HP ZBook x360 - inside a mobile workstation

My video of replacing the M.2 SSD in the HP ZBook Studio x360 G5 - new convertible workstation (the most powerful 2 in 1).
There are 2 x M.2 slots, so it's easy to add another drive. My choice was the Samsung 970 Pro 1TB NVME SSD, that is faster than the stock Toshiba XG5.
I will show you the complete disassembly of the bottom cover and description of all internal parts in this laptop.
This is a professional computer, so nothing is soldered-in - everything is user-replaceable, even though it is a 2-in-1/studio form factor.

[@mapmap1342]

thanks bros

[@officialvisaural]

Man, the sudden disappearance of MLC drives from the market frustrates me. I'm glad Samsung is still sticking to them.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Consumers don't really case, so why should manufacturers :) I'm also glad that Samsung is doing great job.

[@willday3564]

I've just taken the back off mine. there are magnets holding the rear panel down. But also the front edge is held with over-hang plastic hooks. So be sure to nudge the panel rear wards then pivot on the front edge, lifting the rear edge first. page 32 - content.etilize.com/User-Manual/1048706059.pdf

[@guilhermecsaez]

is it possible to upgrade or replace just the video card? in this case, i think my nvidia quadro p1000 just broke. can it be replaced alone or ill have to replace all the motherboard?

[@Maks-vo3uo]

How do you evaluate the laptop today? Videokarta the p2000 can then be put on or another? You can take or predlozhete alternatives (a transformer with a stylus)? Photoshop blender, 3d max, unity. Mostly photoshop. Well, play games hunting. External videokarta tried to put? 64 GB in the future may need or it's too much! What kind of processor will you recommend to take? (intel). The processor will also sonotrode to replace?

[@mertcapkin7263]

I ordered this laptop yesterday! :D

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Awesome! Which config did you order?

[@mertcapkin7263]

@@WhatDoRealProsUse this one: tudelft.orderitnow.nl/specificaties/hp/laptops/tud-stud360-18/hp-zbook-studio-g5-x360/

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Great machine :-) If you don't need ECC then it's an awesome config, and with i7 the temperatures will be lower, so you can even try some XTU overclocking later if needed! And you can always upgrade it in the future if you need more RAM. Congratulations for your new purchase!

[@zeolit]

@@WhatDoRealProsUse Do you have any idea whether KCP426SD8/16 Kingston Memory will work with the laptop? I've just got the i7, 16GB memory and 512SDD version. My concern is whether I'll get dual channel performance or not? Or will face any other issues if I upgrade i. e. freezing, crashes, delay, lag on screen etc. HP Support cannot answer this question....

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

For dual channel you should buy the exactly same dimm you have inside (or just sell the dimm it cames with and buy 2 x the SAME dimm). With 2 different RAM models in most cases dual channel won't work (and definitely won't work with different specs dimms). Why don't you want to buy dimms for the ZBook directly from HP? Check here: www.kingston.com/us/memory/search?model=98537&devicetype=3&mfr=HEW&line=ZBook Kingston site says that this exactly chip is used in x360 G5. Just open the back, make sure you have 1 x 16GB inside (instead of 2 x 8GB) and buy the exactly same dimm. Then it should work (for 99% ;-) ). About crashes - for non-ECC modules it's sometimes a lottery. But any crashes shouldn't be caused by dual channel. I think it should perform like it performs now, just you will have more RAM.

[@scottdevitte4209]

I want to buy this, I first saw it at the NAB show in Las Vegas 6 months ago, they promised delivery in May, didn't happen, and now recently they announce I9 proc, p2000 and and a new anti glare 600nit out door Dream screen, but even though the announcement says it is available now, it is not. HP is big on promise and very late in delivery. So I will wait on those three things.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Sad but true. HP is really delaying everything, and the P2000 news even pissed me off :) On the other hand... HP deliver very late, but there are no other products like that on the market. There's no other choice for me, and I was never an HP fan, believe me.

[@HarshitAneja]

In India atleast you can contact HP ask for P2000(that's the one I am ordering) and they can get it custom built. But it is only available for businesses. I am sure such options would be available everywhere.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Ordering a new unit with P2000 is not a problem. The problem is to upgrade P1000 to P2000

[@michaelnguyen-ibanez1667]

@@WhatDoRealProsUse Is upgrading the p1000 to p2000 not feasible than :/

[@LukeFlegg]

that's the machine I got 4y ago

[@essentialmental4212]

Looking forward to an update video

[@batsk8]

Nice! Thanks

[@CristianZamora]

I just bought one of these and was also wondering about the SIM tray. I'm dying to know if this would work without the antennas. I only bought the 512Gb version and it's not nearly enough, but instead of using an M.2 I was thinking of using one of the SATA ports with a 2.5"

[@johntruongpictures]

Great video! What did you use to mirror/copy the operating system over to the new SSD?

