HP ZBook Studio G3 Mobile Workstation

I did now, no avail.

 

It appears you get the 30% discount ONLY IF you select a "Secondary Internal Storage" option other than "None". Price dropped $1,000 when I added a secondary drive. Too bad, I already have a 512GB samsung 950 pro so hate to needlessly buy this second drive.

 

Also I thought I would investigate if I could buy two 16GB ECC sticks cheaper elsewhere but notice that I can't add the UHD display unless I select 2 DIMMs of memory. Is there a technical reason for that? you can order the Dell 5510 UHD display with a single 8GB DIMM if you want.

 

You can still get the 30% discount without a second drive--but it doesn't show up until you click "add to cart". Not sure why.

As a bonus, HP is also currently including a $125-$200 gift card in carts.

 

I am debating between the ZBook Studio and the Precision 5510. I am a Linux/Software Developer. My main hesitation with the Zbook is its screen. How is its screen (4K, non-DC) compared to the one one the 5510? Also, when will the Xeon 1535/45 start showing up in the Studio configuration? Thanks in advance!

 

Not your question, but be aware that the Dell does not have dedicated Home/End and PgUp/PgDown buttons which is a pain for many people who spend significant amounts of time editing code. As an old Linux/Unix hand myself, this is important to me. I have seen negative comments on the 15" Dell screens, but you can look those up yourself in the Dell forum.

 

Looking at the internal storage options there is a 256 GB PCIe Turbo drive and the 512 PCIe Z Turbo option, but in the secondary storage both the 256 and 512 are listed as Turbo Z. Is this just an omission in the spec sheet or is there actually a difference in speed for the primary storage drives?

 

I am pondering on either getting the Book G3 studio or the Dell Precision 5510.

From what I have read both of their fan/fan profile is not exactly on the quiet side, even when not doing anything.

I wonder if anyone has tried using something like SpeedFan to manually override the fan profile on the Book G3 Studio?

 

Where did you read about the Zbook Studio fan noise?

 

User review in the owner's lounge.

 

I may or may not have installed NoteBook FanControl ( https://github.com/hirschmann/nbfc) on my ZBook Studio, choosing the ZBook 15 profile.

It can auto-control fans or you can select a fixed speed. It shows the main CPU temp in a notification tray icon.

Choosing the default "balanced" power mode rather than "high performance" in Windows' Power options probably helps too. These are really powerful CPUs.

 

Thanks for the confirmation mate, it great to know that Notebook FanControl works on it. Much appreciated.

 

The spec sheet for the zbook studio says that touchscreen is an option but it isn't currently available as a purchase option, does anyone know of any other indication that they will really offer it Trying to decide if I keep waiting for that (and for the E3-1535M/1545M).

 

Has anyone else encountered a problem with excessive keyboard flex with their new Studios? I received mine this week and it definitely has the issue. I'd say the center of the keyboard drops 1/8 of an inch with a firm key press. What I don't know if it this is systemic or isolated to a few units. I'm also seeing problems with two-finger scrolling which works some of the time and frequently stops working with Chrome/Firefox/Acrobat Reader/Word. It seems to work consistently only with the Edge browser, so I'm unclear if this is related to hardware, Windows 10, or the applications themselves. Any thoughts would be appreciated. If the keyboard issue is systemic, I'll return it. If it's a defect, I'll exchange it. Has anyone else seen these issues?

 

I'm considering a Zbook studio G3 and have been following this thread (and looking for reviews) a while.
Some reviews have come up, but not at sites that I consider over the average good.

Despite dreamcolor screen not deliverable yet or samsung 1TB 951 drives (or whatever they are planning to use. I need over 512, but since the samsung nvme drives use more than a sata or pcie ahci drive, I was hoping going for only one NVMe for the time being, until someone releasing a laptop friendly one) ... I'm holding my breath for this one. I really want one of these.

It's just 2 (maybe 3) things that really bothers me.

1: Gen2 was delivered as 14". I really like 14". It bothers me that they're not releasing a smaller version.

