XPS 8900, M.2 Drive specs

Question

Hi all,

I have an XPS 8900 Desktop, that I am planning to upgrade. After the upgrade, I would like to retire it to a home NAS. It has a i6-6700 CPU, 8 GB RAM (2 x 4GB), NVIDIA GT730, 1 TB Toshiba drive.

I have ordered 64 GB RAM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224440224572

I also want to upgrade my HDD to an M.2. It sounds from the conversations on the boards, that I should get a PCI-e card and an M.2 NVME to get the most out of the drive? Can someone advise me on which ones to get? Want to make sure that I am order the compatible components. I don't mind getting a 4TB NVME, if it keeps the system alive for a bit.

Right now, i have a Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD, up to 540MB/s in waiting but I am not convinced that it it enough.

Any advice on the SSD specs is super greatly appreciated. Also, in my simple mind I would like to install RAM before doing anything else because if I am stuck there, i cannot get full value out of the system.

Thanks in advance.

mullising

Chino de Oro · Accepted Answer

Any PCIe x4 adapter with heatsink for around $10 USD should do the job.

A 4TB Crucial P3 is an affordable drive and can be considered for upgrade plan.

Compatible memory upgrade can be sourced from here https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/dell/xps-8900

mullising · Answer

@Chino de Oro​ thanks for the quick response.  Forgive my ignorance, when I look at the Board picture, It shows two slots.  PCI-Express x16 card slot (SLOT4 and SLOT1).   Board componentsYou recommended x4 because NVME does not need an x16?  Again thanks for your help!  regardsmullising

Chino de Oro · Answer

The M.2 NVMe SSD utilizes 4 lanes.  Therefore, the suggestion for a PCIe x4 adapter.  It can be recognized on PCIe x16, PCIe x4, but can not be used with PCIe x1 slot.  In your system, you can install it on slot 4 (black).

mullising · Answer

@Chino de Oro​ Thanks again, one more question.  I really liked PCIe card from Sabrient because it comes with thermal paste.  I am assuming that a PCIr card with thermal paste is the preferred solution, right?  Also, When I followed your link for the PCIe Card, I saw a PCIe card that can house 4 NVMe drives.  Is that an overkill for such an old system?

Chino de Oro · Answer

You may want an adapter with aluminum heatsink for easy assembly. They should come with thermal pad to place between the SSD and the heatsink. Thermal paste is messy to apply and to remove from SSD when needs to. The link was to provide variant products but with description of which one to get. The PCIe adapter that can install up to 4 SSD drives is for PCIe x16 slot that support bifurcation, which your 8900 does not.

Here is a suggest of $10 adapter.

mullising · Answer

@Chino de Oro​ Got it!  really appreciate your guidance.  I will go with the recommended PCIe Adapter and the NVME.

Chino de Oro · Answer

Post back the result.  Good or bad, it will help others in the community.

mullising · Answer

@Chino de Oro​ will do!

mullising · Answer

@Chino de Oro​ one thing I did want to highlight about the RAM is that the XPS manual states that the RAM should be 2133 MHz while the Crucial’s website shows 2400 MHz.  Secondly Crucial does not carry 16 GB dimm.  So, I had to order memory from eBay.  I am waiting for it so that I can see if there is a performance improvement.

Chino de Oro · Answer

Those are compatible memory.  Higher speed memory will be downclock to support the speed of the CPU is rated for.  If mixed RAM being used, they will operate at the lowest speed.

mullising · Answer

Installed 64 GB Memory. This was a huge upgrade from 2016 factory installed 8 GB (2 x 4GB).  my boot times have gone from  8 minutes to 2.3 minutes.  Next step, upgrade the boot drive to M.2 with PCIe adapter.  I am not sure if I should clone or do a fresh install.  I have about 800 GB of info to clone.

mullising · Answer

As I was researching the M.2 NVME to buy, here are somethings that were pointed to me: Techpowerup.com is a great reference for M.2 NVME. Buy an NVME with DRAM and NAND Buy an NVME with TLC as opposed to QLC Watch out for the TWB rating of the M.2 NVME (TWB does not double if you buy higher capacity SSD). Heatsink on the PCIe is essential for the longevity of the M.2 NVME May be worth it replace the stock pancake cooler to help keep the case cool.  I am seeing core tempertures of 52° C, currently. Concerned that the inclusion of one or more SSD may make it difficult to keep the case cool enough.

Chino de Oro · Answer

Thanks for posting back the results and your experiences.

It's suggested to perform a clean Windows installation then repopulate your applications and data. On #4, note that the posted TBW are rated per 1TB. For example of Samsung 970 EVO Plus, it's 600 TBW per 1TB. Please look at the footnote of TBW in the endurance information. The TBW is actually varied according to capacity.

mullising · Answer

@Chino de Oro thanks, I am also leaning towards a clean install. I also agree that for my limited use, current TBW ratings are sufficient. Also, with a clean install, I dont have to buy a massive (4TB) primary drive. I can add SATA SSDs to store pictures and videos and create an alternate backup. The contents on my pc are:

Windows 10 OS and system applications
Office 365
Luminar photo editor
Chessbase 16 with megadatabase, which i will convert to Chessbase 17 with megadatabase
Whole bunch of pictures and videos

Over the years, I have removed a lot of bloatware from Dell and gone through Microsoft OS upgrades, so a clean install is definitely the way to go. Separately, I am also upgrading the stock pancake cooler with the Dell Premium cooler (i have a separate thread for that). Will report again as I make progress.

thanks

XPS Desktops

XPS 8900, M.2 Drive specs

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