How to add a second SSD to my OMEN 30L Desktop - GT13-0149no, and safely install Linux on it?

[ritalaezza]

This is actually a two part question:

1) I want to know how is the best way to install a second SSD card. This includes both the process I should follow and some examples of compatible SSD models.  The Dorado motherboard has the following expansion slots:

• One M.2 socket 1, key A
• Two M.2 socket 3, key M

I'm not quite sure what this means, to be honest. I'd appreciate some explanation on the differences between these. Finally I want to know what to watch out for when attempting to add a second SSD card.

2) Once I have the second card working, I want to install Ubuntu on it. At the moment I have Windows installed on the main SSD card, but I would like to have a dual boot setup. Once again, I would appreciate knowing what to watch out for when attempting to do this. Right now my plan is to use a bootable USB drive and selecting the second SSD in the partition menu, but I am concerned about messing up the booting process.

[wb2001]

@ritalaezza,

I can only tell you what I could find out.  I can not find any pictures of the motherboard and components.

According to the HP site , it has two M.2 socket 3, Key M ports.  One is occupied by a 32GB Optane data cache device, as shown here.  The other has the 256GB SSD device for WIN 10 and all other programs/files.  This is what a typical NVMe looks like.  Removing the 32GB Optane is very dangerous IF not done correctly,  you can lose data.

https://support.cyberpowerpc.com/hc/en-us/articles/360014775073-How-do-I-disable-Intel-Optane-

[ritalaezza]

@Wb2001,

Here you can find the Motherboard specifications: https://support.hp.com/lt-en/document/c06633863. Here is the picture of the motherboard. I have highlighted (what I believe are) the M.2 socket 3, Key M ports, marked SSD1 and SSD2 on the board.

On my PC I can see the two M.2 sockets and only one of them is occupied. I do not want to remove the one which is already installed and has Windows on it. I want to add a second one to the expansion slot. Right now I am considering the model: Kingston A2000 1024GB M.2 2280 PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe).

[wb2001]

@ritalaezza 

There is a conflict in the specifications page.  The 32GB NVMe is an Optane device to speed up the data cache.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06645850

Hard drives

32 GB PCIe NVMe 3D Xpoint M.2 Solid State

• Size: 32 GB
• Interface: 2280
• Type: 3D Xpoint

1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State

• Size: 1 TB
• Interface: PCIe Gen 3
• Type: M2 2280

[ritalaezza]

@Wb2001,

After taking a closer look, the SSD drive connected to the socket labelled SSD1, is the 32GB Optane device. I can't see it under Disk drives, in the device manager. I can however see it using Intel's software:

This just makes me more confused, since I now don't know where the main 1TB SSD is located. I can see clearly that there is nothing connected to the SSD2 socket.

[wb2001]

@ritalaezza,

Can you follow your computers SATA header cables. If there is a 1TB device, it must be SATA3.

[ritalaezza]

@Wb2001,

I looked a bit closer at the SSD card in slot SSD1 of the motherboard and it actually contains both drives, the 32 GB and the 1 TB.  So now it is time to get back to the original question: Can I safely add a second SSD card to the SSD2 slot? For example, the WD model I referred to in a previous post. How should I proceed with that, and how can I safely set up Ubuntu on it, as a dual boot option? Do you anticipate any problems I should be aware of before I go ahead with this?

[wb2001]

@ritalaezza,

The sockets you mention, SSD1 and SSD2 are single device sockets.

You referred to a " Kingston A2000 1024GB M.2 2280 PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe)", not a WD device.

There are 2 SATA hard drive device headers.  These support a 2.5" SSD drive or 3.5" mechanical hard drive.

I know where you got that pic. Can you show a real pic of that board?  And some close-ups ?