Upgrading Alienware's solid state disks is not just about increasing storage space, it's about unlocking your machine's full potential, such as faster boot and load times, improved gaming performance, and smoother multitasking and workflow.
When your Alienware is running out of storage space, the system feels sluggish, or you want a clean slate, you may choose to upgrade your Alienware SSD. This article will provide you with the preparations before upgrading, as well as the method of upgrading your Alienware SSD without reinstalling Windows.
The following section contains a comprehensive SSD upgrade guide for common Alienware models (laptops and desktops).
🟢Alienware m15/m17 (R3-R5 Series)
🟢Alienware x14/x15/x17
🟢Alienware 17 R5
🟡Alienware Aurora R10/R11/R13/R14
🟡Alienware Area-51 Series (Threadripper/Desktop Tower)
1. Identify the System and SSD Type
2. Backup Your Data
You can use Windows Backup, or you can choose to backup important files to an external drive to avoid data loss.
3. Gather the Required Tools
4. Update BIOS & Drivers
Go to Dell Support and update:
The next section explains how to upgrade your Alienware SSD.
Step 1. Connect the New SSD
You can connect the new hard disk to an Alienware system via USB using a solid-state drive caddy or adapter. After connecting, the new hard drive should show up in Disk Management.
Step 2. Clone the Old SSD to the New One
To do this, you can use AOMEI Cloner, which can provide you with:
🔵Easy to use: It offers a clean, user-friendly interface, making cloning accessible to beginners.
🔵Disk Clone: It creates an exact copy of the HDD or SSD, including the operating system (OS), applications, and files, on the new hard disk.
🔵Flexible Cloning Methods: It offers a smart clone, copying only used sectors to save disk space.
🔵Fast Transfer: It offers high-speed data transfer and low system impact, allowing seamless operation without disrupting normal computer usage.
You can follow the easy steps to begin SSD cloning:
1. Download and install AOMEI Cloner. Navigate to Clone > Disk Clone.
2. Then, choose the old SSD as the source disk and the new SSD as the destination disk. And click Next.
3. Enable SSD Alignment to optimize the target SSD performance, and click Start Clone.
Step 3. Swap out the Drives
1. Power off the Alienware.
2. Remove the bottom panel (usually secured with Phillips screws).
3. Locate the existing SSD and remove it.
4. Insert the new SSD in its place.
5. Reassemble your laptop or desktop.
Step 4. Boot up
Turn on your system, and if the clone was successful, just boot it.
If the laptop or desktop fails to boot, you can check this: Cloned SSD won’t Boot. Or enter the BIOS (press F2 or DEL at startup), and make sure the new SSD is set as the primary boot drive.
Upgrading the SSD in your Alienware system can improve system performance and expand storage space.
💨Faster boot and load time: SSD can significantly reduce boot and application/game load times compared to traditional hard drives and older SATA SSDs.
The whole system will boot faster, file transfer faster, and applications launch near-instantly.
🎮Better gaming performance: While SSDs don’t increase FPS, they can reduce loading screens and texture pop-in in games. Games installed on SSDs will launch faster and load levels seamlessly.
💾More storage capacity: Modern AAA games and creative tools like Adobe or 3D software take up a lot of space. Upgrading lets you add a larger or second SSD.
🛠️Improved System Reliability: SSDs are more durable than hard drives, and newer models also have better thermal management, power efficiency, and grind-free features for long-term stability.
Upgrading your SSD enhances the performance of your Alienware system, while using AOMEI Cloner makes the upgrade process seamless and easy. Whether you're looking to reduce load times or work with large volumes of files, the upgrade is a worthwhile option.