StoreDeal.ai store
Shop
  • Deals
  • Deal checker
  • Black Friday
  • Buying guides
  • Brands
  • Stores
Travel
  • Flight deals
  • Hotel deals
Company
  • Research
  • Press
  • deal.ai apps
Black Friday 2026
  • Walmart
  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • TVs
  • Laptops
  • Headphones
  • Apple
  • Gaming
  • Vacuums
  • Kitchen
  • Toys
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses
© Deal.ai Inc.
TermsPrivacy
Deal.ai › Compare

HP Z2 G1i Workstation vs Gaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop

The HP Z2 G1i is the serious machine: a current Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 with up to 24 cores, DDR5 memory up to 64 GB, a 1 TB SSD, and an Nvidia RTX A1000 or RTX 2000 Ada for certified professional work. The Gaming-Pro is an older Xeon E5 platform with a Radeon RX 460, 32 GB RAM, and a 512 GB SSD plus 1 TB hard drive, dressed up with RGB fans and a keyboard and mouse. For CAD, rendering, or long workdays, the HP wins on every spec that matters. The Gaming-Pro only makes sense for light 1080p gaming and tinkering on a tight budget.

  • Choose the HP Z2 G1i if you need a compact workstation for CAD, 3D rendering, video editing, or data work, and you want current-generation parts, DDR5 memory, and an Nvidia professional GPU.
  • Choose the Gaming-Pro if you want a white RGB desktop for casual 1080p gaming and everyday tasks, and you are comfortable with older hardware and a hard drive.

Prices

  • HP Z2 G1i Workstation: $1,699.00 at Best Buy (last seen Nov 10)
  • Gaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop: $488.88 at Walmart (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Gaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop is $1,210.12 cheaper than the HP Z2 G1i Workstation at the latest prices (Nov 10)
HP
HP Z2 G1i Workstation

HP Z2 G1i Workstation

4.4(47 ratings)
$1,699.00at Best BuyChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Best Buy
Pros
  • Current Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 with up to 24 cores
  • DDR5 memory up to 64 GB
  • 1 TB NVMe SSD
  • Nvidia RTX A1000 or RTX 2000 Ada professional graphics
  • Compact chassis with Windows 11 Pro
Cons
  • No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth built in
  • No memory card reader
  • Integrated graphics only on base configurations
  • Professional GPUs are not aimed at gaming
Gaming-Pro
Prebuilt White Gaming PC Desktop - Xeon E5 10-Core, Radeon RX 460, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD+1TB HDD, WiFi 6 & BT 5.4, 8 RGB Fan, Win11, RGB KB & Mouse

Gaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop

Prebuilt White Gaming PC Desktop - Xeon E5 10-Core, Radeon RX 460, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD+1TB HDD, WiFi 6 & BT 5.4, 8 RGB Fan, Win11, RGB KB & Mouse

4.9(8 ratings)
$488.88at WalmartChecked 21 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Walmart
Pros
  • Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 built in
  • 32 GB RAM for multitasking
  • Dual storage with a 1 TB hard drive for bulk files
  • RGB keyboard and mouse included
  • White RGB case with 8 fans
Cons
  • Xeon E5 is a decade-old platform
  • Radeon RX 460 struggles with modern games
  • No NVMe-class SSD speed stated
  • Mechanical hard drive is slow
  • Older memory generation

What separates them

HP Z2 G1i WorkstationGaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop
Processor generationIntel Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 (Arrow Lake-H), current generationIntel Xeon E5, a server chip from around 2014
Cores and threadsUp to 24 cores on the Ultra 910 cores, older architecture with lower per-core speed
MemoryDDR5, 32 GB or 64 GB32 GB, older DDR generation
GraphicsNvidia RTX A1000 or RTX 2000 Ada, ISV-certified professional cardsAMD Radeon RX 460, entry-level card from 2016
Storage1 TB NVMe SSD512 GB SSD plus 1 TB mechanical hard drive
WirelessNo Wi-Fi or Bluetooth built inWi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 built in
Size and buildCompact black-and-gold chassis, business workstation designWhite tower with 8 RGB fans, gaming styling
Included accessoriesNone beyond the systemRGB keyboard and mouse included

Price history

$2,197.51$488.88
Nov 2Nov 10
  • HP Z2 G1i Workstation: lowest $1,699.00 on Nov 10 at HP.
  • Gaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop: lowest $488.88 on Nov 10 at Walmart.

