HP Z2 Mini G3: tiny workstation

[Kaido]

These are really slick. Similar to the new Zotac EN1060/EN1070 compact computers, these are workstation-class versions measuring in at 8.5" x 8.5" x 2.28" with a 4.5-pound base weight. Key feature being a 2GB Quadro M620 DCC GPU on the higher-end models. Tested for 368,000 hours & certified for over 20 pro apps, including AutoCAD, Inventory, Revit, Vectorworks, SOLIDWORKS, MicroStation, and Solid Edge. Ridiculously small size, but with real features!

http://store.hp.com/us/en/ContentView?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&eSpotName=Z2Mini

Pricing is $685 to $1670. They are all turnkey systems, completely ready to go, but are also easily upgradable. I have the 3.5ghz Xeon ($1570...the Core i7 is actually the most expensive model) on order for my lab (comes with a 512gb NVMe, 16gb RAM, Win7 + Win10 upgrade, and 4x DP 1.2 for GPU):

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1303153-REG/hp_z2d61ut_aba_z2_mini_workstation_xeon.html

Operating systems: (Linux, Win7, Win10)

• Windows 10 Pro 64
• Windows 7 Professional 64 (available through downgrade rights from Windows 10 Pro)
• Linux-Ready

Processor: (Core & Xeon options)

• Core i3 (dual-core 3.7ghz + HD 530 graphics)
• Core i5 (quad-core 3.2ghz + HD 530 graphics)
• Core i7 (quad-core 3.4ghz + HD 530 graphics)
• Xeon E3-1225 (quad-core 3.3ghz + HD P530 graphics
• Xeon E3-1245 (quad-core 3.5ghz + HD P530 graphics)

Memory: (4 to 32GB, ECC or non-ECC)

• 4 GB (1x4 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM Unbuffered Memory
• 8 GB (1x8 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM Unbuffered Memory
• 8 GB (2x4 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM Unbuffered Memory
• 8 GB (1x8 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM ECC Unbuffered Memory
• 16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM Unbuffered Memory
• 16 GB (2x8 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM ECC Unbuffered Memory
• 32 GB (2x16 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM Unbuffered Memory
• 32 GB (2x16 GB) DDR4-2400 SODIMM ECC Unbuffered Memory

Storage options: (NVMe + 2.5"; currently available: up to 2TB NVMe & 4TB 2.5")

* The NVMe slot is a M.2 PCIe Gen3 x1; the 2.5" is advertised to handle a standard 9.5mm drive - I've seen 2TB mechanical drives available in the 9.5mm format, although up to 5TB 2.5" drives are available in the thicker 15mm format, might be possible to fit through a customization hack
* HP Z Turbo Drive G2 = 2150 MB/s read, 1550 MB/s write with 300k IOPS, tested on the 256gb version
* 2.5" drives are available up to 4TB; a 4TB SSD goes for $1370 on Amazon today
* NVMe drives are available in up to 2TB sizes (960 Pro version is $1300) with read speeds of 3,500 MB/s & write speeds of 2,100 MB/s

• 500gb 7200rpm SATA 2.5" HDD
• 1tb 7200rpm SATA 2.5" HDD
• 256gb HP Z Turbo Drive G2 TLC PCIe SSD
• 256gb SATA SSD
• 256gb HP Z Turbo Drive G2 MLC PCIe SSD
• 512gb HP Z Turbo Drive G2 MLC PCIe SSD

Graphics card: (support for 3 to 6 monitors, depending on configuration)

* Intermixing integrated Intel HD graphics and discrete graphics cards in order to drive more than four displays can be enabled using the Computer (F10) Setup Utility
* Units come with either 3 or 4 DisplayPorts, depending on the model
* Up to 6 monitors can be run off a single machine; 4 off the ports & 2 using daisy-chaining (I believe it uses the Intel HD graphics for the additional 2 monitors & uses the Quadro for the 4 primary monitors)

• Integrated graphics (HD 530 on Core chips & HD P530 on Xeon chips)
• Discrete NVIDIA® Quadro M620 Graphics (2 GB, 4 DisplayPort)

