ProDesk 600 G4 tower - upgrade SSD to M.2?

[KKitchen63]

I have an HP ProDesk 600 G4 (Win11Pro, 64gb RAM) that I'm using at home.  I'm exploring the idea of seeing if I can speed it up a bit by running the primary/boot C: drive from an M.2 SSD rather than from the current 2.5" SSD.  I don't currently have anything in the M.2 SSD slot on the motherboard.  I can't seem to find any info on how to verify if this drive slot is active or not in the BIOS.  Is there somewhere else I should be checking for this info?  Also, what type of drive (Gen3?  Gen4?) will this motherboard support?  Any info helps.  THANKS

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Your PC supports M.2 2280 NVMe SSD's.

The slot should be enabled by default.

The PCIe NVMe slot is Gen 3.0.

This table provides the maximum transfer speeds each PCIe slot generation can provide:

PCIe Speeds and Limitations | Crucial.com

Below is the link to the service manual where you can find the SSD removal and replacement procedure:

Maintenance and Service Guide HP ProDesk 600 G4 MT

[KKitchen63]

I now have an M.2 SSD ready to install.  To verify: once I install the M.2 SSD in the appropriate slot on the motherboard, I am to disconnect and remove the 2.5" drive currently connected to the SATA motherboard jack marked "SATA 0".  Should the BIOS defer to the M.2 drive for bootup once I power the system back on?  Just making sure I have the order of operations correct here.  Any info helps.  THANKS

[Paul_Tikkanen]

If you have no plans on using the 2.5" drive currently installed, you can remove it.

If you want to retain the 2.5" SSD for storage, move the SATA data connector from SATA port 0 to SATA port 1.

That way the PC won't want to boot from the 2.5" drive as port 0 is the boot drive port, and port 1 is the port used for a second hard drive or for hard drive as a storage device.

The BIOS will automatically switch to the NVMe SSD to boot from when you install Windows on it.

[KKitchen63]

AArrggh...

All ready to mount the drive...and the pedestal support and mounting screw for the free end of the SSD are missing.  Do you have a part number for this such that one can be ordered?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That stinks.

I had to find a screw for the M.2 SSD for my 800 G3 DM but the standoff was there.

Unfortunately, there are no part numbers for either the screw or the standoff.

You may find this discussion of help to you:

Solved: Missing M.2 8820 SSD Standoff/Spacer and Screw - HP Support Community - 6904524

This seems to be a pretty versatile kit:

Amazon.com: 30PC M.2 Nvme SSD Screw Kit, M.2 Standoff and Mounting Screws for Asus ASRock Gigabyte M...

[KKitchen63]

Scratch that...the screw revealed itself.  The drive is now installed and (after some issues) appears to be running normally.  Thanks for your help.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.