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English => Reviews => Topic started by: Redaktion on July 04, 2025, 20:23:57

Title: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Redaktion on July 04, 2025, 20:23:57
HP's ZBook Ultra G1a 14 is among the most expensive current 14-inch laptops in the Windows market, but also one of the most interesting ones. With Strix Halo, it takes on the workstation market with a unique concept. In this review, we are taking a look at the WUXGA and Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 version.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/First-serious-14-inch-workstation-laptop-thanks-to-Strix-Halo-HP-ZBook-Ultra-G1a-review.1031131.0.html
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Dont_Look_Up on July 05, 2025, 11:06:12
I have a question regarding Geekbench. It seems that it is giving 1.5 times higher score to Apple M CPUs in comparison to any other Intel or AMD CPU than any other benchmark (like CB 23, CB 2024, Blender etc) gives. It creates such a false impression about the Apple M series and many articles use only Geekbench to compare CPUs...

For example in this article both Ryzen halo 395 and 390 are faster than M4 14 core in CB23, but in Geekbench, M4 is faster than the Ryzen 390 by 44% !

It is simply a biased and unreliable benchmark and I don't understand why reviewers use it at all.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: richardnpaul on July 05, 2025, 11:45:28
That pricing can't be right. I was looking in the UK on HP's own website and that's about the same price as the 64GB 395 with 1TB of storage which is £2,291.99
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Mark Clayton on July 05, 2025, 18:12:42
The UK does have some import tariffs (a few percent at most), whereas the USA has 20% on kit like this, soon to rise to ???%

UK imports and UK goods are all subject to VAT (like a sales tax as in NY), however businesses can reclaim this against VAT on items or services they sell [even if they keep it to use].
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: AlexZ on July 05, 2025, 18:21:16
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 05, 2025, 11:06:12I have a question regarding Geekbench. It seems that it is giving 1.5 times higher score to Apple M CPUs in comparison to any other Intel or AMD CPU

Geekbench is crap.  If anything, it's only suitable for comparing x86 CPUs with each other, but not between x86 and Apple M.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Dont_Look_Up on July 05, 2025, 23:00:41
Quote from: AlexZ on July 05, 2025, 18:21:16Geekbench is crap.  If anything, it's only suitable for comparing x86 CPUs with each other, but not between x86 and Apple M.

Correct, but explain that to people who read articles online comparing Apple to other CPUs based only on Geekbench, The situation is so ridiculous that if you believe Geekbench, a 10W tablet with Apple M CPU has similar score to a top of the line 150W Ryzen Desktop CPU!

Go figure!
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 05, 2025, 23:20:32
Typical x86 fanboy BS comment, Geekbench6 is fair comparison, it adopts all the x86 intrinsics, AVX2/512, VNNI, and lots of other hardware accelerators like DLboost. All you c l o w n s talking cheap BULLCRAP like "SME2 is cheating" KYS!! IF SME2 is cheating than AVX2, AVX512, VNNI and DLboost is cheating too!!!

M4MAX 16incher gets 187/2150 on CINEBENCH2024, for comparison 160w++ PL1 285HX gets 135/2200.
In comparison LLVM 16.0 Ninja Bulid takes 233s for M4MAX and 286s for DESKTOP 285K with 8000CUDIMM.

Accept once and forever that ARM64 is the superior platform, oh and not to mention SVE2.2 is just about to be adopted for M5 and NVIDIA DIGITS already has SVE2.1, even in fulll SIMD loads like Raytracing the M4MAX with a 4x128b /core NEON+FMLA(1clock cycle/NEON and FMLA efficiency) can almost catch up with 275HX.
SVE2 ARM CPU's will wipe the floor with crap x86 in SIMD loads. They already win in NOSIMD and SCALAR.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 05, 2025, 23:22:27
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 05, 2025, 11:06:12I have a question regarding Geekbench. It seems that it is giving 1.5 times higher score to Apple M CPUs in comparison to any other Intel or AMD CPU than any other benchmark (like CB 23, CB 2024, Blender etc) gives. It creates such a false impression about the Apple M series and many articles use only Geekbench to compare CPUs...

For example in this article both Ryzen halo 395 and 390 are faster than M4 14 core in CB23, but in Geekbench, M4 is faster than the Ryzen 390 by 44% !

