HP ZBook 14 Review: Mobile Workstation Meets Ultrabook
by Jarred Walton on June 20, 2014 2:30 AM ESTIntroducing the HP ZBook 14
Over the past couple of years since Intel first introduced their Ultrabook brand, we've seen many different designs, some good, some lacking in refinement. One thing that we haven't seen much of is Ultrabooks with discrete graphics, which isn't too surprising – it's difficult enough to fit all of the other components into a thin chassis and then keep it cool; adding a dGPU to the mix is just asking for trouble. That's not to say it hasn't been done, but the sleekest designs tend to be CPU-only affairs. HP has decided to enter the Ultrabook with dGPU arena, but they've gone one step further by integrating an AMD FirePro M4100 FireGL V graphics solution. At its core, the dGPU is based on AMD's GCN architecture and sports just 384 cores, so it's mostly an entry-level dGPU solution, but as a member of the FirePro family it comes with drivers that have a few extra features unlocked. The result is potentially much higher performance in some professional level applications; we'll see just how well the M4100 fares in a moment.
Besides the “mobile workstation” angle, HP is definitely targeting the enterprise market with the ZBook 14. It's not quite at the level of the EliteBook, but the ZBook line basically picks up from the ProBook line with a business aesthetic that includes a matte LCD, magnesium alloy frame and covers, and a TrackPoint nub in the center of the keyboard. Other enterprise features include mobile broadband support, Smartcard and TPM options, Intel's VPro (depending on your CPU selection), other security measures, and a default build that ships with Windows 7 Professional. HP shipped us the highest end model (more or less) with Intel's fastest dual-core ULV Core i7-4600U processor, 16GB of DDR3L RAM, 240GB SSD, and a 1080p IPS display. Here's the full specs table.
HP ZBook 14 Specifications | |
Processor |
Intel Core i7-4600U (Dual-core 2.1-3.3GHz, 4MB L3, 22nm, 15W) |
Chipset | QM87 |
Memory | 2x8GB DDR3L-1600 |
Graphics |
AMD FirePro M4100 1GB GDDR5 (384 cores, 670MHz, 4GHz GDDR5) Intel HD Graphics 4400 (20 EUs at 200-1100MHz) |
Display |
14.0" Anti-Glare IPS 16:9 1080p (1920x1080) (AU Optronics) |
Storage | 240GB SSD (Intel 520 Series SSDSC2BW240A3H) |
Optical Drive | N/A |
Networking |
802.11ac WiFi (Intel Dual-Band AC-7260) (2x2:2 867Mbps capable) Bluetooth 4.0 (Intel) HP lt4111 LTE/EV-DO/HSPA+ Mobile Broadband |
Audio |
IDT HD Audio Stereo Speakers Headset jack |
Battery/Power |
3-cell, 11.1V, 4500mAh, 50Wh 65W Max AC Adapter |
Front Side | N/A |
Left Side |
Smartcard Reader 2 x USB 3.0 (1 x Charging) 1 x VGA Exhaust Vent Kensington Lock |
Right Side |
Headset jack 1 x DisplayPort 2 x USB 3.0 Ethernet (Hinged Port) Docking Station Connector AC Power Connection |
Back Side | N/A |
Operating System | Windows 7 Professional 64-bit |
Dimensions |
13.35" x 9.33" x 0.83" (WxDxH) (339mm x 237mm x 21mm) |
Weight | 3.57 lbs. (1.62 kg) |
Extras |
720p HD Webcam 86-Key Backlit Keyboard Spill-Resistant Keyboard TrackPoint Fingerprint Scanner |
Pricing |
~$2493 via CTO (with CTOZB14 20% discount) ~$2291 Online |
HP's pricing again reflects the target market, and while there are frequently sales that might drop the price, this is still a very expensive Ultrabook – at least it is if you're just looking at it as an Ultrabook. Technically I should be clear that not all models of the ZBook 14 are even Ultrabooks – you can order it with pure HDD storage if you want, for example – and HP's configuration utility makes it pretty clear what's required to qualify as an Ultrabook; not that it matters if you're happy with the hardware you select. The ZBook 14 is also larger than the typical 13.3” Ultrabooks we often see, but the added size allows for the presence of the dGPU, two SO-DIMM slots, and a full size 2.5” drive bay with a free M.2 slot. For those that need both performance as well as large amounts of storage, the option for a 120GB M.2 drive paired with a large HDD potentially gives you the best of both worlds, though I'd like to see at least a 240GB M.2 option as well.
If you want to custom configure your system you end up paying a slightly higher price, though as usual there's a rebate code (“CTOZB14”) that “saves” you 20%, so the CTO pricing is almost a wash. Given the prices on certain upgrades (e.g. the SSDs in particular cost a pretty penny), it might be best to stick with a basic configuration and only upgrade components that aren't easily exchanged on your own – the 1080p UWVA (IPS) display for instance is almost required in my book, and at $105 extra it's not even priced too badly. $825 for a 512GB SSD on the other hand is basically out of the question; I'd rather just grab an MX100 512GB for $220 and potentially lose out on a bit of performance and features relative to the top SSDs, and it will still smoke a hard drive.
Despite the high price, the ZBook 14 has a lot to offer potential customers. It's a solidly built laptop with the option for a great display, the keyboard has good key travel, and performance is definitely better than your average Ultrabook – and better than plenty of non-Ultrabook laptops as well. Let's take a closer look at the design before moving on to the benchmarks.
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kyuu - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
Puts too much junk on your HDD/SDD? Please stop spreading FUD, thanks.melloncollie - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
Why not show a comparison between this and Dell's M3800?JarredWalton - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
You mean besides the fact that we haven't reviewed the M3800? The M3800 is a bit thinner but has a 15.6" display instead of a 14" display, so it ends up weighing half a pound more. The K1100M GPU ought to be faster, though, would be my guess.GreenThumb - Sunday, June 22, 2014 - link
Please do review the Dell M3800.RKartha - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
In page 2 - Subjective Evaluation, please correct the typo - It is HP Remote Graphics Software and not HP Remove Graphics Software. Thank you.JarredWalton - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
Oops. Fixed, thanks!CharonPDX - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
Just wait until the GPU overheats in that chassis. Then it WILL be "Remove Graphics".. :-PJarredWalton - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
I guess I should have mentioned that I basically pounded on the laptop and didn't have any throttling issues. Yeah, it gets a bit warm, but for running a 100% CPU+GPU workload for more than a day straight it does better than any other Ultrabook I've seen -- and better than other relatively thin laptops as well.secretmanofagent - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
Have you seen any issues of ghosting? I'm seeing that on my ZBook15.CharonPDX - Friday, June 20, 2014 - link
Damn, I have a feeling I'll start seeing other departments at work start getting these... We are an HP shop, and a few departments get "mobile workstations". (Mine is stuck with lowly dual-core, integrated graphics "EliteBook"s...)