HP Z2 Mini G1a
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The HP Z2 Mini G1a represents a significant leap forward in compact workstation design, combining AMD’s revolutionary Ryzen AI Max+ PRO processors with a unified memory architecture that allocates up to 96GB of system memory to the integrated Radeon graphics. This professional-grade machine targets content creators, AI developers, and engineers who demand workstation performance without the bulk of traditional tower systems. The Strix Halo architecture delivers performance that reviewers compare favorably to discrete laptop GPUs like the RTX 4070, while the 50 TOPS NPU handles on-device AI workloads efficiently. Whether you’re running local large language models, editing 4K video, or rendering 3D scenes, the Z2 Mini G1a packs serious capability into a chassis that measures just 6.6 by 7.9 by 3.4 inches.
Pros and Cons of the HP Z2 Mini G1a
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Exceptional integrated graphics performance rivaling discrete laptop GPUs | Very loud fan noise under heavy load (up to 70 dB) |
| Massive 128GB unified memory option ideal for AI and LLM workloads | RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded after purchase |
| Internal 300W power supply eliminates external power brick | No native HDMI port requires adapters for common displays |
| Tool-free chassis access for easy storage upgrades | Higher power consumption (up to 200W) compared to Apple Silicon |
| Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports with full 40Gbps bandwidth | CPU and GPU configurations are linked and cannot be scaled independently |
| WiFi 7 and 36-month warranty for professional environments | Premium workstation pricing reflects enterprise positioning |
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HP Z2 Mini G1a Comparison Chart
 HP Z2 Mini G1a | HP Z2 Mini G1a | HP Z2 Mini G1a | HP Z2 Mini G1a | |
| Price | List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices... | List Price: Amazon Prices: Loading prices... |
| Version | 128GB/2TB/Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 | 64GB/1TB/Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 | 64GB/1TB/Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 | 32GB/1TB/Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 |
| Perfomance Rating | 8.5 | 12.9 | 12.9 | 12.7 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro |
| Processor | Sixteen-core 3.00 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Sixteen-core 3.00 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Sixteen-core 3.00 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Sixteen-core 3.00 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 |
| GPU | Integrated AMD Radeon 8060S | Integrated AMD Radeon 8060S | Integrated AMD Radeon 8060S | Integrated AMD Radeon 8060S |
| RAM | 128 GB LPDDR5 | 64 GB LPDDR5 | 64 GB LPDDR5 | 32 GB LPDDR5 |
| Internal Storage | 2 TB NVMe SSD | 1 TB NVMe SSD | 1 TB NVMe SSD | 1 TB NVMe SSD |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 6.61 x 7.87 x 3.37 inches (167.89 x 199.9 x 85.6 mm) | 6.61 x 7.87 x 3.37 inches (167.89 x 199.9 x 85.6 mm) | 6.61 x 7.87 x 3.37 inches (167.89 x 199.9 x 85.6 mm) | 6.61 x 7.87 x 3.37 inches (167.89 x 199.9 x 85.6 mm) |
| Weight | 5.84 lbs (2.65 kg) | 5.84 lbs (2.65 kg) | 5.84 lbs (2.65 kg) | 5.84 lbs (2.65 kg) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Ethernet | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps | 1 Ethernet port at 2.5 Gbps |
| HDMI | No HDMI | No HDMI | No HDMI | No HDMI |
| DisplayPort | 2 DisplayPorts (2x Mini DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR10; supports up to 4 displays via Mini DP, Thunderbolt, and Flex IO ports) | 2 DisplayPorts (2x Mini DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR10; supports up to 4 displays via Mini DP, Thunderbolt, and Flex IO ports) | 2 DisplayPorts (2x Mini DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR10; supports up to 4 displays via Mini DP, Thunderbolt, and Flex IO ports) | 2 DisplayPorts (2x Mini DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR10; supports up to 4 displays via Mini DP, Thunderbolt, and Flex IO ports) |
| VGA | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports | No VGA Ports |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3, 1 USB-C | 2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3, 1 USB-C | 2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3, 1 USB-C | 2 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3, 1 USB-C |
| Thunderbolt Ports | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Internal SATA Ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports | No SATA ports |
| Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader | No Card Reader |
| Headphone Jack | combo | combo | combo | combo |
| Fanless | No | No | No | No |
| VESA Mount | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| In the Box | HP Z2 Mini G1a unit, internal 300W power supply, power cord. Optional: HP wired keyboard and mouse, DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter. | HP Z2 Mini G1a unit, internal 300W power supply, power cord. Optional: HP wired keyboard and mouse, DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter. | HP Z2 Mini G1a unit, internal 300W power supply, power cord. Optional: HP wired keyboard and mouse, DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter. | HP Z2 Mini G1a unit, internal 300W power supply, power cord. Optional: HP wired keyboard and mouse, DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter. |
