The M.2 slot number variant of Omen 17t (2019 new model)

[BorisChan]

I know the base model of the Omen 17t (new model from June) only has one M.2 slot

But the reviewer claimed that you can get a 2 slots variant if it is RTX 2070 and up (see video link here). However this is not mentioned in the order pages, and when I called HP support, all of them either don't know or said they only have the 1 slot option.

But then, I found a tear down video of the RTX2070 version that DOES have the 2 slots... here...

So I don't know who to believe. This is quite important and it is the only thing that is stopping me from buying the thing. Ideally I can get the 2 slots on 2060.... How can I make sure I would get 2 slots if I ordered the 2070 while the CS and tech support seems to have no idea about this? nor was it mentioned on the order page?

There isn't a lot of gaming laptop option with 2x M.2 slots + 1x 2.5" sata bay + Thunderblot 3. Illegear is coming up with a 17" model but only by the end of the year.... Can someone help me before black Friday sales ended? 😞

[BorisChan]

btw the product page also say as attached... seems the CS ppl have no idea... note that Raid 0 require 2 same drive and the triple storage remark on point 10/

[Photoray002]

Hello @BorisChan 

I'll help as best I can.

BTW when you say 17t, the t indicates a CTO (Config to Order) model and all the various series of Omens all have a t model. CTO's do not have a specs sheet to look up because the buyer custom configures the parts at purchase. So just saying 17t tells us absolutely nothing.

The YouTuber you linked to (who does a great job 🙂 ) was reviewing one of the Omen 17-cb0xxx series laptops.

The 17-cb0xxx and the Omen X 2S 15-dg0xxx series both have the "potential" for two M.2 slots.

Its not a guarantee the motherboard will have both slots. Usually they do have them, but I always recommend you open the case and look. "Sometimes" on occasion, if that model did not specifically come with both NVMe SSDs installed from factory, the M.2 slot might not be soldered into the board. No matter what graphics card comes with it.

Just giving you a heads up just in case.  If you're considering buying a CTO model, you might consider ordering it with both M.2 drives installed. Its up to you.

I do not work for HP, I just volunteer. I have nothing to gain by what ever you choose. Let me know if I can help further.

[BorisChan]

The reviewer did customized his omen thought.. based on what he said. The problem in this case is that there is no storage option on the customize page with 2 M.2 SSD. I would have if it were available.   I called CS yesterday for the 4th time, this time got patched to a Omen tech support person. He looked at the internal support doc (which he could not provide) and the doc suggest that it does have 2 slots for all model (did not specify the graphic card options), as he said all the laptop of the same model uses the same motherboard. That obviously isn't in reality as we see 2 different versions with different slot numbers but the information on the sale page is very unclear.The worst part is he suggest me to order it, and if it didn't have 2 slots, call CS and tell them it is not what I expected. I am not this stupid man....

You can see the product description page actually say raid0 and triple storage option is available for the 17", but none of the CS know about it, and the majority of the CS doesn't even know what I meant by 2x M.2. The sale ppl just keep going back to saying the 2 storage option is 1TB HDD + the M.2 SSD, obviously missing the point and lacking product specific tech knowledge. No one on the CS team yet was able to give me a solid answer.

[Photoray002]

OK you got a lot going on here and Ill try to break it down...

The reviewer did customized his omen thought.. based on what he said

You had two links to two different reviewers also so we are apparently not on the same page.

One had the same series but it was missing and it does not matter what vid card is installed.

The UK(?) YouTuber you pointed to is the one that said it has to have a 2070/2080 to get both slots. I'm just letting you know that's not necessarily true.

Omen tech support person. He looked at the internal support doc (which he could not provide) and the doc suggest that it does have 2 slots for all model (did not specify the graphic card options), as he said all the laptop of the same model uses the same motherboard.

Yes that is correct, logic would dictate that if all the boards are the same, all will have the dual m.2 ports.

BUT....

he suggest me to order it, and if it didn't have 2 slots, call CS and tell them it is not what I expected.

That is why I am telling you it may or may not have both slots soldered in. Just like the UK YouTuber pointed out.

For one thing, those sales people and such are mostly not techs, nor do they work on computers. They don't see what we see here on the forum when actual problems arise.

No one on the CS team yet was able to give me a solid answer.

I'm not surprised.

The problem in this case is that there is no storage option on the customize page with 2 M.2 SSD

Ya I've seen that type of thing happen in the Store before. It can change on a weekly basis what the customize pages offer.

BUT I think I found a way to trick(?) the system. 

On one of the 17 inch models config pages, there is an option to get a 512GB M.2 drive with also an Optane drive.

Granted the 512GB drive that comes preinstalled might be PCIe 3x2 which is what HP chose to install.

This is what I found on the manual page 2...

So here is what I am deducting out of all of this.... You cannot order two M.2 drives on the config page.

But you can order an NVMe drive and an Optane M.2 drive at no extra cost. 

Do this and you will know that you have both Slots soldered to the board and you can add your own NVMe drive or drives that you wish. No worry that the slots will be missing.

This is the link I found on the USA store config page that is offering the same options you are describing, so this is what I am going by...

https://store.hp.com/us/en/ConfigureView?catalogId=10051&langId=-1&storeId=10151&urlLangId=&catEntry...

That's the best I can suggest given the information I can find.

I hope it all that makes sense.

[BorisChan]

Noted on the reviewer. Yes the one I mentioned that customized his PC is the one that mentioned the 2070/2080 model getting the 2x M.2, as his only has 1 M.2.

I don't see the model # anywhere on the order page. They do have a product # of 7LG51AV_1

This is the only number information available of the New Omen 17 (the thin one that came out this June), the same one in the 2 review videos.

On the learn about the product page is where those 3 noted points are, saying the triple storage option etc.

About the optane 32GB + 512 GB SSD, that is actually a new Intel Optane SSD drive call H10, it is on a single M.2 stick...

[Photoray002]

The point is - you were asking about getting an omen with dual M.2 slots and the HP store page didn't offer an option to order two m.2 drives.

So to ensure the laptop came with both slots soldered in, I suggested if you purchased the option that had the  NVMe drive and Optane drive installed, you would for sure get both slots.

If we are not on the same page, then I don't know what else to tell you.

[BorisChan]

i just said that the optane and SSD is a new product by intel called the H10 optane, it's on 1 M.2 slot only. It's not on 2 slots

[Photoray002]

Yes, the 32GB Optane drive is on the first m.2 slot, the other m.2 slot has the NVMe drive. Ergo, both M.2 slots are inhabited.

I did see the options for both Optane drives on the USA page. I don't know if its there on yours.

Like I said, yes the mobo should have both slots regardless.  And most likely it will.

Im just saying with HP, its possible it may not be there unless both slots came filled from the factory.

Just forewarning you if you get it and it didn't actually have it. Thats all.

[BorisChan]

I think you just miss my whole point of explaining to you what a H10 is.

Normally the M.2 has 4 lane PCIe, the new Optane is a SINGLE M.2 stick that has 2x lane on SSD and 2x lane on the 32BG Optane. It only uses ONE M.2 slots, thus the note. The SSD do not occupy the 2nd slot.

see this