Ports & features:

• Intel i219LM Gigabit Ethernet
• 802.11ac 2x2
• Bluetooth 4.2
• Available HP Z2 Mini Serial Port Adapter
• Side: 2 USB 3.0 (1 charging)
• Back: 2 USB 3.0; 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C
• 135 to 200-watt PSU

 

[Kaido]

Got my first test unit in today. Hoooooooooly crap this thing is fast! I got the Xeon E3-1245 model, which comes with Win7 Pro installed (yay) & a disc for Win10. Typical cost is just under $1,600, although Provantage is running a special on the top Xeon model (part number Z2D61UT#ABA) for $1,437 right now:

http://www.provantage.com/hp-z2d61ut-aba~7CMPK5HH.htm

This model comes with a Xeon, 16 gigs of RAM, a 512gb M.2 NVMe SSD, Win7/Win10, and the 2GB Quadro M620. It also comes with HP RGS (Remote Graphics Software), which is like a software version of PCoIP, so I'm anxious to test that to see how it handles DCC over the network. This comparison video is 2 years old, but pretty neat:

So far, it has been running very cool to the touch & virtually silent. It's roughly the size of a Zotac EN1070 & family (external PSU is similarly huge as well). Just for funsies, I ran the SteamVR Performance Test, but it failed the GPU portion ("not ready"). However, non-gaming DCC stuff flies. For reference, a Quadro P5000 full-sized desktop card has 2048 cores & the previous-gen M520 has 384; this has 384 as well, so you're not going to get desktop-card performance (6x the mobile version), but you are getting the latest Maxwell architecture, plus you're not paying $4,000 for just a 24GB M6000 card.

 

[Kaido]

Quick note on HP RGS:

1. RGS = Remote Graphics Software, HP's RDP protocol
2. Basically RDP on steroids (remote USB, multiple displays, etc.)
3. Streams your desktop as a video, Netflix-style
4. Can handle low-bitrate connections (there's a quality adjustment slider to lower the streaming quality, based on the connection speed - it shows FPS & bitrate)
5. Can stream actual video (Youtube etc.) & is great for DCC (CAD, CGI, etc.)
6. $300 per host license (receivers are free...PC/laptop/tablet/Mac/etc.), although you get a free license with any HP Z PC or laptop
7. Basic host requirements are a dual-core 2ghz CPU, Win7+, Quadro 2000+

Pretty neat. I've never messed with RGS...will be doing some remote CGI testing with Maya & stuff to see how it handles.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That all sounds really neat! Too rich for my blood, though. I think that my total outlay on each of my two DeskMini mini-STX mini-PCs was around $500 ea. (No dGPU option on mine either. Thank God I found some Win7 beta drivers for the HD630 graphics.)

 

[Kaido]

That all sounds really neat! Too rich for my blood, though. I think that my total outlay on each of my two DeskMini mini-STX mini-PCs was around $500 ea.

Yeah, it depends on what you're looking for. The Xeon models will be going into production as engineering machines with SolidWorks & stuff. Only 384 stream processors in the M620, but that's a big step up from some of the older machines I upgrade that only have a couple hundred stream processors on their GPU's.

The Mini-STX stuff is nice because of the versatility...you can get a super cheap barebones or you can get something like a Skull Canyon from Intel & slave in a full-sized GPU via an eGPU chassis like the Razor Core. Modularity ftw!