| Expandability | Two M.2 NVMe slots (up to 8TB total). Dual Flex IO slots for customizable connectivity (HDMI, VGA, Serial, additional USB). Memory is soldered and not user-upgradeable. | Two M.2 NVMe slots (up to 8TB total). Dual Flex IO slots for customizable connectivity (HDMI, VGA, Serial, additional USB). Memory is soldered and not user-upgradeable. | Two M.2 NVMe slots (up to 8TB total). Dual Flex IO slots for customizable connectivity (HDMI, VGA, Serial, additional USB). Memory is soldered and not user-upgradeable. | Two M.2 NVMe slots (up to 8TB total). Dual Flex IO slots for customizable connectivity (HDMI, VGA, Serial, additional USB). Memory is soldered and not user-upgradeable. |
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Detailed Insights into the HP Z2 Mini G1a
The HP Z2 Mini G1a measures 6.61 x 7.87 x 3.37 inches and weighs approximately 5.84 pounds, making it compact enough for desktop deployment while remaining substantial enough to house serious cooling for its workstation-class hardware. The chassis features HP’s signature diamond-pattern ventilation grille on the front panel and tool-free access via a finger-latch top cover for internal maintenance. The front panel provides a USB-C port with 10Gbps data transfer and DisplayPort alternate mode, a USB-A 10Gbps port, and a combination headphone/microphone jack. The rear panel hosts the bulk of connectivity including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two Mini DisplayPort 2.1 outputs, four USB-A ports (two at 10Gbps, two at 480Mbps), and the 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port. Two customizable Flex IO slots allow configurations with additional HDMI, VGA, serial, or USB ports depending on deployment requirements.
At the heart of this workstation lies the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 processor, featuring 16 Zen 5 cores and 32 threads with boost clocks reaching 5.1 GHz. The integrated Radeon 8060S graphics leverages RDNA 3.5 architecture with 40 compute units, drawing from the same pool of LPDDR5X memory as the CPU in AMD’s unified memory architecture. NotebookCheck’s testing showed the system handling professional workloads with performance comparable to high-end mobile workstations. The ability to allocate up to 96GB of the 128GB system memory to the GPU makes this particularly compelling for AI development and large model inference, allowing users to run models that would typically require expensive discrete GPUs with dedicated VRAM.
Connectivity options include WiFi 7 (802.11be) wireless for the fastest available wireless networking, Bluetooth 5.4 for peripheral connections, and the 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port provides reliable wired networking. The dual M.2 2280 slots support PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives with RAID 0 or RAID 1 configurations for either maximum performance or data redundancy. Storage expansion is straightforward thanks to the tool-free chassis design, though users should note that all memory is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded after purchase. For organizations requiring additional connectivity, the Flex IO system allows mixing and matching ports including options for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, multiple HDMI outputs, or legacy serial connections.
Reviewer Insights on the HP Z2 Mini G1a
Andrew’s Perspective
Andrew positioned the HP Z2 Mini G1a as a “Mac Studio Killer” in his comprehensive hands-on review. His testing covered unboxing, internal inspection, performance benchmarks, thermal behavior, and acoustic measurements. He was particularly impressed by the 128GB RAM configuration’s potential for AI and LLM work, noting that “the more RAM, the better” when running large language models locally.
Andrew’s benchmark results showed the system handling Time Spy stress testing with a 97% passing score, indicating virtually no thermal throttling under sustained load. However, he measured fan noise reaching as high as 70 dB under maximum load, which he characterized as significantly louder than competing mini PCs. He appreciated the toolless chassis entry, internal power supply eliminating external bricks, and the dual Thunderbolt 4 ports providing 40Gbps connectivity.
Tech Bloke’s Analysis
Tech Bloke focused on comparing the Z2 Mini G1a against Apple’s Mac Mini and Mac Studio for professional workflows. His testing included Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmarks and Adobe Premiere Pro video editing comparisons. He noted that “The Radeon 8060S iGPU performs near to a laptop equivalent of the Nvidia RTX 4070,” validating the graphics capability for both productivity and gaming.
The review highlighted the system’s power consumption reaching close to 200 watts under heavy load, notably higher than Apple Silicon alternatives. Tech Bloke emphasized the upgradeable storage and the convenience of the built-in power supply while acknowledging the audible fan noise even during lighter workloads. His assessment leaned positive for Windows users needing powerful integrated graphics and the flexibility of an x86 platform.
NotebookCheck
According to NotebookCheck, the HP Z2 Mini G1a “convinces as a versatile mini workstation” with their review unit earning a 79% score. The publication praised the sturdy chassis construction, tool-free accessibility, 64GB LPDDR5X ECC memory, dual Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and the included 36-month warranty. Their testing confirmed the Radeon 8060S provides legitimate workstation-class graphics performance.
