Not sure if I have SATA SSD connector or other.. Wanting to upgrade to a Samsung 870 EVO

[AmPro1234_yes]

I want to get the SAMSUNG 870 EVO 500GB, although I am not sure about:
1 - If it fits
2 - If it has the right connector type

My laptop has apparently no manual online, and the old manual is *gone*, so I have no idea. I am upgrading because when I download a 500MB file, it takes about 40-1minute. It says it writes at like 800kb/s or something. 
Any help?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Below is the link to the service manual for the older model series...

Maintenance and Service Guide HP 14 Laptop PC

What is the full model number or product number of your notebook?

Use this guide to find that information.

How to Find Your HP Laptop Model Number (Video) | HP® Tech Takes

By looking up that info, it should tell us what type of drive the notebook came with.

[AmPro1234_yes]

It is a HP Laptop - 14-dk1003dx. Also, is it possible I can upgrade the RAM? I tried with 8GB, but that often bluscreened, opened up recovery on bootup, and memory failure. Took the stick out and it worked perfectly fine again.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Your notebook comes with a 128 GB M.2 SATA SSD. so your notebook does not come with a 2.5" drive connector.

HP Laptop - 14-dk1003dx Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

You should be able to replace the 128 GB M.2 SATA SSD with a faster performing NVMe SSD having a greater storage capacity.

The Samsung 980 (not 980 Pro), or the Western Digital Blue SN570 would be two I recommend.

They range from 250 GB to 1 TB storage capacities.

I believe that would be a better option than trying to find and buy the parts you need to add a 2.5" drive that are listed in chapter 3 of the service manual.

According to the Crucial memory report for your notebook, it can support up to a single 16 GB memory chip.

HP - Compaq HP 14-dk1003dx | Memory RAM & SSD Upgrades | Crucial.com

I don't know what brand memory you installed, but since Crucial guarantees compatibility, you may want to go with one of their DDR4-2666 MHz memory chips.

8 GB

Crucial 8GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM | CT8G4SFRA266 | Crucial.com

16 GB

Crucial 16GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM | CT16G4SFRA266 | Crucial.com

[AmPro1234_yes]

Alr, tysm!!! It was just some old RAM stick lying around, so it could've been the wrong DDR.

Also, because the laptop only has USB ports and SD, I would have to install windows from an SD card or USB flash drive, correct?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Yes, you would reinstall W10 from the USB port.

You can't boot a HP notebook from a SD card.

Before you replace the drive, you can use the HP cloud recovery tool and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

If you have to use the utility on another PC, you will need to enter your notebook's product number in the tool's search window in order to proceed to make the recovery media.

Your PC's product number is: 9XM12UA#ABA

[AmPro1234_yes]

Alright, thank you! I don't have a 32GB flash drive, so I'll get one soon.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.