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HP Z8 workstation: 3TB of RAM and 48TB HDDs
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    PR

    HP today announced the HP Z8 G4, the most powerful workstation on the planet1 and security features that denote HP as having the world’s most secure and manageable desktop workstations2.

    The reinvention of HP’s most powerful desktop PCs meets the compute power needs demanded by the world’s inventors of change, including product designers, architects, digital creators, scientists, educators, healthcare workers, financial traders and others. The HP Z8, Z6 and Z4 Desktop Workstations are equipped with extreme power, unprecedented security2and innovative design, future-proofed to support the fast growing fields of virtual reality, machine learning and advanced design.

    IT managers in today’s world must make security a top priority. HP’s new powerhouse portfolio includes the industry’s most comprehensive set of security features2 including HP SureStart (the industry's first self-healing BIOS with intrusion detection), the HP Client Security Suite and more. With the highest security levels in the history of the HP Z Workstations business, this generation performs with extreme power and protects intellectual assets.

    “The stakes for world-class security have never been higher or more important for workstations,” said Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, HP Z Workstations, HP Inc. “Workstation users create the most valuable IP for a company and HP is meeting the security needs with the world’s most secure and manageable desktop and mobile workstations. As the most powerful desktop workstation in the world, the HP Z8 Workstation can deliver the extreme power and the security demanded by our customers.”

    HP’s New Desktop Workstations

    Every inch of the new tower workstations was intentionally and thoughtfully re-designed to deliver superb power, style and the inspiration desired by the inventors of change. The ID was completely updated to incorporate advanced manufacturing techniques and materials, and represent the power of the machines, their users and the work that’s completed by creatives.

    The new workstations incorporate Thunderbolt™ 3 (optional) and Dual 1GbE Ports (standard) to support the high bandwidth data transfer demanded by current and future users, as well as Microsoft Windows 76 support for legacy workflows. Each of them offers modular front IO with USB 3.1 G2 Type C™ ports. The Z8 and Z6 models each support up to dual CPUs, and an optional dual 10 GbE network module for high speed networking at half the cost of current HP Workstations, and without consuming a precious PCIe expansion slot.

    HP Z8 G4 Workstation delivers top-of-the-line power to fuel those who reimagine the design of everything from race cars to rockets. As the most powerful desktop workstation on the planet1, the HP Z8 Workstation has the capability to run the most complex simulations and process massive amounts of data. Users can run 3D simulations and edit 8K video in real time with up to 56 processing cores and up to 3 TB of main memory, 3x the capacity of its predecessor4. Certified for serious software, such as ANSYS or After Effects5, users can deliver creative work in less time.

    HP’s flagship workstation has an all new ID with inventive ducting that routes fresh air to the second CPU, rather than recycling warm air expelled from the ducting on the first CPU and state-of-the-art design from world-class computer architecture experts.

    A split chassis architecture enables rear access to the hefty 1700 W power supply with a locking mechanism, 24 DIMMs, and a total of 9 PCIe slots (7 full length, full height PCIe slots and two internal PCIe “personality” slots) to bring this coveted machine to life for specialized workflows. The HP Z8 Tower has 67 percent more memory bandwidth, 27 percent greater processor core count capacity, 40 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth and 29 percent greater power supply capability – as compared to the Z840 – for customers running the most demanding workloads.

    The HP Z6 G4 Workstation is designed with the ever-changing needs of VFX artists in mind. Supporting the latest professional graphics, 384 GB of system memory, and dual M.2 slots for HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs users can experience seamless performance in visual effects and design visualization workloads.

    A future-proof powerhouse, the HP Z6 Workstation also delivers a highly-modular design experience with options like a second processor and memory riser solution so users can quickly and simply double their compute capabilities. The HP Z6 Workstation has up to 1.5x the amount of total system memory, 67 percent more memory bandwidth, 27 percent greater processor core count capacity and 22 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth for customers refreshing from the Z640.

    The HP Z4 G4 Workstation is the next generation of HP’s best-selling workstation and redesigned from top to bottom. The system is ahead of its time with more standard features and delivering performance upgrade options never before available in an HP single-processor workstation. Users across a broad range of markets can choose the ideal configuration to meet performance requirements. With the impressive new Intel® Xeon® processor W family, users from CAD to simulation will see extraordinary application performance scaling, giving them the ability to visualize ideas anytime during the design process. The HP Z4 Workstation also features major design improvements for tomorrow’s office environment with a sleek and modern industrial design including ergonomic front and rear handles, a dramatically smaller chassis for cramped workspaces and a new dust filter option for industrial environments.