 

[Kaido]

So it's been a few months...after a lot of testing, 2 updates:

1. This feels like the fastest PC I've ever used. It is very, very zippy.

2. For business installations, this has become my standard office PC recommendation & has replaced the NUC/BRIX line. Is is 4X the size of the standard Gigabyte BRIX units I use, but a lot more powerful, and also turn-key. It is also a fair bit more expensive, although you do get an NVMe stock & lots of future-proofing, so for businesses that can afford them, I've been recommending these models to buy for the standard 5-year cycle (which usually turns into 7, 8, or 9-year cycles, haha). The specific model I use is the "Z2D61UT#ABA". Current available for $1,590 shipped on B&H:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1303153-REG/hp_z2d61ut_aba_z2_mini_workstation_xeon.html

Provantage has good deals from time to time as well:

http://www.provantage.com/hp-z2d61ut-aba~7CMPK5HH.htm

This model includes:

* Windows 7 Professional (installed) + Windows 10 (disc, if you want to upgrade) [I recommend cloning the drive after boot so you have a master image of the Win7 install]
* 3.5 GHz Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 Quad-Core CPU
* 16GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM (upgradable to either 32GB or 32GB ECC)
* 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD (upgradable to a 1TB or 2TB unit, optionally a PRO model from Samsung)
* Empty 2.5" drive bay (I'll be testing a 15mm 5TB 2.5" drive to see if it fits & works)
* 2GB NVIDIA Quadro M620 GPU
* (4) DisplayPort 1.2 ports

For most office users, all I have to do is throw on a copy of Office, plus the standard apps like VLC, Chrome, Adobe Reader DC, etc.

Regarding the huge AMT/ME vulnerability from a couple days ago, HP has a patch out already: (requires a reboot)

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp79501-80000/sp79976.exe

Reference:

Intel AMT/ME vulnerability assessment scanning tool
Intel vendor list (with a link to HP's site)
HP's issue page
HP's readme on the download above

My only real gripe is the GPU limitation. The 2GB M620 is overkill for desktop users & is great for the majority of "normal" CAD users & basic DCC uses (CGI, video, etc.), but it's a non-upgradable part & there's no support for a Razer Core eGPU chassis (edit: hmm, it looks like the Xeon model, specifically may have USB Type-C 3.1, not 3.0 like the other models...digging into this...), so you're kind of stuck with what you get. That's unfortunate, because I really like the box, but I do have a few users who require 4GB+ GPU's or GPU's with more CUDA cores (the M620 has 512, whereas the P6000 has 3,840)...I'd love to have this box be the central core of a system that can handle an enhanced GPU, similar to how the Intel Skull Canyon can be connected to the Razer eGPU, although again, it's more than enough for standard desktop users, both now & into the future, and great for most regular CAD users. RIP giant Dell towers & custom CAD rigs, hahaha...

 

[Kaido]

* 16GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM (upgradable to either 32GB or 32GB ECC)

...

* Empty 2.5" drive bay (I'll be testing a 15mm 5TB 2.5" drive to see if it fits & works)

Two updates:

1. 32GB RAM works great. $230 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015YPB8ME/

I have a Z2 Mini project coming up with an ECC requirement. Crucial has a 32GB ECC kit for $374:

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct2k16g4tfd824a

Cheaper on B&H ($338) if you don't mind waiting a few weeks for stock:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1193700-REG/crucial_ct2k16g4tfd824a_32gb_2_x_16gb.html

That one also calls for a 1TB Samsung PRO NVMe drive, so I'll have to do a speed test between the stock HP 512gb NVMe, my 500gb Samsung 950, and the 1TB Samsung 960 PRO NVM drives.

2. The 15mm 5TB 2.5" drive fits & works flawlessly. $200 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0AADIX

Ridiculous amount of power in these little boxes. I did plug in one of my Razer Cores just to see if it works, but nothing happened, ah well!

 

[Kaido]

Quick note on HP RGS:

1. RGS = Remote Graphics Software, HP's RDP protocol
2. Basically RDP on steroids (remote USB, multiple displays, etc.)
3. Streams your desktop as a video, Netflix-style
4. Can handle low-bitrate connections (there's a quality adjustment slider to lower the streaming quality, based on the connection speed - it shows FPS & bitrate)
5. Can stream actual video (Youtube etc.) & is great for DCC (CAD, CGI, etc.)
6. $300 per host license (receivers are free...PC/laptop/tablet/Mac/etc.), although you get a free license with any HP Z PC or laptop
7. Basic host requirements are a dual-core 2ghz CPU, Win7+, Quadro 2000+

Pretty neat. I've never messed with RGS...will be doing some remote CGI testing with Maya & stuff to see how it handles.