The review identified several concerns including the very loud operation under high-performance mode, non-upgradeable memory, elevated DPC latency values, and the lack of a native HDMI port. NotebookCheck concluded that “the HP Z2 Mini G1a is currently one of the best compact workstations on the market: powerful, expandable, and ideal for professional users who are looking for a space-saving solution without compromising on performance.”
StorageReview
StorageReview took a unique angle by testing the Z2 Mini G1a’s ability to run massive local AI models without a discrete GPU. Their evaluation highlighted the system’s capability to allocate up to 96GB of VRAM to the integrated graphics, making it viable for running 120B parameter models locally. They also praised HP’s ZCentral Remote Boost for high-performance remote access scenarios.
The publication noted the system represents “a bold step forward in highly customizable, compact computing” while acknowledging that CPU and GPU configurations cannot be scaled independently and the soldered RAM limits future flexibility. Their hands-on testing with local LLM inference demonstrated practical AI workstation capabilities that would typically require much larger and more expensive systems with discrete GPUs.
Across multiple reviews, the consensus points to exceptional integrated graphics performance and the unique unified memory architecture as the primary strengths, while fan noise under load appears consistently as the most significant drawback. Reviewers generally agreed this workstation fills a unique niche for professionals who need powerful local compute without the space requirements of traditional workstations.
Customer Reviews of the HP Z2 Mini G1a
The HP Z2 Mini G1a is a recently released product with limited customer review data available at launch. Early adopters have highlighted the impressive performance from the Strix Halo architecture and the convenience of the internal power supply design. The professional-grade build quality and HP’s enterprise support structure have also received positive mentions.
As with most workstation products, detailed customer feedback will develop over time as the system sees broader deployment in professional environments. Prospective buyers should consult current marketplace reviews for the most up-to-date user experiences.
Conclusion
The HP Z2 Mini G1a stands out as a groundbreaking compact workstation for AI developers, content creators, and engineering professionals who need serious compute power without dedicating floor space to a tower system. Its combination of the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO processor architecture with up to 128GB of unified memory creates capabilities that were previously impossible in this form factor, particularly for local AI inference and large model development. The professional-grade construction, 36-month warranty, and enterprise management features make it well-suited for corporate deployments.
That said, users who prioritize quiet operation should carefully consider whether the fan noise under load fits their environment. Creative professionals who need specific discrete GPU capabilities or plan to upgrade memory over time might want to explore tower workstation alternatives. The premium positioning also means this workstation targets professional buyers rather than general consumers.
For those comparing options, see our Mini PC Comparison Chart to find the best match for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What processor does the HP Z2 Mini G1a use?
The HP Z2 Mini G1a is available with AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395, Ryzen AI Max PRO 390, or Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 processors. The top-tier 395 variant features 16 Zen 5 cores and 32 threads with boost clocks up to 5.1 GHz. These processors include AMD’s Strix Halo architecture with integrated Radeon 8060S or 8050S graphics and a 50 TOPS neural processing unit for AI workloads.
Can I upgrade the RAM in the HP Z2 Mini G1a?
No, the HP Z2 Mini G1a uses soldered LPDDR5X memory that cannot be upgraded after purchase. The unified memory architecture requires this design to achieve the high bandwidth needed for GPU memory allocation. Choose your RAM configuration carefully at purchase time: 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB depending on the variant.
What ports does the HP Z2 Mini G1a have?
The HP Z2 Mini G1a includes front ports with 1x USB-C 10Gbps (with DisplayPort), 1x USB-A 10Gbps, and a combo audio jack. Rear ports include 2x Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps, 2x Mini DisplayPort 2.1, 2x USB-A 10Gbps, 2x USB-A 2.0, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. Two Flex IO slots can add HDMI, VGA, serial, or additional USB ports.
What’s included in the box with the HP Z2 Mini G1a?
The HP Z2 Mini G1a comes with the mini PC unit with internal 300W power supply, and a power cord. Some configurations may include an HP wired keyboard and mouse. A DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter may be included depending on the configuration purchased.
How much GPU memory does the HP Z2 Mini G1a have?
The HP Z2 Mini G1a uses AMD’s unified memory architecture where the Radeon 8060S or 8050S graphics share system memory with the CPU. On the 128GB configuration, up to 96GB can be allocated to the GPU, making it exceptionally capable for AI workloads and large language model inference that would typically require expensive discrete GPUs with dedicated VRAM.
How loud is the HP Z2 Mini G1a?
Multiple reviewers noted that the HP Z2 Mini G1a can become quite loud under heavy load, with measurements reaching up to 70 dB during sustained workstation tasks. The system is generally quieter during idle or light usage but scales up fan speed significantly when running demanding applications. This is a common trade-off for packing workstation-class performance into a compact chassis.
Does the HP Z2 Mini G1a support VESA mounting?
Yes, the HP Z2 Mini G1a supports VESA mounting, allowing it to be attached to the back of a compatible monitor for a clean desk setup. HP also notes the chassis is designed to fit five units across a 4U rack for data center or high-density workstation deployments.