Type of M.2 compatible with Pavilion x360 15-br160cl (Service Manual unclear?)

[pmiller1]

I want to upgrade my wife's Pavilion x360 15-br160cl with an SSD (factory config is 1TB HDD).  If only Sata compatible, that will get the job done.  But I would go NVMe if it is able to.  Help?

I found the service manual, and see that it lists drive storage info on pages 2 and 14-15.  I am confused as how to read it or know what is compatible - it seems to say 2 different things.  Page 2 says that only models 15-cc7xx are NVMe compatible (even though on page 1 it lists this service manual as only for 15-br1xx and 15-br0xx - so not even for cc models).  Then on page 14-15 under "For use on all computer models:" it lists NVMe as options.  Is that intended to mean ours is NMVe capable?  Or not?

How can I really know?  Thanks very much for any help.  I've pasted those sections of the service manual below.

-Paul

PAGE 2:   Storage
Single hard drive configurations:
1-TB, 5400-rpm, 7.2-mm hard drive
500-GB, 5400-rpm, 7.0-mm hard drive

Solid-state hard drive configurations:
1-TB, 5400-rpm, 7.2-mm solid-state hard drive with 8-GB NAND
500-GB, 5400-rpm, 7.0-mm solid-state hard drive with 8-GB NAND

Solid-state drive:

Support for M.2 SATA solid-state drive (support for storage function, port 1; not available on computer models equipped with an Intel Pentium processor)
Support for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)
Support for hard drive and solid-state drive

For use only on computer models with model number 15-cc7xx:

● 512-GB, 2280, Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe), Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) solid-state drive

● 256-GB, 2280, PCIe, NVMe solid-state drive

For use on all computer models:
M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive with Triple-Level Cell (TLC):

●512-GB

●256-GB

●128-GB

M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive: 256-GB and 128-GB

Dual storage configurations (not available on computer models equipped with an Intel Pentium processor):
1-TB, 5400-rpm, 7.2-mm hard drive with 128-GB M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive
500-GB, 5400-rpm, 7.0-mm hard drive with 128-GB M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive

PAGE 14-15:   

(16) Solid-state drive:
For use only on computer models with model number 15-br1xx:
256-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive with TLC     934960-001
128-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive with TLC     934959-001

For use on all computer models:
512-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive with TLC     924083-001
512-GB, 2280, PCIe, NVMe solid-state drive     L01520-001
256-GB, 2280, PCIe, NVMe solid-state drive     L01521-001
256-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive     924085-001
128-GB, M.2 SATA-3 solid-state drive     924084-001
Solid-State Drive Rubber Kit (not illustrated)     925033-001
Solid-state drive counterbalance weight (not illustrated)     934083-001

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Yeah very confusing as the Manual is only supposed to cover 15-br1xxx and 15-br0xxx and it is talking about 15-cc7xx? I am calling misprint. You need to understand that this model is not easy to service. Memory and M.2 SSD are on the reverse of the motherboard so you have to remove the motherboard. This particular configuration with the M.2 on the backside is compatible only with SATA M.2 2280 SSD. So NVME is not going to work. I have no confirmation to offer other than my experience with these. Good luck,. 

Post back with any other questions and please accept as solution if this is the info you needed. 

[pmiller1]

Thanks for the info from personal experience and the heads up on removing motherboard!  (I did realize that once I opened case, wanted to shop SSD first then disassemble only once!).  Thanks for quick & complete answer.

[ironman-7]

Just asking to get a clarification, so NVME SSD's are not compatible with 15-br0xx series too?

you have mentioned M.2 being on the backside, I don't know if it's the same situation with 15-br0xx series.