NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF on HP Z2 MINI G9 WORKSTATION DESKTOP PC

[kuau]

I just purchased a new HP Z2 MINI G9 WORKSTATION top of the line models Intel i9-14900K, 64GB Ram and it came with the Nvidia RTX™️ A2000 (12 GB) video card.

I am a photographer and use both LIghtRoom Classic and Photoshop

I did some basic benchmarking using 4 RAW images from my Nikon Z9 camera.

My test includes doing a AI Denoise function on all 4 images at the same time,

MY new Z2 mini is taking approximately 2 minutes to complete the task,

Whereas on my ASUS gaming laptop the same operation takes 1 m minute 25 seconds. 

So I am very disappointed in the performance.  I understand that the Nvidia RTX™️ A2000 is a older video card so I was thinking about getting the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF to try out.

Though I am not sure this card would even work in the Z2 Mini. It is the "SFF" size card and I know I would have to swap out the rear plate on the card. 

I can't find any dealer in the USA that carries the HP varian of the card.

So I was looking at this https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/design-visualization/rtx-4000-sff/ 

would this work?

[NonSequitur777]

@kuau,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

Your HP Z2 Mini G9 Workstation is powered by a 280-watt external power adapter (p/n: M52952-001 "SKO-280W Slim AC Adapter PFC 3P 7.4mm").

This power supply can comfortably power an RTX A2000, as it is a 70-watt TDP card and does not require any PCIe power cable(s).

Whereas the RTX 4000 is a 160-watt TDP card and requires a 500-watt power supply and one 8-pin PCIe power cable.

This means that unfortunately your mini workstation is likely not the best suitable PC platform for your needs.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[kuau]

Thank you for the response

Why does HP show the RTX 4000 SFF as an option for my device then?

[NonSequitur777]

@kuau,

Ah, I see: the RTX 4000 option the HP Z2 Mini G9 Workstation is referring to is the newest version, called: "Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada Generation", with HP p/n: N37271-001 "SPS-PCA NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada gen 20GB" and has a lower TDP (130-watt), and requires a 1x16-pin PCIe power cable. (Probably with p/n: N18719-001 "SPS-Cable Power Cable Z2 G9 Mini", but I am not sure.)

Apparently, HP approved its 280-watt power supply as sufficient to power their HP Z2 Mini G9 Workstation platform.

According to various sites, a system like yours fitted with an i9-14900K and an RTX 4000 Ada requires at least a 500-watt power supply:

Link: https://www.whatpsu.com/psu/cpu/Intel-Core-i9-14900K/gpu/NVIDIA-RTX-4000-Ada-Generation.

Nevertheless, like you commented: "Why does HP show the RTX 4000 SFF as an option for my device then?" if HP signed off on that, well then, who am I to question the Elephant in the proverbial room?

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[kuau]

Update

so I ordered the NVIDIA RTX 4000 20GB SFF GPU Graphics card ADA Generation form Nvidia direct in the USA 

I received the card yesterday and I have it currently working in my HP Z2 mini with no power cable installed

everything is working properly and quite an improvement over the RTX 2000

the only issue I am having is the back plane of the new card 

of course it does not fit correctly into the Z2 mini and I was hoping to remove the back plane from the RTX 2000 which I did very easy to do but… the RYX 4000 is a little bit different so it will not attach correctly so for now I have no back plane installed and the gpu is just not mounted securely in the system

i assume that the HP variant of the RTX 4000 has a custom made back plane for the gpu 

[NonSequitur777]

@kuau,

Thank you for following up!

For the life of me, I couldn't find a single image/picture of the HP-branded RTX 4000 anywhere, but I think you are correct: HP likely included a custom-made back plane for this card.

Anyways, I am glad you got this card working!

Smooth sailing,

NonSequitur777

[kuau]

I also ordered the power cable which I should receive today I wonder if I should try to use it 

[NonSequitur777]

@kuau,

Why wouldn't you want to try using it?

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[kuau]

good question. I guess I will install it,

Question you seem to be the resident HP Mini expert, I also purchased the 10gb I/O card for my mini, I installed it also and for some reason the Mini is not recognizing it. Is there something I need to do on my side ? I was under the impression that after I install the I/O card Windows 11 Pro would automatically install it

Thanks for your help

[NonSequitur777]

@kuau,

Not sure if I am necessarily the resident HP Mini expert, just an HP Community expert with a reasonable amount of User HP experience under the belt.

OK, if your 10Gb I/O card is not being recognized by your HP Z2 Mini G9 Workstation, here are some troubleshooting steps to start help resolve the issue:

1. Check Compatibility

• Ensure the 10Gb I/O card is compatible with the HP Z2 Mini G9 Workstation. Refer to the card's and workstation's documentation to verify compatibility.

2. Update BIOS and Firmware

• Update BIOS: Check HP's support site for the latest BIOS update for your workstation: 03.03.04 Rev.A, released October 3rd, 2024.
• Firmware Updates: If the I/O card (Intel X550, Mellanox ConnectX, etc.) has its own firmware, ensure it is up to date.

3. Verify Physical Installation

• Reseat the card: Turn off the workstation, remove the card, and reinstall it to ensure it's seated properly in the slot.
• Check the PCIe slot: Ensure the card is installed in the correct PCIe slot as specified by HP.

4. Check Power Supply

• Ensure the card does not require additional power beyond what the PCIe slot provides. If it does, verify that the power is connected.

5. Inspect Device Manager (Windows)

• Open Device Manager and look under Network Adapters or Other Devices to see if the card is listed, even with an error. If it's listed with a yellow triangle or error code:
  • Update the driver.
  • If no driver is installed, download the correct driver from the card manufacturer’s website.

6. Install Drivers

• Ensure you have installed the appropriate drivers for the 10Gb I/O card. Use the manufacturer’s website for the latest version.

7. Enable in BIOS

• Check the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure that the PCIe slot is enabled. Sometimes slots can be disabled by default or due to previous configurations.

8. Test with a Different System

• If you can, test the 10Gb I/O card in another compatible system to determine if the issue is with the card or the workstation.

9. Run HP Diagnostics

• Use HP's diagnostics tools to check hardware health:
  • Access HP Diagnostics during boot (press F2 during startup).
  • Run a hardware test to identify potential issues with the PCIe slot.

10. Contact Support

• If the issue persists, contact HP Support or the card manufacturer for advanced troubleshooting.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777