Prices at every store

HP Z2 G1i Workstation

  • Best BuyNew

    In stock

    $1,699.00Checked Nov 10
    Visit Best Buy
  • HPNew

    In stock

    $1,699.00Checked Nov 10
    Visit HP
  • Office DepotNew

    In stock

    $2,197.51Checked Nov 10
    Visit Office Depot
  • StaplesNew

    In stock

    $2,954.95Checked Nov 10
    Visit Staples
All 11 stores and price history →

Gaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop

  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Wolftec IncReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.

    $488.88Free shippingChecked 21 h ago
    Visit Walmart

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
Prices and history →

Specs compared

SpecHP Z2 G1i WorkstationGaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop
Operating SystemWindowsWindows
Processor BrandIntel CPUIntel CPU
Number Of Cores20-core10-core
Graphics ProcessorIntel GPUAMD GPU
ColorBlack, GoldWhite
Hard Drive TypeSolid State DriveSolid State Drive, Mechanical Hard Drive
ConnectionsUSB-A—
TouchscreenNo—
BluetoothNo—
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 9, Intel Core Ultra 7—
Windows VersionWindows 11 Pro—
Wi-FiNo—
Show all 27 specsShow fewer specs
SpecHP Z2 G1i WorkstationGaming-Pro Xeon E5 RGB Gaming Desktop
SSD Size1 TB—
Graphics Card NvidiaRTX 2000 Ada, RTX A1000—
USB VersionUSB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)—
Processor Speed (GHz)2.5—
Hard DriveSSD—
Memory Card ReaderNo—
Memory TypeDDR5—
Processor Cores24—
TypeCompact—
Processor Model

What reviewers say

HP Z2 G1i Workstation

  • 4.4 / 547 ratings

Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 47 ratings, buyers generally report a fast, solid workstation for professional software. Complaints center on the integrated graphics and the price relative to consumer desktops.

What people mention
  • PerformancePraisedOwners say the 20-core Core Ultra keeps CAD and multitasking workloads responsive.
  • GraphicsCriticisedBuyers note the integrated Intel GPU is not suited to gaming or heavy GPU rendering.
  • BuildPraisedReviewers describe the Z-series chassis as sturdy and easy to service.
  • ValueMixedSome buyers find the price high next to consumer desktops with similar cores.

Questions and answers

Which is better for CAD and 3D rendering?
The HP Z2 G1i. Its Core Ultra 7 or 9 has far more cores, its DDR5 memory is faster, and the RTX A1000 or RTX 2000 Ada are certified for professional applications. The Xeon E5 and RX 460 in the Gaming-Pro are a decade behind.
Can the Gaming-Pro run modern games?
Only at low settings and 1080p. The RX 460 is an entry-level card from 2016, so recent titles will need reduced quality. The HP's professional GPUs are not gaming-focused either, but they are far newer.
Which lasts longer?
The HP. Current-generation parts, DDR5, and an NVMe SSD will stay useful for years. The Gaming-Pro's Xeon E5 platform is already obsolete, and its mechanical hard drive is the most likely part to fail.
Do I need Wi-Fi on a desktop?
The Gaming-Pro has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth built in. The HP Z2 G1i has neither, so plan on Ethernet or a USB Wi-Fi adapter if you cannot run a cable.
Is the Gaming-Pro worth stepping up to over a basic office PC?
Only if you want the RGB case, the included keyboard and mouse, and light gaming. For office work, a current low-end desktop is faster and more efficient than the old Xeon.
Which is quieter?
The HP is built as a compact business workstation with a controlled cooling design. The Gaming-Pro uses 8 RGB fans, which can be louder under load.

Ask our shopping agent

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best value gaming desktop computers
  • Best desktop computers with 32GB RAM
285H
—
Sound CardYes—
RAM64 GB, 32 GB—
Processor Speed—3 GHz
Installed Memory—32 GB RAM
Drive Capacity—512 GB Storage