HP soups up, adds ultrabook to Z Series workstation lineup
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Company adds the ZBook Mobile Workstation as it upgrades its line of high-powered computers and displays.
HP has always been known for workstations and other powerhouse gear aimed at government users. The company’s Z series computers and displays are designed to give serious users the power they need without breaking open the bank too much.
So it wasn’t surprising to hear that HP was expanding the Z portfolio. But putting a portable ultrabook into the mix is something not many companies would have considered. Calling it the world's first workstation ultrabook, the HP ZBook comes in several classes and sizes. In addition, many of the desktop workstations already in the Z series are being enhanced with Intel's new Thunderbolt technology for faster data transfers.
The new portfolio includes three new HP ZBook Mobile Workstations, processor and graphics enhancements. The first workstations to incorporate Thunderbolt, select HP Z Mobile and Desktop Workstations, can now take advantage of high-speed data transmission between Z Workstations, displays and peripherals, providing the industry’s fastest, most versatile I/O connection.
Designed for workstation-class professionals who need mobility, the new HP ZBooks feature 4th Generation Intel Haswell dual and quad-core processor options and next-generation graphics technologies from Nvidia and AMD, including the newly announced Keplar-based professional graphics from Nvidia. The ZBooks Mobile all feature tool-free chassis for easy upgrades and serviceability.
The ZBook 14 also comes with the option for a touch-enabled panel for anyone who needs a more hands-on experience. The ZBook 15 will include an option for a super-high-resolution QHD+ 3,200 by 1,800 display providing greater detail in images for extreme image accuracy. The ZBook 15 and 17 feature a Thunderbolt port, as well as an optional DreamColor Display panel that provides accurate and consistent color from the display to print and the big screen.
On the HP Z Desktop Workstation front, the Z420, Z620 and Z820 workstations have been updated to include the latest Intel Xeon E5-1600v2 and E5-2600v2 families of processors, also called Ivy Bridge, as well as new memory running 16 percent faster and second generation Thunderbolt ports The addition of Thunderbolt can accelerate creative projects with data transfer speeds four times faster than the bandwidth of USB 3.0, easily connecting multiple devices with just one single, compact Thunderbolt port.
The Z820 offers up to 24 processing cores, up to 512 GB of ECC memory, up to 15 TB of high-speed storage and up to two Nvidia K6000 graphics cards.
The Z620 is now scales up to near-supercomputer power with up to 24 discrete processing cores, up to 192 GB of ECC memory, up to 12 TB of high-speed storage, and an Nvidia K6000 card or dual Nvidia K5000 graphic cards for high-speed visual performance and rendering.
HP’s most popular workstation, the Z420, now includes up to eight processing cores using the latest Intel Xeon processor E5-1600 v2 and E5-2600 v2 product families, providing up to 64 GB of ECC memory, up to 12 TB of high-speed storage, and Nvidia Quadro K6000 or AMD W7000, or dual Nvidia K2000 graphics cards.
The company also is adding to its line of professional displays, with the new HP Z27i and Z30i IPS Displays intended for designers, content creators and knowledge workers.
Built with IPS Gen 2 panels, HP Z Displays deliver a power savings of up to 37 percent compared with HP’s first-generation IPS technology products, yet still deliver the same color accuracy across wide viewing anglesBoth displays feature a four-way adjustable stand that includes the QR2 quick release and both are TCO Certified. To free up valuable desk space, a Thin Client Mount Kit also is available for both the Z27i and Z30i, allowing users to securely mount an Thin Client or Ultra Slim desktop to the back of the display.
The ZBook Mobile Workstations 15 and 17 are available now, and the ZBook 14 is planned to be available in late October. The enhanced Z420, Z620 and Z820 Workstations are planned to be available worldwide in October starting $1,399, $1,689 and $2,439, respectively. The Z27i is planned to be available in October starting at $729, and the Z30i Display is available today starting at $1,329.