HP Workstation Z420 v2 : review after 4 years of use.

[Papy_Mougeot]

Hello,

I'm going to take a look at the configuration of my HP Workstation Z420 v2, acquired in excellent condition from a German Ebay broker for 256 €, 4 years ago (HP power 600W, Xeon E5-2670 2.6 GHz Sandy Bridge, 64 GB PC3L-10600R with front passive memory cooling kit installed, Nvidia Quadro NVS300, SSD 240 Gb, HDD 500 GB).

I started by fitting the HP Z440 Z Cooler silent Heatsink 3D Vapor (N3R51AV): perfect for silent cooling, it's totally compatible with the Z420. I also fitted the front cooling kit (A2Z46AA 604781-003).

I also mounted Intel processor Xeon E5-2673 v2 110W TDP Ivy Bridge (Ebay, 49 USD). For me, it's the least voracious in terms of watts, while still being powerful: 3.30 GHz (4.00 GHz turbo), 8 cores and 16 threads. In short, it's versatile, whether for virtualization or other applications. It's a pity that on its Xeon Ivy Bridge EP (E5 v2) page, Intel has forgotten it (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/codename/68926/products-formerly-ivy-bridge-ep....), even though it's only an OEM processor.

I then reused my old MSI Geforce GTX 1050 TI Gaming X 4G and my Sound Blaster Z SE from another old computer.

Finally, I bought 8x16 GB RDDR3 PC3-14900R 1866 MHz (Registered ECC) to go up to 128 GB : 76 € (Ebay).

To conclude my thread, yes, the Z420 is a very good workstation, even if it's no longer young, and even if it can't boot on an NVme disk (without special handling, I mean). And with 128 GB of memory (even if HP talks about 64 GB in its documentation), you're in the clear for a while, and you can find memory at a reasonable price.

What's more, with the RUFUS utility, you can still install Microsoft Windows 11 even in 24H2. Of course, you'll never be able to update TPM 1.2 to 2.0. But you still have UEFI secure boot and virtualization VTx/VT-d/EPT.

* HP Partsurfer : https://partsurfer.hp.com/?searchtext=LJ449AV

* Drivers, bios, firmware :  https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-z420-workstation/model/5228607?sku=LJ449AV

[NonSequitur777]

@Papy_Mougeot,

Looks awesome / c'est chouette!

Just started my own HP Z240 Workstation upgrade project: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Upgrading-an-HP-Z420-Workstatio...: let's stay in touch!

Kind Regards / Cordialement,

NonSequitur777

[Papy_Mougeot]

Hello @NonSequitur777. 

Your project is interesting! You'll be able to push the Z420's limits even further. It's a great workstation. I too had thought of buying a Xeon E5-1660 v2 for its power, but its TDP of 130W and above all its price, which was still too expensive for me (unless I bought it in China), pushed me to install the E5-2673 v2, which admittedly only starts at 3.30 GHz instead of 3.70 GHz, but the 4.00 GHz turbo is identical. 

I don't use the Z420 for gaming, but rather for virtualization and testing. 

https://technical.city/en/cpu/Xeon-E5-2673-v2-vs-Xeon-E5-1660-v2

Good luck with your project, and keep us posted!

[Papy_Mougeot]

https://valid.x86.fr/x8svix

[Papy_Mougeot]

In the meantime, on my Z420, I'm going to test another processor I've just found by chance in my “stocks”: the Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 (SR171), 2.70 GHz (3.50 GHz turbo), 12 cores/24 threads, with a TDP of 130W. Just to see if I feel any difference, also for the difference in temperatures !

[Papy_Mougeot · Accepted solution]

With Xeon E5-2697 v2 (12 cores 24 threads, 2.70 GHz, turbo 3.50 GHz, TDP 130W) fitted :
* Idle temperature: approx. 45°C
* CPU stress: 77 °C (you'll soon hear the fans getting excited. 3.00 GHz max.)

And with Xeon E5-2673 v2 (8 cores 16 threads, 3.30 GHz, turbo 4.00 GHz, TDP 110W) initially fitted : 

* Idle temperature: approx. 35 °C

* CPU stress: 66 °C (Fans are quieter. 3.60 GHz max.)

I don't see much of a significant power increase compared to the E5-2673 V2 3.30 GHz initially fitted, which has a lower TDP (110W) and would therefore heat up less, and which is faster by default with fewer cores.

And yet : https://technical.city/en/cpu/Xeon-E5-2697-v2-vs-Xeon-E5-2673-v2

So I'll continue to use the Xeon E5-2673 v2. That's all folks !  😄