Upgrading SSD and RAM on Probook 450 G5

[Sven92]

Hello,

I have a couple questions regarding a ProBook that I am considering buying. I need a new laptop for school and the ProBook 450 G5 is a top contender. However, customizing it has some limitations. I am able to get everything I want except for an M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. Yes, I can add a 512gb option in the customization, but HP is charging $462 for this, which is ridiculous. I'd like to buy a Samsung 970 EVO 250gb on Amazon for $78 and once I receive the computer, put the SSD in. First, would this work and, second, would it be easier to clone the HDD that the computer comes with or install Windows to the SSD with a recovery drive?

My last question is that I don't think I need Windows 10 Pro so I'd like to go with Home instead and save the ~$80 that HP is charging. (I like the BitLocker feature with Pro but don't think that's enough for me to spend the extra $80 given that I wouldn't use the other extra features of Pro.) However, the customization is saying that I can't have 8gb of RAM and the FHD display with Windows Home. This doesn't make sense to me because it is Windows 10 Home 64-bit which supports well over 8gb of RAM. Basically, with the FHD display option, HP will only allow me to customize with 4gb of RAM, which will not suffice. Thus, I'd like to buy this 8gb stick of Crucial on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Single-PC4-19200-SODIMM-260-Pin/dp/B01BIWKP58?th=1). Does this seem plausible or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance for everyone help.

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

On the 450 G5 upgrading is very easy. There are easy access panels on the bottom for memory and storage. Here is what you see with both panels taken off:

circle = M.2 slot green = HDD blue = RAM

It takes up to 32 gigs of memory or 2 x 16 gigs of DDR4-2400 in the 8th gen models and DDR4-2133 in the 7th gen models. 

Celeron models have no M.2 slot. I don't know your level of tech expertise but if you make the HP recovery thumb drive when the laptop is new with just the hard drive in it you can use that to put a factory install onto the M.2. Just remove the hard drive temporarily while you do it as that makes it easier. With a 256 SSD the recovery might not work in which case you can do a clean Windows install using a Media Creation Tool thumb drive made from the Microsoft download site. It will just activate when installed no Key Code needed. 

I am not sure why HP limits the configuration choices as they do but these hardware upgrades can be made with Win 10 Home or Pro. Samsung 970 Evo is a good choice for an NVME M.2. 

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

[Sven92]

Thanks Huffer, that is helpful. Another question as it relates to the RAM. This is maybe too far in the minutia but I am wondering should I go with single rank or dual rank DRAM? The 8gb (1x8) Crucial module is a couple bucks cheaper in dual rank than in single rank but I have read that depending on the application one can be faster than the other. Do you have any thoughts on that? Also, would it be worth going with 2 modules so I can run dual channel rather than a single module? Would that make a material difference in performance?

[Huffer]

Good questions. I would wait until I got the laptop and duplicate the type of memory in it as far as dual or single rank. And yes, you want two modules for dual channel operation. The difference is not tremendous but noticeable particularly on memory intensive stuff like video and photo editing.