SSD Upgrade for HP Probook x360 440 G1

[BenVironment]

Hello Community,

I want to upgrade the stock SSD. At the moment there is installed a 256GB (WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G-1006) Got the info with crystaldiskinfo. 

Therefore I plan to make a full backup of the m.2 nvme with a software for example macrium reflect and restore it to the new SSD. I have lot of experience in doing this at other notebook models, so i think I am familiar with  such progress. But i already did it only with Sata SSDs in 2" format. But i think the prosedure with a m.2 ssd is the same if I have a m.2 to usb converter or a housing for external ssd with m.2 2280 pcie slot, right?

May I ask you if I can replace the original ssd with any m.2 nvme ssd that is available?

For example I plan to install a Lexar NM620 m.2 2280 with 2TB with interface: PCIe 3.0x4 with protocoll NVMe 1.4. Read up to 3300MB/s write 3000MB/s SLC-cached. Does anyone know if the notebook support this SSD?

Thank you in advance for your response.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Below is the link to the service manual for your notebook.

HP ProBook x360 440 G1 Notebook PC Maintenance and Service Guide

Chapter 1 has the drive capacities HP offered in the model series.

It seems that they only offered NVMe SSD's up to 512 GB in storage capacity but that is usually only what they offered, not the maximum capacity supported.

No one can tell you exactly how large a capacity SSD you can install because there is no software that I know of that is available to provide that information.

Theoretically, the sky's the limit as long as you install a single-sided SSD.

Yes, you can clone the existing drive to the new one with Macrium Reflect and purchase a USB3/USBC to NVMe enclosure.

Something like this:

SSK Aluminium M.2 auf USB NVMe SATA SSD Gehäuse Adapter, werkzeugloser USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbit/s NVMe ...

[Huffer]

Here is the Service Manual in case you do not have it:

Manual 

Your only limit on SSDs is going to be the fact that your M.2 NVME slot is PCIe Gen 3.0 so if you use a very recent 4th gen model it will run as if it were a 3rd gen. The SSD you ask about is a PCIE 3.0 device so should run to its full capability. 

Your plan for cloning is a sound one just be sure the external enclosure you use is NVME compatible. Not all are and the ones that can handle an NVME M.2 generally cost a little more. 

Good luck. 

[BenVironment]

Hallo Huffer and Paul,

thank you for your fast response.

I only ask because I started this question already on another forum.And there was a member that reply that Probooks has a Bioslock and you can only replace SSD with stock SSDs and not with any SSD that is available on the free market. 

Am I allowed to post links for example from reddit? He meant there are a few ssds enabled in the BIOS/UEFI.

Thank you in advance.

Kind regards

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, @BenVironment 

I don't think there should be any problem installing any brand NVMe SSD you want.

You can post links to other forums/discussions here.

[BenVironment]

Dear Paul,

thanks for the fast response.

HP Probook x360 440 G1 PCIe SSD specs question : r/Hewlett_Packard (reddit.com)

So do you think the response in the other forum is not right. I hear the first time that notebook manufacturers make restrictions for upgrade ssd. I first thought maybe it is something about the TPM2.0 Modul that it is neccesary to accieve the trusted state of a device but i dont know.

Thank you in advance.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

I've never heard of a BIOS lock on a SSD.

WWAN cards, WIFI cards, but not drives.

Here's the specs on the drive currently installed in your notebook.

Western-Digital-PC-SN520-Commercial-Datasheet.pdf (sandisk.com)

Your notebook's M.2 slot should have 4 lanes, but I don't know for sure.

If you run the free Crystaldiskmark software and you get somewhere near the advertised speeds (1,700 read/1,300 write) of the SN520 as reported on the first line, then your notebook has a PCIe Gen 3 x 4 slot.

CrystalDiskMark - Crystal Dew World [en] (crystalmark.info)

Here is a chart of the maximum theoretical SSD transfer speeds you can expect from the various PCIe generations:

PCIe Speeds and Limitations | Crucial.com