2: Lack of physical mouse buttons. Including a lot of windows laptops and a couple of macbooks, I don't like "touchpad buttons". Macbooks have come closest, but I still think they are far away using a physical button.

3(?): The price. When I bought my Elitebook 8460p, i gladly paid over 2900 usd for the highest speced SKU and adding dobule intel SSD's. And it has been great performance wise. Now I'm looking at 1450usd more for one of the best i7 models with 16GB ram or the Xeon version. And that before the dream color screen is available. Where is this heading? 5800 USD? I have the option to get special pricing from HP and I plan to use it when (if) I decide for a SKU, but it's going to be quite expensive anyway.

Is there anyone here who have experience with elitebook models than have switched to the zbook studio? I'd love to hear your opinions.

I've also considered 840 G2. I have several of them at work and they seem pretty decent. But I haven't checked out if the M.2 slot support nvme drives. And a Skylake cpu would be nice.

 

Not my video, but this person had similar issues:

 

Hey John,

I think the 1TB Z Turbo drives are available now in custom configurations, at a pretty reasonable price (about $200 or so extra after discount). You can even get two of them which is a bit nuts.

Also, unless HP has changed their discount, they're giving a 30% discount on the custom configurations. You may need to add it to your cart to see the discount. They've also been including HP $200 gift certificates the last few weeks, although that offer may be expired.

BTW, I hear you on the trackpad. The trackpad on my ZBook Studio is actually pretty awesome (comparable to Dell's Precision 5510, not as glassy-smooth as the MacBook Pro). I really thought I'd miss physical buttons because of bad experiences with trackpads on other button-less trackpads. But I haven't had any issues with the "buttons" on this one in three weeks, and all my trackpad fears have gone away. If anything my only issue is remembering that the trackpad has such a large surface area, so sometimes I forget how far the button-clickable area extends. Again, the trackpad isn't as awesome as the one on my MacBook Pro, but it's the second best one I've used to date.

You should be able to get a high-spec ZBook Studio with Xeon, dGPU, 32GB or RAM, 4K UHD and 1TB Turbo SSD for about $3300, if the 30% discount is still available.

 

Has anybody tried even partial disassembly yet?

Can the physical keyboard be changed by the user afterwards?

I'm from outside US, travelling to US soon and was wondering if I could take advantage of the hp.com offers, have the G3 studio delivered to me while I*m in the US and change the physical keyboard while I'm back in the EU.

I used to do this on my Lenovo laptops and it easy and very quick. And saved me tons of money, while offering much better customization options.

Thanks for any input on this!

 

Thnx for the reply!
I see Elitebook 840 G3 also was launched since I posted, so I'm also considering that. 14" size and touchpad with buttons is what mainly draws me towards it. But storage on the G3 seems to be "M.2 sata" ... but I really thought skylake gens. would have official NVMe support, so I'm not sure what I prefer yet. I'm not buying a laptop without NVMe support in 2016... no way.
I'm still waiting to see what pricing SKUs with dreamcolor ends up around there in Norway and I have to check out what storage 840 G3 actually supports before i decide.

Nice to get feedback about the trackpad! I'm sure it's something I could get used to more or less, but when I use my Macbook pro 13" mid2013, I really miss the buttons.

Zbook considered, I suppose I would be happy with the best i7 config with 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe and dreamcolor screen. dGPU isn't a must for me, since I seldom use 3D heavy software, but it might be worth it if there where CUDA support for video compression.

 

anyone knows when the dreamcolor display comes out ?

 

This is what I wrote in another thread (getting confused about which thread to use, btw) :

I've been told by a hp insider that DC will be available for order from may 1st. I have also been quoted roughly the same price for the zbook 15 with DC as for the studio with non-dc display (the studio would be a bit more expensive) .

My dilemma is the following. Should I buy a studio with 4k display or should I wait almost 3 months for a Zbook 15 w DC?

