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HP Workstations: A Complete Review

HP Workstations: A Complete Review

Linsey Knerl
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Reading time: 7 minutes
When you have important work to do, it’s tempting to consider an entry-level laptop or desktop to get it done. But for those creative pros who are serious about doing more in less time, an upgraded, state-of-the-art HP Z workstation may be a better fit.
These powerful solutions for home, office, and creative hobbies are easy to customize at the time of purchase and can be adapted as your needs change, too. Learn the benefits of these models to see which PC workstation can handle your high-priority tasks.

Durability delivered

The HP workstation has gone through 300,000 hours of testing in some of the most rugged environments to make sure it keeps working when you need it to.
The laptop workstation and desktop workstation models in the HP Z line have passed the rigorous testing thresholds set by industry-specific professionals and the U.S. Department of Defense. Every component is precisely chosen and assembled to withstand drops, shock, vibration, dust, humidity, high altitudes, and low temperature. Select models have even passed the most extreme conditions of sandstorms and freezing.
Despite being engineered to handle the harshest elements, HP workstations balance quality with value. They’re priced to be accessible to the everyday consumer who needs the most reliable workmanship.

Speed and graphics

While all HP Z workstations come standard with some of the highest-performing processors and graphics cards in the industry, that’s not where the performance ends. HP® engineered an impressive dual fan cooling system in these machines, so running the maximum applications won’t slow down your performance due to overheating. Delicate internal components stay out of the temperature danger zone and last longer, too, even under heavy usage.
Speaking of those graphics, it’s not every day that you can claim the best graphics product for your uniquely determined computing needs. However, HP Z workstations are geared to do just what you need them to do with almost unlimited options for graphics cards, built right in from day one.
You can choose from AMD® FirePro™ Professional, Intel® HD Graphics, or NVIDIA® Quadro® Graphics when configuring your laptop or desktop workstation.

Power for all

The impressive graphics and processing performance of the workstation PC isn’t limited to the person who actually owns the device, either. With the latest version of Remote Graphics Software (HP RGS 7), an HP Z workstation’s power can be accessed, shared, and broadcast through any Windows® tablet or computer. It also works with any Mac® that you connect with the RGS receiver.

Serious security

No one wants to think about hackers and potential security threats, but it’s important to know that there are bad players out there. The HP Z series is prepared for this with self-healing software solutions that detect intrusions and automatically recover the most recent, healthy version of the BIOS.
You can also keep browser-based malware, ransomware, and harmful viruses away with the HP Sure Click security suite. And in case there are any visual hackers around, keep them at bay with the optional privacy screen built into your workstation.
For even more added protection, you can choose to log-in via one of three authentication options - password, fingerprint, or facial scan. Or do all three for maximum safety. You can combine those features with your printer and PC peripherals for a secure network that can keep your most important data safe from harm.

Best HP workstation laptop

HP Z workstations combine portability and power, and that’s especially true with the innovative HP ZBook Studio x360.

HP ZBook Studio x360 Mobile Workstation

Convertible notebooks can get a bad rap for being flimsy and incapable of handling the resource-heavy tasks typically associated with larger laptops and desktops.
The HP ZBook Studio x360 destroys that myth with a full suite of powerful applications for creators and professionals that run without lag thanks to NVIDIA Quadro® P1000 graphics and 8th Generation Intel Xeon® 6-core processors.
Invent, render, and edit with amazing responsiveness, then display what you’ve done in one of three modes, including a traditional laptop configuration or tablet display.
While you can upload your most important projects to cloud storage, this HP ZBook has impressive storage options that go up to 4TB. In addition, this notebook is lightweight and portable.
It’s also designed to be your permanent workstation. Dock it and connect to your printer, extra PC monitors, and networking gear. Or, use it alone with the brilliant 4K monitor to see your most intricate visual projects.
You can also easily take it on the road with an impressive battery life of up to 16 hours. And if it’s running low, you can replenish the battery to 50% in as little as 30 minutes.

Best HP workstation desktop

For those looking for a more permanent home for their professional pursuits, you may find you need a workstation PC.

HP Z240 Tower Workstation

Not everyone wants to invest a small fortune to get the processing speed that a powerful workstation has to offer.
When it comes to balancing value with productivity, you’ll have a hard time beating the HP Z240 Tower Workstation. Its stellar combination of memory, processors, and graphics card is made even more robust with the addition of two optional HP Z Turbo Drives.
You can put this workstation to work performing complicated rendering and processing tasks and still maintain that tight equipment budget, too. With numerous slots and ports for integrating all of your small business, personal, and creative pursuits and peripherals, it’s easy to multi-task and change gears mid-project.
The tower can be customized upon initial purchase or throughout its lifespan. There are numerous combinations for both internal and external storage, memory, graphics, security networking, and display components. And if you need to do more down the line, you have expansion opportunities at your fingertips.
The HP Z240 Tower Workstation allows you to incorporate up to three internal storage drives, two graphics cards, remote graphics devices, two internal PCIe storage devices, two optical drives, and so much more.
Basically, it’s your chance to go fully loaded - if you need to. And it’s all housed in a 400W, 92% efficiency ENERGY STAR® compliant chassis, so you can see some savings on your energy bill, too.

HP Z840 Tower Workstation

For an even more robust computing experience, power users may want to consider the HP Z840 Tower Workstation, a high-end desktop built for the most advanced and demanding tasks.
Like the rest of the HP Z line, this tower is highly customizable and versatile. There are dozens of combinations possible for the best processing, memory, and graphics capabilities to meet your needs.
Ordering the right configuration for you is just the beginning. The tool-free chassis design has a generous number of USB and SATA ports with the option to upgrade to Thunderbolt™ 2 technology for even faster and more secure data transfers.
It’s the most expandable HP workstation ever, with 7 PCIe slots, up to 16 memory slots, up to 10 internal drive bays, and 1TB of memory to share between them.
While the desktop is perfectly suitable as a stationary workstation, it has integrated carry handles for you to take it wherever you need to get your work done. Users will also appreciate the cool and quiet operation of the HP Z840 Workstation, thanks to the HP Z cooler fans and temperature stabilization system.
You’ll also see your graphics in brilliant resolution. You can connect the workstation to up to eight HP Z monitors when you install additional graphics processors. Or you can get immersed in VR worlds when you configure it with NVIDIA P5000 and P6000 professional graphics processors.
When you take the time customize your HP Z840 Workstation, you’re making sure you have the best tools for your job. It’s comforting to know you can change and expand your workstation to meet whatever the future demands. This is the workstation prepared to meet the challenges of a thriving, modern business.

Where to buy

All of these HP Z workstations can be purchased online at HP®'s business store.
With all the customization options that are available, it can be helpful to speak with an online chat rep to help you assess your specific needs. HP support is trained to ask the right questions to get you the best workstation for you. They can also help when the time comes to add to or expand on your versatile PC.
Because every HP workstation is built for durability and flexibility, they’re a worthwhile investment that can last for years.

About the Author

Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.

Disclosure: Our site may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page.