How to select an additional ssd for my omen 35L/

[go_torvalds]

Hello, I would like to add an additional ssd to my new omen 35L.  How do I select an appropriate ssd to ensure compatibility with my pc? 
OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop PC GT16-0000i RCT
Product number: 9X6B9AV

[NonSequitur777]

@go_torvalds,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Hi there, congrats with your new OMEN! An outstanding choice, for sure.  By the way, the OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop PC GT16-0xxx platform can be purchased with either the WildheartOC (SSID: 8CF3) or the ArcticS (SSID: 8CF1) motherboards, each supporting two (2) M.2 NVMe SSD slots. Your PC model (9X6B9AV) appears to be the latter.

Anyway, the good news is that the OMEN 35L GT16-0000i supports both M.2 NVMe SSDs and 2.5" SATA SSDs -so you've got flexibility. Here's how to pick the right one:

1. M.2 NVMe SSD (fastest, recommended):

   • Look for an M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD (e.g., Samsung 980 Pro, WD Black SN850X, Crucial P5 Plus).

   • The motherboard has free M.2 slots for this. These drives give you the best speeds for gaming and system performance.

2. 2.5" SATA SSD (slower, but cheaper and still good for storage):

   • You can also add a 2.5" SATA SSD (e.g., Samsung 870 EVO, Crucial MX500).

   • This connects via SATA power + data cables. It’s great for extra game storage if top speed isn't required.

3. What to check:

   • Make sure the SSD size is M.2 2280 (standard size) if you go NVMe.

   • The OMEN 35L chassis has space for additional drives, but check if you need to buy extra SATA cables if you pick a 2.5" SSD.

   • Btw, the M.2 slot #1 (the one closest to the CPU socket) is wired directly to the CPU’s PCIe lanes. This gives slightly lower latency and guarantees maximum bandwidth, so make sure that to make it the preferred slot for your primary (boot) drive.

Recommendation: For best experience and performance, go with NVMe PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSDs. They're fully compatible, super-fast, and drop right into the M.2 slots with no cables required.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[PasSalvo]

Hi thanks you for that.

Can I also ask something?

I'm looking to upgrade my storage on my OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop (GT16-0189nz).

The 2nd slot (the free one ) it's located directly underneath my GPU (the Nvidia 5080).

I want to install a second NVMe SSD in Slot 2 and ideally use one with an attached heatsink for optimal performance and thermal management.

The Critical Question: Max NVMe Height

I cannot find any documentation regarding the maximum vertical clearance for an SSD in Slot 2 before it interferes with the GPU.

I am considering the Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink, which has a total height of 8.3 mm.

• Has anyone successfully installed an NVMe SSD with a heatsink in this second slot on an OMEN 35L?
• Specifically, will an 8.3 mm tall heatsink clear the Nvidia 5080 GPU?

If a heatsink-equipped SSD is too tall, I'll be forced to use a standard, bare SSD, which might lead to throttling and poor performance under heavy load. I'm trying to avoid that if possible.

Any input, experience, or measurements from other OMEN 35L owners would be greatly appreciated!

I really appreciate any help you can provide.

Salvo

[NonSequitur777]

@PasSalvo,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

I am not entirely sure if an 8.3mm M.2 NVMe SSD heatsink would fit beneath your graphics card -probably not, but I could be wrong.

What you could do is to use a much thinner heatsink, such as this 2mm purchase example via Amazon-Germany, which almost certainly would fit, and still provide decent cooling capability, especially since this M.2 NVMe SSD will be a secondary storage drive, not your primary drive -thus less I/O traffic aka heat.

I have used this kind of M.2 NVMe SSD heatsinks before, and they worked out OK.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777