XPS 15 L502 2nd HDD (caddy)

[hhung516]

hi everyone, finally I'm able to answer my original question on my own:

It is possible to boot from the second HDD inside the caddy. I used this tool here: SystemRescueCd (made a bootable USB)

ps: the BIOS boot menu just won't do this job, at least not on my machine, BIOS ver A6

ps2: I put a SSD inside the laptop (SATA-3) and bought a caddy hosting the original HDD (note: caddy/optical drive interface is only SATA-2) which contains all the factory OS and restore. the caddy has no IC chips in it, only some wiring on a PCB, so I suppose there's no difference b/t $10 item you find on ebay (like mine) and more expensive ones elsewhere.

ps3: every time I boot my machine, there's a click sound from the HDD, which I don't think will do any good to the drive, but I'll have to live with that for now.

[Kaso]

(note: caddy/optical drive interface is only SATA-2)

Huh? Last I checked, the XPS 15 L502x has two SATA ports, both operating at 6.0Gb/s speed.

[pusta]

Huh? Last I checked, the XPS 15 L502x has two SATA ports, both operating at 6.0Gb/s speed.

The optical bay sata port is only Sata 2 - 3gbps.

[Kaso]

Maybe someone can shed additional light on this, but HWiNFO64 v3.92-1500 reports:

My OEM HDD (SATA 3.0Gb/s) is sitting in the caddy, so I'm happy either way. Nevertheless, it's good to know for certain.

[pusta]

Maybe someone can shed additional light on this, but HWiNFO64 v3.92-1500 reports:

My OEM HDD (SATA 3.0Gb/s) is sitting in the caddy, so I'm happy either way. Nevertheless, it's good to know for certain.

Actually I may be wrong as well. My OEM Western Digital drive was reporting 6Gbps while in the primary Sata port, and now only 3Gbps when in the Optical Bay port, so I assumed the optical bay port is Sata 2. When I Google my WD Model number, everything comes back as Sata 2. Now I don't know what to believe.

[Kaso]

Now I don't know what to believe.

Believe my HWiNFO post.

Anyway, the same tool correctly reports the SATA 3.0Gb/s characteristic of my OEM 750GB Samsung. Either in the primary bay or in the caddy, this drive only operates at that speed, which is fine to me. The SSD, on the other hand, is flying at 6.0Gb/s. (When the HDD was in the primary bay, I was able to feel the vibrations under my left palm. Now, I need to muffle it somehow because the hollow caddy seems to amplify its access noise.)

[hhung516]

the hollow caddy seems to amplify its access noise.)

the noise gets louder no matter what as time goes. at some point I just get a new one since HDDs are so cheap and I don't want end up with anything bad happening to the data.

I agree, SATA-2 or -3 won't make much difference for HDDs, no way they can get close to 6Gb/s. maybe the cache would benefit but all laptop HDDs have very limited cache anyways.

also, HM67 chipset seems to work pretty well with Sandforce SSD. I got the Kingston HyperX, so far no BSOD/hanging/slowdown on Win 7 Pro. Just want to share this in case anyone wants to give it a try. I guess Sandforce BSOD is a thing of the past, at least with latest FW and use it on HM67.

thanks guys!!!

[g0biin]

Ok guys so I have few questions.
From reading these forums I was under the impression that the caddy only supports sata 2. But you guys seem to think it supports sata 3? So in this case I can just put an SSD in the caddy and boot to it and it will give me the same performance as I would get if I installing it in where the current hard drive sits? This would save me having to take keyboard etc off to install the SSD, which I would like to avoid if I can.

I got the Dell XPS L502x laptop and I am looking to upgrade the hard drive in it.

So there is this sata 3 OCZ_Vertex_3 max iops.
Buy Cheap OCZ Vertex 3 MAX IOPS 2.5" 240GB SSD - SATA III - MLC ()

And the sata 3 regular version
Buy Cheap OCZ Vertex 3 2.5" 240GB SSD - SATA III - MLC (VTX3-25SA)

My question is, which SSD would suit the mother board best? Will the max iops be over kill? There is about $100s difference so if I wont see the performance maybe I can use the slower drive.
Cheers in advanced.
G0biin

[SuspiciousLurker]

So there is this sata 3 OCZ_Vertex_3 max iops.
Buy Cheap OCZ Vertex 3 MAX IOPS 2.5" 240GB SSD - SATA III - MLC ()

And the sata 3 regular version
Buy Cheap OCZ Vertex 3 2.5" 240GB SSD - SATA III - MLC (VTX3-25SA)

That's interesting. Newegg shows only $20 difference between MaxIOPs and regular Vertex 3 (in the 120GB size):
Newegg.com - 120GB, ocz "vertex 3"

I wonder why the huge MaxIOPs upgrade cost for the 240GB size?

[g0biin]

Newegg American. Mwave Australian

Also did we work out if the mobo of the dell l502x will support the 12800 ram.