HP OMEN 16 Laptop 16-b0000 upgrade guide: RAM, SSD and CPU options

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Memory (RAM)

There are 2 DDR4 SO-DIMM slots (260-pin) and nothing is soldered down, so whatever is in there now can come out. The machine uses DDR4 only, 1.2 V, unbuffered, non-ECC - registered or ECC modules won't work.

Officially the ceiling is 32 GB total (2 x 16 GB). That's the figure in HP's Maintenance and Service Guide and Kingston agrees. One third-party seller, CompuRAM, lists a 64 GB kit (2 x 32 GB dual-rank modules) as compatible, and the Tiger Lake-H memory controller can address 32 GB modules, so it will very likely run - but HP has never validated it. If you want guaranteed behaviour, stop at 2 x 16 GB; if you gamble on 64 GB, buy from a seller with easy returns.

Speed is set by your CPU, not by the modules you buy. With an i7-11800H or i5-11400H you get DDR4-3200; with an i5-11260H the controller tops out at 2933 MT/s, so even DDR4-3200 sticks will clock down. Don't pay extra for faster RAM than your chip supports.

Install a matched pair - same capacity, ideally same kit - to get dual-channel mode, which matters for gaming frame rates.

One trap: later OMEN 16 generations use DDR5, and there's plenty of advice online about DDR5 in the OMEN 16. DDR5 will not physically fit this 16-b0 (2021) model. Buy DDR4.

Buying tips:
- 2 x 8 GB for a light bump, 2 x 16 GB for the safe maximum.
- Matched kit, DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM, 1.2 V, non-ECC, unbuffered.
- Only chase 2 x 32 GB if you genuinely need it and can return the kit.

How to install:
Back up anything you care about, shut the machine down fully and unplug the charger. Ground yourself (touch something metal) before handling the modules. Remove the bottom cover - Torx/Phillips screws plus clips, so ease it off gently - then slot the SO-DIMMs in at an angle and press them down until the arms click. Close the case, power on and check that the BIOS/HP setup screen reports the new total. HP's Maintenance and Service Guide covers the exact disassembly, cable routing and static-discharge warnings, so keep it open beside you.

Buying tips

• Matched pair of DDR4-3200 SO-DIMMs (1.2 V, non-ECC)
• 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) is the validated maximum
• 64 GB works per third-party sellers but is not guaranteed by HP

Storage (SSD)

You get 2 x M.2 2280 slots, M-key, NVMe (PCIe) only. There is no 2.5-inch SATA bay and no optical drive bay in this chassis, so a SATA SSD has nowhere to go.

HP validates up to 1 TB per slot. Larger single-sided 2280 NVMe drives (2 TB, 4 TB) generally work in machines like this but are outside HP's spec tables, so treat anything above 1 TB per slot as unverified.

Two important fit notes. Kingston specifies single-sided M.2 2280 SSDs for this model - drives with chips on both faces may foul the socket or the board. And both slots need a thermal pad; the pads are different shapes per slot, so follow the illustration in HP's service guide rather than improvising. Skipping pads risks thermal throttling and a loose drive.

On speed: factory configs include both PCIe 4.0 x4 and 3.0 x4 drives, but HP's spec table doesn't say which slot runs which generation. Only the primary slot is confirmed Gen4. That means one premium Gen4 drive in the primary slot is a safe bet; if you're filling both slots, don't assume the second one runs at Gen4 speeds. Factory RAID 0 (Intel RST) across the two slots exists as an option - remember it stripes data across both drives with no fault tolerance, so a drive failure loses everything.

Also worth knowing: the card reader takes microSD only (SDHC/SDXC), so full-size SD cards need an adapter. The WLAN card is a standard M.2 module and is replaceable, and there's no WWAN/LTE slot.

Buying tips:
- M.2 2280 NVMe SSD, single-sided, up to 1 TB per slot for guaranteed compatibility.
- Reuse or fit thermal pads in both slots.
- One Gen4 drive for the OS if you want the speed; don't overpay for two Gen4 drives unless you've confirmed the second slot's lanes.