    The HP Z4 Workstation, a great solution for embedded applications, unleashes new levels of IO bandwidth with dual 1GbE networking and dual M.2 slots for HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SSDs standard, and the ability to easily upgrade the front USB to include two USB 3.1 G2 Type C™ ports. The HP Z4 Workstation has 11 percent more memory bandwidth, 25 percent greater processor core count capacity and 13 percent greater PCIe I/O bandwidth for customers refreshing from the Z440.

    HP Z Portfolio Pricing and Availability

    HP Z8 Workstation is scheduled for availability in October starting at $2,439.

    HP Z6 Workstation is scheduled for availability in October starting at $1,919.

    HP Z4 Workstation is scheduled for availability in November starting at $1,239.

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  • 14 Replies sorted by
  • Wow - looks beautiful

  • "HP Z8 Workstation has the capability to run the most complex simulations and process massive amounts of data. Users can run 3D simulations and edit 8K video in real time"

    Total BS press hype about "8K video editing in realtime", and it has no thunderbolt 3 onboard... without option!

    As always, test YOUR software apps to see realworld performance... nothing about this machine does 8K in and of itself any more than an off the shelf DIY build can... don't be fooled

    As with most machines today, PCIE 3.0 limits this machine and it will be quickly outdated in about 4 months when PCIE 4.0 delivers, and then a year after that, PCIE 5.0

    PS. I have an older HP Workstation with PCIe 3.0 x 16 slots for compatibility purposes, and also a custom build right in front of me that smokes it. I'd hold for true next gen PCIE 4.0 slots and GPU coming next year if you need 8K editing on true 8K monitors, which are simply not in sufficient supply...

  • The new workstations incorporate Thunderbolt™ 3 (optional) and Dual 1GbE Ports (standard) to support the high bandwidth data transfer demanded by current and future users,

    I clearly see this.

    Also Thunderbolt has NOTHING to do with 8K video for desktops, as you can just have simple SSD trays.

    This machine will be quickly outdated in about 4 months when PCIE 4.0 delivers, and then a year after that, PCIE 5.0

    You need PCI-E 4.0 for? Especially in the age of all simple filters and LUTs being done in GPU memory.

    For realtime HEVC 8K editing (if software will keep up) all you need is NVidia GPU now.

    For raw I suggest to check http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/15474/advanced-dng-player-for-cuda#Item_2 this guys make outstanding optimized software.

  • PCIe NVME SSD arrays are already bandwidth limited and require PCIE 4.0 bandwidth going forward ASAP.

    HP is really promoting "optional 3rd party" Nvidia or AMD GPU prowess combined with 3rd party flash memory technology, not their HP machines ability to natively work with 8K... typical fineprint lies

    Editors get around native 8K editing by working with 1080p or 4K proxies and previewing in 4K, only final rendering out in 8K...

    I am amused by such a "powerful workstation" that treats a 40Gbps interface as less important than a 10Gbps interface in 2017 going into 2018, when you can get 2 thunderbolt 3 ports on a $1000 consumer Mac laptop...

    PS. my older HP also requires an Optional Thunderbolt add-in card, just another way for HP to price-gouge you

  • @NickBen

    PCIe NVME SSD arrays require PCIE4.0 bandwidth, and already saturate the PCIE 3.0 bus.

    Fastest SSDs just are PCI-E cards and use many PCI-E lines (up to x16). With dual server CPUs it must have pretty enough lines (I see 4 PCI-E x16 slots).

    I am amused by such a powerful workstation that treats a 40Gbps interface as less important than a 10Gbps interface in 2017 going into 2018.

    I am completely lost here.

    Let's just look are real bandwidth

    8K 14bit completely uncompressed raw at 30 fps require 1.7GB/sec read speed, OK for good affordable, not top NVMe SSD.

    In reality for any not top studio work it'll be 1:8 compression and 12bit raw at 24fps most of the time, and it is 150MB/sec, any cheap SSD works perfect.

    90% of people will work with affordable cameras produced 200-600Mbit HEVC 10bit footage.

  • Based upon 3rd party compression, yes, even an of the shelf machine with decent GPU handles an 8K HEVC stream

    But Nothing on this stock machine is remotely associated with the true native 8K 120fps upcoming standard for broadcast editing is my ultimate point...

    Anything remotely associated with 8K editing capability on the HP Z series is all optional is what I am saying, and what HP marketing really says in marketing speak...

