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37 Posts
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7495
January 23rd, 2017 01:00
Why doesn't Alienware 15 R2 support NVMe??
I am really disappointed to say the least! When I bought this laptop I knew I wanted M.2 but little did I know that this computer would not support the full specification. They did NOT make it clear that this laptop did not support NVMe when I bought it! Now I am stuck with a Samsung 950 PRO and a $300 tab as well.
I really wish Dell had been more clear in the checkout process that their M.2 was not full spec. Now I'm seriously considering other options when it comes to my next computer purchase and I have only bought Dell for the past 20 years...
I read posts showing people getting these drives to work in the R2 but I haven't been able to replicate it, I wonder if they might have even removed the workaround with a BIOS update???
It's just wacky that you could get a computer with a GeForce 980M, 4K screen, 16GB of RAM, and then check to make sure it has M.2 and it says IT DOES but low and behold it's not actually supporting the latest technology on M.2...
After posting this I'm definitely thinking I'll just build my next computer and forego Dell completely, at least then I can hold myself responsible if the computer does not support the technology I want...
Alienware-Eimy
3 Apprentice
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4.4K Posts
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January 26th, 2017 07:00
This is a list of validated drives:
SSD 1TB Hynix PC300 PCIe NVMe 2280
SANDISK X400 512G M.2 2280 SSD
SSD 256G Samsung PM951 PCIe NVMe 2280
LITEON CV3 128G M.2 2280 SSD
SSD 512G Samsung PM951 PCIe NVMe 2280
HYNIX SC308 256G M.2 2280 SSD
SANDISK X400 128G M.2 2280 SSD
SSD 256G Toshiba XG3n PCIe NVMe 2280
SSD 256G Hynix PC305 PCIe NVMe 2280
HYNIX SC308 128G M.2 2280 SSD
SANDISK X400 256G M.2 2280 SSD
SSD 512G LiteOn CX2 PCIe NVMe 2280
HYNIX SC308 512G M.2 2280 SSD
SSD 512G Hynix PC300 PCIe NVMe 2280
SSD 1TB LiteOn CX2 PCIe NVMe 2280
SSD 1TB Samsung PM951 PCIe NVMe 2280
LITEON CV3 512G M.2 2280 SSD
SSD 512G Toshiba XG3n PCIe NVMe 2280
SSD 1TB Toshiba XG3n PCIe NVMe 2280
SSD 256G LiteOn CX2 PCIe NVMe 2280
LITEON CV3 256G M.2 2280 SSD
Alienware-Eimy
3 Apprentice
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4.4K Posts
1
January 23rd, 2017 11:00
Hi,
The AW15 R2 does support NVMe, try updating the BIOS to the latest here.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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January 23rd, 2017 11:00
Is BIOS set for AHCI?
Are you closely following the existing posts?
tennismaster
37 Posts
0
January 23rd, 2017 12:00
I've tried everything and it hasn't worked. Yes I have updated the BIOS, tried setting the BIOS for AHCI, tried installing to the drive using a CD, tried writing recovery image to the drive using Dell provided USB, etc. Nothing seems to makes the drive bootable... If it really is possible I would love to know how to make it work!
Alienware-Eimy
3 Apprentice
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4.4K Posts
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January 23rd, 2017 13:00
I've seen some compatibility issues with that specific drive in the past. As we've explained, the machine does support nVME. However, not all drives comply with the same specifications. I'd suggest to use a different brand or to contact Samsung to see if there's a firmware update that can be applied.
Check this out as well:
http://dell.to/2iXjqbd
tennismaster
37 Posts
0
January 23rd, 2017 13:00
Please help me get this working!
This drive show up in the BIOS, so why won't it work? Even Dell tech support thinks this will work... Come on Dell!
I was able to write a recovery image to the 950 PRO using windows recovery media on USB... How in the *** can it write to disk and yet not be supported by the computer? This is just weird!
I verified that this worked by trying to install via CD after writing the recovery image, the drive showed up with multiple partitions having been created and gigs of disk space having been used...
So it DOES work it just won't initialize the drive on boot... sounds like a BIOS issue to me.
tennismaster
37 Posts
0
January 23rd, 2017 15:00
Ok, thank you for your response, you have made it very clear that this computer supports NVMe. Is it possible that you can point me in the direction of an NVMe drive that will work in this computer?? Thank you for your assistance.
tennismaster
37 Posts
0
January 24th, 2017 12:00
I tried the links you suggested and was not able to get the drive to work! I've spent hours with it and no luck. I have never seen the drive recognized in any fashion by the OS, however it does show up in the BIOS... I can't explain that but I'm sure there is a solution forthcoming since Dell is a reputable business.
In the meantime, can you recommend a drive or recommend what I should be looking for to get an NVMe drive that works in my computer???
tennismaster
37 Posts
0
January 25th, 2017 14:00
DOES ANYONE AT DELL HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THEIR COMPUTERS WORK OR NOT??