Also a couple quick updates on RGS:

1. It does pretty good on a LAN
2. It did poorly over WAN to a low-powered test computer (just VPN'd in on an Atom rig to test the Receiver)

I have more testing to do. It's definitely better than stock MS RDP for manipulating 3D models & other graphics remotely. Future testing will including testing RGS on a high-powered machine over WAN to see if that makes a difference (it shouldn't, but maybe the integrated graphics on the Atom desktop I was using just weren't up to par). There was still some lag in various places in LAN testing, but short of something like Citrix HDX, it's better than RDP/VNC/etc.

 

[Kaido]

Lenovo offers up the P320 Tiny as a Z2 Mini competitor:

https://www.engadget.com/2017/06/21/lenovos-pro-workstation-is-as-light-as-a-macbook-air/

Uses a P600 Quadro instead of the M620 (same horsepower), sports dual M.2 slots, and has six display connectors (4 miniDP & 2 regular DP). Starting at $800:

http://news.lenovo.com/news-releases/lenovo-embraces-personalized-computing-transformation.htm

More pics & specs:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/11560/lenovo-unveils-thinkstation-p320-tiny-sff-workstation

 

[bliab]

Wow, these things look great.. Thanks for these posts.

I've been wanting a beefier replacement for a Mac Mini, but Apple has all but abandoned them. I was looking to put together my own Mini-ITX, but this has pretty much everything I was looking for - Non-Intel graphics, E3 processor, C200 chipset and an 80mm m.2 slot for NVMe.

The youtube videos out there also show how easy it is to get inside.

I just ordered a Kabby Lake, E3-1245 v6, version direct from HP. Now to track down some ECC SODIMMs for a RAM upgrade.

 

[Kaido]

Wow, these things look great.. Thanks for these posts.

I've been wanting a beefier replacement for a Mac Mini, but Apple has all but abandoned them. I was looking to put together my own Mini-ITX, but this has pretty much everything I was looking for - Non-Intel graphics, E3 processor, C200 chipset and an 80mm m.2 slot for NVMe.

The youtube videos out there also show how easy it is to get inside.

I just ordered a Kabby Lake, E3-1245 v6, version direct from HP. Now to track down some ECC SODIMMs for a RAM upgrade.

Nice! Yeah, it's been over 1,000 days since the last Mac Mini update. Apple said the Mac Pro is going modular; I am curious if the Mini is going to be part of that (maybe like a NUC with a Thunderbolt port for an eGPU chassis?), but it ain't out yet!

They do make other systems like the HP Z2 Mini if you don't want integrated graphics. I use a Zotac EN1070 for my gaming rig (primarily VR), which has an 8GB GTX1070 in a box about the same size of the Z2. Barebones is $1,100:

https://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-ZBOX-EN1070K-U-MAGNUS-GeForce-Barebone/dp/B06ZY6CSDM/

The Z2 is better in certain ways, however: Quadro GPU for DCC, optional Win7 (if you don't want Win10), VERY quiet operation, Xeon CPU, ECC support. All of my IT customers love them, from engineers (at least, the ones who don't need a 24GB M6000) to financial traders (who need 4 to 6 screens). I liked it so much that I switched from a Skull Canyon NUC to a Xeon Z2 Mini for my own IT workstation...handles multiple VM's, a 5TB internal drive for storage, the NVMe, etc. Total beast & doesn't make any noise or suck up any space! It's like a NUC Pro, haha.

 

[Zoinks]

This looks exactly like what I'm looking for, if only it were available with a Pascal based GPU. I guess I'll look into the Lenovo...

 

[Kaido]

This looks exactly like what I'm looking for, if only it were available with a Pascal based GPU. I guess I'll look into the Lenovo...

Are you looking for a gaming Pascal GPU? If so, check out Zotac's mini boxes: EN1060, EN1070, and EN1080. Same concept, just with gaming cards.

If you are looking for a CAD Pascal GPU, then yeah, the Lenovo P320 is the way to go right now.