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Thanks! I used the Samsung Data Migration tool that is available on Samsung's website. This is the second PC I used this tool for clone SSDs and in both cases everything works well. The system copy is perfect and it just boots from the new drive without issues. Alternatively, EasyUS ToDo Backup is also a great tool - it can make a bootable copy as well, plus it makes perfect backups very fast. I use this program for like 5 years now and it has never let me down - all backups were reliable and saved me a lot of troubles :)

[@sienliu663]

The TLC Toshiba XG5 has a speed drop approximately after you copying 10GB data into it which is really annoying if you are moving large files very often.

[@zeus1117]

Overheating ?

[@officialvisaural]

@@zeus1117 Nope. That's just the intrinsic behavior of TLC SSD products. MLC is and will always be superior.

[@mertcapkin7263]

I received this laptop last week and I am very happy with it! It's super fast! I got one remark and one question. The SD card slot cover is shit! It's so hard to take it out! :D now the questions: when I press down on the HP logo on the top there is some gap, it looks like the metal and the screen are not glued together or something, do you have that as well? Secondly, when I press down at the rear part of the bottom cover it looks like that part is also not in place. Does it snap in place with some connectors, because when I press it sounds like it's disconnected or something. Have you got that problem as well? Thanks! :)

[@mertcapkin7263]

If you don't understand what I mean, let me know. Then I will make a short video.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Hi. Sorry, I was very busy. I was also surprised when I couldn't slide out the SD card cover at first - totally get you! :) But once you get use to it, it's fine. About the logo: I can confirm there is a gap. I haven't noticed it before, as I have to press hard on it. It looks just like an empty space, because everything else is super steady and there's no flex (I really woudn't notice that if not you, thanks... :D). Actuallythe metal cover and the screen shouldn't be completely glued, there are antennas and other things betwen them. About the bottom part: everything is OK on my unit. If it clicks it may indicate that one of the bottom cover hooks is not in place. Try to loosen all the screws, pry open the bottom cover just a little bit, and then press around it with your hand to make sure all hooks "click" in place. Then tighten the screws and should be fine. But that may also depend on the internals, maybe there is more space in other configurations, I don't know.

[@lucasschenck874]

Updates? Happy with the x360 G5?

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

I'd be very happy with it (it's really a performance beast), but recently the keyboard stopped working properly (some keys are just not registered, exactly like on new MacBooks with the butterfly keyboard). Additionally a backlight bleeding showed up on the display, making it NOT 100% Adobe RGB (imagine that solid colours become gradients...). I'm waiting for HP technician to come to my office and fix everything. Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for new parts arrival, as it seems that HP doesn't have spare parts available. This is a pure hardware problem with both the keyboard and the screen. Something like that has never happened to me before (having many different laptopts). I hope this is just a "first-batch issue" and this won't be happening in mass-production, because otherwise it would be a disaster. I will publish a video once the laptop is fixed. Right now I'm using an external keyboard. Everything works super fast, the laptop is just a performance beast, so keyboard and screen problems are the only things that bothers me and that also not make it though HP HW tests.

[@antonslavorski7314]

Hello you could make a video of how to add RAM

[@mastuhfulmiccontrol1754]

Does this laptop support intel xmp? I bought extra ram for it and the ram clocks at 2400 apparently without it. Can you please inform me? I don't see it. Or does it automatically support the 2666 mhz regardless of intel xmp?

[@hariharanramamurthy9946]

Still using it?

[@j.w.ambrose4349]

The stock M.2 comes with thermal pad?

[@midvale99]

I own this laptop and tried removing the back cover but I’m finding it very difficult. I’ve removed the 9 screws that are visible and released the cover round all sides, but there seems to be something holding it down in the middle. Are there any hidden screws? I couldn’t see you removing any. Just seems incredibly hard to prise open and I don’t want to force it.

[@willday3564]

did you manage to get it open? I've just taken the back off mine. there are magnets holding the rear panel down. But also the front edge is held with overhange plastic hooks. So be sure to nudge the panel rear wards the pivot on the front edge, lifting the rear edge first. page 32 - content.etilize.com/User-Manual/1048706059.pdf

[@kev58896]

How's the CrystalDiskMark results on the 970 Pro compared to what it came with?

