Did anyone successfully installed SSD M.2 in HP Laptop?

[Khawaja1]

DId anyone was able to install SSD M.2 in HP Omen laptop or any issue incurred. Any knowledge or guidance would be appreciated. Should i take risk to install SSD or not?

I might get Adata XPG SX8000 512 GB soon. I want to know is it worth a try to install it. There are few model of SSD available in the market so i have limited options to take.

I know many had issues in installing SSDs so please help.

I had discussion with a member here but it was not convincing to opt any other model of ssd as i only have limited option.

[Huffer]

Yes I absolutely have installed M.2 SSDs in multiple HP laptops. I have a Zbook 15 G3, I had an Omen 15-ax252nr as a Product Loan which I recently donated to charity, I have my Spectre 13-v021nr and I also upgraded a Pavilion 15-cc159nr.

The Zbook, the Omen and the 15-cc all came either without M.2 at all or with a SATA M.2 I upgraded to PCIe/NVME. The Spectre came with a 256 gig PCIe/NVME which I upgraded to a 512 gig. 

@visruth tried to let you know there have been some issues and we see lots of them with Samsung 960 Evo and 960 Pro NVME/PCIe M.2 disks and also Intel. The Adata we have not had too many people ask about, if any.

In each case I mentioned I used a Samsung PM951 or PM961 and in some of the cases I ordered them from HP. At one point HP must have had a glitch in their Parts Store pricing because they were selling 512 gig PCIe/NVME M.2s for like $102 where they cost maybe $160-170 ordinarily online so I grabbed up a few. Pricing has now been adjusted so that they cost about $300 from HP now. But, bottom line, they work. A few OPs have reported problems with a PM961 and sometimes I wish I could be there when people install them because we never really know how much is actual incompatibility and how much is just users in over their heads sorry to say. 

So what is your exact question at this point that has not been answered? Unfortunately we have learned the hard way not to promise results to upgraders, just to offer advice and make people aware of where it can and often does go wrong as best we can. 

[Khawaja1]

Thank you for your valuable response

@visruth stated that i cant use MLC based NVME. The manual only states TLC configuration. In other forum it was told to someone else technically it should support MLC. TLC is only stated to declare cheapest form.

Another question is that in few post i found some laptop had M.2 disabled despite present in the manufacturing. How can i check whether its enabled or not.

I live in Pakistan. I have few options for SSDs NVME available in local market. In fact even in my city no one had 512GB SSD NVME. only few had laptop pulled or lower configuration. SO i had to order from other city.

If i import it and it does not work it will be costly to send it back or even resale wont be much useful. So i have to be cautious and assured with should i pursue installing nvme ssd or not. 

My current BIOS Level is Insyde F.08.

I although have upgrade available which is F.46 Rev A

Does there any problem occur to upgrade BIOS?

I am rather new to this and i am actually Cad Designer so that is why have to take major upgrade to keep things going

[Huffer]

Understood. By all means update the BIOS. 

Samsung PM961 is both MLC and V-NAND and works. I think the problem may be more with the controller chips on newer M.2 disks like the 960 Pro. 

"The 960 Pro is based on a denser version of Samsung’s V-NAND (3D) technology, featuring more layers of memory cells. The 960 Pro also features an upgraded and faster 5 ARM Polaris controller, compared to the 950 Pro’s 3 ARM UBX controller."

http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Samsung-PM961-NVMe-PCIe-M2-256GB-vs-Samsung-960-Pro-NVMe-PCIe-M...

I think the configuration that makes it faster also may make it incompatible with HP motherboards. 

[Khawaja1]

Ok how do you see this?

http://www.adata.com/en/feature/423

In terms of speed i would love to install Samsung 960 PRO or EVO Even i have to import but there is great risk it may not work so i am preferring with rather mid range speed ssd. Atleasst i could return this item if it does not work. You have answered my question in reference to Samsung PRO or EVO as you said mostly had discussion on those. I also saw another post where a person tried Adata XPG SX 8000 ssd but it did not worked later he came to know that M.2 was disabled and he returned the laptop to HP. In my case I cant return it. If nothing goes well with SSD NVME i will have to shift to SSD Sata.

In terms of compatibility, HP manual suggests following parts

847110-004 512 GB $441.75

847109-002 256 GB not in stock

So both are out of question.

Can you tell does Adata XPG SX 8000 match the configuration of HP supported model SSD?

What could be the difference or issue ??

I althoug have ordered XPG SX8000 if it does work i will update.

[Huffer]

Please do we would love to have some other options for people. But I think the Adata is much more similar to the Samsung 960 series than the 961 and you might have problems. 

[Khawaja1]

Ok the update is 

I have found PM 961 in local market

http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/ssd/client-ssd/MZVLW512HMJP/

but it is in used condition (Pulled from some preinstalled laptop)

My concern is how can i check health of this SSD. I wont be having Warranty to claim just 5-7 days to test if it works fine. So suggestion on this are much appreciated.

My order of APG SX8000 has not arrived yet so i will have time to test PM961 if it works fine i might return the other order as you suggested that it might not work. Or should i try the new one as well and if it works then which one should i prefer.

I am sharing the adata link for better comparison

http://www.adata.com/en/feature/423

[Huffer]

I have never located a usb to PCIe/NVME adapter so the only way I know to test it is to put it in the laptop and then run UEFI diagnostic disk check on it. 

[Wizziee · Accepted solution]

Yes, in installed without any problems an ssd m2 in two hp models, they work like a charm but i was not using the recovery, i made an USB bootable drive to install Windows 10 from it, it activates automatically based on your motherboard anyway.

[Khawaja1]

It worked great. Thanks