 

[Kaido]

HP has upgraded from the G3 to the G4. This is the model (5XJ82UT#ABA) I'm currently using: ($1,410)

https://www.provantage.com/hp-5xj82ut-aba~7CMPK879.htm

It's a LOT of computer for the money. Having 4GB of VRAM is particular nice for DCC people (video/CGI/CAD/etc.).

* Windows 10 Pro
* 3.2ghz 6-core i7
* 32GB RAM
* 512gb M.2 2280 NVMe (up to 2TB currently available)
* Room for a 15mm 2.5" drive (up to 5TB currently available)
* 4GB Quadro P1000

* (3) DisplayPort 1.2 ports (4K @ 60 Hz)
* (4) USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports (one port is a charging port)
* (2) 10 Gb/s USB 3.1 GEn2 Type-C ports
* Bluetooth 5.0
* 802.11ac wireless
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Kensington lock



The i7 model above doesn't have the cutout for the 4th DisplayPort, but here's a general picture of the rear ports:

 

[Kaido]

Also for people who need a lot of displays (financial traders etc.), Lenovo has a newer SFF that supports up to 7 independent displays:

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/think-...eries-sff/ThinkStation-P330-SFF/p/WMD00000363

This one is a little beefier (and physically larger) than the HP Z2 Mini G4, but has enhanced specs:

* 8-core 3.1ghz i7 (with 5ghz turbo) or 3.4ghz 6-core Xeon
* 64GB RAM
* 7x display support via 3 DP onboard (Xeon model) & 4 MiniDP via an additional low-profile P1000 GPU
* 3x NVMe SSD's via one onboard & two additional via add-in card

I'd be curious to test the RAID support (3x RAID 0 NVMe would be insane, if doable!), as apparently there's also room for a 3.5" drive, depending on the configuration, which are currently available in up to 16TB sizes (for only $550, if you can believe it!). It also looks like the i7 model has dual P1000 cards, so I'd be curious about the max number of displays it could handle (4 MiniDP per card x 2 = 8 ports, plus whatever the i7 does onboard...maybe?).

 

[ElFenix]

looks like an hp stream mini on steroids.

 

[Kaido]

looks like an hp stream mini on steroids.

Basically, yup! I call those blue Stream Minis the "Tupperware computers" lol. It's amazing how far mini computers have come over the last 5 years! Size-wise, the HP Z2 Mini is roughly 4x the size of a Stream Mini: (picture comparison is a bit difficult because the Stream Mini curves up, so the base is smaller than the lid, which makes it look funny in pictures)

 

[ElFenix]

footprint is 2.2x if you go by measurements and pretended the stream mini was square.

first, assume the cow is a sphere

 

[Kaido]

Walmart has the newest HP Z2 Mini G4 model for $1,345 with free shipping: (model number 8JF45UT#ABA)

HP Z2 Mini G4 Workstation, 1 x Intel Core i7 Octa-core (8 Core) i7-9700 9th Gen 3 GHz, 32 GB DDR4 SDRAM RAM, 512 GB SSD, Mini PC, Space Gray, Black Chrome Accent - Walmart.com

Buy HP Z2 Mini G4 Workstation, 1 x Intel Core i7 Octa-core (8 Core) i7-9700 9th Gen 3 GHz, 32 GB DDR4 SDRAM RAM, 512 GB SSD, Mini PC, Space Gray, Black Chrome Accent at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

* 3ghz 8-core i7-9700 CPU
* 512gb NVMe SSD
* 32 gigs of RAM
* 4GB Quadro P1000 GPU (laptop/mobile version, roughly equivalent to a 1050)

My two complaints with this model are:

1. The fan noise is audible & comes on often. The previous G3 model was virtually silent most of the time.

2. They cut the Display ports from 4 to 3. You can still run 4 through a hub ($$$) or daisy-chaining (or up to 6 with integrated graphics). I tested a USB-C to HDMI adapter but it didn't work, I'll have to play around with the BIOS & whatnot to see if I can directly-connect another monitor without having to get special equipment.

