The HP Z2 Mini G4 Workstation is a compact system supporting up to two M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs in its base configuration. While it doesn’t natively include four M.2 slots, advanced configurations with PCIe expansion cards or hybrid storage solutions can achieve similar multi-drive capabilities. For example, pairing its dual M.2 slots with a PCIe x16 slot adapter allows adding two more M.2 drives. Pro Tip: Always verify motherboard compatibility and thermal limits when adding expansion cards to avoid throttling.
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Top 5 Mini PCs in 2025
| Rank | Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GEEKOM Mini IT12 (Best Performance) | Intel i5-12450H (8C/12T) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD | $379.00 | Check Price |
| 2 | GMKtec N150 (1TB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD | $191.99 | Check Price |
| 3 | KAMRUI GK3Plus (Budget Pick) | Intel N95 (3.4GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB M.2 SSD | $169.99 | Check Price |
| 4 | ACEMAGICIAN N150 (Cheapest 16GB) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | $139.99 | Check Price |
| 5 | GMKtec N150 (512GB SSD) | Intel N150 (3.6GHz) | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB PCIe SSD | $168.99 | Check Price |
What storage options does the HP Z2 Mini G4 offer?
The Z2 Mini G4 supports dual M.2 NVMe SSDs and a 2.5″ SATA drive. Its Intel C246 chipset enables RAID 0/1 configurations for the M.2 slots, balancing speed and redundancy.
Beyond basic storage, the Z2 Mini G4 leverages PCIe Gen3 x4 lanes for each M.2 slot, delivering sequential read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s. However, thermal constraints require careful load distribution—placing high-performance drives in both slots simultaneously may trigger throttling. Practically speaking, this design suits content creators needing fast scratch disks alongside archival storage. For instance, video editors could run a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD for active projects and a 2TB SATA SSD for backups. Pro Tip: Use copper heatsinks on M.2 drives exceeding 2TB to maintain optimal temperatures.
Can the Z2 Mini G4 be upgraded to four M.2 drives?
Yes, via PCIe bifurcation and M.2 expansion cards. The system’s x16 slot supports quad M.2 adapters when configured for x4/x4/x4/x4 lane splitting.
While the motherboard doesn’t natively support four M.2 slots, third-party solutions like the ASUS Hyper M.2 x16 Card can add four NVMe drives. But what about power delivery? The Z2 Mini G4’s 180W PSU handles up to four mid-tier drives (e.g., 2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus) but struggles with enterprise-grade U.2 drives. A real-world example: A 3D rendering studio successfully implemented this setup using a Startech x16 adapter, achieving 12TB of combined NVMe storage. Pro Tip: Update the BIOS to ensure proper PCIe lane allocation before installing expansion cards.
| Method | Native Slots | Expanded Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Base Configuration | 2x M.2 | 4TB |
| PCIe Adapter | 4x M.2 | 8TB+ |
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FAQs
No—it’s limited to PCIe 3.0. While 4.0 drives are backward-compatible, they’ll operate at half their rated speed.
Can I boot from all four M.2 drives?
Yes, but requires UEFI configuration for each drive’s NVMe module. Legacy BIOS mode only recognizes two bootable drives.