HP today is taking the wraps off of its latest Z-series workstations, built for the entry-level crowd. And despite their relatively low price points, each of the four new entries include the power to get work done across 3D applications and more.
All told, the new workstations come in four flavors: the HP Z2 Mini, Z2 Small Form Factor (SFF), Z2 Tower, and EliteDesk 800 Workstation Edition. Though they differ in specs and size, each entry in the refreshed Z series includes a suite of security services to protect against malware, self-healing BIOS, HP's endpoint security controller, and hardware-enforced security solutions.
HP Z2 Mini G4 Workstation
Claimed to be the "world's most powerful mini workstation," the Z2 Mini G4 packs NVIDIA's Quadro P600 and P1000 GPUs, or AMD Radeon Pro WX4150 graphics. The core of the machine is Intel's six-core Xeon processor, and it's small enough to be mounted under a desk, behind a display, or in a rack.
HP Z2 SFF G4 Workstation
For the SFF workstation, HP has managed to pack 50 percent more processing power into the same size chassis as the previous version with up to an Intel Xeon six-core processor. HP is placing an emphasis on customizability with the SFF option, touting "flexible" I/O options with room for legacy or specialized equipment, four PCIe slots, and two M.2 storage slots. Graphics power is supplied with several options ranging from Intel's integrated UHD 630 to NVIDIA's Quadro P1000.
HP Z2 Tower G4 Workstation
With the Tower model, HP is claiming up to 60 percent more graphics power over the previous generation, along with processing power from Intel's latest Core and Xeon processors. The chassis is also 13 percent smaller than the prior generation while providing dual M.2 storage slots and optional self-encryption drives. Graphics options range from Intel UHD 630 up to NVIDIA's Quadro P5000.
HP EliteDesk 800 Workstation Edition
Lastly, the EliteDesk 800 Workstation Edition is intended primarily to power 2D and 3D design and drafting software, coming with SolidWorks and AutoCAD certification. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics brings enough power to burn through VR development, and the machine can be easily expanded with further hardware improvements as needed. Lastly, you'll be able to pick from several Intel Core processors, ranging up to a Core i7+ 8700 with Intel Optane memory.
Pricing and availability
As for when you'll be able to get your hands on the lineup, each entry is expected to be available starting later in July. The Mini will fetch a starting price of $799, while the SFF and Tower will start at $749 and $769, respectively. Finally, the EliteDesk 800 Workstation Edition goes for a starting price of $642.
