Which SSD's are compatible with HP Envy x360m Convertible 15m-cp0011dx?

[NotMyRealName15]

Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit + Dual Boot with a Linux Partition
Computer: HP Envy x360m Convertible 15m-cp0011dx, 128 GB Samsung SSD with
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U with Radeon Vega Mobile GFX
Memory: 8 GB SODIMM DDR4 SDRam

I just have 3 main questions:

SSD Upgrade: I've read in this community that the brand matters. Which brand of SSD can I but today for this laptop? The laptop came with a 128 GB SSD but it's too small.
I would like to (1) keep the 128 GB SSD with Windows 10 but add a second SSD and install Linux and dual-boot. If the dual booting can't be done, I would just like to (2.1) add in the second SSD as an additional drive for additional space or (2.2) replace the 128 GB SSD with a larger capacity SSD.

Manual: Also, where can I find the manual for my device? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Instructions: Is there a source of information with recommended steps on how to replace the drive myself? I've done system builds and rebuilt computers and would like to do it myself.

Thank you!

[erico]

Here is the manual http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06001791

[NotMyRealName15]

Thanks for the link to the manual. I downloaded it and looked through it and it does have the steps there with illustrations, which is helpful. I saw you post on another thread that the SSD for HP laptops has to be specific to a certain brand or it doesn't work.

So, Just so that I don't waste any time buying and returning the wrong SSD, can you please tell me which brands are best for my laptop's specification? I'm trying to get 512gb or higher, or 1 TB or 2 TB if I can afford. Thanks a lot.

[erico]

I  am certain that you are mistaken.

I have never stated in any of my replies that brands are the issue.

My prefererence Samsung, Intel and Crucial in that order and it is because of their reputation and specifications.

Compatibility with notebooks are determined by the type of interface, controller and memory types that are published  in the applicable service manual.

When I suggest or recommend a certain SSD, it is because it is  by specification compatible with a specific notebook.

I will take a look at the manual and see what is compatible with yours.

What is the interface of the original installed Samsung SSD?  Is it an M.2 or a SATA3 type?

Your notebook supports both types.

From the manual:

M.2 2280, peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe)3×4, non-volatile memory express (NVMe), SuperSpeed (SS) solid-state drive with triple-level cell (TLC)

SATA3 SSD products are also compatible as a replacement for a legacy hard drive if that is what is installed.

What specifically are your upgrade desires?  Without specifically seeing the nterface type of the SSD in your post, I am at a loss to make any specific suggestion as to the brand.

Your notebook is compatible with a 500 GB or 1TB SSD.

[NotMyRealName15]

Yes, perhaps you're right and I misread and made an assumption about your implications when specifying a brand. I now understand it was about compatibility. Please disregard. Thank you for your help.

I'm not sure how to be able to find that information without taking the laptop apart. Is it stored anywhere in any of the variables accessible to Windows 10? If not, I can try to find the time to gut the PC and look at the connection.

I did see somewhere where it said 'SAMSUNG MZNLN128HAHQ-000H1'. When I look that up, I get this link:
https://www.memory4less.com/samsung-pm871b-128gb-sata-6-0-gbps-ssd-mznln128hahq-000h1

It states 'Form Factor: M.2 2280' and 'Drive Interface Type: SATA 6.0 Gbps', but it still seems unclear to me. I bought this system brand new last year, so I'm doubtful it's a SATA3 SSD.

My preferences are to upgrade to the speediest, with a the largest capacity I can afford, really. Since M.2 2280 is faster, if the laptop supports that, I would like to upgrade to this instead, whether or not I have a M.2 or SATA3 connection (since I assume the former is supported regardless).

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it.

[erico]

You can use the device manager --> Disk drives device section to see the part number of the installed SSD. 

The part number you posted in your last post is fopr an M.2 SSD. So now we know what is inside.

I posted which M.2 SSD types your notebook supports a few posts back so I won't repeat myself in this post.

[NotMyRealName15]

Great, I'm glad we now know that. So for an M.2, is there any advantage that a Samsung has over a Crucial for this device? Are Samsung's known to have longer life?

Which type of each would you recommend?

[NotMyRealName15]

Do you mind directing me to the equivalent hard drive on HP's website to buy, just for comparison?

How would you suggest I do the cloning of old data to the new hard drive -- will my system let me have plugged in both hard drives at the same time? (I looked at the manual but it's a bit confusing to me.) Which software is recommended, Acronis True Image, or EaseUs Todo Backup? Edit: I see that many drives come with the software, so I'll use whichever comes with the software.

[NotMyRealName15]

I have more questions:
Thanks for the effort in helping me. I looked at the manual as a guide and looked up several drives. It looks like for me the choice, based on the price points vs speed and capacity, are down to these 4 SSD's by Samsung and Crucial:

Samsung

(1) Option 1: 500 GB -- SSD 970 EVO NVMe M.2 500GB - MZ-V7E500BW - $150
3,400MB/s Seq. Read, 2,300MB/s Seq. Write; 300 TBW

https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/ssd-970-evo-nvme-m2-500gb-mz-...

(2) Option 2: SSD 860 EVO M.2 SATA 250GB - MZ-N6E250BW - $70

550MB/s Seq. Read; 520MB/s Seq. Write; 150 TBW
https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/ssd-860-evo-m-2-sata-250gb-mz...

Crucial

(3) Option 3: Crucial P1 1TB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD - CT1000P1SSD8 - $129
reads/writes up to 2,000/1,750 MB/s; 200 TBW

https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct1000p1ssd8

(4) Option 4: Crucial P1 500GB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD - CT500P1SSD8 - $70
reads/writes up to 2,000/1,750 MB/s: 100 TBW

https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct500p1ssd8

It looks like for the same price as a Samsung, I can get double the capacity but at a tradeoff of lower drive lifespan and somewhat reduced speed. For preferences, the speed reduction is fine because the  SSD that this 15m-cp0011x laptop came with clocks at around 500 MB/s/88 MB/s for read and write speeds respectively. So either type of SSD will give me a speed increase, although it would be nice to have the higher speed of the Samsung. However, between Option 1 and Option 3, I'm not as familiar with the scale of TBW -- would 300 TBW Samsung vs 200 TBW Crucial make that much of a difference?

What would make me feel comfortable getting the Crucial? / What is better about the Samsung EVO?

Thanks for any insight/wisdom on these questions.

[erico]

TBW stands for terabytes written and that means a longer product lifespan.

The NVMe SSD products also have superior performance as compared to the slower access times of the SATA3 SSD products.

Samsung is by most accounts a more competetive product than the Crucial units with the same interface.  It is just a matter of your preference.