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

I will publish them in my next video. Read speeds are much better, write speeds are pretty similar. Don't forget the 970 Pro is MLC instead of the stock TLC, so it should be much more reliable in long-term.

[@zeus1117]

In Pro world the speed is one thing, the reliable storage is more important. This way as he mentioned he got a drive that is way more reliable on the long run. And also faster :)

[@imiy]

Don't you lose the warranty when opening it?

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

No. I asked HP about this before opening the laptop. They said that if I won't broke anything then it's all good, at least when it comes to drives.

[@fs9050]

Please give us your opinion about it after 1 year. I had a bad experience with HP laptop before (i.e., the blue death screen). I am hesitant to buy an HP product again.

[@LukeFlegg]

Review after 4y: Rock solid, beautiful and powerful machine. Very happy. Barely any issues.

[@imiy]

Please share a link where you bought it. Can't find anywhere the 32gb model :(

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

You need to configure it via HP Workstation Configurator: store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Offer.aspx?p=b-configure-your-workstation

[@poguntkephoto-hilfe1221]

In Switzerland and Germany are at the moment great offers for the X360. If you are located in Switzerland you have to be very fast. The offers lasts only until this Sunday.

[@NSAwatchesME]

make sure you have 32gb! or even 64gb!

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

It turns out it supports 64GB of RAM, but there are no 32 GB ECC SODIMMs available on the market yet. With 2 slots it's possible to use 2 x 32GB. When I find such dimms I'll buy them ;-)

[@mertcapkin7263]

@@WhatDoRealProsUse I have this laptop with 16GB now. I would like to upgrade it. How can i do it?

[@L0ST-ALIEN]

can you RAID 0 the two NVME Drives? and can you install Mac OS ( Hackintosh ) ?

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

1) You can do RAID 0, but it all depends on drivers, and reinstall is necessary. It's best to have 2 same drives (like 2 x Samsung 970 Pro). It's a bit work, but can be done. 2) You can install MacOS, but it will never make use of the hardware fully. Virtual machine MacOS works fine, even supports touch. Hackintosh would be worse than VM, because MacOS doesn't have drivers for touch screen, pen, standard I/O (pendrives don't work...) and simple peripherals like printers. I'd recommend Windows or Linux, as MacOS doesn't have any useful drivers or professional software (except MS Office and Adobe CC). Besides, MacOS user interface is designed for running only one application at the time (and Apple engineers admit this), so it's really bad for multitasking or heavy load.

[@bryanfury6264]

Thank You, upgraded M.2 NVMe SSD and will RAM thanks to it [eventhough You didn't do the RAM :)].

[@markdwyer3544]

I'm thinking of getting this with Xeon and 4K display. Curious what people's thoughts are on using this as a dev machine (coding, debugging, running VMs, etc), and all rounder.. really wanting a hexacore and 32GB RAM in 2in1 form factor and this ticks the boxes.. I know it's marketed toward 'creative professionals' as a mobile workstation, but is the battery life still okay?

[@poguntkephoto-hilfe1221]

I have a 8850h, 4k, P2000 and I am very happy with the battery life. 6 - 8 hours in regular use. Max stress test (50% brightness, 6 cores at 100% permanent with turbo) = 2 hours

[@lonant]

how to change keyboard?

[@VEGETAO9000]

Wich toolkit did you use ?

[@SergioRodriguez-lp5jq]

Did HP fix the issues? How would your rate the customer service?

[@SergioRodriguez-lp5jq]

Also, did you have to revert to original parts when sending it over?

[@garyherrman8109]

Could you have done the same upgrade using a 1 tb M.2 SSD or must you use a 512 GB SSD?

[@poguntkephoto-hilfe1221]

Yes, you can. I am actually upgrading my X360 with an additional Samsung 970 plus 2 TB.

[@JoeGunawanfotosiamo]

I'm looking to get this HP Zbook x360 with the XEON + 1TB Samsung 970 Pro, as well. For the RAM, since I have to replace the stock to 32GB, which one should I get? Ideally, it should be DDR4 2666 MHz. What's the difference between UDIMM vs SO-DIMM, and ECC registered vs ECC unbuffered?