The three DisplayPort 1.2 outputs are able to support up to four directly-connected displays, and the system can support up to six displays when using a combination of Intel UHD graphics, discrete graphics, and Windows 10. Intermixing integrated Intel UHD graphics and discrete graphics cards to drive more than three displays can be enabled using the Computer (F10) Setup Utility. However, HP recommends using only discrete graphics when four or fewer displays are required to be supported.

Multiple displays daisy chained from one DisplayPort 1.2 output requires DisplayPort 1.2 MST capable displays or a DisplayPort 1.2 MST capable hub. When using one display, the maximum supported resolution is 4096 x 2160 @ 60 Hz, and this drops to 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz when two displays are used. When using four displays, the maximum supported resolution is 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz

Overall an amazing computer for the price. 230w power adapter. Detailed PDF option spec sheet is here:

https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/c05987462.pdf

Updated VESA bracket ($39) is here, which can also be mounted to a wall or under a desk:

https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-desktop-mini-security-dual-vesa-sleeve-v2?jumpid=cp_r12139_us/en/psg/ws_z2_mini/cross-sell/hp-desktop-mini-security-shop-now

They also have a cage ($15) for the power supply available now, as it's a monster in size:

https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-dm-vesa-power-supply-holder-kit

They sell a large, heavy-duty adhesive sticker for the VESA bracket (mount to metal/wood/plastic/etc.):

https://origin.www8.hp.com/emea_middle_east/en/products/oas/product-detail.html?oid=17034025

The stock drive is upgradable to a 2TB NVMe chip, plus you can add a 2.5" drive. They seem to have adjusted the interior spacing as the thicker 15mm drives (like a 5TB internal) doesn't let the top lid fully close without bulging. SSD's are available in up to 8TB singles now (I use Micron's from Amazon) if budget allows.

Anyway, if you're looking for a CAD/DCC PC or very capable non-gaming office machine, this is an amazing deal for under $1,400. Comes with a nice wired keyboard & mouse, plus Windows 10 Pro pre-installed. I still build custom computers & servers occasionally, but I mostly just use these as my go-to model for pretty much everything in the corporate world these days!

 

[Kaido]

G5 model is out now. Max config now clocks in at over $7k lol: (10-core Xeon + 64GB ECC + 4GB Quadro + 2TB NVMe x2 in RAID)

HP Z2 Mini G9 Workstation - High Performance Desktop PC

The HP Z2 Mini workstation delivers high-end performance in the world’s most powerful and quietest insanely small desktop mini PC.

www8.hp.com

You can configure with:

* Intel® Xeon® W-1290P Processor (3.7 GHz, up to 5.3 GHz w/Boost, 20 MB cache, 10 core, 95W) + Intel® UHD Graphics P630
* Intel® Core™ i9-10900 Processor (2.8 GHz, up to 5.2 GHz w/Boost, 20 MB cache, 10 core, 65W) + Intel® UHD Graphics 630
* 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200 SODIMM ECC Memory
* 2 TB HP Z Turbo Drive M.2 PCIe TLC SSD
* Option for a 2nd M.2 drive, along with RAID 0/1 options

New MXM GPU options:

* AMD Radeon™ Pro WX 3200 (4 GB GDDR5) Standard Cooler MXM Graphics
* NVIDIA® Quadro® T1000 (4 GB GDDR5) High-Power Cooler MXM Graphics
* NVIDIA® Quadro® T2000 (4 GB GDDR5) Standard Cooler MXM Graphics

Service video manual:

 

[Kaido]

Their remote graphics software is excellent. They have server & management stuff available now, which is really great for DCC users who are WFH:

ZCentral Remote Boost

ZCentral Remote Boost is a remote desktop software that gives power users the performance boost they need to tackle their most demanding, graphics-intensive projects from anywhere.

www8.hp.com

 

[Kaido]

New model out with a 6GB RTX 3000 GPU: ($2,180)

