Does HP offer an internal CF Card reader?

[Z-User]

I am looking to replace my Z440 system with a Z4 G4 system in order to be officially supported by Windows 11. Research the system I am not able to find an HP made CF card reader which I can install in one of the 5 1/4" drive bays. I am looking for one like the multi card reader offered by HP for the Z440 system but the only thing I can find is an SD card reader. Is there such a reader available? If so what is the part number? If not does anyone know if the one from a Z440 will work? I don't see why it wouldn't but I would like to receive confirmation before buying. And finally, if the Z440 HP multi card reader won't work are there any third party solutions? I'd like something that fits and looks nice, I don't want a janky installation.

[SDH]

The Z4 G4 can use the same SD card reader that goes into a reserved space at the top "standard" interface board at the front of the case... same one is used on the Z4 G5. There is a very expensive non-standard interface board you can buy that includes USBC etc.

That SD card reader in the standard interface board, however, is a one trick pony. It can only use the SD card form factor. HP has sold SD card reader 3.5" multi-form-factor devices they term the 14-in-1 and 15-in-1 multiformat card readers that can be added by getting a blank 5.24-to-3.5 form factor insert for any spare 5.25" bay. These don't require some esoteric cable... The one 15-in-1 I like has the option of using its USB3 "motherboard" type plug end or using a small adapter to convert from that to regular USB2 motherboard interface that most of our workstations have multiples of available for use along the bottom edge of the motherboard.

None of these are super fast... but they are quite functional.

[DGroves]

personally i would buy a usb 3. 3.5in card reader (and the necessary usb 3.1 GEN 2 pci-e card)

as they are much faster than a usb 2 based reader  

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Internal-Multi-Card-Reader-Support/dp/B011NLXC5O?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Expansion-SuperSpeed-Internal-Express-Adapter/dp/B09H428PLW/ref=sr_1_21?crid=...

note that the usb card i linked to is a usb 3.1 gen 2 (10gbps) card, not the cheaper/slower usb 3.1 gen 1 5gbps card

also the card i linked to has onboard pci-e based power circuits' so no additional power connector is required

along with a 3.5in to 5.25 adapter tray

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-3-5in-5-25in-Bracket-Adapter/dp/B000HLZXH2/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2Ij...

also note that the HP Z4/G4 motherboards and cpu's  are not interchangeable between the xeon and core "x" based cpu's

[SDH]

I took a pause and read the reviews of that PCIe card on Amazon. I don't expect SD card readers to be blistering fast but I do expect the PCIe interface card to be reliably functional and not blow USB-C parts. I'm sticking to the HP engineering for now. If the HP workstation has one of the "20 pin" spare USB3 motherboard headers I'd plug the HP 15-in-one SD card reader's USB3 19-pin cable into that. I've also run the HP 15-in-1 USB3 card reader off the old HP Texas Instruments based USB3 "2 x 2" PCIe interface card (which also has one of those19-pin headers) with zero issues for years now, and it is working well under W11 too. Same TI chipset on it as on all the Zx20 workstations.

The Z4 G4 has one of those spare USB3 19-pin motherboard headers (they're actually comprised of 19 pins and one blank for orientation) that would work well for what you need out front.

[DGroves]

i've used that model card since it was released, and have several clients using it also and have never had one problem with them one thing i've noticed on amazon is to take user reviews with a grain of salt so to speak as many users posing bad reviews of computer parts are not very knowledgeable and either have issues properly installing a product or buying a product that is not suited for their needs and never provide sufficient information on why the feel the product cause the problem (and this review problem is not amazon specific) most retail website reviews have this issue

you may have missed the fact that this card has onboard resettable (reusable) fuses on all usb ports this makes it rather hard for the card or equipment connected to it to cause damage as the cards fuses will open if excessive current is drawn

as for "SDH's" comment on the card damaging a users parts, i'll just note that you have no real information to go on to determine if it was user error,  or incompatible parts and since amazon user reviews show almost 70% of the amazon replies on this card were positive i would be hesitant in saying the card could likely damage your system/parts