Do I need a heatsink when upgrading the SSD in my Notebook

[GrandpaG]

Current SSD is Samsung 512GB, PCIe 3.0x4, as supplied.

I'm looking to upgrade to faster 1TB or 2TB Gen 4 or Gen 5 NVMe 2280 M.2 SSD, from Crucial.

I think the current SSD has no heat sink.

Are those options OK, and OK with no heat sink?

Crucial also have the cheaper option of Dramless. Would you recommend that or not?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You shouldn't need a drive with a heat sink and since your notebook's M.2 slot is only PCIe Gen 3.0, a Gen 4 or 5 NVMe SSD can only run at the maximum transfer speed the Gen 3 slot provides which is 4,000 MBPS.

In other words, a Gen 4 or Gen 5 SSD will run at about the same speed as a Gen 3 drive will.

I doubt that a drive with a heat sink included will have enough clearance for you to close the case properly.

Below is the link to the service teardown video:

Removing & replacing parts for HP ProBook 450 G6 | HP Computer Service

I doubt that a drive with a heat sink included will have enough clearance for you to close the case properly.

Probably a good drive for your notebook would be the Crucial P310.

[GrandpaG]

Thanks Paul, that's very helpful.

I'm planning to use cloning hardware that I've used on another laptop rather than cloning software - any comment on that?

[GrandpaG]

Two more things, if I may -

Can you confirm that the notebook can only have one drive?

I'm also planning to upgrade from 16GB to 32GB RAM - is that OK?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

You should be able to use any cloning software and Crucial also provides cloning software by Acronis for their drives:

Acronis True Image for Crucial

Since your notebook only has support for one M.2 NVMe SSD you will also need to purchase a USB 3/USB-C to NVMe SSD enclosure to install the new drive in so you can clone to it.

Something like this:

BENFEI M.2 NVME SSD Enclosure, Tool-Free USB C (10Gpbs) to NVME Adapter Supports 10s Power Loss Prot...

Yes, your notebook can support 2 x 16 GB of memory.

I have no idea where the service manual disappeared to.

Even the one for the 450 G5 is gone.

You can run this command to confirm how much memory your notebook can support:

1. In the search box, search for cmd and click Run as administrator.

This will open the command prompt.

2. Once command prompt is opened, type wmic memphysical get maxcapacityEx and press the enter key.

There, it will show the maximum RAM capacity your PC's motherboard can support.

The capacity is shown as Kilobytes, so you have to convert it to Gigabytes by dividing the number provided in the report by 1,048,576.

[GrandpaG]

I'm planning to use a "NVMe Clone Docking Station" rather than software.

I've used it on another PC, so I assume that's OK?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Sure, that would be fine.

I didn't know you already had a device you could use.

[GrandpaG]

Thanks again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.