MXM to NVMe Adapter upgrade

[Henrik9979]

Hey just stumbled abone this mxm to m.2 adapter thing for the Alienware m18x r2. Mine is just collecting dust sadly. It needs a new GPU and since I have a desktop, I fell that the m18x is becoming pretty outdated.

 

But seeing this adapter gave me some ideas.

 

What is the options for a eGPU solution?

 

Could a mxm to m.2 adapter be used with 

this adaptor?:

https://www.amazon.com/JMT-Notebook-External-Discrete-Graphics/dp/B08B7VQ5D5

 

It doesn't matter that the display output would come out of the eGPU because the Alienware has a HDMI in port you could hook it up to and still be using the 18" screen.

 

Or has anyone tried this one?:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003662294560.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=494-037-6276&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&albagn=888888&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&albcp=19207365288&albag=&trgt=&crea=en1005003662294560&netw=x&device=m&albpg=&albpd=en1005003662294560&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3Mvvfei-ajMKOyyylnmN7qTdEnQ0-tZpIoPUK3nBlbGsskqTVbTLD0gEhoCkbwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&aff_fcid=15977cb807474cfb8ed8834e21497456-1698028429065-02888-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=15977cb807474cfb8ed8834e21497456-1698028429065-02888-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=1b9f5dfb9dce487d880ced2eb65dd227&afSmartRedirect=y

 

 

[Maks0098]

On 10/22/2023 at 9:42 PM, Henrik9979 said:

Hey just stumbled abone this mxm to m.2 adapter thing for the Alienware m18x r2. Mine is just collecting dust sadly. It needs a new GPU and since I have a desktop, I fell that the m18x is becoming pretty outdated.

 

But seeing this adapter gave me some ideas.

 

What is the options for a eGPU solution?

 

Could a mxm to m.2 adapter be used with 

this adaptor?:

https://www.amazon.com/JMT-Notebook-External-Discrete-Graphics/dp/B08B7VQ5D5

 

It doesn't matter that the display output would come out of the eGPU because the Alienware has a HDMI in port you could hook it up to and still be using the 18" screen.

 

Or has anyone tried this one?:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003662294560.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=494-037-6276&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&albagn=888888&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&albcp=19207365288&albag=&trgt=&crea=en1005003662294560&netw=x&device=m&albpg=&albpd=en1005003662294560&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3Mvvfei-ajMKOyyylnmN7qTdEnQ0-tZpIoPUK3nBlbGsskqTVbTLD0gEhoCkbwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&aff_fcid=15977cb807474cfb8ed8834e21497456-1698028429065-02888-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=15977cb807474cfb8ed8834e21497456-1698028429065-02888-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=1b9f5dfb9dce487d880ced2eb65dd227&afSmartRedirect=y

 

 

if it will work with M.2 MXM adapter, I would recommend using this adapter: https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLyRdWC. Because, unlike yours(it only uses one pcie line), it uses 4 pcie lines for connection and there will be less performance loss. About the MXM to PCIe adapter, it should work and I even saw someone connect such an adapter to a Clevo P750DM and everything worked well.

 

26 minutes ago, Maks0098 said:

if it will work with M.2 MXM adapter, I would recommend using this adapter: https://a.aliexpress.com/_mLyRdWC. Because, unlike yours(it only uses one pcie line), it uses 4 pcie lines for connection and there will be less performance loss. About the MXM to PCIe adapter, it should work and I even saw someone connect such an adapter to a Clevo P750DM and everything worked well.

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/failed-to-use-desktop-vga-with-laptop-egpu.292790/

i found a couple of experiments, i think it will work well in your laptop with video cards up to 1080 in SG mode or in PCI mode using hdmi in

[s4lem0nsen]

On 9/26/2023 at 8:48 AM, CircleLoading said:

I have set settings like this:

Video output: SG

Windows 8 fast boot: Disabled

Secure Boot: Disabled

Load Legacy Option Rom: Disabled

Boot Listing Option: UEFI

 

but still no luck, the NVMe is gen 4.0 which I am using, so maybe I should try something from gen 3.0 NVMe? like samsung 970 evo plus?

