HP Z2 G1i Black 2025

The HP Z2 G1i crams a fast 20-core CPU and a pro-grade RTX 4000 SFF GPU into a tiny chassis. CPU performance is near the top of the charts, but AI workloads lag and the proprietary power supply limits upgrades. Worth it if you need ISV-certified drivers in a compact box, but shop around because prices vary by over $2100.

The Core Ultra 7 265 sits in the 89th percentile for CPU grunt in our database, which means it chews through rendering and simulation workloads without breaking a sweat. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada is a standout for a small form factor card, landing in the 76th percentile for GPU performance, and that 20GB of VRAM is a real asset for large 3D models. Storage speeds are solid but not chart-topping at the 72nd percentile, and the 32GB of RAM is well above average. The one weak spot is AI and LLM tasks, where the 74.3 score drags things down, likely due to memory bandwidth constraints on the compact GPU. For traditional workstation apps, though, this thing flies.

Stacked against something like the Dell Tower Plus EBT2250, the HP gives up raw expandability but wins on desk space and port density. The Lenovo Legion 34IAS10 and ASUS ROG GM700TZ are more gaming-focused towers that'll outrun this in raw frames but lack the certified drivers for SolidWorks or Revit. The MSI EdgeXpert and CLX SET systems offer more traditional tower layouts with beefier PSUs, making them better long-term platforms if you plan to swap GPUs down the line. The HP's niche is clear: certified, compact, and quiet enough for an office, not a test bench.

Pricing on this thing is all over the map. We're seeing a spread of over $2100 across vendors, from $3495 up to $5632. At the low end, you're getting a lot of certified workstation power in a tiny box, and that's a fair deal for pros who need ISV validation. At the high end, you're paying a hefty premium for the form factor alone. Shop around before you buy, because paying an extra two grand for the same silicon is a tough pill to swallow.

HP stuffed a proper workstation into a small form factor box with the Z2 G1i, and it mostly works. You get a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265, 32GB of DDR5, and an RTX 4000 SFF Ada GPU with 20GB of VRAM, all in a chassis that won't eat your entire desk. It's built for CAD, 3D design, and real-time ray tracing without the tower footprint.

But that compact size comes with trade-offs. The 500W power supply is proprietary and limits future GPU upgrades, and the cooling solution can get vocal when you push all those cores. For the right professional who needs certified drivers and ISV validation in a tidy package, it's a solid pick. Just know what you're signing up for.

Skip this if you need a machine that can grow with you. The locked-down PSU and SFF GPU slot mean you're buying a finished product, not a platform. If you want to drop in a faster GPU in two years, get a mid-tower workstation instead.

This is for the engineer or designer who needs certified performance and doesn't have room for a full tower. If you're running SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or Revit all day and want something that sits unobtrusively on your desk, the Z2 G1i delivers. Just don't buy it planning to drop in a bigger GPU later, because that 500W PSU and SFF chassis have other ideas.