Lenovo ThinkStation P5 User manual

Storage Configurator
Lenovo ThinkStation P5

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Table of Contents
Overview ................................................................................................................. 3
Section 1 – P5 Storage Summary ........................................................................... 4
Section 2 – P5 M.2 SSD Drives .............................................................................. 6
Section 3 – P5 SATA Drives ................................................................................. 25
Section 4 – Appendix ............................................................................................ 39
Revision History .................................................................................................... 43

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Overview
The following document will provide detailed guidance for users to add in the M.2
and SATA drives in order to optimally configure their system storage options in
the ThinkStation P5 platform. The ThinkStation P5 workstation offers both M.2
SSD support as well as support for the traditional SATA HDDs. The P5
workstation provides two standard M.2 slots directly on the motherboard as well
as the ability to utilize an optional FLEX bay that can hold one externally
accessible hot swappable M.2 drive. There is also an optional quad M.2 PCIe Add
In Card (AIC). There are two internal SATA bays located at the bottom of the
system with an optional internal HDD kit to add one SATA drive to the top front
section of the chassis.
Here is a high-level overview of the types of storage devices supported in the
ThinkStation P5 platform:
Table 1 - General overview of support storage devices in the ThinkStation P5
Drive Type and Speed ThinkStation P5 Drive Capacities
3.5” SATA Gen3 Hard Disk Drive Up to 2TB each
3.5” SATA Gen3 Enterprise HDD Up to 12TB each
M.2 PCIe SSD Gen4 x4 Up to 4TB each
Table 2 – Quantity and capacity by drive type
Drive Type Number of Drives
Available
Total Storage
3.5” SATA Drives 3 Up to 36TB
M.2 PCIe Drive 7 Up to 20TB

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Section 1 – P5 Storage Summary
The below Table 3 shows a high-level summary of what storage options are
available in the ThinkStation P5 platform.
Table 3 - Storage Summary
Storage Location Drive Type Support
Internal onboard M.2 slots 2 x M.2 SSD Gen5
FLEX bay M.2 Kit 1 x M.2 SSD Gen4
ThinkStation Quad AIC M.2 SSD Gen3 Adapter 4 x M.2 SSD Gen3
Internal 3.5” bays 2 x 3.5” SATA Gen3
3
rd
HDD bay kit 1 x 3.5” SATA Gen3

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Figure 1 – Location of storage devices within the P5

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Section 2 – P5 M.2 SSD Drives
The Lenovo ThinkStation P5 platform supports a variety of different storage
devices. Table 4 shows the available features for M.2 SSD drives utilizing the
CPU-based controller. Table 5 highlights the compatibility and requirements for
M.2 SSD drives utilizing the CPU-based controller.
Table 4 - Features for M.2 SSD drives on CPU-based controllers
Feature Onboard M.2 Slots FLEX Bay M.2 SSD
enclosure
Quad M.2 PCIe
Card Gen3
Drive Count (System max = 7) 2 1 4
Maximum PCIe speed Gen5 Gen4 Gen3
Availability Standard Optional Optional
Location Motherboard Front access bay 2 PCIe Slot
Controller CPU CPU Follows slot
connection
Supported M.2 dimensions (mm) 2280 or 22110 2280 2242, 2260, 2280,
22110
Double side support Yes Yes No
Maximum power per drive 8W 8W 8W
Front accessible No Yes No
Toolless Yes Partial¹ No
Hot swappable No Yes No
Individual activity/status LEDs No Activity Only² No
Combined in system activity LED Yes Yes Yes
Max Drive Size 4TB 4TB 2TB
1: A screwdriver is needed during the initial installation of an M.2 drive into the FLEX bay carrier.
Insertion and removal of the carrier is then toolless.
2: See Figure 2 for location of the storage drive activity light.

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Figure 2 – Location of storage drive activity light
Table 5 - Compatibility and parts requirements for M.2 SSD drives on CPU-based controller
Location Requirements and Parts
Onboard  Dual M.2 Carriers and heat sink kits standard on
motherboard
FLEX bay M.2 kit
 Front storage tray
 M.2 storage access box for front storage bay
 FLEX bay fan
Quad M.2 Gen3 PCIe  Requires available x16 slot
 Quad M.2 Adapter
See Appendix for additional information and images of parts.

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Onboard M.2 SSD drive installation
1. Open the side cover on the P5 and remove any PCIe adapters that may
interfere with accessing the onboard M.2 slots.
2. Push on the outside edge of red locking mechanism to rotate it
counterclockwise.
3. Slightly lift the carrier up to about a 15-degree angle and pull it straight out
of the slot.
Caution: Be careful not to raise the carrier up too far before pulling it out as
this risks breaking the M.2 slot.

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4. Lay the M.2 carrier flat on a desk and carefully separate the heat sink from
the carrier by gently pushing two of the tabs on one side away from the heat
sink.
5. Remove the plastic insert, then remove the thermal pad plastic film from
both sides.
6. Insert the M.2 drive carefully in the M.2 bracket as shown below, align the
notch in the end of the drive with the notch in the heatsink.

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7. Reinstall the heatsink on top of the M.2 drive within the carrier by inserting
the feet on one side of the heat sink into the openings of two of the tabs on
one side of the carrier. Then press down on the other side of the heat sink
until the feet engage the tabs on the heatsink.
8. Insert the M.2 bracket back into the onboard M.2 slot at a slight 15-degree
angle.
Caution: Be careful not to use excessive force as this risks breaking the M.2
slot.
9. Gently lower the carrier and push on the edge of the red latch to rotate the
latch clockwise and secure the M.2 carrier in the system.