zBook G2 Owners - Alternatives to "Z Turbo Drive"?

Does anyone happen to know if there are alternatives to the Z Turbo Drive offered in the new zBook 15 and 17 G2? I know this is a SanDisk A110 2260 M.2 PCIe drive and really need 512GB or higher. Unfortunately I have had zero luck tracking down any other 2260 PCIe drives and hoped someone else here may have had better luck.

Thanks!

2015.02.11 Update: For those with similar questions, to save you from reading the entire thread, it looks like the interface in the ZBook G2 is a PCI-E which does not support SATA M.2 drives. At this time, there are many drives that will "fit" (2260 form factor), but they are all SATA III drives and are not compatible (see this article, "M.2 logical interfaces" section, 2nd to last sentence). The SanDisk A110 (which is the Z Turbo Drive) is the only PCI-E 2260 drive available currently.

 

In theory any M.2 2260 drive should work, SATA III or PCIe. So you could try out this 512GB SATA III drive if you don't mind sacrificing speed for storage space. The newly announced Crucial MX200 should be available in a 500GB M.2 2260 according to their specs.

 

^ I agree. I would wait for the Crucial though.

@OP - Have you checked it by yourself? Are you sure that only 6cm/60mm (2260) drives can fit in there? If there's another mounting screw behind it, it can fit 8cm/80mm (2280) drives as well. This would give you a couple more options, like SanDisk X300, which also has quite interesting features. Search for "SD7SN6S-512G-1022" or "SD7SN6S-512G-1122"

 

I actually mistakenly purchased Transcend MTS600 (which is 512GB) when I order the laptop not realizing it was a SATA III drive until I received it. Unfortunately I cant get the laptop to recognize it. I've been unsuccessful it finding any info on whether sata drives can be used in PCIe slots, so not sure if that's the issue or something else entirely. Though even if I could, I'd really rather not lose the performance.

As you can see in the pic below, there's no way a 80mm drive will fit. Not only is there no screw hole for one, but the wireless card above it would prevent anything larger from going in.

Thanks for the heads up on the Crucial drive. Ill definitely keep an eye on that!

 

HP should be offering the Z Turbo drive in 512GB capacities soon. I had a call with HP engineers a little less than a month ago.

 

That is very unfortunate and odd that the aftermarket drive does not work. I have used a Crucial M500 mSATA drive in my Zbook 17 and a myDigitalSSD M.2 2242 drive in my Elitebook 850 without any issue. I don't know why they would be blocking the drive from working.

Out of curiosity is the drive enabled in the bios? On my Elitebook 850 it has a global enable/disable option for the M.2 slot and I don't think the drive is detected if it is disabled.

 

This is bad, both the non-running drive and the component placement on the motherboard. As win32asmguy suggested, check the BIOS, it should have setting about it. Also I don't have a motherboard, nor the schematics, in front of me, but I think it should have some kind of mux that switches between SATA and PCIe lines. Of course they could've made it entirely PCIe, since it's, you know, Z Turbo drive It's not that bad, but you'll have to wait a little longer for more variety.

The slot placement is pretty bad IMO, could be intentional, again, I don't have the MoBo in front of me, so I'm just guessing - bad HP, bad

So there are 512GB drives incoming as aftermarkets (or through HP, whatever suits one better), thanks for the update.

 

Hi,

I bought a zbook 15 g2and I am trying to figure out what size m.2 sata I need to buy.

Any ideas on what size and or aftermarker brand that I can purchase and will work?

Anyone have any experience?

Thank you in advance.

 

While thats good news for those who havent purchased yet, HP (and HP Parts store) do not offer the ability to buy the Z Drive separately. Hopefully this changes sometime in the future, but our HP rep said they have no ETA for this.

I've scoured the BIOS and the only setting is the enable/disable for M.2/PCIe slot under Device Configuration. This is checked/enabled. There are definitey no physical switches available to switch from SATA to PCIe. After a bit more digging, I found a couple other people mention in the zBook Owners thread they werent able to get the Transcend drive working in theirs either. So it appears m.2 SATA drives (or at least the Transcend one) are not compatible with this laptop.

See above... the only m.2 drive compatible with this laptop is a 2260 (60mm) PCIe drive - initial findings show m.2 SATA drives do not work. There are no aftermarket 2260 PCIe drives available this time, but as previously stated, Crucial is at least one with plans to release one - the MX200 - later this year. (Updated 2015.02.11: the Crucial CX200 is also a SATA drive and therefor will not work).

Thanks for the info all.

 

The 256GB Z Turbo Drive is part number 794731-001, and unfortunately its showing as $740 from HP Partsurfer. However I do see the Sandisk A110 available on Amazon for ~$200 which should work. As far as I know its the exact same drive that HP ships.

 

I want to buy or configure a maxed out zbook 14 G2.

I see issues on these M.2 drives.

