Help upgrading the Hp Z420. What are the coolest, but little known features of the HP Z420 series?

[Alpine_B]

Hello, couple questions regarding the HP Z420. I know these benchmark above their weight in terms of price to performance ratio, and I was wondered what you think about my intended upgrades below?

Also, I read that the HP Z440 has all these awesome features, like Thunderbolt support, always on charging top USB, and some other cool features I never would have know about. What are the coolest things that the Z420 is capable of that I am probably missing?

I wanted to thanks @SDH, @DGROVES, @Brian1965, @BambiBoomZ, and others I am certainly missing who have contributed so much information here!

I got a few of these for FREE to use as super-budget professional workstations for my startup, and I am intending to max them out to the point they run beyond any sense of reason. They will be utilized for multi-monitor productivity workstations, occasional local LLM modeling, generative visual AI, and gaming. They included all RAM fans, front fan, 32-64GB of PC3-14900, E5-1620 v2 and E5-2630 v2, and the Quadro k4000. I am paying a couple bucks for the parts listed below, but for the most part not a lot of money went into these.

So far, my plan is to upgrade them with these items that I already have.

Z420 Liquid Cooler- $25
HP Z Turbo- $10
Samsung PM951 256GB, ACHI Version - $25
Intel 750 PCIe SSD 1.2 TB - $60
Xeon E5-2667 V2 - $10 (I got one E5-1650 v2,  should I look into the 1660 v2 or 1680 V2?)
nVidia Titan X Maxwell 12GB - $85

Is this about right, did I miss anything?

[NonSequitur777]

@Alpine_B,

I upgraded an HP Z440 Workstation, which uses the Intel C612 chipset, which primarily supports Intel Xeon E5-1600 v3/v4 and E5-2600 v3/v4 processors, based on the Haswell-EP and Broadwell-EP microarchitectures.

However, I figured out that the Z440 should also be compatible with certain Intel Core i7 processors from the Haswell-E and Broadwell-E families, such as:

• Intel Core i7-5800 series (Haswell-E), e.g., i7-5820K, i7-5930K, and i7-5960X.
• Intel Core i7-6800 series (Broadwell-E), e.g., i7-6800K, i7-6850K, and i7-6900K.

And indeed, I tried out an i7-6900K which ran just fine, even with ECC RDIMM (Server) DDR4 RAM: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/68779802.

Point is, looking here amongst 6,000+ HP Z420 Workstation benchmarks, not a single one of them has been fitted with an Intel Core i7 (LGA 2011) Sandy Bridge-E or Ivy Bridge-E Processors, which are also compatible with the Intel C602 chipset.  Yes, this chipset is primarily designed for Intel Xeon E5-1600 and E5-2600 series processors, but it should also support some Intel Core i7 processors, specifically those designed for the LGA 2011 socket. These include:

1. Sandy Bridge-E (3rd Generation Core i7):

   • Core i7-3820 (Quad-Core, 3.6 GHz)
   • Core i7-3930K (Hexa-Core, 3.2 GHz)
   • Core i7-3960X (Hexa-Core, 3.3 GHz)
   • Core i7-3970X (Hexa-Core, 3.5 GHz)

2. Ivy Bridge-E (4th Generation Core i7):

   • Core i7-4820K (Quad-Core, 3.7 GHz)
   • Core i7-4930K (Hexa-Core, 3.4 GHz)
   • Core i7-4960X (Hexa-Core, 3.6 GHz)

You may be less inclined to go where few -if any, have gone before, but that would be something I would most definitely try out just for the heck of it.  If somehow this does happen to intrigue you, there is currently an i7-4960X for sale for less than $100 via this top-rated and trusted eBay Seller who also allows for painless returns: https://www.ebay.com/itm/135459796700?_skw=i7+4960x&itmmeta=01JH4JFMDEMD2V3MPG9212HMAF&hash=item1f8a....

My penny's worth!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Alpine_B]

Awesome, that did not even cross my mind- I have an old 3930k from an Asus P9x&79 motherboard sitting in my office!

I will for sure at least toss it in to see if it boots- for science! 

Are there any other overlooked features supported by the Z420 that may be worth taking advantage of? 

Thanks for the reply, you are an absolute legend in the forums! 

[NonSequitur777]

@Alpine_B,

Yes, do it for science's sake!  😄

Anyway:

The HP Z420 Workstation is a versatile machine with several features that are often overlooked but can be utilized to maximize its performance and functionality. Here are some of those features:

---

1. Dual CPU Configuration (Unofficially)

• While the Z420 officially supports only single Xeon processors, some enthusiasts have managed to use dual-CPU setups on modified motherboards with the Intel C602 chipset. If you are tech-savvy and willing to experiment, this could be a unique upgrade path.

---

2. High RAM Capacity

• The Z420 supports up to 64 GB of DDR3 ECC Registered (RDIMM) or Unbuffered (UDIMM) memory, depending on the CPU. ECC memory ensures stability for critical applications, making it ideal for tasks like scientific simulations or large datasets.

---

3. High-Speed Storage Options

• The system supports:
  • SATA III (6.0 Gb/s): For SSDs, ensuring faster read/write speeds compared to traditional HDDs.
  • PCIe NVMe SSDs: With an adapter in a PCIe slot, you can install modern NVMe drives, achieving much faster storage performance. This is an excellent upgrade for anyone looking to improve boot and application load times.