How to install:
Back up first, then shut down, unplug the charger and ground yourself. Open the bottom cover as above. Fit each drive in its M.2 socket at an angle, secure it, and make sure the thermal pad sits between the drive and its heatsink/contact surface in the correct shape for that slot. Reassemble, power on, and confirm the BIOS/firmware sees both drives - then initialise the new disk in your OS. The exact procedure, screw locations and pad placement are in HP's Maintenance and Service Guide.

Buying tips

• M.2 2280 NVMe (M-key) single-sided SSDs only
• 1 TB per slot is the validated maximum
• Both slots need thermal pads - different shapes per slot

How to upgrade

Before you start

• Back up your data before opening the case.
• Shut down fully and unplug the charger; ground yourself to avoid static discharge.
• Open the bottom cover (Torx/Phillips screws plus clips) and work gently - HP warns about cable routing.
• Install the part, close the case, then check the BIOS/firmware reports it correctly.
• For exact screws, cable routing and reassembly order, follow HP's Maintenance and Service Guide - the steps above are a general outline only.

Steps

1. General upgrade outline
   1. Back up your files and note your current RAM/SSD configuration. 2. Shut down completely and unplug the charger. 3. Ground yourself before touching any components. 4. Open the bottom cover - screws plus clips, so take it slowly. The owner's/service manual has the exact screw list. 5. Install the new RAM or SSD (matched pair for memory; single-sided M.2 2280 NVMe with thermal pads for storage). 6. Close the case and reconnect anything you moved. 7. Power on and check in the BIOS/firmware that the new part is detected before booting into your OS.

Good to know

• 64 GB RAM is a third-party claim, not validated by HP or Kingston.
• HP doesn't state which M.2 slot runs PCIe 4.0; only the primary slot is confirmed Gen4.
• HP validates up to 1 TB per SSD slot - larger drives usually work but are unverified.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the HP OMEN 16 (16-b0xxx) take?

Officially 32 GB (2 x 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM). One third-party seller lists 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) as working, and the memory controller supports those modules, but HP hasn't validated it. Buy 2 x 16 GB for guaranteed results.

Is the RAM in the HP OMEN 16 (2021) upgradable?

Yes. Both SO-DIMM slots are socketed - nothing is soldered - so you can replace or add memory yourself. Use matched DDR4-3200 (1.2 V, non-ECC) modules in pairs for dual channel.

Does this OMEN 16 use DDR4 or DDR5?

The 16-b0 (2021, Intel 11th Gen) uses DDR4 only. DDR5 memory belongs to later OMEN 16 generations and will not fit this model.

How many SSDs fit in the HP OMEN 16 (16-b0xxx)?

Two M.2 2280 NVMe slots. There's no 2.5-inch SATA bay at all. Use single-sided drives, fit thermal pads in both slots, and remember HP validates only up to 1 TB per slot.

Can I upgrade the CPU or GPU?

No. Both the 11th-Gen Intel processor and the NVIDIA graphics chip are soldered to the system board. The realistic upgrades are RAM, the two M.2 SSDs and the WLAN card.

Does it support RAID across the two SSD slots?

RAID 0 (striping, via Intel RST) is offered as a factory configuration, so it's supported in principle. Note that RAID 0 gives no redundancy - if one drive fails, all data on both is lost.

Official documents and references

• PDF HP OMEN 16-b0 Series Maintenance and Service Guide (PDF)
  Official HP service manual - the primary source for specifications, part numbers, thermal pads and disassembly.
• Kingston memory compatibility page for the OMEN 16-b0xxx
  Confirms 2 SO-DIMM sockets, 32 GB maximum, paired installs and single-sided M.2 drives.
• CompuRAM compatibility list for the OMEN 16-b0xxx
  Lists a 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) option - third-party claim outside HP's spec.
• HP 16-b0 Series manual (HTML mirror)
  Handy online copy of the service guide if the PDF won't open.