XPS L502X Upgrade HDD to SSD - Advice please

Question

I am wishing to change the HDD over ti a new SSD However, I am not sure of the type to order (sata etc)

I have not taken the HDD out of the machine yet but any advice on the correct type and known compatible brand will be much appreciated.
Thanks

Opto-Mystic · Accepted Answer

I thought that I would let you know the results. Your answer was absolutely perfect.

First of all, I downloaded the service manual for the XPS15. Essential for locating the CORRECT screws to undo and techniques for dismantling the laptop safely.
I ordered a Crucial MX300 2.5" Solid State Drive from Amazon. (750Gb to be the same size as existing OEM HDD)

By the time Amazon delivered, I had taken the OEM HDD out from the XPS15. (It was a WD Scorpio Black WD7500BPKT-75PK4T0 750Gb)

I have an 'Inateck FD2002 HDD Docking Station' that takes SATA drives of both standard and 2.5 HDD/SSD drives. I use it to give the laptop 2 extra 2Gb backup drives. However, it has a built in CLONE feature that worked perfectly (Took about 90 minutes to clone the original HDD)

While I had the laptop partially dismantled, I replaced the RTC battery. as well.

Although the SSD was 7mm in height Vs 9.5mm, the 2.5mm adaptor that came with the SSD was not needed because the carrier that holds the drive holds the new SSD perfectly making the adaptor redundant.

On booting up for the first time, I got a warning the RTC System Clock was wrong (as a result of changing the button battery) - a quick trip into the BIOS to reset the clock and all went perfectly - the first booting took a while but after 2 reboots to 'bed things in' it was perfect.

RESULT 1:
With the OEM HDD loaded with heavy duty software (Photoshop/Office Pro/Audition etc) it took nearly 2 minutes 30 seconds to boot up.
With the Cloned SSD in place, it takes only 20 seconds to boot!!!!! What a difference! It is now only 3 seconds slower than My newer XPS15 QHD touch screen machine... MAGIC!

RESULT 2:
A very happy member of this forum with an XPS15 on steroids!. Thank you for your help

Inateck Docking Station:
www . inateck . com / hdd-docking-station.html

Opto-Mystic · Answer

I should have put in the heading: XPS15 L502X

ejn63 · Answer

Any 2.5' SATA SSD will work - you will also need an adapter, as the system is designed for  a 9.5mm drive, and most SSDs are 7 mm in height (some drive kits come with an adapter, but a bare drive won't - for that you'll need to buy a 2.5 mm adapter).

Opto-Mystic · Answer

Thank you indeed. I  was not aware of the differences in height, I will make sure that I will order the adaptor if one is not included.Regards Donald

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XPS L502X Upgrade HDD to SSD - Advice please

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