HP Pro 290 G9 — Quick Specs Summary
| Component | Specification | Upgradeable? |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5/i7 12th-gen (5–8 cores, 2.5–4.9 GHz) | No |
| RAM | 8GB, 16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (2 slots, max 32GB) | Yes — UPGRADEABLE |
| Internal SSD | 256GB–512GB M.2 NVMe | Yes — replaceable |
| Ports | 4× USB-A 3.2, 1× USB-C, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet | Expandable via dock |
| Wireless | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 | No |
| Power Supply | 65W USB-C PD | No |
| Price | £250–350 | N/A |
Pro 290 G9: Professional Budget Intel
Performance & Positioning
Intel 12th-gen i5/i7 with professional-grade support and management. Designed for SMBs wanting professional features without premium cost. Solid for office work, light development.
DDR4 Budget Path
Budget-friendly DDR4 SO-DIMM upgrades. Max 32GB (2× 16GB). Single M.2 slot (simple, clean design).
RAM Compatibility & Upgrades
DDR4 Path
- Factory: 8GB or 16GB DDR4
- Upgrade to 16GB: £40–60
- Upgrade to 32GB: £80–120 (2× 16GB)
Installation
- Power down, unplug
- Remove bottom panel
- Push RAM tabs, eject at 45°
- Insert new DDR4 SO-DIMM, press until clicks
- Reassemble, boot
Compatible: Crucial DDR4-3200 16GB SODIMM, Kingston ValueRAM DDR4-3200.
SSD & Storage
Single M.2 Slot
256–512GB factory. Replaceable with larger NVMe (up to 1TB practical). Cost: £30–50 for 512GB upgrade.
Compatible: Samsung 990 EVO M.2 NVMe, WD Blue SN580, Crucial P3 Plus.
Power & Cooling
65W USB-C PD; quiet operation. Adequate for i5/i7-12th gen office work.
Connectivity
4× USB-A + USB-C + HDMI 2.0. Good for office peripherals; no Thunderbolt.
Upgradeability Score
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| RAM Upgrade | 8/10 |
| SSD Upgrade | 8/10 |
| Ports & Connectivity | 7/10 |
| Display Support | 5/10 |
| Overall Upgradeability | 7/10 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pro 290 G9 vs Mini 290 G9?
Pro: Intel 12th-gen i5/i7 (better). Mini: i3/i5 (basic). Choose Pro for development/light professional work; Mini for budget office only.
Can I upgrade to 32GB?
Yes. 2× 16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (£80–120).
Should I buy this?
Yes, good value for SMB office/light development. Intel 12th-gen i5/i7 solid performer. Professional support value-add.
How long supported?
Intel 12th-gen through 2027–2028. Excellent long-term support.
Better than Geekom equivalents?
Pro 290: Professional support, warranty. Geekom Mini IT12/IT11: More features (USB4, dual SSD), same performance. Choose based on support priority.
Recommended Products
These are the products we recommend based on this guide. All links go to Amazon UK where you can check current prices and availability.
| Product | Why We Recommend It | Amazon UK |
|---|---|---|
| Corsair Vengeance DDR4 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 3200MHz | Best overall DDR4 upgrade kit | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston Fury Impact DDR4 SO-DIMM 32GB (2×16GB) 3200MHz | Reliable alternative with tight latency | View on Amazon UK |
| Crucial DDR4 SO-DIMM 16GB 3200MHz | Budget single-stick upgrade | View on Amazon UK |
| Samsung DDR4 SO-DIMM 32GB 3200MHz | OEM-quality for business laptops | View on Amazon UK |
| Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe M.2 2280 | Fastest consumer NVMe — ideal for gaming & editing | View on Amazon UK |
| WD Black SN850X 2TB NVMe | Excellent Gen4 speed with heatsink option | View on Amazon UK |
| Crucial P5 Plus 1TB NVMe | Great value Gen4 SSD | View on Amazon UK |
| Kingston NV2 1TB NVMe | Budget-friendly with solid reliability | View on Amazon UK |
Prices and availability may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
