High-end workstation laptops like the HP ZBook 8 G1i are made for professional tasks like CAD, 3D modeling, and video editing. Additionally, the price is commensurate. At an enticing $5,755, this machine appears to be priced with enough margin to give companies buying a fleet for their workers significant savings. At the time I finished this study, HP was selling it for $2,199, a 61 percent discount.

That discount price seems reasonable for a professional tool like this one, especially because it comes with a three-year guarantee, a bundled Windows 11 Professional license, a powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 265H CPU, workstation-class Nvidia graphics, and lots of RAM and storage. However, HP’s claims of “pro-level graphics designed for advanced AI workflows” don’t quite hold up in this situation.

This isn’t the best AI workstation PC, even if it boasts Nvidia graphics that can run local AI features in professional apps. The NPU and GPU

Specification

Both 14-inch and 16-inch editions of the HP ZBook 8 G1i are available in a number of combinations. The 16-inch review model that HP allowed us to borrow featured an Intel Core Ultra 7 265H CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a dual-GPU configuration with a workstation-class discrete Nvidia RTX 500 Ada GPU and integrated Intel Arc Pro 140T graphics.

The 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265H CPU, which has a maximum speed of 5.3 GHz and is based on Intel’s Arrow Lake architecture, amazed our benchmark suite with its CPU and system performance.

This entry-level GPU, the RTX 500 Ada, is intended for workstation PCs, including CAD applications and simple AI activities. With the promise of increased stability, professionals obtain approved drivers for use with programs like AutoCAD. The RTX 500 Ada GPU in this computer only has 4 GB of VRAM, and it is not meant for gaming. Therefore, even though HP describes this machine as an AI workhorse, its limited VRAM makes it unsuitable for demanding local AI activities that require substantial VRAM, such as running and fine-tuning larger local models.

To be honest, this machine’s weakest feature is the AI narrative. Those searching for an “AI workstation” would be better off looking elsewhere because it has an Nvidia GPU with only 4 GB of VRAM and a sluggish Intel NPU that doesn’t match the minimal requirements for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC features. A consumer GPU with at least 12GB of VRAM would be perfect for running local LLMs. You will find that only the smallest models can operate on a GPU such as this one if you download LM Studio.

As long as they don’t require a lot of video RAM, you’re getting a professional GPU designed for CAD applications that can perform some lightweight work with AI-accelerated features in professional apps.

Model number: C01CTUA#ABA/BQ2Z7AA#ABA HP ZBook 8 G1i
Intel Core Ultra 7 265H CPU
Memory: DDR5-5600 RAM, 32GB
Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc Pro 140T and Nvidia RTX 500 Ada
NPU: Intel AI Boost (13 TOPS)
Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD; Display: 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS display
5 MP webcam
Three USB Type-C (two Thunderbolt 4, one USB 20Gbps, one USB Type-A (5Gbps), one HDMI 2.1, one combo audio jack, one RJ-45 Ethernet, and one security lock slot are the connectivity options.
Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 for networking
Biometrics: IR camera for facial recognition and fingerprint reader
Capacity of battery: 77 Watt-hours
Measurements: 14.13 x 9.84 x 0.76 inches
3.87 pounds in weight
MSRP: $5,755 as tested ($2,199 on sale)

Design and build quality

The chassis of the 16-inch HP ZBook 8 G1i is made of metal. It weighs just less than four pounds, which is appropriate for a laptop of this size and functionality. Although it’s not the thinnest machine, the cooling system is effective. In our benchmarks, this CPU scored highly. The thermals are superb: The fan keeps the CPU cool during a lengthy CPU-intensive job, such as the Cinebench benchmark we run. Even at high performance levels, it’s not particularly noisy.

The CPU speed of this machine will surpass many high-performance “gaming PCs” that choose a slower CPU and spend their performance money on a faster GPU for professionals seeking great performance on CPU-heavy workloads.

Keyboard and trackpad

The spacious, responsive keyboard of the 16-inch HP ZBook 8 G1i features a number pad and reasonably quick keys. The wide, smooth trackpad has a pleasingly springy, bouncy feel as it clicks down.

This keyboard and trackpad are both silent, which makes them suitable for a coffee shop or office setting. (Many consumer laptops have shockingly noisy keyboards and trackpads, making them unsuitable for typing in an office or during a meeting with your employer.)

Display and speakers

The display on the HP ZBook 8 G1i is made for a business notebook. This 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS display has a nice appearance, but its basic refresh rate of 60 Hz doesn’t go above and beyond in terms of pixel density. It remains legible in difficult lighting conditions with direct sunlight or overhead fluorescent lights thanks to its brightness of up to 400 nits and anti-glare coating.

High-end gaming and multimedia duties are not the focus of the display’s design; rather, it is intended for long battery life and readability. Higher-end variants are available from HP; for instance, some models include a 3840×2400 IPS display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a brightness of 500 nits. However, battery life will suffer as a result. Better battery life is provided by the lower-end display.

Connectivity

There are many ports available on the HP ZBook 8 G1i. It features a combo audio jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, and two Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) connections on the left side.

It features an RJ-45 Ethernet port, a security lock slot, a third USB Type-C port (20Gbps), and a USB Type-A port (5Gbps) on the right side. Having USB Type-C ports on both sides is fantastic. You may insert the charging cable into either side of the laptop because it uses USB Type-C for charging. Seeing something on a laptop is always fantastic.

Particularly with Ethernet, a vital business connection, it is a capable loadout of ports. Additionally, although the hardware on various ZBook models changes, our review device supported both Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7.

Performance

When it came to daily desktop duties, the HP ZBook 8 G1i excelled. This machine’s thermals are configured to allow it to operate hard without slowing down under stress, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H CPU is speedy. The computer is configured for optimal performance in professional applications with 32GB of RAM and a quick 1TB SSD.

We tested the HP ZBook 8 G1i using our normal benchmarks as usual. To gain a sense of the overall system performance, we first run PCMark 10. The PCMark 10 score for the HP ZBook 8 G1i was 9,171. In this CPU-focused benchmark, the SSD and overall system performance are more significant than the GPU.

Compared to many gaming laptops I’ve evaluated, this system’s performance is higher overall, and the ZBook can sustain it for longer periods of time with a quiet fan. For many pros, this alone will make this machine an excellent choice.

We then launch Cinebench R20. This benchmark emphasizes total CPU performance and is highly multithreaded. Since it’s a fast benchmark, cooling over prolonged workloads is not an issue. However, CPUs with more cores have a significant advantage because it is highly multithreaded.

The HP ZBook 8 G1i once again showed significant multithreaded CPU performance, outperforming several other laptops with a multithreaded score of 7,534.

Battery life

A substantial 77-watt-hour battery powers the HP ZBook 8 G1i. Although Intel’s Arrow Lake CPUs prioritize performance over battery life, the workstation’s large battery and power-efficient display provide good battery life.

We play a 4K version of Tears of Steel repeatedly on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself to test the battery life. For our battery testing, we adjusted the screen’s brightness to 250 nits. Since local video playback is so effective, this is the best-case situation for any laptop; nevertheless, actual battery life in daily use will always be lower than this.

Conclusion

The HP ZBook 8 G1i is a professional portable workstation featuring a large SSD, workstation-class Nvidia graphics, a lengthy warranty, high-end CPU speed, and plenty of RAM.

Additionally, HP knows exactly how to price it. Although $5,755 sounded excessive, the machine was already 61% off when I completed my assessment, demonstrating HP’s willingness to lower the price to a fair amount.

If you’re looking for a fast professional workstation, the HP ZBook 8 G1i fits the bill. Don’t pay $5,755 for it, though.

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