    I'd compare HP workstation to McLaren if they sold you a formula One car frame... without engine or wheels, then saying it can compatibly go "250mpH"...

    also, for external data interface

    optional Thunderbolt 3 = 40Gbps

    vs

    optional dual 10 Gbps Ethernet

    Regardless, even Thunderbolt 3 is not fast enough for working with multiple uncompressed 8K streams in realtime.

    real native 8K at 60-120fps invites memory, data storage, bandwidth and GPU bottlenecks all over the place, and besides, real HDR 8K displays are really tough to get right now, so proxy editing is a decent workaround, and did the job when we had the SD to HD transition as well, as you probably remember...

  • Regardless, even Thunderbolt 3 is not fast enough for working with multiple uncompressed 8K streams in realtime.

    Where are "multiple uncompressed 8K streams in realtime"? Multicamera 8K production that even not top companies use now? Who exactly work with 8K uncompressed footage? What for?

    real native 8K at 60-120fps invites memory, data storage, bandwidth and GPU bottlenecks all over the place, and besides, real HDR 8K displays are really tough to get right now, so proxy editing is a decent workaround, and did the job when we had the SD to HD transition as well, as you probably remember...

    It is some pure fantasies.

    http://www.red.com/store/products/weapon-brain-with-helium-8k-s35-sensor

    Up to 300 MB/s using RED MINI-MAG (480GB & 960GB) - it is real rates

    real HDR 8K displays are really tough to get right now

    You absolutely do not need 8K display for editing, and it is lot of 4K so called HDR :-)

    But Nothing on this stock machine is remotely associated with the true native 8K 120fps upcoming standard for broadcast editing is my ultimate point...

    You mean some capitalists wild dreams? 8K 120fps will be just marketing line.
    As this guys for now are barely able to provide 4K 24-30fps with extreme compression.
    And 8K has extreme high chance to share destiny with DVD-Audio.

  • HP makes solid workstations, just 8K marketing is really silly as nothing inherently on these is 8K, just the potential accessories you'd add to them

    I wish I could sell Christmas trees and quote potential value based on how many solid gold ornaments I could hang on its branches...

    all in good cheer... ;-)

  • HP makes solid workstations, just 8K marketing is really silly as nothing inherently on these is 8K, just the potential accessories you'd add to them

    Again, I am completely lost on your logic.

    As you somehow managed to judge real product with imaginary tasks and non existing future standards.

    With real Red 8K raw this thing will fly.

  • Which cameras that are shipping now or in the near future shoot 8K uncompressed raw at 120 fps? The highest-end RED cameras seem to do about 60 fps at 8K or 75 fps at 8K 2.4:1 and to do that, they do 12:1 compression for a data rate of 270 megabytes per second (just a bit over 2 gigabits per second). Thunderbolt 1 should be able to handle 3-4 streams of that just fine.

    So, I'm not sure why you'd have a problem with a computer which is shipping in the near future can't keep up with the data rate for cameras that won't be available any time in the near future which record to high speed media which hasn't been invented yet. The computer seems more than capable of editing the footage that any currently-shipping 8K camera can produce.

  • https://www.sony.de/pro/press/pr-sony-unveils-first-8k-system-camera

    In reference to VK, here's just one of the many coming 8K 120p cameras I'll enjoy editing footage from, and are establishing the new broadcast standard...

    4K 60p is not going to be the upcoming standard, 8K 120p 2D is whether we accept it or not...

  • In reference to VK, here's just one of the many coming 8K 120p cameras I'll enjoy editing footage from, and are establishing the new broadcast standard...

    Do not worry, it won't be any "broadcast standard" at least 10 years.

    Not because cameras or sensors, but because of simple distribution limits and fact that upping resolution actually do not bring even one dollar for income of distribution networks.

  • I don't see that the Thunderbolt issue is relevant; HP will come out with something, but you certainly don't need it for loading. If capturing on a large disk, I can always just load it directly in any number of ways. But it's in the specs as a forthcoming option, so the issue is moot.
    As far as editing 8K and obsolescence of the PCI bus, and so on, HP generally speaking makes pretty well designed desktops that are modular. So there is no obsolescence, if you want a different part you can just swap it out. All computers, laptops, tablets and so should be made with a degree of upgrade modularity. If the CPU is soldered on, obviously don't buy it.
    I've worked on a number of HP designs, and they are often quite innovative. The i7 water cooled tower still is cutting edge.
    As far as 8K being the standard of the future, it pretty much is a crap shoot right now as far as standards; my guess is that the Internet will be the standard, not the broadcast, and the viewer will be able to select a resolution from the little gear. I can't see this changing.

  • The previous gen z840 will be on discount now. That is where the bargain will be.