Launched Today: New HP Z Desktop Workstations and Displays

Designed to Be “Future-Proof” Against Emerging Advanced Design, Virtual Reality and Machine Learning Workflows.

Though most people are focused on processing information from Apple’s 10-year anniversary launch of the new iPhones, there is big workstation news from HP today as the company announced the launch of their new flagship product: the HP Z8 G4 workstation. It turns out they’ve also been busy redesigning the entirety of the HP Z series with an emphasis on security and raw computing power. Along with news of the Z8, HP announced that two other workstations, the Z6 will also be available in October, and the Z4 will be on shelves in November.

As computing power continues to increase with each passing year, HP is targeting content creators, product designers, architects, engineers, scientists, teachers, healthcare workers, financial traders and other professionals. Basically, the Z series is being upgraded for customers interested in having a workstation that can keep up with new demands made by emerging technologies—such as virtual reality and machine learning.

The HP Z8 G4, pictured here with two dual HP Z27x display screens was designed for heavy workloads in areas like simulation, rendering, video editing and visual effects. Sim engineers can utilize the 56 total cores (when outfitted with two Xeon processors) to leverage complex algorithms to improve simulation results and speed up time-to-market. Rendering high resolution 3D models from different software applications and creating visual effects require serious amounts of computer power like those found in the Z8. Video editors are turning the corner on higher and higher resolutions from 4k to 6k to 8k, and as each increment in pixel rate increases it squares, generating tremendous data sets. This requires increasingly powerful graphics processing and more memory for real-time playback workflows. (Image courtesy of HP.)

The HP Z8 G4, pictured here with two dual HP Z27x display screens was designed for heavy workloads in areas like simulation, rendering, video editing and visual effects. Sim engineers can utilize the 56 total cores (when outfitted with two Xeon processors) to leverage complex algorithms to improve simulation results and speed up time-to-market. Rendering high resolution 3D models from different software applications and creating visual effects require serious amounts of computer power like those found in the Z8. Video editors are turning the corner on higher and higher resolutions from 4k to 6k to 8k, and as each increment in pixel rate increases it squares, generating tremendous data sets. This requires increasingly powerful graphics processing and more memory for real-time playback workflows. (Image courtesy of HP.)

Here’s the total list of new products, their prices and their availability.

Name

Type

Price

Availability

HP Z8 G4

Workstation

USD $2439

October

HP Z6 G4

Workstation

USD $1919

October

HP Z4 G4

Workstation

USD $1239

November

HP Z38c Curved Display

Display Screen

USD $1139

Now

HP Z24i G2 Display

Display Screen

USD $289

Now

HP Z24nf G2 Display

Display Screen

USD $229

Now

HP Z23n G2 Display

Display Screen

USD $225

Now

HP Z22n G2 Display

Display Screen

USD $199

Now

HP Z27n G2 Display

Display Screen

USD $499

December

HP Z24n G2 Display

Display Screen

USD $349

December

The HP Z8, Z6 and Z4 Desktop Workstations are equipped with extreme power, unprecedented security and innovative design, future-proofed to support the fast-growing fields of virtual reality, machine learning and advanced design. (Image courtesy of HP.)

The HP Z8, Z6 and Z4 Desktop Workstations are equipped with extreme power, unprecedented security and innovative design, future-proofed to support the fast-growing fields of virtual reality, machine learning and advanced design. (Image courtesy of HP.)

As news like the recent Equifax hack (143 million accounts filled with personal information were compromised) continues to pile up year after year, computer security is at the top of most people’s priority lists. Of course, there are many steps individuals can take to ensure the security of their servers, networks and terminals, but not every individual has advanced security knowledge, nor do they have the time to learn.

New Security Features

Workstations that product design teams and other professionals use contain a company or organization’s most valuable intellectual property, which they are busy creating and updating.

In this new portfolio of products from HP, the set of security features include HP SureStart­—the first self-healing BIOS with intrusion detection­—and HP’s Client Security Suite, among other features.

Common New Feature Highlights for the Z Series Workstations

On the Z8 and Z6 models, users can have two CPUs, and an optional dual 10 GbE network module for faster networking that does not take up a crucial PCIe expansion slot.

