HP Z4 G5 Workstation Review

The HP Z4 G5 (Shop Here) is part of the high-end HP Z-series workstation towers. It can tackle the same type of workloads addressed by the Z8 and Z6 workstations, but maybe just slightly slower. We’re talking design, simulation, video editing, and a host of other applications spanning a variety of disciplines including architecture, engineering and construction, product designers and engineers, plus entertainment, data scientists and software developers.

With the new HP Z4 G5 Workstation, we’re so glad they did away with the 2x motherboards supported on the Z4 G4 system. That just made it confusing to actually make a purchase given the memory disparity and such. It wasn’t like you could switch out the CPU if you changed your mind later on. In a nut shell, while they were both called the Z4 G4 there were really 2x. The Z4 G4 A and the Z4 G4 B. Maybe they should have called them the Z4 W G4 and the Z4 X G4. That would have done it but clearly, we’re a few years too late.

Like, 2x entirely different motherboards, one for a Core X-Series CPU and the other supporting an Intel Xeon W-2100 series CPU. With the updated Z4 G5, there is only 1x processor family supported and you definitely get a few more cores at up to 24, compared to only 18 on the G4 but only the W-Series motherboard. Still only up to 512GB of memory, like the G4 version… but DDR5 memory in this case. General storage has nearly doubled compared to the Z4 G4 too at up to 92TB. More on that in a bit. It’s always fun to figure out how they actually arrived at that figure.  

Again, we’ll give you a quick recap on the other systems before we get started on Z4 G5 workstation. HPs other G5 workstations include the Z8 Fury G5, Z8 G5, and Z6 G5. The Z8 Fury G5 workstation has a single-socket supporting an Intel Xeon W-3400 series CPU with up to 56 cores, with a memory capacity at up to 1TB, up to 136TB of storage and up to 4x double-wide GPUs! The HP Z8 G5, without the FURY, is a dual-socket platform supporting Intel Xeon Scalable Gold or Silver CPUs for up to 64 cores total, up to 1TB memory, up to 136TB of storage, and support for up to 2x high-end GPUs. With the Z6 G5, also a single-socket platform, it supports the Intel Xeon W-3400 series CPUs with up to 36 cores, up to 1TB of memory, up to 109TB of storage, and up to 3x high-performance GPUs. All of these workstations support the 4^th generation Sapphire Rapids CPUs, whether the Intel Xeon W-series or Intel Xeon Scalable series of CPUs. There is also a Z6 G5A platform too!

Did we not just mention a little bit about the decision to have two platforms named the same with completely different CPUs and motherboards!? Now we have the Z6 G5A with an AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000WX CPU with up to 96 cores, up to 1TB of memory, up to 12x SSDs, and you can install up to 3x high-end GPUs. Really!?! How about just calling this one the Z7 G5!

On the front of the HP Z4 G5, an integrated handle, two media bays and a control panel. The control panel is available in two options Premium or Entry. The Entry control panel has a power ON button, hard drive activity light, combo headphone microphone jack, USB Type-A port with charging on the far left and then 3x more Type A ports offering 5Gb/s data transfer rates and a card reader. The Premium control panel is just like that Entry panel except for the addition of some SuperDuperSpeed USB ports. Two ports on the left are Type-A with 5Gb/s data transfer rates, with that far left one still offering charging capabilities. The other two on the right are Type-C ports offering a 20Gb/s data transfer rate and USB power.  As for the 5.25-inch media bays, only one is configurable from the factory. Both look like they could support a drive cage but you still need a connector for the drive on the motherboard and there is only the one.

That Factory Configurable media bay will accept a 3.5-inch drive cage supporting two 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives or an M.2 drive cage that can support 2x M.2 hot-swap drive caddies. Specifically, the CRU SHIPs module supports the M.2 drive bay and has an integrated lock for security. There is a 4-bay M.2 option but that one is not compatible with the HP Z4 G5. The 4-bay M,.2 option is only compatible with the Z8 Fury G5 or the Z6 G5 and Z6 G5A. A dedicated connector on the system board connects a SlimSAS cable to the CRU SHIPs module. After February 5 of 2024 HP will offer the SHIPS module with a PCIe 4.0 interface instead of a PCIe 3.0 interface.

FANS software, short for Front Accessible NVMe Storage, is pre-installed on all G5 workstations. It allows users to monitor usage, drive ejection, and RAID monitoring of the front accessible storage bay. With SHIPS referring to Secure High-Performance Storage Is it any wonder it was primarily developed for Media and Entertainment plus Government and Law Enforcement applications? There are LEDs to indicate drive activity and status too. That media bay will also accept 2 optical drives.  

Moving on to the back of the system. Another cutout at the top of the chassis for a hand hold with power supply below that. There are several options for power supplies including 1125W, 775W, and 525W. Definitely the 1125W option if you want to install dual 300W GPUs. It does have a self-test LED right next to the socket. Next a Power On button, audio headphone jack, remote interface port, HP flex I/O port, which we will look at in a moment and it’s only available on select models. Then a single RJ45 port for networking, 6x USB SuperSpeed Type-A ports and a bunch of PCI slots below.

That thing right there is antennae cover for a wireless connection to a network or to connect peripherals wirelessly. The remote interface port could enable a network access for a remote user over and encrypted channel. As an option, it will also support Thunderbolt 4 offering a high-bandwidth at 40Gb/s, a single 10GbE port and 2x 2.5GbE ports.

