HP Z8 G4 slow and loud

[timvdh]

I bought a refurbed HP Z8 G4 Intel Xeon Gold 5122 3592 MHz (8 cores), 64GB RAM to replace my 11 year old Z220. The performance is rather disappointing:

  Name Platform Architecture Single-core Score Multi-core Score

Geekbench

HP HP Z8 G4 Workstation Intel Xeon Gold 5122 3592 MHz (8 cores)

Windows

x64

1243

7083

That is about as fast as my IPhone13. I also checked with PCMark, the 4 year old Z8 G4 ist only about 25% faster than the Z220, I wanted to at least double the performance. I may have lost touch with current CPU development.

The Z8 also has a constant airstream (front and back fan about 950RPM), no matter if the machine is idle or under full load.

I may have to get another machine and/or invest more if I want more power. However, I wanted to first ask:

• Are the benchmarks reliable at all?
• Does the performance look to low for that type of machine?
• Would it make sense upgrade the machine?

I was very happy with the Z220 for a decade and I want another machine that serves me about as well. I love the design and the robustness of the Z8 G4 but expected more performance. I am a developer so I don't need fast 3D Graphics but I want fast compile times.

[NonSequitur777]

@timvdh,

Welcome to our peer-to-peer HP Community Forum!

Well, frankly, the Xeon Gold 5122 is a relative lackluster CPU: it is only quad-core (4-Cores, 8-Threads), not 8-Cores. Even an ancient 4th-gen processor, such as the i7-4790K aka "Devil's Canyon" beats it...

Compare this, for example, with a Xeon Gold 6226 (12-Cores, 24-Threads), and then you'd see a major boost in workstation performance, such as this HP Z8 G4 User shows.

[EDIT:] Reason why I mentioned the Xeon Gold 6226, is because it happens to be the server/workstation bad@ss equivalent of my gaming i9-9900KS: Xeon Gold 6226 vs Core i9-9900KS [1-Benchmark Showdown] (technical.city).

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[timvdh]

> Well, frankly, the Xeon Gold 5122 is a relative lackluster CPU

I can see that now. It is fool's gold.

Is there a way I can slow down the fans maybe? The machine is always stone cold, I think it cools too much. The CPU temps are never over 70 degree Celsius, the ambient temperature is room temperature. I tried different performance settings in HP performance advisor, but that does not seem to make a difference.

[NonSequitur777]

@timvdh,

Consider using fan speed control software.  Here are a few general suggestions -there are many more, and I'd invite you to take a look online:

1. SpeedFan: SpeedFan is a popular third-party tool that allows you to monitor temperatures and control fan speeds. It supports a wide range of motherboards and can be configured to automatically adjust fan speeds based on temperature.

   Website: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

2. MSI Afterburner: MSI Afterburner is primarily designed for GPU overclocking, but it also includes features for monitoring and adjusting fan speeds. If you have an MSI motherboard, it might provide additional compatibility.

   Website: https://www.msi.com/page/afterburner

3. Corsair iCUE: If you're using Corsair fans or coolers, the iCUE (Corsair Utility Engine) software provides control over fan speeds and lighting effects.

   Website: https://www.corsair.com/icue

Remember that using third-party software may have limitations, and it's essential to follow instructions carefully to avoid any issues. Always check for updates and compatibility with your specific hardware. Additionally, some motherboards offer fan speed control directly within the BIOS/UEFI settings, so it's worth exploring those options as well.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777