What is the M.2 form factor for HP Pavilion 15 cs3073cl?

[SomeTechDude]

Greetings,

What is the M.2 form factor for HP Pavilion 15 cs3073cl?  I just bought one and want to add an NVMe card.  In a post here, someone answered this question by including a link to a card that had one notch (https://www.amazon.in/Samsung-Internal-Solid-State-MZ-V7S500BW/dp/B07MFBLN7K/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Evo... to be precise).  When I look in the service manual, all the images they show of an M.2 card have 2 notches (B&M Key). 

So, without taking the computer apart, is there any way to find out for sure what type of NVMe SSD card I should get?  It's not clear if the plug only allows a specific form factor or not.  And I want to get the most efficient (fast) drive that will fit, so knowing the options would be nice.

Thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Below is the link to the service manual for your notebook.  It only covers the models up to the cs2999.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06248419

According to chapter 1, it supports NVMe M.2 drives.

According to the Crucial memory report for your notebook, if you scroll all the way to the bottom, the only supported drives they offer for your model are NVMe.

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/pavilion-15-cs3073cl

[SomeTechDude]

Thanks for the reply.  But I am still confused.

When I go to the link for Crucial, it shows a device (Crucial P1 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD - CT500P1SSD8 - Configuration ID: CT15612534) that has a single notch in the pins section.

When I go to the service manual your referenced and go to page 54 (solid state drives) they show a memory card that has 2 notches in the pin section.

My concern is if the plug in the HP Pavilion requires that both notches in the pin area exist (in which case, the crucial card won't fit). I am hoping it can accept either form factor, but I can't find any documentation to that effect.

Thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

The actual slot only has one notch, and that one matches where you see the same notch in the NVMe and SATA SSD drives.

The slot has contact pins all along the inside (except for where the one notch is located).

The NVMe drive uses all of the contacts in the slot and the SATA drive with the other notch in it does not use those contacts.

Take a look at this person's post where he posted a picture of the M.2 slot.  You can see that there is only one notch in it.

Yours will be the same.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Can-I-upgrade-my-laptop-with-a...

[SomeTechDude]

Thanks for the great answer!  I don't know, but if you have any pull with HP, it would be great if they could add this Form Factor information - at least to the online service manual.  The fact that the manual indicates a 2 notch card is just bad.  And confusing.

But thanks again,

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Since I don't work for or represent HP, I have no higher standing than you do;

However they do list the M.2 NVMe form factor in chapter 1, page 3 of the service manual -- even though the manual doesn't specifically include your 3000 model series.

M.2 SATA-3, TLC, solid-state drive (select products only)
256 GB
128 GB
M.2, PCIe, NVMe, solid-state drive
512 GB, TLC
512 GB
256 GB

What I believe is not relevant to your 3000 model series, is that the slot may not support the SATA M.2 SSD's as the manual would lead one to believe.