HP Z2 G1i, Core Ultra 9 285, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation, Black

A CPU that sits in the top 7% of our entire workstation database and a 20GB pro GPU in a chassis a third the size of a tower—the HP Z2 G1i is an SFF beast for AI and multi-threaded work. Gaming and internal expansion are just average, though, so this is a work-first machine through and through.

In CPU-bound workloads, this thing flies. Our database puts Core Ultra 9 285 configurations well above average, roughly matching some desktop i9 chips while sipping less power. You'll see compile times and rendering finishes that beat typical workstation laptops by 40% or more, and the dedicated NPU offloads AI tasks like Stable Diffusion generation without choking the main cores. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada holds its own for design and ray tracing, but it's a professional card first—benchmarks show it trailing consumer RTX 4070s in pure gaming, and our gaming score of 76.1 confirms you'll want to keep the settings at 1080p for anything remotely demanding.

Storage speeds are dependable but not showy, with the 1TB NVMe landing in the 56th percentile. Where the Z2 G1i really flexes is connectivity: four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and a slew of high-speed USB ports, including two 20Gbps USB-C, put it ahead of nearly every competitor in port variety. Real-world, that means hooking up a reference display, two 4K panels, and a calibration tool without a hub—something many larger towers can't match.

Stacked against the Apple Mac Studio M5 Max or Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10, the HP Z2 G1i is playing a different sport. Those machines offer user-upgradable GPUs or Apple's tightly integrated silicon, and they post far higher gaming or media scores, but they're either larger or locked into a different ecosystem. The Dell Desktop ECT1250 and HP OMEN GT16-0364 are also strong full-tower alternatives with more internal room and consumer GPU options. The CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM rounds out the current top five as another big-box contender. If you absolutely need a compact chassis with pro-tier graphics and don't mind sacrificing internal expansion, this HP outpaces its small-form-factor peers. But if your workflow can tolerate a larger footprint, the Corsair ONE i600 gives you an i9 and a full-fat RTX 4080 in a still-compact package for a similar price.

Pricing is all over the map, from $3,861 at Newegg up to $5,291 elsewhere — a $1,430 spread. At the low end, you're getting a CPU and pro GPU combo that would cost nearly that much to build in a Mini-ITX rig, plus HP's ISV certifications and Wolf Pro Security. That's compelling if your work demands it. But as you drift past $4,500, the value proposition gets shaky: you could step up to a full tower with double the RAM, a beefier GPU, and more storage for the same money. So shop carefully and don't pay sticker price unless you need it yesterday.

The star here is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285, a 24-core chip that lands in the top 7% of all workstations we've tested, making the HP Z2 G1i an absolute monster for AI-heavy software and multi-threaded crunching. Paired with 32GB of DDR5 and NVIDIA's RTX 4000 SFF Ada with 20GB of VRAM, this tiny box defies its size for pro design, simulation, and anything leveraging the built-in NPU. Connectivity is another highlight: a 94th-percentile port selection, including four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and a mix of fast USB-A and USB-C, means you can run a four-monitor command center without dongles.

But this machine is laser-focused. Gaming performance gets a lowly 76.1 out of 100, and the 1TB SSD is just middle-of-the-pack. At 4 kg, it's heavy for an SFF, and you'll pay a premium for that miniaturized power. If your job depends on certified ISV apps and you need more desk space than a full tower, the Z2 G1i makes a strong case; if not, you might be overbuying.

Skip the HP Z2 G1i if gaming matters. Its 76.1 gaming score and locked-down, low-profile GPU mean even a mid-range gaming desktop will outperform it in frame rates. Also pass if you need a machine that grows with you—limited internal expansion and a 500W PSU cap future GPU swaps. If you're not wedded to the SFF footprint, a full-tower alternative like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 10 gives you more storage bays, higher RAM ceilings, and a much better shot at playing modern titles for hundreds less.

The HP Z2 G1i is a specialist's tool, not a jack-of-all-trades. It earns its 90.1 workstation score by packing a top-tier CPU, a capable pro GPU, and a best-in-class port layout into a chassis that disappears on your desk. For AI development, certified engineering apps, or cramped office racks, it's a data-backed winner. Just go in with eyes open: you're trading gaming joy and future expandability for that small size.