High bandwidth data transfer can be sped up through optional Thunderbolt 3 and Dual 1GbE network modules; Windows 7 is supported for older workflows and data; and each of the three new offerings include a modular from IO with USG 3.1 G2 Type C ports.

Z8 G4 Tower Workstation Highlights

Compared to the Z840 Workstation, the HP Z8 Tower has:

·       67 percent more memory bandwidth

·       The capacity for a 27 percent greater processor core count

·       A 40 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth

·       29 percent greater power supply capability

The HP Z8 Workstation allows users to customize their hardware with the capability to perform extremely complex simulations, which frontline engineers are using more and more to digitally prototype at various stages of the product design life cycle, instead of creating physical prototypes.

HP’s flagship workstation is certified for serious design, engineering, editing and visual effects software, such as ANSYS and AfterEffects5.

Users can also edit 8K video in real-time with all 56 processing cores and 3 TB of main memory capacity.

Product teams at HP have given the Z8 a completely new industrial design with some pretty neat hardware engineering feats. One example is the innovative ducting that directs fresh air to the second CPU, rather that reusing the warm air pushed out from the ducting on the first CPU.

    

The HP Z8 Workstation’s split chassis architecture allows users to access the 1700-watt power supply (with a locking mechanism), 7 full-length PCIe slots, and 2 internal “personality” PCIe slots for any additions or modifications users may need for highly specific workflows. (Image courtesy of HP.)

The HP Z8 Workstation’s split chassis architecture allows users to access the 1700-watt power supply (with a locking mechanism), 7 full-length PCIe slots, and 2 internal “personality” PCIe slots for any additions or modifications users may need for highly specific workflows. (Image courtesy of HP.)

HP Z6 G4 Workstation Highlights  

Compared to the Z640, the HP Z6 G4 Workstation has:

·       A 22 percent higher total PCIe I/O bandwidth

·       27 percent higher processor core count capacity

·       67 percent more memory bandwidth

·       50 percent more total system memory

The HP Z6 Workstation was designed to satisfy the increasing needs of visual effects creators.  

With 384 GB of system memory and dual M.2 slots for HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs, the intent behind the design was to further streamline design visualization and visual effects workflows. The HP Z6 user can double the machine’s computing capacity by adding a second processor and memory riser solution. (Image courtesy of HP.)

With 384 GB of system memory and dual M.2 slots for HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs, the intent behind the design was to further streamline design visualization and visual effects workflows. The HP Z6 user can double the machine’s computing capacity by adding a second processor and memory riser solution. (Image courtesy of HP.)

Designed to house Intel Xeon processors from the W family, it seems like HP’s goal with the Z6 Workstation is to empower CAD users and simulation engineers with the ability to quickly visualize ideas at any time, which will help make their workflows more efficient.

HP Z4 Workstation Highlights

Compared to the Z440 workstation, the HP Z4 Workstation has:

·       A 25 percent greater processor core count capacity

·       13 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth

·       11 percent more memory bandwidth

The industrial design makeover produced two front and rear handles, a smaller chassis to save space, and a dust filter option to keep it running in different industrial environments. The I/O bandwidth gets a bump up in capacity thanks to HP Z4’s dual 1GbE networking and dual M.2 slots for HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs standard. The front USB can be upgraded to include two USB 3.1 Type C ports.

New HP Z Display Screen Highlights

The HP Z38c has:

·       A 4K screen

·       3800 x 1600 resolution

·       Optimized pixel density to keep text and icons at the right sizes—meaning less time panning and zooming.

Of the seven newly announced HP Z displays, the standout is the HP Z38c, a 38-inch Diagonal Curved Display screen. (Image courtesy of HP.)

Of the seven newly announced HP Z displays, the standout is the HP Z38c, a 38-inch Diagonal Curved Display screen. (Image courtesy of HP.)

I suppose this is targeted to workers who are getting tired of their dual display screen setups. The huge 37.5-inch diagonal curve has a 2300-millimeter radius and a super-wide 21:9 aspect ratio.

In addition to the HP Z38c, there are six new HP Z display screens, only two of which that will not be available until December. The others are available now.

Bottom Line

If you do not have the time or knowledge to build your own workstation and you are a simulation engineer, architect, product designer, artist, visual effects content creator, video editor, industrial designer or have a lot of rendering workflows, the redesign of the Z series Workstations and Displays from HP may or may not be of interest to you.