HP Elitebook 840 G3: can you combine M.2 SSD SATA and 2.5" SSD drive

[Stef9]

This quesiton was already asked in other threads and the solution proposed was that HP laptop 840 G3 supports a combination of M.2 SSD and 2.5" SSD. Nevertheless from the manual this doesn't seem the case. 

Manual says: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05259054#AbT5

Dual drive configuration

System can be configured with a hard drive and M.2 SSD drive.

And under hard drive: 

SATA, 6.35 cm (2.5 in) hard drives

500 GB 7200 rpm Self Encrypting Drive (FIPS-140-2) (Opal 2)

500 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive

1 TB 5400 rpm Hard Drive

1) To me hard drives means HDD only and not SSD drives. 

2) The manual clearly lists only HDD drives. 

Can we have a final say on this matter as reading on forums several people who bought an 2.5" SSD weren't able to use it in combination with the pre-existent M.2 SATA. 

Thanks, 
Stefano

[TryToDoMybest · Accepted solution]

Ciao Stefano

Yes, I did it and used two SSD in 840 G3 for years. M.2 was 256GB , second was 512GB.

The manual doesn't show it as HP never certified 2.5" SSD for 840 G3.

The only issue you may have is how to hold the 2.5" SSD, inside the unit.  I used what in Italian is called "carta nastro" , in English "ribbon paper" (from google).

in my case the 2.5" SSD in reality was a M.2 SATA 512GB SSD installed in a M.2 to SATA 2.5" adapter as at that time I was missing a 2.5 SATA SSD 512GB.

obviuosly this solution is not offically supported by HP but works fine.

bye

[Stef9]

Ciao @TryToDoMybest,

thanks a lot for ur answer.

Is there a limit on the 2.5" SSD drive capacity? U reckon > 512Gb (e.g. 2TB) would work?

Tks, 
Stef

[TryToDoMybest]

Hello

I can't tell you if there is a limit,  you know with computers nothing is 100% sure.

I got issue with another notebook model with SATA 1TB SSD 2.5" ,  I don't rember if it was a BIOS limit or mAmpere limit. in any case there has been no solution.

IF you already have the SSD , just try. if you have to buy it,  you have to decide if take the risk.

bye