Storage upgrade with SSD on 15-da0414TU

[Emil2804]

I have the 15" laptop model 15-da0414TU. It is extremely slow and I want to add an SSD. I am not sure if this model has a M.2 socket for me to install a SSD. If so, would it be a Sata or NVMe interface type? If there is no M.2 provision, I would have to replace my existing HDD.

[erico]

It does have an M.2 slot for SSD.

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/hp-15-da0414tu  This is the US website. Find the 

Configuration ID for the one you want.

 

Search for it on the  https://www.crucial.in/ website that is for India.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @Emil2804 

Note that NVMe SSD's only run at half of their advertised speeds in the 15-da0xxx model series.

See this discussion.  There are several other forum members that have reported this shortcoming.

Solved: Re: NVME SSD SPREED SLOW ON SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS - HP Support Community - 8529065

The good news is that even at half speed, a NVMe SSD will still be around 3x faster than a SATA SSD.

[Emil2804]

Thank you Paul for your quick and helpful response. So basically, I can go ahead and buy an NVMe type SSD and can use it in the 15-da00414TU laptop right. The only thing is it will not run at its fullest speed but still be 3x as fast as a SATA SSD?

Is there a specific Gen like 3 or 4 I should look for? For instance, if Gen 3 and Gen 4 are both compatible but the performance ceiling is limited to Gen 3 then I might save money buying a Gen 3 rather than a Gen 4. Not sure if that is true but just asking. No oint in paying for a higher performance gen than my system could actually use.

Do I need to do any BIOS setting? Which key is used to invoke the BIOS setup?

[Emil2804]

Thank you Erico. I will check with Crucial

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Your notebook's M.2 slot is Gen 3, so you only need a Gen 3 NVMe SSD.

My recommendations are the Samsung 980 (not 980 Pro), Western Digital Blue SN570, or the SK Hynix Gold P31.

I have a Crucial P5 NVMe SSD that I installed in my Dell 7050 MT desktop.

It is a fantastic drive, but it runs hot. 

I felt the need to add a heat sink to it because it idled at 55C.

After I added the heat sink, it idled at 42C and never went over 55C under load.

You will probably not have the clearance to add a heat sink in your notebook.

The Samsung 980 and SK Hynix are known to be fairly cool running drives.

You don't need to do anything in the BIOS.

To get into the BIOS you first turn on or restart the PC.

Immediately press/tap the ESC key to get the menu of options.  Select the F10 Setup option and press the enter key.

You do the same thing to get to the boot options menu, except you press the F9 key instead of the F10 key.

 You may have to temporarily disconnect the 2.5" drive so the Windows boot manager switches to the SSD to boot from.

You also may have to remove Windows from the 2.5" drive because when notebooks come with dual drive configurations from the factory, there is no operating system on the 2.5" drive.

[Emil2804]

Thank you for answering all my asked and unasked questions. You have not just cleared up everything for me but also given me peace of mind before I embark on this voyage.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

Please post back and let us know how your notebook's SSD upgrade project went.

[Emil2804]

Sorry I have a followup question. The Samsung 980 and the WD SN570 are both described as "PCIe Gen 3.0 x4". Does this mean they too would work at half the advertised speed? This question is based on my understanding of the other thread you had pointed me to.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Yes.

Any model NVMe SSD you buy is going to run at 1/2 of its advertised speed.