I have an Area 51 R2 system (the new ones) right here. After powering it up, I went to check the available options in the bios. I was surprised to see that there was no way to change the AHCI/RAID mode for the intel SATA controller which I found weird. After installing the OS on the SSD while keeping the HDD as data drive, I noticed that the system comes with 2 different controllers.
The first one, running in AHCI mode, is an Intel C600+ / C220+ sSATA Controller, while the secondary one is a normal onboard Intel RAID mode controller (can't get the exact chip). It seems that the ODD and both SSD 2.5" emplacement connectors (SATA4 and SATA5) are plugged on the AHCI controller while the other 3 3.5" HDDs (SATA1, SATA2, SATA3)slots connectors are all on the SATA RAID controller.
While this allow to create a RAID with any installed HDD or SSD installed in the 3.5" slots, you are unable to create a RAID of 2 2.5" SSD or HDD using their designed location in the case. And if you want to create a SSD RAID, you need to move your drives to a 3.5" emplacement using 2.5" to 3.5" adapters.
FIRST QUESTION:
-Why are there 2 different controllers instead of just using one? Why not like other system , use a simple 6-ports SATA3 controller. If it's to split the AHCI performance mode for the SSD to possible RAID on the Hard Drives, that nearly locks the ability to make a RAID SSD using the default emplacements. I know you can just reroute/reconnect the SATA connectors to make it fit but that's just extra useless work on the system.
SECOND QUESTION:
-Why can't we change either controllers mode in the bios? What if I want to have 2x SSD in RAID mode for my games while having 2x HDD also in RAID for my OS? I can't because the whole thing is split in 3 / 3 for ports and not way to make 2 different RAID arrays unless I buy some 3rd party PCI-e RAID card and use that instead.
Now here's another thing I found out. Both controllers require different type of Intel Rapid Storage to be installed but you can't get either of the application to work at the same time as the other. The C600+/C220+ controller requires Intel Rapid Storage Enterprise to install the "correct" driver and the application will run only if you disable the RAID controller. You will see the ODD and both SSD connected using the application. If you re-enable the RAID controller, the application will give and error and will refuse to launch.
The RAID controller on the other side requires the normal Intel Rapid Storage to install the driver and application. The application will only run if the generic windows driver is installed for the AHCI controller or the one installed when installing the Intel Chipset inf utility (showing C610 / X99 AHCI controller). The application will launch and will show up to all 3 of the HDDs connected to the RAID controller. It will crash if you try to run it when the correct IRTs driver for the AHCI controller installed.
What's all the idea behind this? This whole 2 controller thing, can't change AHCI/RAID mode on either, and only 3 ports for each controller. Plus both controlled by different versions of Intel Rapid Storage and you can't have both installed at the same time so you have to use generic drivers on one or the other if you want to use them. Seems like this latest generation of Alienware really weren't thought into in the making with creating weird storage options (that includes the NO RAID option for Alienware 15/17 R2 systems) that locks the user away from possibilities that other cheaper systems (XPS/optiplex) have at the base!
It's really disappointing. I have a M17x R4 at home (that used to be 3D until video card upgrade) and I'm still loving that laptop but I keep getting discouraged at buying any of the new ones with all those weird things being disabled or locked away that drops down the value of the systems.