HP Z2 G5 2022, Core i5-10500, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Black

The HP Z2 G5 is a compact office workstation with great port selection and a decent CPU for basic tasks. The integrated graphics are a major weak spot, killing any gaming or creative potential. At $500 USD, it's fine for spreadsheets and email, but look elsewhere if you need any graphical muscle.

The Core i5-10500 is a six-core chip that handles spreadsheets, email, and browser tabs without breaking a sweat. Our database puts the CPU at the 39th percentile, which is fine for office tasks but nothing to write home about. The 16GB of RAM sits at the 32nd percentile, and the 512GB SSD lands at the 30th. Those are all workable numbers for a budget workstation. The real problem is the GPU. That integrated HD Graphics 630 ranks at the 25th percentile, and our gaming score of 9.9 out of 100 tells you everything you need to know. This thing is not built for play.

Stacked against something like the Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra, this HP isn't even in the same conversation, but that's also a machine costing several times more. The Dell Desktop ECT1250 and MSI Aegis Z2 both offer dedicated GPUs at similar or slightly higher price points, which makes the HP's integrated graphics sting a bit more. The Lenovo Yoga AIO gives you an all-in-one form factor with better display integration. Where the Z2 G5 wins is port selection and that compact workstation build. It's a niche advantage, but a real one.

At $500 USD, the Z2 G5 is priced like a budget machine, and for basic productivity it delivers. You're getting a legitimate workstation chassis with excellent port selection and enough RAM to keep dozens of tabs open. But you're also paying for a GPU that can't do much beyond displaying your desktop. If your workload is purely office-based, this is a reasonable buy. If you need any graphics horsepower at all, that $500 starts to look like a down payment on disappointment.

The HP Z2 G5 is a small form factor workstation that's trying to punch above its weight class. It's got a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10500, 16GB of DDR4, and a 512GB SSD, all wrapped up in a compact chassis that won't eat your desk. But here's the thing: that integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 is doing this machine zero favors.

At around $500 USD, this isn't a bad deal for basic office work. But the moment you ask it to do anything graphically demanding, it's going to wheeze. Think of it as a business machine that occasionally wishes it were something more.

Skip this if you need any kind of graphics performance. Video editors, 3D modelers, and even casual gamers will hit a wall immediately with that integrated HD Graphics 630. Also skip it if you want a machine that'll stay relevant for heavy workloads in a few years, the 10th Gen CPU is already showing its age. And if you're buying for a home office where one machine does double duty for work and play, this isn't the one.

Buy this if you need a small, reliable office machine with tons of ports and don't care about graphics. The Z2 G5 is a solid citizen for spreadsheets, web apps, and light multitasking. It's quiet, compact, and gets the job done. Just don't expect it to edit video, run modern games, or do anything that requires a real GPU. For the right office worker, it's a sensible pick. For everyone else, keep scrolling.