HP Z2 Mini G1i Black 2025

The HP Z2 Mini G1i is a tiny workstation with a huge multi-core punch and a pro-grade RTX 4000 Ada GPU. It's a top-tier choice for CAD and 3D work, landing in the 90th percentile for CPU performance. Just don't buy it for gaming, and make sure you grab it from Newegg to avoid overpaying.

The Core Ultra 7 265 is a beast for multi-threaded work, landing in the 90th percentile for CPU muscle in our database. That RTX 4000 Ada is a certified workhorse for professional apps, though its 78th percentile GPU ranking reminds you this is a pro card, not a gaming juggernaut. The 32GB of RAM sits at the 91st percentile, so you've got plenty of headroom for complex models and large datasets. Just don't expect gaming miracles, our numbers put that at a mediocre 68.8 out of 100.

The Apple Mac Studio M4 Max will outrun this HP in raw CPU and GPU throughput for creative apps, but you're locked into macOS. The Lenovo Legion 90Y6003JUS is a gaming-first tower that'll crush it in frame rates but lacks ISV certifications. The Dell Tower ECT1250 and MSI MEG Vision X are bigger, louder, and more expandable, but they eat up desk space. The HP's whole pitch is pro power in a mini box, and it nails that better than any full-tower competitor here.

Pricing is all over the map, with a $934 spread between vendors. At the low end around $3,621, you're getting a serious compact workstation for less than some bulkier towers. But if you're staring down the $4,555 price tag, you need to shop around. Newegg currently has the best deal we've spotted. For a machine this specialized, the value hinges entirely on whether you need certified pro drivers and that compact size.

HP packed a proper workstation punch into a tiny box with the Z2 Mini G1i. You get a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265, 32GB of fast DDR5, and an NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada with 20GB of VRAM, all in a chassis that won't hog your desk. It's built for CAD, 3D rendering, and data crunching, not for sneaking in a few rounds of Call of Duty after hours.

Gamers should look elsewhere, the RTX 4000 Ada is built for pro apps and its gaming score of 68.8 shows it. If you need internal expansion for multiple drives or a second GPU, a traditional mid-tower workstation is a better fit. And if your software stack runs fine on macOS, the Mac Studio M4 Max offers more raw speed per dollar.

This is for engineers, architects, and data scientists who need a certified, compact workstation that stays quiet and out of the way. If your workflow relies on Autodesk, SolidWorks, or similar ISV-tested apps, the Z2 Mini G1i is a purpose-built tool that won't let you down.