Anyone know if this drive would work?

http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-512-SATA-MTS600-TS512GMTS600/dp/B00KLTPWJE

 

As stated several times, this drive does not work.

 

What a total bummer. I spoke with an HP Sales rep over the phone and gave them the specific part number for that drive and they told me for sure it would work. So they configured my laptop without any M.2 SSD.

Feel like a idiot. I saw the first discussions about the Transcend not working but the link to it was dead. Then I saw talk about the drive needing to be the 60mm version - 2260 instead of the 2280.

My bad.

Looks like I will have to return the Transcend and wait.....

HP unfortunately tells me it is impossible to change my order.

 

No idea if anyone want to be a guinea pig and try this out, but the new Crucial MX200 M.2 2260 is available:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX2KW5112

Price is higher than the Transcend, but max write speed is much higher too. No idea if these actually work, but it might be worth a try. Also, it looks like there is a newer bios available (1.04A, dated January 7th) which could potentially enable use of the aftermarket drives.

 

Looks like that is still a SATA drive, we're waiting for a PCIe version right?

 

Great point... in fact I just realized this myself and came back to post this very observation. I know the CX200 was mentioned early in this thread, but this looks to be SATA as well, not PCIe. Had my hopes up for finally having a 500GB option, but unfortunately looks like the wait will continue.

 

I can also confirm the latest BIOS update (1.04A) does not fix the issue with Transcend drive not being recognized.

I also did a bit more digging and according to this article:

So my assumption is these ZBooks use a PCI-E adapter, in which case no BIOS update will ever allow SATA drives to work in them.

 

Placed my order a few weeks ago. Without any SSD with the intent of getting a 500GB or even larger drive when they became available. But since it is slim pickens out there and HP won't change my order once placed - I ordered one of these. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S0O5Y1S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hopefully that one works for now. When something bigger comes out I will just upgrade.

 

FYI, that is the Z Turbo Drive, so it'll definitely work.

 

The amazon link posted is currently unavailable. Anyone have a place to order the Sandisk A110?

 

Sorry... didnt mean to reply. Something wacky seems to be going on with the forums and cant delete (and none of the tool bar buttons are showing up).

 

Has anyone found a drive that will function with the ZBook 15 G2? I can't seem to find a place that will sell the SanDisk A110 in North America.

HP will sell me the 256 Turbo drive for $672.37 Canadian (I live in Canada), which is a bit steep for our company.

Does anyone think there will eventually be a more cost effective solution?

 

I am with you - I am waiting for larger sizes - hoping for at least 500GB solutions. I am getting nervous that this 2260 PCIe format may not be the future and down the road there won't be any other solutions.

 

There are three SSDs in the market which are also M.2 and PCI-E. Those are Plextor M6e, Samsung XP941 and Samsung SM951.
Unfortunately, all of those are 2280 (80 mm long).
There are also some OEM models from Hynix and LiteON, but it's very hard to find them selling anywhere.

I suggest all the owners to wait for a while and not to by expensive HP's drive. Manufacturers should produce drives for this form-factor soon.

Seriously, ZB 14 G2 and EB 840 G2 are just became available in most countries. It's very hard to find them anywhere but USA and India.

 

According to this white paper from HP, the 17 G2's M.2 slot should auto-sense if the connected drive is PCI-E or SATA and work appropriately:

http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA5-4884ENW.pdf

 

Looks like slot is only M.2 PCI-E, as a Crucial MX200 M.2 2260 SATA drive won't work in the slot. The ZBook 17 G2 doesn't recognize it in the slot, as booting from a PartedMagic boot CD doesn't see the MX200 M.2 drive listed, nor does it show up in the BIOS anywhere.

So, it looks like it may just be the HP Z Turbo Drive is the only item that seems to work in that 2260 slot, save the previously mentioned Sandisk A110 M.2 PCI-E drive that is the same drive.

If HP had only made it a 2280 slot, it would have been so much easier for upgrades. There's enough space for moving the mounting screw receptacle 20mm for a 2280 drive, though I guess they didn't want to do it. That would have opened up options from Plextor, Samsung and now Kingston for M.2 PCI-E 2280.

 

Has anyone been able to source a Sandisk A110? I'll be happy with a 256GB one at this stage but it seems impossible to buy one outside of HP.

 

Anyone know where I can get Phillips PM2.0×3.5 screws from? I have the drive coming my way but don't think it had screws included.

