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Thread: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

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    Talking SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    I own this laptop and I have read/heard that upgrading one the hdds to ssd would be very cool.
    Any advice in here on what to buy in scan.co.uk?
    I use my computer to play some games, email, videos... nothing hardcore.
    thanks in advance.
    these are the specifications of my laptop:
    cnet.com/laptops/dell-xps-17-l702x/4507-3121_7-35186752.html
    Last edited by merovingio; 27-01-2014 at 06:13 PM.

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    This would be fine if the you don't need masses of storage. It also comes with a conversion kit. http://www.scan.co.uk/products/250gb...20mb-s-512mb-9

    Hope this helps,
    SniprUK

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Thanks a lot for your answer.

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    the evo is a good drive. The XPS17 has two HDD bays IIRC. You should be able to add an SSD and keep the existing HDD too in which case a 250GB drive is the right one to go for. Note you can get them off amazon and other stores. I picked one up in the christmas sales for quite a nice price on Amazon. Or you could go 120GB SSD to save money but it takes a performance hit compared to the 250GB and higher capacity versions.

    If you can afford more then either the 840 Pro (better speed and power usage) or else a bigger capacity EVO could be used instead.

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Thanks for the answer, my laptop has two bays and two hdds, idea is to get one 250 gb to replace the one with the os/programs and leave the other one as storage
    I'll check the pro.

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Quote Originally Posted by merovingio View Post
    Thanks for the answer, my laptop has two bays and two hdds, idea is to get one 250 gb to replace the one with the os/programs and leave the other one as storage
    I'll check the pro.
    http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/965?vs=665 comparison

    useful review articles:

    840 Pro http://www.anandtech.com/show/6328/s...o-256gb-review
    840 Evo http://www.anandtech.com/show/7173/s...-models-tested

    on why setting 20GB unused is a good idea: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6489/playing-with-op
    Last edited by ik9000; 10-02-2014 at 02:08 PM. Reason: link on overprovisioning provided

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    one thing that just occurred to me. If you have two drives in there, check whether they are RAID set up or standard set up (boot drive and separate storage drive)

    If the latter you can simply take out the boot drive, do a clean install on the SSD and have a ready to roll HDD to swap back in at a later date if you decide to sell it.

    If the former, be aware that RAID needs both HDD present to work, and you will need to back up everything of importance onto an external device before installing the SSD.

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Thanks a lot for the answers, I have another question and this one is very stupid, which version should i buy ford the ssd, the basic one or the laptop upgrade one?
    I am supposed to copy and image of the hdd 1 of my laptop into the ssd and then exchange it no?

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Quote Originally Posted by merovingio View Post
    Thanks a lot for the answers, I have another question and this one is very stupid, which version should i buy ford the ssd, the basic one or the laptop upgrade one?
    I am supposed to copy and image of the hdd 1 of my laptop into the ssd and then exchange it no?
    No don't bother. Do a clean install without all the bloatware. Download the drivers you do want from the dell support site. (Basic)

    edit the only useful thing in the upgrade version is the USB cable, but you can pick that up easily enough. Both versions come with the migration software itself SFAIK.
    Last edited by ik9000; 21-02-2014 at 12:45 AM.

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    I am afraid that option is not for me, I have no way to make a clean installation of windows since dell didnt provide me with a win 7 disc

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Almost every pc shipped comes with a piece of software to create a repair disc.

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    I downloaded a clean iso from microsoft website and i am gonna create a bootable usb to do a clean installation, that way everything will work fine (I hope)... I've put the link in here in case anybody finds it useful.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7-1c8486a46ebf

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Dell laptops usually come with a hidden partition on the HDD which contains recovery software.

    You should have a tool in Windows which allows you to create recovery media from your machine before you replace the HDD.

    This will be a customised version of Windows which already has the right drivers built in (although they are probably old versions).

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    Question Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Quote Originally Posted by ik9000 View Post
    No don't bother. Do a clean install without all the bloatware. Download the drivers you do want from the dell support site. (Basic)

    edit the only useful thing in the upgrade version is the USB cable, but you can pick that up easily enough. Both versions come with the migration software itself SFAIK.
    I've just purchased a Samsung EVO SSD (in part due to this very helpful thread), and as you suggest, I definitely want to do a clean OS install without all that Dell bloatware!

    How do I determine the minimal necessary utilities/drivers required? For instance, Dell's driver installation order specifies that Dell's Notebook System Software (NSS) is essential, and should be installed first.
    Is it really essential, or does this constitute part of the bloatware?
    Is there an option to install only part of the NSS?

    Thanks ...

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    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    go to the dell website, support, enter your service tag and go to drivers and downloads

    it should list each driver independently. Try installing just the ones you want. Does it still do what you want? If not, it may be in NSS. They used to have a thing called Quickset which set up all the function key links etc etc. Not bloatware in the purest sense. Not essential but useful. Not sure if NSS is their newer version of this. What does it do?

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    • ik9000's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7H55-M/USB3
      • CPU:
      • i7-870, Prolimatech Megahalems, 2x Akasa Apache 120mm
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 2133 11-11-11-27
      • Storage:
      • 2x256GB Samsung 840-Pro, 1TB Seagate 7200.12, 1TB Seagate ES.2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB SuperOverClocked
      • PSU:
      • NZXT Hale 90 750w
      • Case:
      • BitFenix Survivor + Bitfenix spectre LED fans, LG BluRay R/W optical drive
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2414h, U2311h 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • 200Mb/s Fibre and 4G wifi

    Re: SSD for Dell xps 17 l702x

    Quote Originally Posted by skyh View Post
    How do I determine the minimal necessary utilities/drivers required?
    Windows should install without any drivers these days enough to see what you then need. It just won't be quite right using the built in windows drivers. e.g. wrong screen resolution, problems with USB ports etc. Use device manager to see which components have the yellow triangle and find the relevant driver from Dell support to fix each one.

    I usually go:
    windows install
    screen/display driver (Dell)
    mobo+chipset drivers
    eg sound driver
    USB3
    network/ethernet
    wifi
    graphics card driver (direct from Nvidia or AMD website)
    NV optimus driver or AMD equivalent
    trackpad driver
    function keys
    optical drive
    then any custom drivers for mouse/joystick/external screen/wifi dongle etc
    Don't waste time doing any software install until all drivers installed and everything is functioning how you want it to. NB to do a few sleep-suspend-hibernate-restart cycles to check that is running ok,
    Check the power management settings are to your liking and is detecting when the AC power is removed + what happens at that point (screen brightness change, CPU down clocking etc) - this may be another thing customised in the Dell NSS.

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