Installing an SSD on a laptop

[nhatminh2h]

Hi,

My laptop:
HP pavillion gaming 15-ak002na

I'd like to install either an SSD or an mSata/m2 into my PCie slot (if I have one).The SSD would replace my HDD, which might go into a caddy to replace my CD-drive.

So I just want to confirm, does my computer have a free PCie or mSATA port that supports the mSata and/or m.2 SSD ? And if it does, is that port SATA II or III ? Is there any chance that installing these won't void my warranty ?

And finally, how does the 3 options compare to eachother ?

SSD route :

-Pros :
+Availability (I have got a 240GB 2.5" SSD already)(Not that big of a pro)
-Cons:
+More work
+Definitely void my warranty (I got the laptop last month)
+Sacrificing 1TB data space down to 240GB.

mSATA/m.2 route :

-Pros:
+Less work
+Not sacrificing data space
-Cons:
+Might not be as stable/fast/...

I honestly do not know much about these kind of things, I just read some article that gave me the idea as something to do as spring starts. Please do correct me if I got anything wrong.

Thanks,
Minh

 

[Calculagator]

I don't see it listed that this laptop has an msata or m.2 expansion port. You might be able to pop it open and see if there is one.

None of the things you proposed doing should have any effect on your warranty status. You have to check the specifics, but installing or changing a hard drive shouldn't void your warranty. Hard drives and RAM are usually considered user serviceable parts.

 

[nhatminh2h]

Thanks for the quick reply. I did some reading and found that it has an M.2 SATA slot which supports these :

6.35-cm (2.5-in) SATA hard drives in 9.5 mm (.37 in) and 7.0 mm (.28 in) thicknesses

7 mm/9.5 mm share the same bracket

Accelerometer / HDD protection supportSingle HDD configurations:

2-TB, 5400-rpm, 9.5-mm

1-TB, 5400-rpm, 9.5-mm

500-GB, 5400-rpm, 9.5-mm or 7.0-mm

Hybrid HDD configurations:
1-TB, 5400-rpm, 9.5-mm SSHD w/8GB NAND
500-GB, 5400-rpm, 7.0-mm SSHD w/8GB NAND

M.2 SATA-3 (NGFF):
SSD, 256GB, 2280, M.2, SATA-3, TLC
SSD, 128GB, 2280, M.2, SATA-3, TLC
SSD, 128GB, 2280, M.2, SATA-3, Value DRAM-lessOptical

According to a volunteer on the HP website, they are all SATA III
Unfortunately, he also said "Definitely you can't do yourself because this is the work for Authorized Service Provider parts"
so I don't really know what to do now ...

 

[Calculagator]

It depends on the wording of your warranty and your local consumer protection laws. The representative was probably required to tell you to send it in for authorized service whether or not what he said was true. Some laptops are very easy to take apart and others are very difficult. As long as you don't open any "warranty void" stickers, you should be ok. Businesses and individuals replace parts all the time. If you break it while installing something, it probably won't be covered under warranty, but if you install a drive and later your screen fails, they are probably required to fix it.

I think I found a teardown video of your laptop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJH1CuFnzWo
It looks harder than most, but still very doable. I would open it first, just to see how hard it is and what is there and then I would buy and install a Samsung 850 EVO m.2 drive.

 

[nhatminh2h]

Thank you so much,
I'll go borrow a spudger kit and open it up this weekend.
Have a nice day