The rise of 4K (and 6K… and 8K) video, not to mention virtual reality and 360° content, means the computers of today need to grow up and they need to do it fast. 16GB of RAM, a decent video card, and 1TB of hard drive space just won’t cut it for many professionals any longer… but even those professionals who need boatloads of power will probably go wide-eyed when they hear the specs of HP’s new top-of-the-line desktop workstations.
HP revealed its new Z8, Z6, and Z4 workstations today, and the company is not joking when it says the new desktops are equipped with “extreme power.” In fact, the Z8 is being touted as “the most powerful desktop workstation on the planet.” Here’s why…
Inside this mammoth of a PC you will find dual Intel Xeon CPUs with up to 56 processing cores, which are running your real-time 8K video editing session off of up to 3 terabytes of RAM. That is not a typo. You also have access to 9 PCIe slots (7 full size, 2 ‘personality’ slots), dual 1GbE Ports, Thunderbolt 3 (optional), and USB 3.1 G2 Type C ports as well.
The fully spec-d out Z8 is probably out of reach for many creatives, which is why there’s also a Z6 and Z4. These workstations can’t handle quite as much in way of raw processing power, speed, and storage, but they’re still extremely capable machines.
The Z6 also sports dual CPUs, can handle up to 384 GB of system memory, and features dual M.2 slots for HP’s own Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs.
The Z4 is a bit weaker still, housing only a single Intel Xeon W CPU, 256GB of RAM, as well as dual 1GbE ports and dual M.2 slots.
The Z8 and Z6 will both be available in October, with the Z4 following shortly after in November. You can get the base model Z8 for just $ 2,440 but don’t expect that to be a fully upgraded version… for that you’ll likely need to shell out many thousands more. In contrast, the Z6 will run you $ 1,920 for the base model and the Z4 will cost $ 1,240.
To learn more, head over to HP’s website and have your bib ready… something drooling this way comes.
Press Release
Virtual Reality, Machine Learning and Design Needs Spark Reinvention of HP Z Workstations
AMSTERDAM (IBC 2017) – September 13, 2017 — HP today announced the HP Z8 G4, the most powerful workstation on the planet1 and security features that denote HP as having the world’s most secure and manageable desktop workstations2.
The reinvention of HP’s most powerful desktop PCs meets the compute power needs demanded by the world’s inventors of change, including product designers, architects, digital creators, scientists, educators, healthcare workers, financial traders and others. The HP Z8, Z6 and Z4 Desktop Workstations are equipped with extreme power, unprecedented security2and innovative design, future-proofed to support the fast growing fields of virtual reality, machine learning and advanced design.
IT managers in today’s world must make security a top priority. HP’s new powerhouse portfolio includes the industry’s most comprehensive set of security features2 including HP SureStart (the industry’s first self-healing BIOS with intrusion detection), the HP Client Security Suite and more. With the highest security levels in the history of the HP Z Workstations business, this generation performs with extreme power and protects intellectual assets.
“The stakes for world-class security have never been higher or more important for workstations,” said Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, HP Z Workstations, HP Inc. “Workstation users create the most valuable IP for a company and HP is meeting the security needs with the world’s most secure and manageable desktop and mobile workstations. As the most powerful desktop workstation in the world, the HP Z8 Workstation can deliver the extreme power and the security demanded by our customers.”
HP’s New Desktop Workstations
Every inch of the new tower workstations was intentionally and thoughtfully re-designed to deliver superb power, style and the inspiration desired by the inventors of change. The ID was completely updated to incorporate advanced manufacturing techniques and materials, and represent the power of the machines, their users and the work that’s completed by creatives.
The new workstations incorporate Thunderbolt™ 3 (optional) and Dual 1GbE Ports (standard) to support the high bandwidth data transfer demanded by current and future users, as well as Microsoft Windows 76 support for legacy workflows. Each of them offers modular front IO with USB 3.1 G2 Type C™ ports. The Z8 and Z6 models each support up to dual CPUs, and an optional dual 10 GbE network module for high speed networking at half the cost of current HP Workstations, and without consuming a precious PCIe expansion slot.
HP Z8 G4 Workstation delivers top-of-the-line power to fuel those who reimagine the design of everything from race cars to rockets. As the most powerful desktop workstation on the planet1, the HP Z8 Workstation has the capability to run the most complex simulations and process massive amounts of data. Users can run 3D simulations and edit 8K video in real time with up to 56 processing cores and up to 3 TB of main memory, 3x the capacity of its predecessor4. Certified for serious software, such as ANSYS or After Effects5, users can deliver creative work in less time.
HP’s flagship workstation has an all new ID with inventive ducting that routes fresh air to the second CPU, rather than recycling warm air expelled from the ducting on the first CPU and state-of-the-art design from world-class computer architecture experts.
A split chassis architecture enables rear access to the hefty 1700 W power supply with a locking mechanism, 24 DIMMs, and a total of 9 PCIe slots (7 full length, full height PCIe slots and two internal PCIe “personality” slots) to bring this coveted machine to life for specialized workflows. The HP Z8 Tower has 67 percent more memory bandwidth, 27 percent greater processor core count capacity, 40 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth and 29 percent greater power supply capability – as compared to the Z840 – for customers running the most demanding workloads.
The HP Z6 G4 Workstation is designed with the ever-changing needs of VFX artists in mind. Supporting the latest professional graphics, 384 GB of system memory, and dual M.2 slots for HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs users can experience seamless performance in visual effects and design visualization workloads.
A future-proof powerhouse, the HP Z6 Workstation also delivers a highly-modular design experience with options like a second processor and memory riser solution so users can quickly and simply double their compute capabilities. The HP Z6 Workstation has up to 1.5x the amount of total system memory, 67 percent more memory bandwidth, 27 percent greater processor core count capacity and 22 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth for customers refreshing from the Z640.
The HP Z4 G4 Workstation is the next generation of HP’s best-selling workstation and redesigned from top to bottom. The system is ahead of its time with more standard features and delivering performance upgrade options never before available in an HP single-processor workstation. Users across a broad range of markets can choose the ideal configuration to meet performance requirements. With the impressive new Intel® Xeon® processor W family, users from CAD to simulation will see extraordinary application performance scaling, giving them the ability to visualize ideas anytime during the design process. The HP Z4 Workstation also features major design improvements for tomorrow’s office environment with a sleek and modern industrial design including ergonomic front and rear handles, a dramatically smaller chassis for cramped workspaces and a new dust filter option for industrial environments.
The HP Z4 Workstation, a great solution for embedded applications, unleashes new levels of IO bandwidth with dual 1GbE networking and dual M.2 slots for HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs standard, and the ability to easily upgrade the front USB to include two USB 3.1 G2 Type C™ ports. The HP Z4 Workstation has 11 percent more memory bandwidth, 25 percent greater processor core count capacity and 13 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth for customers refreshing from the Z440.
HP Z Portfolio Pricing and Availability
HP Z8 Workstation is scheduled for availability in October starting at $ 2,439. The datasheet is available here.
HP Z6 Workstation is scheduled for availability in October starting at $ 1,919. The datasheet is available here.
HP Z4 Workstation is scheduled for availability in November starting at $ 1,239. The datasheet is available here.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
