Add a second nvme disk m2 in workstation z2 g5 tower

[Juniorhw]

Hi there,

I would like to add install a second nvme disk to my workstation z2 g5 tower but it’s like difficult to remove parts to get space to install it and I didn’t see any guide or video that explain how to install the second nvme m2.

i really appreciate some help.

Thanks

Regards

[SDH]

I'm going to assume you have sufficient computer work experience with little guidance. Otherwise you'll likely need to get a computer shop to do this for you. Download the Z2 G5 QuickSpecs PDF from HP. In there you can see the PCIe bus storage options. Note the part numbers to the far right... look the 141L5AA "kit" up for an example. The kits include a HP M.2 stick plus a small HP heatsink. You can look up "HP M.2 heatsink" on eBay to see the 919952-001 common ones and those look like they'll fit for you. Your workstation has two PCIe x4 on-motherboard sockets... I assume you already have a M.2 stick that is visible in place in the socket for "SSD1". The other one socket for "SSD2" is hidden. Here is how to find that SSD2 spot:

Z2 G5 Tower motherboard

You will be able to get under the top front drive cage by working with the blue colored release latches shown on the open case picture below. Lift up those 3 small front blue tabs to work off your front plastic bezel to get easier access into that area. You may not be able to rotate up/out the drive cage with that still in place. You now know where the socket for SSD2 is hidden:

Z2 G5 Tower two M.2 sockets

Another option may be to get a Z Turbo Drive G2 from eBay and place that in your lower PCIe Gen3 x16 lower video slot... the M.2 drive only needs x4 electrical lanes to run at full speed, plus a PCIe Gen3 slot, using that card. I have not tested that works but access to the socket is easier. I've not seen whether the ZTD G2 works in these workstations but I'd assume they do. Personally I'd use the motherboard's second M.2 "SSD2" socket because HP usually makes drive cages relatively easy to rotate up/out.

If you do a little work you may be able to find HP How-To videos on YouTube that they produce showing you how to do things... worth the effort. Search for your computer of course. If you find some good ones please contribute back to the forum with links to them to help others.

An example, but not for your specific workstation... I think yours will have M.2 smaller SSD screws in place already, not the blue ones shown in the video HERE.

[OldDesertLizard]

Hey JuniorHW. I’ve got the very same tower, and bought a WD_BLACK 1TB SN850X NVMe drive that I’d like to install, similar to you. My small issue is that the system came spec’d with Windows installed on the Hard Disk, so I’ve got to change the boot drive designation too. 

FYI, I have a Synology NAS that I can use to restore the HD system drive to the SS drive – so that’s a rather easy step.

Would be interested in hearing about your experience in getting the second M.2 installed.