HP OMEN 15 (2020) 15-ek0000 upgrade guide: RAM, SSD and CPU

Updated Oct. 18, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

The 2020 HP OMEN 15 (15-ek0xxx Intel / 15-en0xxx AMD) is one of the more upgrade-friendly gaming laptops of its year. Both memory slots are accessible, there are two M.2 slots for NVMe storage, and nothing is soldered in place except the processor. Below we cover what fits in each slot, the limits you should know before you buy anything, and how to do the swap safely.

At a glance

  • RAM: 2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM, officially up to 32 GB (2 × 16 GB); 64 GB is reported to work but is not validated by HP
  • Storage: 2 × M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4); no 2.5-inch bay and no M.2 SATA support
  • CPU: soldered — no processor upgrade is possible
2× SO-DIMM DDR4 (260-pin)2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 3200 MT/s
2× M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4)2 × M.2 2280 (NVMe)
2 × SO-DIMM · DDR4up to 32 GB total2× M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4)2 × M.2 2280 (NVMe)
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

Manufacturer support ended on March 31, 2025 (estimate).

20202021202220232024202520262027Today11 · Release · June 2, 202022 · End of sale · Oct. 24, 202133 · EOL · Sept. 30, 202444 · EOSL · March 31, 202555 · Extended support ends · March 31, 2025
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 June 2, 2020 Official HP press release (Palo Alto, June 2, 2020): OMEN 15 (Intel) 'expected to be available June 2nd via BestBuy and HP.com'; the AMD (15-en0000) version at HP.com followed on 2020-06-10.
Source ↗
End of sale
No longer sold new by the manufacturer (Dell calls this 'End of Life', Lenovo 'Withdrawn').		 Oct. 24, 2021 Official HP Japan product page: 'as of Sunday, October 24, 2021, this product has ended.' Only manufacturer-published end-of-sale date found (Japan market). The US store page (15-ek0026nr) says only 'Discontinued' with no date.
Source ↗
End of life (EOL)
The manufacturer stops developing the product: no new BIOS, firmware or driver releases.		 Sept. 30, 2024 Estimate Third-party HP partner EOSL table; no HP-published date. Dates vary by SKU within the 15-ek0000 series: 15-ek0025tx / 15-ek0042tx → 2024-09-30; 15-ek0018tx → 2025-02-28; 15-ek0019tx → 2025-03-31 (15-en0000 SKUs 2024-09-30 / 2025-03-31). HP was still publishing advisories for the series on 2022-03-30
Source ↗
End of standard support (EOSL)
Standard warranty and support contracts can no longer be renewed.		 March 31, 2025 Estimate HP publishes no separate consumer-laptop EOSL date; third-party EOSL range for the series is 2024-09-30 to 2025-03-31 depending on part number (see end_of_life note).
Source ↗
End of extended support
Paid extended support ends; after this there is no manufacturer support at all.		 March 31, 2025 Estimate Per the same third-party table, HP Care Packs cannot be purchased after a device's EOSL date and support becomes best-effort thereafter; HP itself publishes no Care Pack cut-off date. Range across SKUs: 2024-09-30 to 2025-03-31.
Source ↗

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

RAM upgrade

There are two SO-DIMM slots (260-pin DDR4), both customer-accessible, and no memory is soldered to the board. HP and Kingston list 16 GB per module and a 32 GB maximum (2 × 16 GB). One important disagreement to know about: HP's own service documentation states 32 GB support but then only lists 8, 12 and 16 GB configurations, while LaptopMedia reports that two 32 GB modules (64 GB total) work in practice. We treat 64 GB as 'likely works but unvalidated' — if you want to try it, buy from a seller with a good return policy.

Buying tips

  • Buy matched pairs (2 × 8 GB or 2 × 16 GB) for dual-channel performance
  • Non-ECC, unbuffered DDR4 SO-DIMMs only
  • Stick to JEDEC-spec modules: CL22 DDR4-3200 or CL21 DDR4-2933
  • Faster modules are fine but will clock down — the Intel 15-ek tops out at DDR4-2933, the AMD 15-en at DDR4-3200

Storage upgrade (M.2 SSD)

The 2020 chassis has two M.2 2280 slots, both PCIe NVMe x4 Gen3. M.2 SATA drives are not supported, and there is no 2.5-inch bay in this model — ignore any listing that promises one. There's no official capacity ceiling; 2 TB drives are commonly reported to work, and 4 TB should be checked for physical fit. Kingston specifically recommends single-sided (single-NAND-side) drives, because thick double-sided modules may not clear the standoff.

Buying tips

  • Choose M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4) drives; a Gen4 drive works but runs at Gen3 speed, so don't pay extra for Gen4/Gen5
  • Prefer single-sided drives, especially at 2 TB and above
  • Buying used? Check whether the machine shipped in RAID 0 (two identical drives) or with an Optane module — this changes how you swap drives
  • The SD card slot is a card reader, not a storage upgrade slot

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Back up your data first — especially if you're touching storage or changing a RAID setup.
  • Shut down fully, unplug the charger, and remove any connected devices.
  • Ground yourself before handling components, and work on a clean, non-static surface.
  • Open the case following HP's owner's manual for exact disassembly steps and screw locations.
  • Install the new part, close the case, reconnect power, and start the laptop.
  • Check that the BIOS/firmware sees the new RAM or drive before reinstalling your operating system or restoring data.

Steps

  1. General install outline
    1. Back up anything you can't lose. 2. Power the laptop off completely and unplug the charger. 3. Ground yourself and open the case using HP's manual for the exact procedure. 4. Install the new module or drive in the correct slot. 5. Close the case, plug in and power on. 6. Enter the BIOS and confirm the new hardware is detected, then boot into your system.

Good to know

  • Intel (15-ek) and AMD (15-en) variants differ in memory speed (DDR4-2933 vs DDR4-3200) and USB-C (Thunderbolt 3 on Intel, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 + DP 1.4 on AMD). The storage layout — two M.2 slots, no 2.5-inch bay — is the same on both.
  • If your laptop shipped with RAID 0, it uses two identical drives; replacing just one breaks the array. With an Optane configuration, the SSD and Optane share one physical module — upgrade the empty slot instead.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the HP OMEN 15 (2020) 15-ek0000 take?

HP and Kingston say 32 GB maximum, using two 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMMs. LaptopMedia reports that 2 × 32 GB (64 GB) works, but this isn't validated by HP — verify the return policy before trying it.

How many RAM slots does it have?

Two SO-DIMM slots (260-pin DDR4), both accessible, with nothing soldered to the board.

What RAM speed does the OMEN 15 (2020) support?

The Intel 15-ek tops out at DDR4-2933 and the AMD 15-en at DDR4-3200. Faster modules simply clock down to the supported rate. There's no XMP control in the BIOS, so use JEDEC-spec CL22 (3200) or CL21 (2933) modules to avoid boot problems.

Does it support M.2 SATA or a 2.5-inch SSD/HDD?

No. Both storage slots are M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4) only. The 2020 chassis dropped the 2.5-inch bay found on earlier OMEN 15 models.

Does it support PCIe Gen4 SSDs?

The slots are Gen3, so a Gen4 drive works but runs at Gen3 speed. There's no benefit to paying a premium for Gen4 or Gen5 models.

Can I upgrade the CPU?

No. The processor is soldered to the motherboard — a 10th-gen Comet Lake-H chip on Intel HM470 (e.g. the 45 W i7-10750H), or a Ryzen 4000H on AMD models. It cannot be replaced.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.