A number of software utilities are supported on the HP Z4 G5 for performance, maintenance, troubleshooting, and security. The HP Performance advisor will help you get the most out of the ISV software supported on the system by automatically adjusting the settings based on the hardware and software configuration. HP Anywhere is available in a PCIe mounted card or externally mounted device. HP Anywhere provides remote access to the system from a single, secure interface. It enables remote support and maintenance from anywhere you have an Internet connection. The front CRU SHIPS modules also have their own Front Accessible NVMe Storage, or FANS software. FANS is a separate software utility, to facilitate rapid ejection and general monitoring of the drives including internal drives that may be part of a RAID with those mounted in the media bay. For documentation on all of this stuff visit IT Creations.

This system can be ordered with Linux or Windows-based operating systems. If you experience problems there is a Maintenance and Service Guide which can help you with that. Also useful, is the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics of which there are three versions. One for Windows, one for the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI, and one a remote version of the UEFI version. Select models only… HP Sure Recover is built into the hardware and software and can help restore the system without installed recover software. It is only available on select products. If you run a business and need security for a number of platforms, HP Wolf Pro Security to the rescue for Windows 10 or 11. More for ransomware and brute force attacks.

The side cover has an optional lockable handle with a perforated section on the lower portion. Just inside there is a removeable PCIe retainer with two integrated fans. The optional front mounted card guide, also has an integrated fan. This allows for greater air flow for dual GPUs with air flow being sucked in, traveling through the GPUs, and then directed out the back courtesy of that gigantic fan above the PCIe slots. You can see the general layout is not quite as, what is the term we’re looking for … “Fancy” as the Z8 Fury G5 or Z8 G5. Those have another inner shell of lovely brushed aluminum cover plates.

What really dominates the interior of the Z4 G5 is the memory cooler, and vapor heat sink for the CPU. That heatsink extends almost the entire width of the chassis for maximal cooling area. Again, we have the blue markers here and there indicating removeable components or hold downs. To remove that memory cooler with integrated fans, you just hold the two blue tabs one towards the front and the other at the top in back just below the power supply unit.

Supported processors from the “Sapphire Rapids” Intel Xeon W-2400 series processors include those from the W3, W5, and W7 product families. These offer a spread of cores from 6x at the bottom end with the W3-2423 delivering 15MB of L3 Cach, to the W-2495X at the top, offering 24 cores and 45MB of L3 Cache. For content creation there are a lot of very favorable reviews for these processors. However, they do not offer integrated graphics so you will need a graphics card. They all support hyperthreading technology for twice the number of virtual threads as physical cores.

Under the memory module cooler are 8x DDR5 memory module slots. The CPU supports 4 memory channels, for 2x DIMMs per channel. HP has limited this system to 512GB of memory, at least so far, while from Intel’s datasheets the CPUs will support up to 2TB of DDR5-4800 ECC memory. Hopefully a refresh with support for more memory is in the future but don’t hold your breath.  Memory speed supported ranges from 4400MT/s to 4800MT/s depending on the processor and memory configuration with 2x DIMM per channel taking memory speed down to 4400MT/s. Some of the lower end CPUs will only support the 4400MT/s speed.

The CPU supports 64 PCIe 5.0 lanes. There is a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. Then there are 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and 2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots powered by the chipset. All are accessible from the rear of the chassis. 2x more PCIe 4.0 x8 slots are for internal M.2 drives.   

The media bay in front will accept 2x M.2 drives or 2x 3.5” drives or two optical disk drives. Internally, just below that media bay, are two 3.5-inch drive bays. Those would connect to the SATA ports on the bottom right, 5x of those BTW. Onboard RAID is supported via the CPU with RAIDs of 0, 1, 5, or 10. A VROC key can also be installed on the system board for NVMe RAID support of 0, 1, and 10. If you do install the optional M.2 drive cage in front there is an NVMe connection for a SlimSAS cable. Adjacent to the memory slots.

Now, how do we get that 92TB of storage? There are several ways to make this work. The 92TB is perhaps something that may change or is not really a hard value for storage. One solution includes a single 12TB 3.5-inch drive in each of the media bays using a 3.5-inch drive cage. 2x more 12TB 3.5-inch drives in the internal 3.5-inch drive carriers. 2x 4TB M.2 drives mounted in each of the slots on the system board. Each is PCIe 4.0 x8, it does seem like there is some extra bandwidth there but let’s move on… Next, 2x HP Z-Turbo Quad drives each with 4x 4TB M.2 drives. Those would be mounted in two of the X16 PCIe slots at the bottom of the chassis for full bandwidth. That still leaves that PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a double-wide high-performance GPU, and perhaps one of the x4 slots for thunderbolt or a Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.2 wireless card.

Once again, a slew of video cards from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel are supported with the 300W NVIDIA RTX 6000 ADA at the top of the list. And you can install two of those, each with 4x Display ports. If you need more than that on a single card the AMD Radeon PRO W6800 32GB has 6x DisplayPorts.  

Certainly, there is more to the HP Z4 G5 story and as often happens, the specs may get an upgrade at some point. If you are looking for the HP Z4 G5 or perhaps one of the other Z-Series workstations like the Z8 Fury G5 or the Z6 G5, then check out IT Creations!