Did you ever resolve this? I also have a 2014 AW18 and was thinking about investing in a card like this, but if it won’t work I can save the money and invest in bigger sata drives instead…

[CircleLoading]

On 11/6/2023 at 12:40 PM, s4lem0nsen said:

Did you ever resolve this? I also have a 2014 AW18 and was thinking about investing in a card like this, but if it won’t work I can save the money and invest in bigger sata drives instead…

no, nothing worked for me, I used different nvme adapter from here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005365734570.html  maybe that's the case, why I am unable, to boot, @ssj92 any ideas? unlocked bios is from here: 

 

[Busta Bloodnut]

Hello all. I've been reading thru this and was wondering what are more pros and cons of getting this for my Alienware m18x R2? The adapter? Also was wondering if that veloceraptor adapter is the only one that works for the m18x? Ive seen other kinds of ones on eBay for way cheaper, but I don't know enough about these to know better. I mean I would assume that a Samsung 990 pro would be way better than the 840 evo msata I have in there already.

[ssj92]

The velociraptor is the best card indeed. Even with V3 i am getting power drain so either it's the V3 adapter or my RTX 3000 doesn't turn off properly. 

 

The BIOS I posted should have NVMe support already 

[Busta Bloodnut]

Yeah the adpater is working good for me thus far since ive had it. My machine hasnt had a power drain but I have a P4000 so idk if its just because of that. I do have another question regarding the adapter though. I recently bought an M18x R1 for like 85$. Like MAD cheap. Just got it today and while its got some cosmetic damage, it runs pretty good. I outright refuse to use the default HDD cable they give you to use since ive had nothing but problems using that setup with that crappy cable with that crap port on the R2 (Only using it temporary as to see if the machine ran) and the R1 is basically the same format but smaller. I want to use this adapter for this R1 as well. Will it work for an R1?

[ssj92]

13 hours ago, Busta Bloodnut said:

Yeah the adpater is working good for me thus far since ive had it. My machine hasnt had a power drain but I have a P4000 so idk if its just because of that. I do have another question regarding the adapter though. I recently bought an M18x R1 for like 85$. Like MAD cheap. Just got it today and while its got some cosmetic damage, it runs pretty good. I outright refuse to use the default HDD cable they give you to use since ive had nothing but problems using that setup with that crappy cable with that crap port on the R2 (Only using it temporary as to see if the machine ran) and the R1 is basically the same format but smaller. I want to use this adapter for this R1 as well. Will it work for an R1?

You can run the latest BIOS for M18xR1 which adds M.2 support but I don't think you will be able to boot from it. 

[aldarxt]

6 hours ago, ssj92 said:

You can run the latest BIOS for M18xR1 which adds M.2 support but I don't think you will be able to boot from it. 

You can put in an mSATA and boot from it. I hate the HDD flat ribbon cable too. I purchased like 3 of them and think I am down to 1 which is in the m18xr2 now. Had a real bad experience about 2 year's ago I must have bumped a corner of the cable and my ssd"s lost and corrupted data and files. Really freaked me out to the point I put all 2tb hdd's in and ran the system off the mSATA. I switched out the mSATA and went to a SATA ssd for the main but still run the 2tb hdd's even 1 in the DVD caddy. But having the adapter just for storage can make up for not using that flat ribbon cable.

[Busta Bloodnut]

10 hours ago, ssj92 said:

You can run the latest BIOS for M18xR1 which adds M.2 support but I don't think you will be able to boot from it. 

I see. Even if you had an unlocked BIOS it wouldnt boot?

