Samsung 970 Pro NVMe SSD compatibility with HP Probook 430 G5

[SKumar22]

I want to upgrade the HDD that came with my laptop with a Samsung 970 Pro Nvme SSD. I checked the user manual of the laptop and it says that it has an M2 slot, so it is compatible. My question is that the SSD needs a PCIe 3x4 interface so that it can deliver its full read/write capability, i.e., 3500/2300 Mb/s. I am not sure if the laptop has a PCIe 3x4 interface or not. Can anyone tell how can I know, if the laptop HP Probook 430 G5 has a PCIe 3x4 interface or not?

[Photoray002]

Hello @SKumar22

If a modern day motherboard has an m.2 slot that is wired for only PCIe, then it will run at x4  speed as all the PCIe lanes are available for access.

If its wired for both PCIe and Sata, PCIe will only operate at x2 speed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2

Yours utilizes both PCIe and Sata, unless a Celeron CPU is installed. In such case, m.2 will only utilize Sata.

Specs... https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-probook-430-g5-notebook-pc/17047126/document/c05679432#AbT4

Maintenence Manual Page 43...  http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05695299

[SKumar22]

Thanks @Photoray002. Did you mean that this machine has PCIe 3x2, and the SSD would operate at half its speed

[Photoray002]

Sorry, Ill edit it above for more clarity. 

Yes your m.2 port will not run NVMe at full speed since it shares a sata connection.

Personally, I would  go with Sata and purchase a larger capacity drive for the same money. The speed difference is much faster on benchmarks, but not very noticeable to the naked eye.  Only if you're having to do a ton of video rendering or such, would it matter.

[SKumar22]

Hello @Photoray,

I agree with your first answer and also the Wiki link that you sent. I just had a conversation with the HP chat representative and they suggested that this machine would support PCIe 3x4 NVMe SSD. See page 21 and 37 in the document that they provided:

http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c05572133

Also, I have not seen B connector SSDs. Samsung Evo 860 Sata has a B&M connector and 970 Pro has a M connector. Is there a way to visually look at the M2 slot of the notebook and check if it supports M connector SSDs?

[Photoray002]

ONe maual will say one thing, another something else.

If it will run both m.2 sata and 3x4 NMVe m.2, great.

But I still stand by my recommendation of purchasing a sata m.2 drive as it will give you more capacity for the money.

There is no B only slot m.2 drives. a Sata m.2 will have 2 slots and will work on that laptop. The B key has 6 pins, M key has 5 pins on the short side.