HP Z2 Tower G1i Workstation Installation

[janclaeys]

I hope this picture can help? According to the official HP manual, you should use the SATA connectors on the motherboard in ascending order: SATA0, SATA1, ...

The original HP HDD cable set for the Z2 G1i has been used here, I wouldn't risk to use another one...

[SDH]

Here's the secret.... the HP PartSurfer only uses the Spares P/N, not the Assembly P/N. The Assembly P/N is usually on an attached label or even embossed into the metal/plastic of the actual part. Thus, those are easier for eBay sellers to find and list. But... new workstations like this one are not being parted out so usually that does not work for eBay searches early on.

The main manual (available via LINK) has a spares part number list part, partially shown below. Once you find a Spares P/N you want take that to PartSurfer and get ready to sell your first born son:

...plus the SATA data cables, but those will be genericmodDIY.com could do better...

But if you really need it now it can be done.

[mdsmaxmax]

The picture certainly can't hurt. Thanks.

[mdsmaxmax]

They do like to overcharge, don't they. I may wait till I can find one at a more reasonable price. My main reason for needing this is that I have an older app that doesn't know how to save data files to drive with capacities north of 1TB. I'm using an external SSD for now, but would rather not have it cluttering up my desk. 

[janclaeys]

No, I installed my own 6TB WD Gold in it.

I bought 3 HP cable kits for this system, I have 2 spares in my possession.

[mdsmaxmax]

I misread your original. Actually realized I did that and deleted the question even as you were anwering. 

[SDH]

You can look at the end of the cable's plug and see the 4 metal contacts. Then you can carefully understand what the mating sockets are for the 6-hole motherboard connector. Now you know the 4 holes to probe with a voltmeter. There will be ground(s), 12VDC, and likely 5VDC. Look up the pinouts of a Molex to SATA power adapter.

I was not kidding about contacting modDIY.com over in China because all adapters I've gotten from them have been A+ quality. Who knows... they may already be working on that project. Send them this link.

[NonSequitur777]

@SDH,

My friend, perhaps you can help me out here.

Looking at the OP's picture of the HP Z2 Tower G1i Workstation, this is the same PC another user I am trying to assist has: Re: GPU upgrade for HP Z2 Tower GLi - HP Support Community - 9559229.

This user also has a 700-watt power supply -paired with a low-power RTX 2000 (which doesn't need a PCIe power cable) but the OP doesn't know where the PCIe power cable(s) are.

My observation regarding the PCIe power cable(s): "To me it looks like that the trunk power cable with 8 or so black wires originating from your power supply and terminating at your front panel is either an 8-pin PCIe or a 12VHPWR power cable just being 'parked' there (plugged in a dummy connector) and is available to power a graphics card if needed."  You can see the power cable trunk in your OP's picture going from top-left to center-right (front panel). I can't imagine why there would be a mighty power cable going to that particular place.

Please advise.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[dryodryo]

I ordered the SATA power cable, part number:

P27732-001

$80 plus tax, and with $16 shipping, it arrived the next day.

I sure hope the SATA data cables are actually standard as someone said, otherwise I'm going to have a cow, man.

Will report back if I actually get hard drives functioning in this thing. Never in a million years expected that a full ATX tower case would be deliberately designed to defeat user upgrades. Goes against the entire purpose of standards. Oh well, embrace, extend, extinguish is still going on.

[DGroves]

SGH is right the 6pin power connector for hard drives could have 5v and 12v dc but not 3.3 as that voltage is a deprecated spec which modern hard drives no longer require

older mech hard drives required 3.3/5 and 12 volt

while nowadays most current mech drives 3.5 and 2.5in

no longer need/use the 3.3v input and are only 5/12v

also most current 2.5in mech (and ssd based) drives are 5 volt only

there are several reasons to still use 12v they range from 12v using less amperage than a 5v motor to spin the platters................ to electrical isolation, as a separate 12v motor line will prevent noise on the 5v line that also powers the electronics of said drive which is why current 3.5in hard drives are still dual voltage unlike current 5v only 2.5in drives