[Busta Bloodnut]

3 hours ago, aldarxt said:

You can put in an mSATA and boot from it. I hate the HDD flat ribbon cable too. I purchased like 3 of them and think I am down to 1 which is in the m18xr2 now. Had a real bad experience about 2 year's ago I must have bumped a corner of the cable and my ssd"s lost and corrupted data and files. Really freaked me out to the point I put all 2tb hdd's in and ran the system off the mSATA. I switched out the mSATA and went to a SATA ssd for the main but still run the 2tb hdd's even 1 in the DVD caddy. But having the adapter just for storage can make up for not using that flat ribbon cable.

I WOULD use the mSATA option if the R1 had an mSATA port lol. Luckly, i have a hdd dvd caddy from my old R2 that broke. Guess i'll just use that with like an 870 EVO or something. Man, i was really banking on that adapter with a 990 pro for my OS for this rig. This R1 seems very limited compared to the R2. I mean, i sorta knew beforehand the R1 was limited but, not THIS tremendous of a gulf. Good thing I didnt spend that much on it lol. As for using the adapter for storage, i dont think i will since im just got it for the novelty and it was cheap. Or Idk maybe i will lmao. Depends on how i feel as time flies.

[aldarxt]

8 hours ago, Busta Bloodnut said:

I WOULD use the mSATA option if the R1 had an mSATA port lol. Luckly, i have a hdd dvd caddy from my old R2 that broke. Guess i'll just use that with like an 870 EVO or something. Man, i was really banking on that adapter with a 990 pro for my OS for this rig. This R1 seems very limited compared to the R2. I mean, i sorta knew beforehand the R1 was limited but, not THIS tremendous of a gulf. Good thing I didnt spend that much on it lol. As for using the adapter for storage, i dont think i will since im just got it for the novelty and it was cheap. Or Idk maybe i will lmao. Depends on how i feel as time flies.

I thought I saw someone put ssd's in the express card slot. They might have tried NVME ssd m.2 but if its possible to put a msata wouldn't seem such a waste of nvme m.2 power. I can understand not using the pcie adapter for nvme m.2 just for storage, defeats the purpose of nvme. But msata even though it is slower can run a system but not sure again from the express card slot

[ssj92]

16 hours ago, Busta Bloodnut said:

I WOULD use the mSATA option if the R1 had an mSATA port lol. Luckly, i have a hdd dvd caddy from my old R2 that broke. Guess i'll just use that with like an 870 EVO or something. Man, i was really banking on that adapter with a 990 pro for my OS for this rig. This R1 seems very limited compared to the R2. I mean, i sorta knew beforehand the R1 was limited but, not THIS tremendous of a gulf. Good thing I didnt spend that much on it lol. As for using the adapter for storage, i dont think i will since im just got it for the novelty and it was cheap. Or Idk maybe i will lmao. Depends on how i feel as time flies.

You can run duet on the ssd in the odd to hdd caddy, then it will allow you to boot from the NVMe adapter. OR if you want, get a usb adapter for the pcie slot and put a small usb drive in there to install duet. 

 

Duet allows you to boot UEFI/NVMe using legacy bios 

[Busta Bloodnut]

On 3/6/2024 at 4:49 PM, ssj92 said:

You can run duet on the ssd in the odd to hdd caddy, then it will allow you to boot from the NVMe adapter. OR if you want, get a usb adapter for the pcie slot and put a small usb drive in there to install duet. 

 

Duet allows you to boot UEFI/NVMe using legacy bios 

I see...which one of these options is...easier? Also these would still require BIOS unlocked, correct?

[ssj92]

On 3/8/2024 at 3:58 PM, Busta Bloodnut said:

I see...which one of these options is...easier? Also these would still require BIOS unlocked, correct?

If you are planning on installing DuET you can use the optical drive bay to install a small SSD or HDD. In that drive you will install DuET. It is a bootloader. Then you can put MXM NVMe adapter in slot 2 and install windows onto that drive. 

 

Yes unlocked BIOS for M18xR1 is needed