: Since it uses the SATA interface, an M.2 drive will perform at the same speed as a standard 2.5-inch SATA SSD (approx. 500-550 MB/s). You will not get the gigabit-plus speeds seen in modern NVMe drives.
If you wish to keep your mechanical HDD for storage and use an SSD only for the Operating System (boot drive), you can use the M.2 2242 slot.
The HP ProBook 450 G2 features a dedicated M.2 slot on its motherboard, but it relies on older hardware standards. Installing a modern, high-speed drive into this slot will not work if the specifications do not match. Interface Type: SATA Only M.2 SATA III (6 Gbps) Unsupported: M.2 NVMe / PCIe (Gen 3, Gen 4, or Gen 5)
Because the M.2 SATA 2242 form factor is less common than the standard 2280 size, finding options from mainstream brands requires targeted searching. The following drives match the exact specifications required by the HP ProBook 450 G2:
Using the M.2 2242 slot instead of replacing your 2.5-inch drive allows for a dual-drive configuration:
Based on community reports, the following models have been used successfully:
M.2 SATA III (6Gb/s) . NVMe drives will physically fit in some cases but will not be detected by the BIOS.
Align the notch on your M.2 2242 SATA SSD with the ridge in the M.2 slot.
Note: You are limited to 256GB or 512GB capacities typically for the 2242 form factor.
While HP's original documentation from the mid-2010s often mentioned maximum tested capacities of 120GB or 256GB for the M.2 slot, this was simply due to market availability at the time.
Alternatively, you can boot solely from a 2.5-inch drive and use the M.2 slot as secondary storage, though using the SSD as the boot drive offers the best performance boost. 6. Known Limits and Capacity Restrictions
: Only M.2 SATA SSDs are supported. The slot is not compatible with NVMe or PCIe SSDs.
HP originally certified this model for up to 120GB M.2 SSDs. However, users have successfully used larger capacities, such as 240GB or 256GB
If you want to ensure you buy the correct hardware, understanding these three specifications is crucial.
What of SSD (e.g., 256GB, 512GB, 1TB) are you planning to buy?
To help me provide more tailored advice for your upgrade, please let me know: What of SSD are you hoping to install?
HP ProBook 450 G2 M.2 SSD Compatibility: The Ultimate Upgrade Guide
