Pumping up performance

In the late 1970s, pop music sensation Elvis Costello told us to “Pump It Up” in a song that would become a worldwide smash hit. In the late 1980s, M|A|R|R|S told us to “Pump Up the Volume” in an equally popular single. In 2016, we are being told to pump things up once again, but this time by a major player in the tech space.

Computers are in a constant state of evolution, with each new machine designed to outperform its predecessors and the competition. With that in mind, HP announced the release of its new Z1 G3 all-in-one workstation.

Designed for use by digital artists and the education and engineering industries, the latest addition to HP’s Z family combines the features of a traditional workstation with an all-in-one form factor. In addition, the Z1 G3 is both lighter than previous releases, and easier on the wallet.

“We took our ground-breaking and most innovative workstation, the original Z1, and reinvented it by listening to our customers to create a new smaller, lighter and lower cost model,” Jeff Wood, vice president and general manager of Workstations and Thin Clients for HP Inc. said in a news release.

Checking in with a weight of 23.2 lbs., the Z1 G3 is 47 per cent smaller and 51 per cent lighter than previous Z-series releases. It is equipped with a 23.6 inch UHD 4K diagonal anti-glare screen, allowing it to maximize on display capabilities while decreasing the amount of desktop space it takes up.

A closer look under the hood reveals an Intel Xeon quad-core processor, a 64GB error-correcting code (ECC) memory, NVIDIA Quadro graphics, and quicker I/O and storage capabilities with dual Z Turbo Drives and Thunderbolt.

Mac users will also benefit from the release of Z1 G3, thanks to HP’s RGS receiver. Crafted to bridge the gap between Windows or Linux-powered workstations and Mac OS-based applications, the RGS receiver facilitates joint development among the different operating systems, faster high-resolution video rendering times, and seamless connectivity with HP’s Z840 workstation.

“The new Z1 will introduce more new customers to workstation power and reliability, while HP RGS with a Mac Receiver will open doors to more Apple customers wanting to integrate our powerful Z Workstations,” said Wood.

Scheduled to hit the shelves in May, the Z1 G3 will sell for $1,498. The Mac receiver will follow shortly thereafter, available at no extra cost for existing HP RGS users.