 

It's interesting as B&H sells a ZBook 15 G2 customized with the Crucial MX200 M.2 2260 SATA drive (it's not as fast as PCIe but that seems to be the only thing available right now) . So it's either a BIOS setup or the laptop they sell doesn't work which I doubt. Anyway here is the link:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1146801-REG/hp_zbook_15_g2_f1m32ut.html

Update 5/13/15 Never mind B&H took the customized laptop off their website

 

I found two other websites which offer customized HP Zbook 15 G2 Mobile Workstations with M.2 PCIe SSD option in their configurator:

• http://www.hidevolution.com/hp-zbook-15-mobile-workstation-quad-core-custom-built-to-order.html
  • Plextor M6e 128GB/256GB/512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
  • Samsung XP941 256GB/512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
  • Samsung SM951 256GB/512GB PCIe M.2 SSD
• http://mobilq.pl/laptopy-biznesowe/1640-hp-zbook-15-g2-j8z45ea.html
  • SSD m.2 2280 PCIe Plextor M6e 128GB/256GB/512GB

The strange thing is that all of these SSD modules have M.2 22 80 form factor and therefor won't fit in the HP ZBook 15 G2, as pointed out earlier in this thread.

Seems like either both retailers did not yet sell any HP Zbook 15 G2 with M.2 SSD option, or they have found a way to make it fit ...

 

So, has anyone purchased the Sandisk A110?
I've just been given a zBook 15 G2 for work, but without the SSD, and I found out the hard way that it doesn't support M.2 sata SSds...
This one is available from Amazon now.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SD6PP4M-256G-Harddisk-22x60mm-Notebook/dp/B00S0O5Y1S

 

bazz80, yes I have ordered that from Amazon and it does function for me in a ZBook 15G2 that I have been using.

 

jschoebs, did you have to change any BIOS settings for the Sandisk A110 M.2 SSD to be detected and operable in your ZBook 15 G2 or did it work with the default BIOS settings?

 

When I click on the Amazon link just above link it says SATA in the product title? I'm confused.

 

No custom changes to the BIOS just works. I have 2 more sitting in a box as my company will be ordering more ZBook G2 this year.

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for your reply, jschoebs.
That's good news. So it seems that the BIOS switch for enabling/disabling the M.2 PCIe slot is set to 'enabled' in the BIOS factory settings:

There is another thing I was wondering:

Since you have ordered your Sandisk A110 SSD from an Amazon Marketplace dealer and not directly from HP, I was wondering if the " Check warranty status" link on this HP product website http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/psi/home/?sp4ts.oid=7843118 will show you the correct warranty status. My understanding is that HP offers an 1 year limited warranty on the ZTurbo drive, see http://www8.hp.com/us/en/mpc/oas/product-detail.html?oid=7633917

Would you give it a try and enter the serial number of yours on this HP website to see if it works? You would just have to click on the "Check warranty status" link and it will then ask for the "product serial number".

I wonder how HP would determine the warranty start date in cases where they did not sell the item themselves ...

 

Awesome thanks! Ordering mine right now

 

I got "This product number is not associated with the serial number provided." When I go to check the warranty status.

 

Thanks for trying out, jschoebs!
Could well be that this "Check warranty status" feature on the HP website does not work in general for this product, even if you buy directly from HP. Guess that one has to prove the purchase date with the invoice / receipt to HP customer support in case of a defect during warranty period.

 

Seems I did same mistake with M.2 format, but SATA interface Samsung EVO M.2 500GB. However this is 80mm drive and it fits, just right, under the end black plastic pin (no need to screw it). So other M.2 80mm PCIe drives would possibly work - as later stated in this thread, some resellers are offering already.
https://www.zonerama.com/jsyrovat/Photo/778697/30259658

 

I was able to fit 2280 in Zbook 15 G2 but it requires some bravery - I cut off the compartment latch
and used isolation and duct tape to mount the Samsung pcie m.2 disk. I works perfecty at 820MB/s read speed.

 

Which specific Samsung M.2 drive did you use?

 

SAMSUNG MZHPU256HCGL-000H1 (UXM62H1Q)

 

And it was not duct tape but PCV duck tape

 

Hi all - just took delivery of my SanDisk A110. Will I be able to use the HP recovery disks to install Win7 Pro 64-bit on this drive? My original drive is 1TB HDD. I don't have access to a Win 7 disk or ISO for a clean install

 

Hi just following up and answering my own question: Yes there is no troubles using the HP recovery disk to get a clean install on the SanDisk A110. Worked a charm first time.

 

OK, so not everything is fine with the Samsung disk. If it is plugged-in - I can not boot from USB - has someone a similar problem?

 

Try disabling secure boot in the bios

Sent from my SM-N900W8 using Tapatalk

 

Not much use bothering with them if all you get is 820 mbs is there? Wonder what the Sandisk will do besides fit in the slot.

I don't understand the previous posters attempts to use a Sata drive in that port. What am I missing? Not trying to be snooty but are there ports on other MBs that will accept either pcie or sata?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

Yep, 800MB/s is weak - I put the drive in my wife's NUC and NUC gets 1.2GB/s out of it.

Also there are certaibly bugs in BIOS - After some debugging I discovered that I can only boot Linux and not Windows and only in UEFI mode.

Does not look like Zbook 15 G2 is ready for m.2 pcie