OMEN 25L Desktop GT12-0048na does it have a second NVME SSD slot?

[DD4SRT]

I would like to add a second NVMe SSD to my OMEN 25L Desktop GT12-0048na. I have read conflicting reports about whether there is a second slot that can be used. I wanted to know if there is a second slot, and if so, is it free (or, for eample, is it used for the Wifi).

[Paul_Tikkanen]

According to the information I could find, your PC comes with the HP 'Dorado OC' motherboard which has support for two M.2 NVMe SSDs and one M.2 Wi-Fi card.

HP Desktop PCs - DoradoOC motherboard specifications | HP® Support

You can confirm if your PC does have the Dorado OC motherboard by looking at the Baseboard ID report for your PC's motherboard.

According to the motherboard specs I posted, the Dorado OC motherboard SSID is 8703.

You can find the motherboard SSID by:

Typing in: System Information in your lower Windows search bar/icon

Click on the System Information app, and look to the right of "System Model", "System SKU", and "BaseBoard Product"

The Baseboard product should be 8703.

The 25L models with the 'Dorado' motherboard have support for one M.2 NVMe SSD and one M.2 Wi-Fi card.

Here's an eBay listing with a picture of the Dorado OC motherboard and you can see the two M.2 SSD slots.

HP Omen Z490 Dorado OC LGA 1200 DDR4 mATX Intel Motherboard | eBay

One above the graphics card slot, and one near the bottom center of the motherboard.

This service teardown video shows where the primary and secondary SSD slots are located.

Removing & replacing parts for OMEN by HP 25L 14GT | HP Computer Service

[DD4SRT]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, which was helpful. I looked and it says my Baseboard 8704 (not 8703). Does that make a difference?

David

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome, David.

It is good that you checked the SSID because the 8704 SSID indicates your PC has the Dorado motherboard which only has support for one M.2 SSD.

HP Desktop PCs - Dorado motherboard specifications | HP® Support

That must be why there is conflicting info out there because I have read forum posts as well as finding info on the internet that indicates your PC has support for two M.2 SSDs, such as this link:

1D3Z9EA_ProductDataSheetBrochure1.PDF

Expansion slots
3 M.2; 1 PCIe x16; 1 PCIe x1

[DD4SRT]

Thanks so much. You helped me narrow down to the right answer. So it seems it cannot support another NVMe SSD, so i will look for a SATA SSD instead.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Yes, you can do that or replace the existing NVMe SSD with one having a greater storage capacity.

[DD4SRT]

If I went down the route of a larger NVMe SSD to replace my existing one, instead of a SATA SSD, can I choose any NVMe SSD, or are there any restrictions based on my 25L computer with Dorado motherboard?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Theoretically there is no limit to the storage capacity of the NVMe SSD you want to install as long as it is single-sided so that it fits in the M.2 slot.

The slot is PCIe Gen 3.0, but a Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD will work fine.

The drive would be limited to a maximum read/write speed of 4000 MBPS because that is the limit of the Gen 3 slot.

You may find it cheaper and more practical to buy a Gen 4 SSD nowadays.

Something like the Crucial P310 would be a good performing drive at a decent price.

If you want, you can buy a USB 3/USB-C to NVMe SSD adapter and clone the existing drive's contents to the new drive if you don't want to go through reinstalling Windows, your programs and files to the new drive.

[DD4SRT]

This is really helpful. Thank you so much! I also very much appreciate the quick reply.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Pick a drive that offers free cloning software to use.

Crucial, Samsung and Western Digital have such an option.

This would be an example of the drive enclosure you would need:

M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure,USB C External Adapter, USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps) with UASP, Trim Support - M-Key...

You can put your old drive in it and use it for external storage after you clone the drive if you wanted to.