Internal SSD for HP ENVY Desktop - 750-630xt CTO

[buster921]

My desktop has an Intel I-7 CPU and a 1 TB HDD divided into 2 partitions: (1) the main partition with the OS and data; and (2) the recovery partition. It also has the Intel Optane feature (16 GB I believe). Since it's already maxed out on memory (16 GB), I'd like to speed things up if possible with the OS residing on an SSD, and keep the HDD and leave all my other data storage on it. I have several questions:

1. Does the above plan make sense?

2. Can I add an SSD to my configuration even though my desktop has Intel Optane?

3. If I can add an SSD, what would be an appropriate size for this device?

4. Are there any recommendations about specific brands/models of SSDs that play nice with HP's Envy desktops?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[banhien · Accepted solution]

@buster921 

It is a CTO machine therefore its REAL specs is in your hand

           https://support.hp.com/au-en/document/c05792790

Its mother board has

• One PCIe x16 slot
• One PCIe x1 slot
• One M.2 socket 1, key A
• One M.2 socket 3, key M

and you say it has Optane that means the M.2 slot above is already occupied. But you can disable Optane and replace it with a larger (capacity) for Windows and programs.

A1. Yes, you can move Windows and programs to new M.2 NVMe SSD drive,

              https://www.quora.com/Can-you-replace-intel-optane-16GB-memory-with-SSD

A2. As mentioned above, you have to disable Optane and replace it wit a normal M.2 NVMe SSD drive

A3. Physically it is a standard 2280 (form factor) M.2 NVMe SSD. For capacity, it is your choice from 256GB to 2TB or even larger. For example

                 https://www.samsung.com/au/memory-storage/970-evo-nvme-m2-ssd/MZ-V7E2T0BW/

A4. You can use Crucial P2 series or Samsung 970 EVO series (see A3) or similar from other vendors.

Regards.