15-fa2382tx - SSD slots

[spk81]

How many SSD slots available for 15-fa2382tx . Product number C96J5PA#ACJ ?

Product manual shows 2 M2 Slots, but most of the review telling only one slot and cannot expand SSD.

[tk_srq]

@spk81,

See the thread below. The person "checked inside and noticed a second SSD slot" in a 15-fa2xxx model.

 Is the second M.2 slot enabled and functional? - HP Support Community - 9427934

Only sure way to find if your model has a secondary M.2 slot or not seems to open the notebook.

[spk81]

Thanks for the reply.

Can I add additional SSD as self service or should raise ticket with HP for engineer visit? 

[tk_srq]

Chapter 5 'Removal and replacement procedures for
Customer Self-Repair parts' of the service manual includes the SSD drive.

Maintenance and Service Guide Victus by HP 15.6 inch Gaming Laptop PC Model number: 15-fa2xxx

I would say that you can add an SSD yourself, but if you accidentally damage something, your warranty will be voided.

If you don't want to take a risk, you can get the job done by an HP authorized service center.

HP® Service Center Locator - United States | HP® Support

If you want to do it yourself, pages 38-39 of the manual show how to do it. Also, you can watch this HP video.

Removing & Replacing Parts | Victus by HP 15-fa0000/fa2000 Gaming Laptop | HP Support

Please tell us if you actually opened the case and found a secondary M.2 slot or not.

[spk81]

ok, thanks.

sure, I will update  once I opened and checked

[John_Ranthore]

@Spk81

Have bought the same laptop. There are 2 expandable slots. However, do note one is the standard 2280 slot (which is occupied by the default SSD), and a 2230 slot besides it. I have not tried to use the 2230 slot. Instead, replaced the 512GB with Samsung 990 Evo Plus 2TB (DIY job, just see Space Design Warehouse's video after searching for HP Victus SSD upgrade). The 2230 one will be occupied by Heat sink tape (so dont remove that).

The issue with online reviews is that HP has put out a whole bunch of configurations in different permutations and combinations, including some in which while physical space is there, there is no connection to the Circuitry for another SSD.
And they have provided a common manual. There is no dedicated manual for fa-2382tx, so much so that even placing of some ports etc dont match.

Planning to now install one more RAM kit in the provided slot to take the 24GB to either 48 or more. 

[spk81]

Thanks.

M.2 2230? Seriously?  I have standard 2GB ssd.

why hp doing this

for windows os what u did?  Since it comes with. 
licence.

[TzortzisG]

Hi!

@John_Ranthore 

HP's manuals are never about a specific model. In this case the MANUAL is about a laptop series that has mixed old and new hardware, even DDR4 together with DDR5. Therefore, it's bound to have a lot of inaccuracies. From the specs sheet, we can surmise that a second ssd slot is available in this series. The Raptor Lake CPU motherboards seem to have a proper 2280 second slot, since this user has posted a pic of his Victus 15-fa2000 motherboard, and I believe this is a 13420H system: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Gaming-Notebooks/Can-I-upgrade-RAM-and-SSD-in-HP-Victus-15-fa2000/td-p....

We've seen HP having 2230 second ssd slots on some of its very recent gaming laptops. Something to do with making more room for other components or leaving more space for airflow. I think HP has done this here with the Raptor Lake Refreshes and the Re-refreshes. I seriously doubt, however, that there is a 15-fa2000 model that doesn't have a second slot soldered on at all....

[spk81]

Finally I opened the laptop.  2 M2  slots are available.  One 2230 and 2280.  2230 is empty with thermal tape.  2280 Installed factory SSD 512GB.  

Should I go with  2230 SSD or replace factory fitted 2280 512gb?

2230 SSD is costly , is there any performance issue with 2230 SSDs?

I am thinking to buy 2TB 2230 SSD.

any suggestions.

[TzortzisG]

Documentation on HP Gaming systems can sometimes be a bit dodgy.

On the Victus 15 AMD equivalent series (15-fb3000) HP also has 2230 slots, and they seem to only use two lanes. This means Gen4.0 x2 giving the same speeds as a gen3 slot: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Does-HP-smart-choice-victus-la....

It's more than likely that the Intel variants also have 2 lanes connected. If you want the second drive for storage it shouldn't matter. I wouldn't boot off of it though (OS).