HP Z2 G1i

The HP Z2 G1i Workstation delivers exceptional CPU performance and tons of expansion options, but the integrated graphics in this configuration kill its appeal for 3D work or gaming. It's a great platform for CPU-bound professionals who plan to add their own discrete GPU later. Just don't buy it expecting to do anything graphically demanding out of the box.

The HP Z2 G1i is a workstation tower built for professionals who need CPU muscle and lots of expansion room. It ships with a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. That CPU sits in the 98th percentile for workstations in our database, which means it chews through rendering, simulations, and heavy multitasking without breaking a sweat. And with tool-less access and a 700W power supply, you can easily add a triple-wide GPU or more storage down the road. The design is business-forward with front and rear ledges for easy carrying, plus plenty of ports including four Mini DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and nine USB-A ports.

But this configuration comes with integrated AMD Radeon graphics, and that's a head-scratcher for a machine that HP markets with "up to 600W, triple-wide graphics." For AI-accelerated workflows or 3D design, you'll likely want to spec a discrete GPU from the start, or plan on adding one. Still, if your workload is CPU-bound—think code compilation, data science, or running multiple VMs—this tower handles it with ease. The build quality and HP Wolf Pro Security preconfigured at the enterprise level are nice touches, too.

At a price range of $3,493 to $4,822 depending on the vendor, the Z2 G1i isn't cheap. You're paying for ISV certifications, reliability, and an upgrade-friendly chassis. For home office or business use where stability matters more than gaming frame rates, it's a solid choice. Just don't expect to fire up Cyberpunk 2077 and have a good time—integrated graphics put the gaming score at a lowly 20.1 in our testing.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is a monster. With 24 cores and a boost clock of 3.7GHz, it tore through our multi-threaded benchmarks, landing in the top 2% of all workstations we've tested. That means rendering a 4K video project or simulating fluid dynamics happens notably faster than on most competitors. For CPU-heavy tasks, this thing is a rocket. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM is solid and sits in the 82nd percentile, giving you enough headroom for large datasets and multiple applications without hitting a wall. Storage performance is more middle-of-the-road; the 1TB SSD is snappy enough for boot and load times but doesn't set any records, landing in the 56th percentile.

Now, the elephant in the room: the GPU. The integrated AMD graphics with a claimed 48GB of shared memory just aren't going to cut it for 3D rendering, real-time visualizations, or gaming. Even basic CAD work can feel sluggish compared to a dedicated workstation card. Our gaming score of 20.1 tells the whole story. If you plan on doing anything graphics-intensive, budget for a discrete card like an NVIDIA RTX A-series or a high-end consumer GPU. The good news is the 700W PSU and tool-less chassis make adding one a breeze.

The Z2 G1i lives in a price bracket between $3,493 and $4,822 depending on where you shop, with Newegg currently listing it at the lower end with fast shipping. For a workstation with this level of CPU performance and expansion potential, the starting price is competitive—but that integrated GPU sours the deal unless you're strictly CPU-bound. You can pick up a gaming desktop like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i with a powerful discrete GPU for less, but you'll lose the ISV certifications and professional support. If your work requires certified stability for software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD, the premium makes sense. Otherwise, you're better off putting that money into a custom build with a proper GPU.

Stacked against the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 10), the Z2 G1i wins on CPU performance and connectivity, but the Legion ships with a dedicated NVIDIA GPU that blows the integrated graphics out of the water for gaming and 3D rendering. The Legion is also lighter and typically cheaper, making it a better fit for mixed-use setups. The Dell XPS EBT2250 is another alternative; it's a consumer desktop with a similar CPU footprint but often bundles better graphics and storage for a lower price, though you miss out on the Z2's tool-less chassis and enterprise security features.

For a pure workstation, the ASUS Republic of Gamers GM700TZ-BS978 and MSI EdgeXpert are gaming-first machines that can do workstation tasks but aren't certified for many professional applications. They'll run games effortlessly but might stutter in an ISV-validated workflow. The Corsair ONE i600 is compact and sleek but far less expandable—fine if you never plan to crack the case, but a total dead end for future upgrades. In short, the Z2 G1i is the only option here genuinely designed for the long-haul professional, but you'll need to factor in the cost of a discrete GPU to unleash its full potential.

This isn't the machine for you if you need strong graphics performance right now—video editors, 3D artists, or anyone doing real-time rendering should look elsewhere or opt for a Z2 G1i configuration that includes a discrete NVIDIA or AMD pro card. Gamers will be disappointed; a gaming desktop like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i costs less and comes with a capable dedicated GPU. Similarly, if portability matters, the Z2 weighs over 18 pounds and isn't meant to move often. And if you're just after a snappy office PC, you're overspending by a mile—something like a Dell XPS desktop will do the job for less.

If you need a reliable, expandable workstation for CPU-intensive tasks and you don't immediately require a beefy discrete GPU, the HP Z2 G1i is a no-nonsense choice. It's built to grow with you: tool-less access, plenty of PCIe slots, and a wattage headroom for a serious graphics card make it a platform, not just a PC. The CPU performance is best-in-class, and the port selection is generous, which matters if you're driving multiple monitors or connecting a ton of peripherals.

But here's the thing: as tested, that integrated graphics hold it back from being a truly great out-of-the-box workstation for visual professionals. Buy this if you're a developer, data scientist, or IT pro who values uptime and expandability, and either use it headless or pair it with a cheap dGPU for display output. For anyone who needs GPU horsepower from day one, start with a different config of the same machine or look at a custom build. Overall, it's a solid foundation with one glaring weak spot.