It is simply a biased and unreliable benchmark and I don't understand why reviewers use it at all.

JUST THE USUAL R23 CLOWN trying to justify x86 superiority with a bullshit x86 biased benchmark that was compiled for M1(even that was poorly done).
CB2024 M4P 1780
M4M 2150
STRIX HALO isnt winning s***
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 09:37:23
Quote from: M4M on July 05, 2025, 23:22:27JUST THE USUAL R23 CLOWN

I think you forgot to take your pills.

Fine you like CB2024? Compare the ratio between Apple M4 and other Intel, AMD CPUs with CB2024 and with Geekbench!

Cheetbench is giving to Apple 30% higher score than CB2024.

Now learn how to talk politely on forums (maybe with the help of pills?)
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Worgarthe on July 06, 2025, 10:17:34
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 09:37:23Now learn how to talk politely on forums (maybe with the help of pills?)
Ignore the iSheep. When Cinebech shows Apple M chips to be the fastest then it's an absolute perfection of an ultimately relevant benchmark to them. As soon as Apple M is not the fastest there anymore the whole benchmark immediately becomes an absolute junk and suddenly only relevant ones are those where Apple M is still leading.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:45:14
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 09:37:23
Quote from: M4M on July 05, 2025, 23:22:27JUST THE USUAL R23 CLOWN

I think you forgot to take your pills.

Fine you like CB2024? Compare the ratio between Apple M4 and other Intel, AMD CPUs with CB2024 and with Geekbench!

Cheetbench is giving to Apple 30% higher score than CB2024.

Now learn how to talk politely on forums (maybe with the help of pills?)

You better lower your v o i c e to me, you wouldnt dare s a y i n g s*** IRL i promise you that💪! Now sit d o w n, x86sheep.
Back to classroom little guy! Till then stop the arrogant ignorant yap!!!!
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:52:14
Quote from: Worgarthe on July 06, 2025, 10:17:34
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 09:37:23Now learn how to talk politely on forums (maybe with the help of pills?)
Ignore the iSheep. When Cinebech shows Apple M chips to be the fastest then it's an absolute perfection of an ultimately relevant benchmark to them. As soon as Apple M is not the fastest there anymore the whole benchmark immediately becomes an absolute junk and suddenly only relevant ones are those where Apple M is still leading.
Relevant ones are up to date ones you absolute c l o w n, typical x86sheep style fashion ignoring the benchmarks where ARM64 is doing well or better and only yapping about shitmarks (r23) that were obsolote garbage the day they came out. Now take the words of your lord and f u c k  o f f BACK TO SCHOOL little g i r l b o y!!!🤡
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Worgarthe on July 06, 2025, 12:57:14
Quote from: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:52:14Relevant ones are up to date ones you absolute c l o w n, typical x86sheep style fashion ignoring the benchmarks where ARM64 is doing well or better and only yapping about shitmarks (r23) that were obsolote garbage the day they came out. Now take the words of your lord and f u c k  o f f BACK TO SCHOOL little g i r l b o y!!!🤡
Certified 10 y.o., nice.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 13:41:24
Quote from: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:45:14You better lower your v o i c e to me, you wouldnt dare s a y i n g s*** IRL i promise you that💪! Now sit d o w n, x86sheep.
Back to classroom little guy! Till then stop the arrogant ignorant yap!!!!

Quote from: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:52:14Now take the words of your lord and f u c k  o f f BACK TO SCHOOL little g i r l b o y!!!🤡

Wow, his psychiatric condition is even worse than I thought!
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 06, 2025, 14:10:58
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 13:41:24
Quote from: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:45:14You better lower your v o i c e to me, you wouldnt dare s a y i n g s*** IRL i promise you that💪! Now sit d o w n, x86sheep.
Back to classroom little guy! Till then stop the arrogant ignorant yap!!!!

Quote from: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:52:14Now take the words of your lord and f u c k  o f f BACK TO SCHOOL little g i r l b o y!!!🤡

Wow, his psychiatric condition is even worse than I thought!
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 13:41:24
Quote from: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:45:14You better lower your v o i c e to me, you wouldnt dare s a y i n g s*** IRL i promise you that💪! Now sit d o w n, x86sheep.
Back to classroom little guy! Till then stop the arrogant ignorant yap!!!!

