1. Is it true that when installing an optane memory module on an established laptop system the HDD has to be reformatted? 2. What optane memory module do I purchase for the model listed?

[RScot14]

HP Pavilion Power Laptop 15-cb0xx with 1x PCIe NVMe M.2 slot

[n_scott_pearson]

1. Possibly. It is required that you leave 5MB of free (non-partitioned) space at the end​ of the drive. But, if you didn't do this, I believe that there are tools that can shrink the last partition to free up this space without affecting any data in this partition. Regardless, for a transition like this, you should always have/make a backup beforehand.
2. Whether your laptop is prepared to support an Optane module is a question you need to ask your laptop vendor. I believe you can get better acceleration using the 32GB module (as opposed to the 16GB module). It also allows you to use the folder pinning feature to indicate folders that should always be cached.

H​ope this helps,

...S

[RScot14]

Thanks this info is very helpful. My problem is I purchased a configure to order (CTO) system from HP and the only info provided for CTOs is basic system info, the system info is not maintained online and there is no user guide. So I have to hunt the world over to find info on my system and HP support is non-existent in getting info. I appreciate your quick response.

[AlHill · Accepted solution]

Are you sure this laptop supports OPTANE? I do not see it in the specifications.

Perhaps you should ask HP regarding Optane support.

Doc

[RScot14]

Thank you for your quick response. If I may ask what specs are you looking at and where did you get them. Also trying to get info from HP for a CTO seems impossible. I've written the CEO of HP and suggested that they at least put the information on the Configured To Order (CTO) system. He in turn put me in touch with their IT from whom I haven't heard from yet. My understanding is HP CTO system info is not maintained online and they don't provide a user guide either. Thanks again.

[AlHill]

I simply searched HP's website for specifications for the model of your laptop, and the word optane did not appear anywhere.

To solve this, you need to go to HP support and ask them. We cannot help you here as the bios belongs to HP.

Doc

[AlHill]

What you have to determine is whether or not the HP BIOS "Sata mode" supports Optane. If it does not, you cannot use Optane.

Doc

[RScot14]

I've just learned that my system doesn't support optane memory. Thanks

[AlHill]

Just throw a good m.2 SSD in there, install w10 on it, and you will be fine - probably. After all, this is a HP laptop.<G>

Doc

[RScot14]

Yeah it does appear to be my only option. Thanks.

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