, Mine came with a very cheap *** SATA SSD.  When I called Alienware they told me it was PCI-E when it wasn't.  I honestly think that they are trying to scam their buyers.

September 26th, 2016 12:00

I got the same problem - ordered a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD drive and got a slow "Onlite CV3 SATA" drive instead.

I contacted Dell and was told that the Alpha R2 only has one PCIe slot and that is used by the WiFi card. So the SSD drive has to be connected via SATA. Is that correct?

September 26th, 2016 16:00

Thanks Dino3366! Looks like the Dell support has not a clue about the hardware they sell.

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141 Posts

September 27th, 2016 09:00

I have a 2016 Area 51 r2 with a 10 core cpu, 1080 gpu, 64gb ram, 4hdds, 2 ssd's, and two samsung 950 m2 ssd's on the pcie 16 slots with. Corsair hx1000i psu.

Bought this desktop a few weeks ago.

No loud fans or any issues.

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