[@JoeGunawanfotosiamo]

Here are the choices I'm thinking for ram: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1400607-REG/crucial_ct2k16g4tfd8266_32gb_16gbx2_ddr4_2666mt_s.html www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1384812-REG/crucial_ct2k16g4wfd8266_32gb_kit_16gbx2_ddr4.html

[@virajmehta2870]

@@JoeGunawanfotosiamo the first one is better since you cant fit the 2nd ones in a laptop form factor. They have to be SODIMMs so that they fit in a laptop

[@mertcapkin7263]

All of a sudden, my G5 x360 stopped working today. :( The charger is working put when I push tbe power button there is nothing happening. There is also no power on the 'always on' usb port. Do you have any idea what the problem could be?

[@grantswanson2547]

Did you ever resolve this issue? I'm spooked because I just received mine.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

Do you think I can get an LTE connection working with a WWAN module?

[@mfes13]

Hi, there are two WWAN cards available: LTE CAT4: Huawei HP lt4132, LTE/HSPA+ w/GPS M.2 and LTE CAT9: Fibocom lt4210 LTE/HSPA+ w/GPS Could you check again, regarding the battery limit option in the UEFI? I just found the option to enable/disable fast charge.

[@Nairod785]

I'd love for you to try that as I will get almost the same specs as you and getting WWAN would be a great plus Here are the LTE Modules referenced for this laptop HP lt4132 LTE/HSPA+ 4G Mobile Broadband Module Intel® XMM™ 7360 LTE Advanced The Intel one seems superior... Let us know if it's doable ! Thanks again for the videos!

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

@Matthias Schmid check your BIOS or install HP Performance Advisor (and go to BIOS settings from there). Here are mine (don't know if all are available in other configs): ADVANCED -> Device Configuration -> Fast Charge = Disable ADVANCED -> Device Configuration -> Power Control = Enable (required for HP Power Manager tool in Windows) ADVANCED -> Built-In Device Options -> Battery Health Manager = Maximize my battery health (this will limit maximum charge to 80%, then you have "Maximize my battery duration" to keep it always at 100%, and "Let HP manage my battery health" to have some kind of optimized option). Then in HP Power Manager (in Windows) set Peak Shift if you want, but most importantly set "Switch to AC power when battery reaches" to 20% or 30% (that's mine setting). Then it shouldn't use battery when on AC power and should prevent charging over 80% and dropping below 30%. Preferable in home / office. Of course, when you're travelling it might be better to just maximize the battery duration and use 100% capacity when needed.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

@Nairod785 First I'll check if I can mount a SIM card here, as the port seems to be blocked with a "dummy" plug. If this will be a success, I will definitely buy the Intel XMM and check it out :) Even an external antenna doesn't sound that bad, just need to figure out a way to make it work :-) Will keep you updated on the channel.

[@tominfhl]

What Do Real Pros Use? Hi, any luck with the LTE?

[@peterpan4641]

whats model are your HP?

[@contorta960]

It's the hp zbook studio x360 g5 dreamcolor, the laptop I wish I'd spent my 2k on not what i foolishly got ahhhhh

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

DON'T BUY IT!!! CONSTANT PROBLEMS AND TERRIBLE SERVICE!!! I WILL UPLOAD A NEW VIDEO SOON. I'm sorry for recommending it before. HP is the worst!

[@cristioglice]

What do you mean by constant problems ? I am using a similar model since more than half of year without too many issues - only once the keyboard Fn function wasn`t working but that was solved with a hard reset. Other than that, I am pretty happy with the purchase.

[@LukeFlegg]

I've had this laptop for 6 months now and it's absolutely beautiful. So I think the OP is just feeling a bit angry about a personal issue.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

@@LukeFlegg Personal issue? In the unit I've got the screen is not Adobe RGB, soon backlight bleeding happened, keyboard stopped working, microphones and camera stopped working properly, the power management (sleep / hibernation etc.) stopped working, the technican said basically this is a factory defect and all the components should be replaced. It's been almost 1.5 year and they neither fix it, replaced the unit or returned money. I will explain everything in my next video. You are happy because you don't have any problems yet. And HP service is the worst, I can tell you that. They do not care about us.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

​@@cristioglice In the unit I've got the screen is not Adobe RGB, soon backlight bleeding happened, keyboard stopped working, microphones and camera stopped working properly, the power management (sleep / hibernation etc.) stopped working, the technican said basically this is a factory defect and all the components should be replaced. It's been almost 1.5 year and they neither fix it, replaced the unit or returned money. I will explain everything in my next video. You are happy because you don't have any problems yet. And HP service is the worst, I can tell you that. They do not care about us. They left us with a faulty laptop, and we wanted to buy a dozen units for our company.

[@WhatDoRealProsUse]

I have emails, phone calls, everything