I wand to add second hard drive to my HP ENVY 795xt Desktop

[tigerworm27]

I want to add a second hard drive to my HP ENVY 795xt Desktop, but after opening it up, there doesn't seem to be enough power connectors.Can anyone help with a way to add the drive. Made mistake of ordering too small a Drive C and no secondary.

Thanks

Terry

[Grzwacz]

Greetings,

Welcome back to the forum.

I am not a HP employee.

Is this your PC (Link)?

Can't provide assistance until we sort this out.

Regards

[tigerworm27]

The picture is like my computer. When I search for the HP ENVY 795xt Desktop  I just get the HP ENVY 795-000 Series. I have never seen anything like this computer. I have two hard drives from other computers. I want to use my Firecuda, but I don't see an extra power source for the drive.

[Grzwacz]

Hi Tigerworm27,

The specific product number of your PC should be on a sticker affixed to the chassis.

You can check the motherboard (MB) for the 795-0040xt at the following (Link). Or compare your MB to the MB in the image.

There are two SATA ports located at the bottom middle of the MB image near the CR2032 battery. Both ports may be in use if you have a SATA storage drive (HDD) and an optical drive now.

You may have a M.2 SSD operating system drive. Then you should be able to add a platter HDD using the open SATA port on the MB.

There is a six pin SATA power header near the battery. You may need a six pin SATA power cable to power the SATA HDD if you have an open SATA port on the MB.

This is new to me. I have never seen this MB configuration on retail MBs. The six pin SATA power header could be a power supply connection. Check the power supply for SATA power cables.

Regards

[tigerworm27]

Here's Product number: 4AB23AV  I will look over the motherboard. I have a 1 TB HDD  with 16 GB Optane. I appreciate the advice.

Thnanks

Terry

[Grzwacz]

Hi Terry,

You're very welcome.

4AB23AV is the 795-0040xt.

You have no open SATA ports on the motherboard if you have 1TB HDD + Optane and an optical drive. Plus the M.2 socket is in use.

The only options for more storage are to: buy a larger HDD or get a SATA to USB adapter/enclosure. Then use additional drives externally via USB.

Regards

[tigerworm27]

Hi, I didn't get an optical drive, can I use it with the 2 TB hard drive? I already have a Anker USB to Sata Adapter that I am using now. I would like to get it off my desk.

Thanks

Terry

[Grzwacz]

Hi Terry,

You're very welcome.

You can use the open SATA port to run a second HDD. HP may have used a SATA II connection because optical drives have limited data throughput.

This means a SATA III HDD will run slower. 

The additional problem is finding SATA power to run the second HDD. I don't know what HP did in this respect. You need to power the second HDD. I thought you stated there are no additional SATA power connectors available to power a second HDD or SSD.

Regards

[tigerworm27 · Accepted solution]

Hi, I double checked and there wasn't another Sata connection. I found a way to use my Anker USB Sata Adapter and I think it will work for my second drive. I as somewhat disappointed that thee isn't any better documentation of the motherboard. Not sure about the quality of the Motherboard, I know with the Dell XPS 8900 there was ample information on the drive. I didn't like the quirky part of the Dell. I had a Envy before and liked it a lot that's why I chose this one. I didn't do a very good job picking the additional hard drive and optical drive.

Thanks again

Terry

[wb2001]

@tigerworm27,

Sorry I came late to the issue.

Some important clarifications:   There are several issues with the 795 series..  Each varies PSU supports per installed level of GPU card. See next link per PSU.

1) The stock PSU is 310W.  Your can self- purchase the 400W.  The 500W is not avail to self -purchase.

2) Normal config is an NMVe M.2 SSD (128 or 256GB). The option of a DVD drive added a power cable suitable for the DVD (on the end of the line)  and a power plug for a hard drive.

3) Adding a 2nd or 3rd hard drive requires a special 6 pinned power cable.  This cable has a motherboard socket and supplies power for 2 hard drives. The cost is 56 Euro.  Wait time is 5-6 weeks.

4) All 3.5" hard drives require HP Isolation Blue screws. (set of 4) to mount any hard drive.

 Good but lengthy reads:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/HP-Envy-795-0030qd-3-5-inch-sat...

How to get inside without breaking power switch:

http://h22235.www2.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/productdata/Countries/_MultiCountry/d...