I would really appreciate the advice of users who have had experience with dreamcolor displays. Is it that much better that it would be worth 3 months of waiting?
To be honest, I don't need it (the dreamcolor display) for professional purposes, but I do appreciate quality displays.
So it's either studio now or the zbook 15 DC in 3 months?

 

Stupid question: is there no nvenc/nvcuven CUDA support on the 960M dGPU?

 

anyone know if this computer maxed out can handle RED raw 6k footage on the go? With the thought I would use an external graphics solution via thunderbolt 3 when they are released? (For when at the house)

 

Anyone from the UK looking at this?

I'm looking at either the XPS 15 or Zbook studio.

No configuration options in the UK though it seems?!

http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/P...&sel=NTB&jumpID=ps_xeuz482n9f/sf:_sku:T7W05ET

This sounds like the better quality laptop, with better storage. I think it's only about 3cm wider probably? Doesn't seem like a big deal.

Although worse battery.

Seems perfectly portable - as basically the same thickness and weight?

Guess it is a fair bit more expensive though, but not really compared to the Precision. So between this and precision, and I think the HP is a better buy.

Personally would prefer non workstation graphics though for better performance. But I guess that will always be paired with a poorer CPU?

Also it it worth waiting for the new Xeons, will they make a big difference in terms of features or performance?

Thanks!

 

I am in a somewhat similar boat as Shinoke, but I am in the USA and considering the z-book studio G3 vs the Dell Precision 5510. I am looking to make a decision soon between a B+H config z-book studio (i7-6700HQ, 16GB/512SSD with UHD display for ~$2,300) and a Dell Precision 5510 (i7-6820HQ, 16/512 with UHD display but with a 6 cell battery for around $2,600).

I need my laptop for work productivity (financial modeling, MS office applications), browsing, streaming video. I am not a gamer and not editing video.

Now that the Z-book studio has been out a couple of months, can anyone please provide their latest bottom line thoughts and recommendations regarding the machine? Still issues with keyboard flex and loud fan? Other issues? Thanks in advance!

 

Check out some of the discussion in other threads, e.g. http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/hp-zbook-g3-studio-15u-owners-lounge.785566

The fan noise hasn't been an issue for me (yet), though I do have a small amount of keyboard flex on the right side. Otherwise I like the machine.

Seems like either of the options would work well for your workload. For me it came down to the "expanded" keyboard, fingerprint reader, and webcam placement on the Zbook.

 

Well purely on spec the Precision wins there. Better processor, battery and screen.

Also smaller footprint.

But yeah, footprint of the Dell is smaller, but the webcam placement is gimped and you won't have end, home, page up and down keys.

And less storage options.

I think I might just get an XPS. Didn't realise there were fan issues with the ZBook.

Was hoping/expecting it to be better than the XPS for fan noise, heat and quality/build.

Seems that may not be the case?

Dunno, the XPS has had a lot of reported issues though.

I believe the i7-6820HQ is unlocked, so can be overclocked. Runs at 2.6 GHz I believe. Not sure what the i7-6700HQ runs at. 2.5?

If you're not a gamer I'd be tempted to get a Zbook without discreet graphics and with a Xeon or better processor than the i7-6700HQ

Although I don't know what the real difference is between them.

These should be out soon too:
i7-6770HQ - 2.6 GHz - think this will have Iris Pro graphics.
6870HQ - 2.7 GHz
6970HQ - 2.8Ghz

I think the non dream colour (current display) isn't great though?

 

Shinoke, agree that the precision 5510 specs are better -- i just need to decide if they are $300 to $400's worth better. I think the 6700HQ in question is 2.6. It is more than adequate for me. I doubt I will notice that vs the 6820HQ for my purposes. Xeon is more than I need.

Overall, I may be leaning towards the Dell Precision 5510. It is just that I am having a hard time dealing with the Dell sales reps in the US. They are slow to respond with quotes and when they do, it is often for the wrong machine/specs. Or I can generate a better price on my own on their website. And I am trying to get that price down! With the Zbook, I would just buy the B+H config and be done. That price is competitive enough. I am running out of patience with the Dell folks.

