Hi there!
Today I’ve got 128GB SATA minicard for my Dell Precision M4500 laptop. As you may remember I posted about this SSD drive here.
I’ve ordered it month ago from Hong Kong ebayer, this is the link to the item.
Samsung mSATA SSD 128GB
Samsung mSATA SSD 128GB
Firstly I opened the back cover of my laptop. DELL Precision series has very simple and handy way to get deep into the hardware. Just unscrew one bolt in the middle and slide the cover to the front ebge, that is away from the battery apartment, after that lift it up. BTW, battery should be pulled off before you go inside!
Dell M4500 disassembling – slide the back cover to the front edge of laptop.
When you go to install mSATA SSD drive to DELL Presicion M4500, you definitely want to find WWAN/SSD connector.
DELL Precision M4500 with back cover opened
It’s on the left if you oriented laptop battery to the north.
DELL M4500 – WWAN/SSD connector
Put your SSD minicard in the connector, you can’t go wrong as it will fit the only possible way. I have mine istalled with its label down.
Install mSATA SSD into Dell M4500
Now you will need a little screw to fix it in place. Luckily I have some, it’s chinese screws M2x3 which I’ve got some time ago to fix one of my lens. Those M2x3 are just fine.
Install mSATA SSD into Dell M4500
Install mSATA SSD into Dell M4500
Ok, now put all back together – the cover and the battery, start laptop pressing Power button and hit F2 to enter BIOS.
You should now see your SSD minicard drive among other devices in the Device Information section.
Dell M4500 BIOS
Reboot to the Windows now. Once Windows completed installig driver for the new device, you should see your drive in volume list in Disk Managment tab.
New drive in Win7
I have done some quick tests, namely the CrystalDiskMark 3.0.2 and CrystalDiskInfo 5.4.2
Samsung mSATA SSD 128GB test
Next time I am to make my SSD minicard as Primary drive with Intel Rapid Storage Technology application and put new installation of Win7 on it.
CU!
hey i was just wondering if you could further explain how it went with intel rapid storage technology and maybe even a step by step guide? i want to do exactly the same
It was not needed as I moved on. You only have to check in BIOS that you have mSATA drive, then power off the notebook, pull off the HDD and go forward with Win7 installation disk. Nothing special, but put HDD off, that’s all.
great! thanks! you think it might be even faster if you would use it? (intel RST) Now you have two separate drives and thats it right? one for OS and some programs and one for storage i guess?
tnx!
Yep, my OS and software resides on mSATA drive and my new 1TB Hitachi HDD just for my data (projects etc.). This particular Samsung mSATA SSD drive is pretty old now and not as fast as it wanted to be, but it’s faster than HDD thats for sure )))
Hi cmexonat,
I’m planning on installing an mSata SSD in my M4500 as well.
I heard the new 840 EVO mSata from samsung is coming soon (looking good and fast!).
Do you have any information for me on the speed that the Dell m4500 can handle?
Is it compatible with all the new SSD speeds or can it only handle older SSDs?
can the Dell m4500 handle the full mSATA 6 Gb/s Interface?
Dell doesn’t have that much information for me, maybe you can help me.
Hi,
Not sure it sata-3 compatible. Thought it should work at 3 Gb/s just fine I think.
Hi
Do you know if the 840 EVO worked?
thx
s
Have no clue, sorry. But why not?
Since it is 250 GB and the DELL specifications are not clear…
and it is SATA III
Hi, I try to use the msata to be my OS drive. I have instal win7 and it can be running well.
But when I try to put the 500G HDD to be the storage HDD, the m4500 can be starting, It always show the boot disk can be found. Even i change the sequence about the msata, the problem as usall. i have try change the ”AHCI” , it is the same. How can i run the os on my msata and storage on my hdd, thank you