---

4. Multiple GPU Support

• The Z420 has multiple PCIe slots, supporting up to dual GPUs. This makes it suitable for tasks like:
  • 3D rendering
  • Video editing
  • GPU-accelerated computations
• Note: Ensure the power supply can handle the additional load if upgrading to higher-end GPUs.

---

5. RAID Support

• The Z420's C602 chipset offers RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support for SATA drives. This is beneficial if you need:
  • Improved performance (RAID 0).
  • Data redundancy (RAID 1).
  • A balance of both (RAID 10).

---

6. Custom Cooling Options

• The workstation’s case design and BIOS support allow for custom cooling solutions. If you’re running intensive applications, upgrading the cooling system (e.g., with liquid cooling) can enhance stability and potentially allow for overclocking (unlocked Core i7 CPUs).

---

7. Legacy Support

• The Z420 includes legacy ports like PS/2, Serial, and eSATA, which can be valuable if you use specialized hardware or older peripherals.

---

8. Thunderbolt 2 Compatibility

• With the addition of a PCIe Thunderbolt 2 card, the Z420 can support high-speed external devices like professional audio interfaces, storage arrays, or even external GPUs.

---

9. BIOS Tuning

• The Z420 BIOS offers advanced tuning for performance and reliability:
  • Hyper-Threading: Enable/Disable to optimize multi-threaded applications.
  • Turbo Boost: Ensure it's enabled for dynamic CPU overclocking under heavy loads.
  • Memory Performance: Fine-tune RAM settings for maximum efficiency.

---

10. Remote Management / Workload Considerations

• With Intel vPro technology (if supported by the installed Xeon CPU), you can remotely manage and secure your workstation. This is ideal for IT professionals or anyone needing to manage the machine from a distance. For the best of the best, I would recommend either the Xeon E5-1680 v2 (3.00 GHz up to 3.90 GHz, 8-Cores, 16-Threads, 130-watt TDP) or the Xeon E5-2697 v2 (2.70 GHz up to 3.50 GHz, 12-Cores, 24-Threads, 130-watt TDP).
• Workload Type: If you are using applications that rely on single-threaded performance (e.g., certain CAD or audio production tools), the E5-1680 v2 is better due to its higher clock speed. For heavily multi-threaded tasks, the E5-2697 v2 will excel.
• Cost and Availability: The E5-1680 v2 may be more expensive in the second-hand market because of its popularity among enthusiasts and Hackintosh builders. The E5-2697 v2 can offer more cores at a potentially lower price.
• Cooling: Both processors have a TDP of 130W, so ensure your Z420 has sufficient cooling, especially if upgrading from a lower TDP processor.

---

11. Hackintosh Potential

• The Z420’s hardware is compatible with macOS, making it a good candidate for building a Hackintosh. This is worth considering if you need macOS-specific applications like Final Cut Pro.

---

12. Virtualization

• With its Xeon processor, ECC memory, and Intel VT-d support, the Z420 is well-suited for running virtual machines. It’s a cost-effective option for creating a home lab or testing environment for VMware, Proxmox, or Hyper-V.

---

By taking advantage of these features, the Z420 can continue to serve as a highly capable workstation for years to come!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[BlindSniper9794]

Did the i7 work???

[NonSequitur777]

@BlindSniper9794,

Yes, the Intel Core i7-6900K in my HP Z440 Workstation works great:

Link: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/68779802.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[BlindSniper9794]

Ah shoot, I misread the comments. I thought you were trying the third gen i7 in your z420. I have two with the original boot block date and was trying to figure out if I could squeeze some gaming out of one or both of them. One has the Xeon 2687W V1 and the other has a slower 8-core Xeon (2550 I think) and I wanted to see if I might be able to drop in an i7 from the era to swap out the slower one.

[NonSequitur777]

@BlindSniper9794,

You may still be able to make an 4th gen "X" i7 Intel processor work in your HP Z420 Workstation as I commented on earlier, because Intel Core i7 (LGA 2011) Sandy Bridge-E or Ivy Bridge-E Processors are also compatible with the Intel C602 chipset.  The following Intel Core i7 processors designed for the LGA 2011 socket should be compatible:

1. Sandy Bridge-E (3rd Generation Core i7):

   • Core i7-3820 (Quad-Core, 3.6 GHz)
   • Core i7-3930K (Hexa-Core, 3.2 GHz)
   • Core i7-3960X (Hexa-Core, 3.3 GHz)
   • Core i7-3970X (Hexa-Core, 3.5 GHz)

2. Ivy Bridge-E (4th Generation Core i7):

   • Core i7-4820K (Quad-Core, 3.7 GHz)
   • Core i7-4930K (Hexa-Core, 3.4 GHz)
   • Core i7-4960X (Hexa-Core, 3.6 GHz)

Look, if I had an HP Z420 Workstation, and made it another Upgrade project, you betcha I would purchase an i7-4960X, such as this $99.95 eBay purchase example via this top-rated and trusted Seller: https://www.ebay.com/itm/135511142591?_skw=i7-4960X&itmmeta=01JJE191TG4ZH3MSTPEFWS5GP7&hash=item1f8d....

Even allows for "30 days returns. Seller pays for return shipping", so, what do you got to lose?

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[BlindSniper9794]

I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks again! 

[NonSequitur777]

@BlindSniper9794,

You are welcome -something to think about!

If you succeed, you'll be the first documented HP Z420 Workstation User making an Ivy Bridge-Extreme Intel Core processor work on that platform!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777