Adding RAM and an SSD to my Pavilion X360 15-BR158CL 2-in-1 laptop

[A_Guru]

I have just purchased one of these laptops for my wife and would like to upgrade the memory and install an SSD in the open M.2 slot.  Can someone point me to the Service Manual for these or video instructions or something so I can determine what to purchase and how to install it.  I have done many hardware installs over the years so something as simple as installing RAM and an M.2 SSD should be simple enough once you get the system opened. 

[Huffer]

Here's the Manual:

Service Manual

See p. 46. I have to explain on this model in order to access RAM and M.2 slot you must remove the motherboard and flip it over. 

Backside of motherboard:

red = M.2 slot green = memory slots under heatshield

Takes DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM for the memory and only the SATA type of M.2, not the faster NVME type. 

Post back if you need more help but please accept as solution 'cause this is the best info you are going to find and not my fault HP makes it so hard on this model. 

[A_Guru]

First off, thank you for the very infomative response.  I eventually found the same manual you posted below once figuring out that the base model of this thing is the 15-br100.  Interestingly enough, on pages 14-15 it says that the NVMe drives are good for all models. while listing two SATAT-3 SSDs for use only on this 15-br1xx models.

Solid-state drive: For use only on computer models with model number 15-br1xx:

256-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive with TLC 934960-001

128-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive with TLC 934959-001

For use on all computer models:

512-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive with TLC 924083-001

512-GB, 2280, PCIe, NVMe solid-state drive L01520-001

256-GB, 2280, PCIe, NVMe solid-state drive L01521-001

256-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive 924085-001

128-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive 924084-001

However, to play it safe, I'm getting the SATA3 version of the SSDs, even though slower than NVMe it is still very much faster than the spinning disk that comes by default.  I considered adding the Optane memory instead, but 32Gb is too limiting I think and only works to speed up spinning disks, not really replace them.  I will be keeping the hard drive as there are many good uses for it such as video storage which doesn't require the lightening fast access that other things will truly benefit from... like the OS and the applications themselves. The main reason I'm upgrading the Memory is because it is so difficult to open these things, that there is no reason not to max out the memory while it is open.

[Huffer]

Glad you confirmed I posted the right Manual. There is a conflict in the Manual. On page 2 pretty clearly says NVME can only be used on the 15-cc7xx models not the 15-cc1xx like yours. Pages 14 and 15 seem to say otherwise. The opening section on p. 2 tends to be more acccurate but who knows?  You are right the SATA-3 M.2 disks are still much much faster than a spinning hard drive. Seems there was no need for you to ask for any help after all. Good luck. 

[pedro20]

Hi A_Guru

I am considering the same upgrade same model laptop. Did you have any problems getting the M.2 ssd working/recognised by the computer?

Cheers