 

The 6820HK would be unlocked. The difference between them is usually just noticeable in benchmarks or when u need every single bit of CPU performance.

The Xeons are able to use ECC Ram - if u don't need ECC u basically don't need a Xeon.

 

Not sure about US but in UK there is a 30% off discount on the 5000 series right now plus £100 off!
I just specc'ed up a fully loaded 5510 for £2203 (excl VAT) which is a saving of £975
Might be worth a look.

Cheers
C

 

What's the word on how the thermals compare?

HP Zbook vs Dell Precision 5000 series vs XPS 9550?

And fan noise?

The M1000M is 10 Watts less. Does that lead to less fan noise/throttling in the Precision compared to the XPS?

I heard the HP has quite a bit of fan noise, which is off putting. Not sure how it compares to the Precision or XPS.

And if the Xeon in the Precision runs hotter/noisier than the i7 for example, or it's no different as it's the same wattage?

 

Has anyone here used Linux on their Studio? On page 16 of this document, http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=4AA6-3408ENW, it mentions that Redhat is supported but the linked hardware support matrix document doesn't have information about any of the new G3 mobile workstations (or any mobile workstations for that matter).

My questions for anyone who has tried it:

• Does the Nvidia binary driver work with the Quadro M1000M graphics card with hybrid mode disabled in the bios?
• Are external displays hotpluggable using USB-C to Displayport adapters on the Thunderbolt 3 ports?
• What is power consumption like hybrid mode disabled under Linux?
• Are any special bios tricks needed (disable C-States, etc) to make Linux work?
• Does the keyboard perform well under Linux (no ghost key presses or such)?

I also have a question for anyone who happens to have the Xeon. Is it possible to use non-ECC ram? I notice that HP's configurator does not list any non-ECC options for the Xeon. I already have 16GB of DDR4 and would like to be able to use it if possible.

 

Today when i opened the lid VERY high pitch noise started from the built-in speakers. Only way to mute is was to disable built-in audiodevice. Is it broken or what ?

 

I see Red Hat Enterprise Linux graphics drivers now available on their support page

 

This problem has occurred several times after last post. You can check it here:

http://www.polarphoto.fi/kuvat/zbookfailure/VID_20160918_124411.mp4

HP has been investigating it now for few weeks (with other problem: the fluctuating fans) snd offering "solutions" but not the working ones. My recommendation is not to buy this. Or any HP-laptop...

 

i've bought used hp zbook g3 17 i7-6820hq 4k. it doesn't turn off fan at all. it not very noisy, but works 100% of time. cpu temperature is ~35-40 celsius, motherboard - 41, videocard - 45, hard drive - 29. so it not very hot. so - question to owners of zbook - is it normal that fan works without turning off at all ?

ps. i have latest bios installed 1.12.

 

The bios has a feature that keeps the fan always running at a slow speed if you are plugged in to AC Power. The easiest way to tell is if you unplug your machine do the fans shut off after a few seconds. It can be disabled in the bios so the fans operate the same on AC Power and battery.

 

i've checked - this option is disabled
just tried to unplug power supply - no effect.
fan continue to work even if i close the notebook.

 

In that case, I would suggest performing a "Hard Reset" which will clear the EC which controls the fans. The procedure is located in the service manual starting on page 74.

If you haven't already, contact HP Technical Support and tell them what you have done so far. If you end up needing onsite repair (new fans or motherboard) then it will help expedite the process.

 

thanks for your answer
in my case noise came from installed 5400rpm HDD
i have one more question - where i can buy caddy for installing second 2.5" hard drive in hp zbook g3 17 ?
i've found part number 848351-001, but i cannot find it in US.

 

Anyone to find the part number for the battery on the G4 studio?
HP Long Life 8

 

Where did you get the 2.5" caddy bay for Zbook Studio G3? How to connect the 2.5" drive to motherboard? I only see one unused PCIe port (no SATA port).

 

i have not a 'studio g3', but 'g3' - it have two sata ports.