HP G9 87C20UT#ABA Replacement for HP G5 4K0F2UT#ABA | B&H Photo Video

Shop B&H's in stock, large inventory for fast shipping, great service and everyday low prices on HP G9 87C20UT#ABA Replacement for HP G5 4K0F2UT#ABA. For more info, please call 800-947-4415

www.bhphotovideo.com

Also features a 10th-gen 8-core 2.9ghz (4.8ghz boost) i7 with 32 gigs of RAM (max 64gb). Features dual M.2 NVMe ports (includes a 512gb boot drive). On a tangent, Sabrent currently has a monster 8TB NVMe available ($2k) & has announced a 16TB NVMe:

Rocket Q NVMe SSD

M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 interface. Up to 3,300/2,900 MB/s. NVMe 1.3 compliant with APST/ASPM/L1.2 power management support. Supports SMART, TRIM, and firmware updates with wide flash compatibility. Resiliency ensured through wear-leveling, bad block management, over-provisioning, ECC, RAID, etc...

www.sabrent.com

Sabrent is close to launching a massive capacity 16TB SSD for consumers

It won't be extraordinarily fast, but it will be capacious.

www.pcgamer.com

The GPU can support 4 dedicated GPU monitors & 2 Intel integrated GPU monitors. Typically these come with 3 DispayPort connectors, plus a USB-C that can supposedly do HDMI (I haven't had any luck with that yet), so normally you'd go with a 4-port MST Hub to get the quad output:

DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport (MST) Explained | Eaton

How to Connect Multiple Monitors to a Laptop Using DisplayPort MST

www.tripplite.com

I'll have to try using dual MST Hubs to see if I can get the Intel monitors to pass-through for 6-monitor setups. A couple additional notes:

1. I hate the power button redesign on the G5 units. You kind of have to use your fingernail & then push in to get it to start up. The older style was a flat rectangle that was easy to push!

2. The fans are NOISY now! The G3 was silent most of the time, the G4's started to get noisy, and the G5's are flat-out noisy. Whenever possible, I use an under-desk mounting cage:

HP VESA Mount Solution - mounting kit - Y7B61AT - Monitor Mount Accessories - CDW.com

Buy a HP VESA Mount Solution - mounting kit at CDW.com

www.cdw.com

The PSU is kind of a beast too & they sell a mounting cage for that as well:

HP Mounting Enclosure for Workstation - 3RW68AA - Monitor Stands - CDW.com

Buy a HP Mounting Enclosure for Workstation at CDW.com

www.cdw.com

I used to do primarily Intel NUC's (or Gigabyte), but the HP Z2 Mini series has been more reliable & more powerful long-term, I suspect mainly due to the enhanced cooling system (despite the audible noise on the newer models). Also, a 6GB GPU in such a tiny package is pretty nuts lol. I rarely build computers from scratch these days because of the Z2 Mini line!

 

[Kaido]

One of the latest Windows 10 KB patches broke 3.5mm headphone jack functionality. Solution is to disable audio enhancements in the Control Panel:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hewlett_Packard/comments/q1zm51

 

[Kaido]

The G5 units are pretty good. Only complaint is that they tweaked the fans on the G4 & G5 models, so where the G3 models used to be silent, the newer ones can get somewhat noisy in a quiet office environment. They do have a variety of processor options, up to 10-cores, including unlocked K chips & the non-integrated GPU F chips:

• i3
• i5
• i7
• i9
• Xeon W

 

[Kaido]

The 3.8 GHz Intel Core i7 8-Core (10th Gen) model is available now: ($1,950)

HP G9 87C19UT#ABA Replacement for HP G5 4K0F1UT#ABA | B&H Photo Video

Shop B&H's in stock, large inventory for fast shipping, great service and everyday low prices on HP G9 87C19UT#ABA Replacement for HP G5 4K0F1UT#ABA. For more info, please call 800-947-4415

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4GB Quadro T2000, 32GB RAM (upgradable to 64GB), etc. Radeon Pro WX model is also available:

HP G9 87C15UT#ABA Replacement for HP G5 2X3J4UT#ABA | B&H Photo Video

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