ZBook Studio G8 video output is through UMA (Intel Integrated) graphics only

[Stan_0]

I was directed to this forum by HP Business (ZBook) Support as a means to provide product feedback to HP.  Although this appears to be a peer-to-peer support channel, I'm hopeful the posts here are reviewed by HP as a means of providing product feedback as was indicated by the HP support rep that directed me here.  If there is a better channel to provide product feedback, or if I should be posting this particular feedback in a more specific Community board (e.g. Business Notebooks), please let me know and I'll repost as appropriate.

I've come to learn, and surprisingly so, that the HP ZBook Studio G8 Mobile Workstations we purchased are subject to the limitation described in the HP support document at HP ZBook 14u, 15u, Firefly, Power, Studio G8 - Video output is through UMA graphic only | HP® Custom....  Historically, the ZBook Studio line of product has allowed for all graphics processing to be done entirely by an installed discrete graphics processor when one is installed.  According to the referenced Customer Advisory referenced above, this is not the case with the G8 variant of the ZBook Studio.  I'm surprised by this decision as it seems odd (if not a bit misleading) to sell a mobile workstation with a high-performance discrete graphics processor (in our case the NVIDIA A2000) and  force all graphics to be output through the significantly less capable  graphics processor integrated with the CPU.

As stated in the Customer Advisory linked above, this design causes issues such display drag on 4K monitors when using graphics intense software and external display capabilities not being consistent with ZBooks with similar dGPUs.  This latter issue impacts us as the (45) ZBook Studio G8 units we've purchased are unable to properly display the native 1920 x 1200 resolution of our HP monitors as our similarly (though more modestly) configured ZBook Studio G5 are able using the third-party USB-C hub and cabling (HDMI to DVI-D) solution we have standardized on for our hybrid work from home solution.  Certainly, one does not invest in a mobile workstation with a high-end discrete GPU only to have that unit subject to the limitations of CPU integrated graphics and not have all the features and capabilities of the discrete GPU available.  If HP is going to continue with such a design, it should be clearly identified in the specifications so the limitations of the design can be understood and considered before purchase.

For anybody from HP reviewing this message, if this feedback could make its way back to the product development team, it may make for better product and more satisfied customers in the future.  I am hopeful the ZBook Studio G9 does not have a similar design, but I cannot tell from any product literature if this is the case.  If anybody can verify that the ZBook Studio G9 does not employ a similar design, I would appreciate any information you can provide.  This is especially true if I could get confirmation from an HP representative.    If anybody from the product team (or similarly qualified HP representative) can explain how this design does not limit the graphics capabilities of discrete GPUs installed in a HP ZBook Studio G8 (or any unit employing a similar design), I would welcome that explanation as well.

Thank you,

Stan

[desys]

Really not acceptable. We spent a lot of money and we can't use the GPU in the right way. Really very very disappointed. I hope in a BIOS update in order to modify this behavior. We can't use also with VR (Nvidia certified the RTX A3000 as VR ready).

Will be great to have an HP answer about this bad issue.