HP ProBook 14" 445 G9 Silver 2022

64GB of RAM in a $450 refurb is a flex. Just don't expect it to game like the spec sheet implies.

The Ryzen 5 5625U is a solid 6-core, 12-thread chip that boosts to 4.3GHz. It's not going to set any records, sitting around the middle of the pack for CPUs in our database. But paired with 64GB of RAM, this thing multitasks like a champ. The real surprise is the storage. A 1TB SSD is well above average for this class. The integrated Radeon Graphics is the weak link. It'll handle Minecraft and Stardew Valley fine, but don't expect to push modern AAA titles past low settings. The 14-inch 1080p IPS display is fine, nothing special. Just about average for the category.

Stack this against the Apple MacBook Air M4 and it's not even close on performance or battery. The M4 crushes the Ryzen 5 5625U in every metric that matters. But the MacBook starts way higher in price and caps out at 24GB of RAM. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 7 is the more natural competitor. Similar business DNA, similar price range, but the ThinkPad has better reliability scores and a more modern Wi-Fi setup. The ASUS Zenbook UX3405CA is lighter and has a better screen, but you'll pay for it. If you need 64GB of RAM on a budget, the ProBook wins by default. If you want a better all-around laptop, the ThinkPad or Zenbook are smarter buys.

Here's where it gets interesting. Prices swing wildly from $450 to $1,210 across five listings. At the low end, this is a steal for 64GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. At the high end, you're getting fleeced. The sweet spot is finding a refurbished unit closer to $450. Newegg has the most listings, so that's your best bet for snagging a deal. Just make sure you're getting the 64GB config and not one of the 8GB or 32GB variants that are floating around.

The HP ProBook 445 G9 is a weird one. It's a business laptop with 64GB of RAM and a gaming-ish label slapped on it. The headline here isn't the Ryzen 5 5625U, it's the absurd memory config. 64GB of DDR4 in a 14-inch ProBook is like putting a V8 in a Corolla. It'll chew through browser tabs, VMs, and memory-hungry work apps without breaking a sweat. But the rest of the machine is decidedly mid-pack. The GPU is integrated Radeon Graphics, not a discrete card despite what the spec sheet says. So temper those gaming expectations.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, this isn't it. The integrated graphics will frustrate you. Go grab something with a real discrete GPU, like an RTX 4050 or better. If you want a premium ultrabook with a great screen and all-day battery, the MacBook Air M4 or ASUS Zenbook are better choices. This ProBook is for RAM-hungry work on a budget, nothing more.

The HP ProBook 445 G9 is a niche pick. If you're a developer, data analyst, or someone who runs VMs and needs 64GB of RAM without spending MacBook money, this is a genuinely good deal at the low end of the price range. For everyone else, it's a tough sell. The integrated graphics, Wi-Fi 5, and below-average reliability scores hold it back. Buy it for the RAM, not for the gaming label.