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If you’re looking to upgrade your HP Pavilion x360 14 with an SSD, here’s a simple guide to help you understand what’s involved and how to do it safely.
First, it’s important to note that your laptop model, the 14-dh0516sa, is compatible with both a NVMe M.2 drive and a 2.5-inch SSD, according to sources like Crucial and user discussions. However, the upgrade isn’t always straightforward, especially when it comes to converting the existing hardware setup.
When you open your device, you’ll find a bay that looks like it could hold a 2.5-inch drive, but the motherboard may not have the corresponding connector. In the pictures from similar models, there’s often a special case or bracket for a 2.5-inch drive, along with a right-angle ribbon cable connector that attaches to the drive. This connector is sometimes proprietary, meaning it might not be a standard SATA or NVMe connection.
In your case, after removing the dummy drive filler, you observed a connector that appears to be designed specifically for an SSD in that bay. The challenge is obtaining the right ribbon cable and housing to connect a 2.5-inch drive. This connector might be hard to find since HP sometimes uses custom parts. Your best bet is to check online marketplaces for parts from damaged or discarded HP laptops. Sometimes, salvage parts from broken units are the only sources for these proprietary cables and housings.
If you can’t find the exact cable, don’t worry—an alternative solution is to upgrade using an NVMe M.2 SSD directly in the available M.2 slot. Most modern NVMe drives are compatible, but some things to keep in mind:
– Make sure the NVMe drive you choose matches the size supported by your motherboard (usually 2280, which means 22mm wide and 80mm long).
– Verify that your BIOS supports booting from NVMe drives if you plan to boot windows from it.
– Check the maximum supported speed and capacity, but generally, most recent NVMe SSDs should work well.
Even if you need to do a bit of “MacGyver” work, like insulating the back of the drive with foam pads to prevent shorting, it can be an effective temporary solution. Just ensure the drive is secured and kept away from any contact with the laptop’s metal parts.
Since official service manuals and detailed guides seem to be hard to find for your specific model, relying on user discussions and generic manuals for similar HP models can help. Always remember to ground yourself to avoid static damage when handling internal components.
In conclusion, upgrading your laptop’s storage can be straightforward if you stick to compatible hardware: a proper NVMe M.2 drive for the M.2 slot and sourcing a proprietary connector kit if you want to install a 2.5-inch SSD in the bay. Patience and a bit of resourcefulness will get your SSD up and running, giving your system a noticeable boost in storage and speed.




