Adding a NVME SSD is almost the first thing you need to do with this machine.
There's an empty M.2 slot, which can accept a 2280 form factor "gumstick" NVME SSD (but not a SATA M.2). Spend $40 more to get one & make it as the system drive. It will greatly improve the performance of this laptop.
The 1TB "old" HDD could be kept and used as media storage…
<attachment>HDD in green square...M.2 in red circle
You don't need to. License is linked to bios. So just switch drive and reload windows.
Heads up to the thread that I had a good experience with this laptop.
The laptop has no apparent blemishes. I installed a NVME SSD (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V7GT6F3). Downloaded Win11 to an USB Stick. Downloaded Intel Storage Drivers onto USB. Used F10 to load BIOS menu. Set to boot from USB. Loaded Intel Drivers. Deleted all partitions. Installed Win 11 to NVME SSD. Ran Windows update and Intel Support Assistant.
Everything appears to be working.
Laptop is cheap, but nice. Compared to my other laptops (more $$$), I miss the fingerprint reader; extra USBs and a Display Port. The display is nice.
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07-02-2022 at 03:09 AM.
Adding a NVME SSD is almost the first thing you need to do with this machine.
There's an empty M.2 slot, which can accept a 2280 form factor "gumstick" NVME SSD (but not a SATA M.2). Spend $40 more to get one & make it as the system drive. It will greatly improve the performance of this laptop.
The 1TB "old" HDD could be kept and used as media storage…
Pretty good specs for the price, with the exception of the HDD. As stated, you could continue to use the spinner for media storage. So maybe add $30 for a 512 GB M.2. The 12 GB of RAM probably doesn't need to be upgraded for most users, but the option is there.
The 17.3" screen is a highlight at this price, for those who need a large screen.
Pretty good specs for the price, with the exception of the HDD. As stated, you could continue to use the spinner for media storage. So maybe add $30 for a 512 GB M.2. The 12 GB of RAM probably doesn't need to be upgraded for most users, but the option is there.
The 17.3" screen is a highlight at this price, for those who need a large screen.
Can you provide the link for $30 512 gb m.2. Also, would I be able to add this myself? Have never opened a laptop so far and do not have any social tool.
Can you provide the link for $30 512 gb m.2. Also, would I be able to add this myself? Have never opened a laptop so far and do not have any social tool.
Ok, it's more like $40.
A diagram was posted above. Looks like you just need a screwdriver.
If you want to make sure it's not stupidly difficult with ribbon cables and other junk in the way, try looking up the model to see if anyone has done a video guide on it.
Can you provide the link for $30 512 gb m.2. Also, would I be able to add this myself? Have never opened a laptop so far and do not have any social tool.
Can you provide the link for $30 512 gb m.2. Also, would I be able to add this myself? Have never opened a laptop so far and do not have any social tool.
Keep the hard drive! Great for media/document storage. As suggested earlier in the thread, spend another $30-$50 on an NVME SSD and use that for the operating system. This would then be a great little media device.
If someone didn't want the hard drive in the laptop, they could probably remove it and place it in an enclosure, or use it on another system, as long as the hard drive isn't some proprietary HP design that wouldn't be compatible with industry-standard mounting bays/external USB hard drive enclosures.
I agree that one should add NVME, but as someone who has been out of the updating world for awhile, how do you transfer the OS to that drive? And would it make sense to change the SATA to an SSD?
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There's an empty M.2 slot, which can accept a 2280 form factor "gumstick" NVME SSD (but not a SATA M.2). Spend $40 more to get one & make it as the system drive. It will greatly improve the performance of this laptop.
The 1TB "old" HDD could be kept and used as media storage…
<attachment>HDD in green square...M.2 in red circle
The laptop has no apparent blemishes. I installed a NVME SSD (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V7GT6F3). Downloaded Win11 to an USB Stick. Downloaded Intel Storage Drivers onto USB. Used F10 to load BIOS menu. Set to boot from USB. Loaded Intel Drivers. Deleted all partitions. Installed Win 11 to NVME SSD. Ran Windows update and Intel Support Assistant.
Everything appears to be working.
Laptop is cheap, but nice. Compared to my other laptops (more $$$), I miss the fingerprint reader; extra USBs and a Display Port. The display is nice.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank PC9394
There's an empty M.2 slot, which can accept a 2280 form factor "gumstick" NVME SSD (but not a SATA M.2). Spend $40 more to get one & make it as the system drive. It will greatly improve the performance of this laptop.
The 1TB "old" HDD could be kept and used as media storage…
HDD in green square...M.2 in red circle
The 17.3" screen is a highlight at this price, for those who need a large screen.
The 17.3" screen is a highlight at this price, for those who need a large screen.
Can you provide the link for $30 512 gb m.2. Also, would I be able to add this myself? Have never opened a laptop so far and do not have any social tool.
A diagram was posted above. Looks like you just need a screwdriver.
If you want to make sure it's not stupidly difficult with ribbon cables and other junk in the way, try looking up the model to see if anyone has done a video guide on it.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmaster...11_t
https://youtu.be/H3PGoumQRFw
If someone didn't want the hard drive in the laptop, they could probably remove it and place it in an enclosure, or use it on another system, as long as the hard drive isn't some proprietary HP design that wouldn't be compatible with industry-standard mounting bays/external USB hard drive enclosures.
In short no. Integrated GPUs cannot be updated and the usb-c port will not function with an external GPU.