HP ZBook 15 upgrade question

[Blasqen]

Hi there,

I own a HP Zbook 15 G2 and I would like to upgrade my laptop. It currently has a 256 GB SSD and 8 GB DDR3L RAM. I would like to insert an additional SSD and possibly another 8 GB of RAM if that's possible. I have no idea how to do this though or if this is possible at all, is there any guide around on how to do this for my model? Are there enough slots/room to do this?

Thanks in advance.

[Huffer]

Here is the Service Manual:

Manual

It actually has 4 memory slots and can take up to 32 gigs of RAM. 

It also has space for a second hard drive but the form factor would be an M.2 mSSD module-type hard drive. 

So the Manual shows how to remove the back cover which will expose the memory and the hard drive. When we figure out what is already in there we can figure out what you can add in and how. 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[Blasqen]

Hi thanks for your reply. So I need to buy an SSD that has a M2. mSSD connector?

I made a picture of the back of my laptop with the cover removed, maybe that helps: http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img922/2381/JPYBDt.jpg

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

You have a SATA 2.5 inch hard drive installed. See the "1" that is an open RAM slot and the "2" is an open RAM slot and the thing running left to right across the picture right above the "1" is an M.2 connector on the left with the holding screw hole on the right. You can put one of these in that slot and it will be a hard drive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12K3G96790&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-Goo...

Post back if you need more help. I just put one of these in my Zbook 15 G3 MWS and it is silly fast. I use it as the boot disk and then have a SATA drive like yours for storage.

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.

[Blasqen]

Thanks man, I get it now. One question, though: Will this have a big impact on the battery life? Not sure how much energy an SSD needs.

[Huffer]

Very little. They take way less juice than a hard drive but obviously having 2 drives in the computer drawing power is going to shorten the battery life at least a little. 

[Blasqen]

Thanks and what about extra RAM? It currently has 8 GB DDR3L built in. Can I put 8 GB of DDR4 RAM in one of those slots or must it also be DDR3?

[Huffer]

Those are DDR3 slots. I have the G3 model and it is DDR4, but yours is DDR3. You could actually install 2 x 8 gig modules in there but 2 x 4 gigs would give you 16 total which is plenty.

Expansion memory modules (2, PC3L, 12800, 1600-MHz): 8-GB 693374-001 4-GB 691740-001

Buy a pair of these and put 1 in Slot "1" and one in Slot "2". 

https://www.amazon.com/HP-691740-001-1600MHz-PC3L-12800-memory/dp/B00CI08FX4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=...

[Blasqen]

Ok thanks for all the help. I am going to buy the Samsung SM951256 GB SSD. You are certain that it is compatible with the G2 as well? Because in the manual it refers to some spare part numbers specifically from HP. But I'm not sure if that means that only those will fit.