Quote from: M4M on July 06, 2025, 11:52:14Now take the words of your lord and f u c k  o f f BACK TO SCHOOL little g i r l b o y!!!🤡

Wow, his psychiatric condition is even worse than I thought!
Usual tech i n c e l
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: tigolebitties on July 06, 2025, 22:30:58
Notebookcheck's comment section is slowly getting more ghetto now that gsmarena refugees are coming...
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Psyduck on July 07, 2025, 09:39:46
Quote from: M4M on July 05, 2025, 23:20:32Accept once and forever that ARM64 is the superior platform

Hard to get excited when Nvidia is blatantly refusing to serve the consumer market. People are practically begging for a true non apple alternative yet they're too busy milking AI.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: YrpUQQmk on July 07, 2025, 17:35:10
@ Benjamin Herzig

I had to return two HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a units (390/64GB/OLED) due to repeated BSOD or restarts without warning.

Did you experience any of these issues during testing?

I am considering buying another unit – wondered if the issues were fixed.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Benjamin Herzig on July 07, 2025, 23:24:24
BSODs no, but as detailed in the review, the ZBook restarted during the battery testing without warning. This was with the latest BIOS offered by HP installed.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: It's not ready on July 08, 2025, 04:44:55
I had random restarts or points where it would freeze also too. In addition to this, certain large downloads for me just kept ending up corrupted. For reference, this was on 385/32GB/FHD-IPS variant.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Gabrielle on July 10, 2025, 07:43:46
QuoteHowever, with some newer titles, we had problems, as the games would not start due to insufficient VRAM.

wait..what? "insufficient VRAM"? its supposed to pull from 32GB system RAM to fit whatever memory need the process demand is my understanding. is hp implementation wrong or the game requires more memory than what the system can provide with 32GB pool?
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: 32 GB of 128 GB RAM? DOA on July 14, 2025, 15:48:12
Using the expensive Strix Halo, 256-bit, chip, but giving it only 32 GB RAM is major trolling. DOA.

AMD specifically advertises the Strix Halo, a 256-bit chip (4 * 64-bit, also known as quad-channel) for LLM self-hosting (see AMD's slides about it), but with only 32 GB RAM, instead of the up-to 128 GB RAM, that this 8000MT/s, quad-channel, chip supports, it's literally major wasting of silicon and hardware. At least 64 GB RAM would have been ok. Unbelievable.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 27, 2025, 23:15:57
Quote from: Worgarthe on July 06, 2025, 10:17:34
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 09:37:23Now learn how to talk politely on forums (maybe with the help of pills?)
Ignore the iSheep. When Cinebech shows Apple M chips to be the fastest then it's an absolute perfection of an ultimately relevant benchmark to them. As soon as Apple M is not the fastest there anymore the whole benchmark immediately becomes an absolute junk and suddenly only relevant ones are those where Apple M is still leading.
Your m o t h er is a fu ck ing sheep you c o ck su ck er x86shill.
C-Ray2.0 5K full SIMD FMLA load, 285K 300w++ =145s to render, M4pro 63.5W under full SIMD = 143.5s
M4Max absolutely annihilates 285K and 9950X in pure raw performance
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Worgarthe on July 27, 2025, 23:24:35
Quote from: M4M on July 27, 2025, 23:15:57
Quote from: Worgarthe on July 06, 2025, 10:17:34
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 09:37:23Now learn how to talk politely on forums (maybe with the help of pills?)
Ignore the iSheep. When Cinebech shows Apple M chips to be the fastest then it's an absolute perfection of an ultimately relevant benchmark to them. As soon as Apple M is not the fastest there anymore the whole benchmark immediately becomes an absolute junk and suddenly only relevant ones are those where Apple M is still leading.
Your m o t h er is a fu ck ing sheep you c o ck su ck er x86shill.
C-Ray2.0 5K full SIMD FMLA load, 285K 300w++ =145s to render, M4pro 63.5W under full SIMD = 143.5s
M4Max absolutely annihilates 285K and 9950X in pure raw performance
Skill issue. Stay mad.
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 29, 2025, 16:19:33
Quote from: Worgarthe on July 27, 2025, 23:24:35
Quote from: M4M on July 27, 2025, 23:15:57
Quote from: Worgarthe on July 06, 2025, 10:17:34
Quote from: Dont_Look_Up on July 06, 2025, 09:37:23Now learn how to talk politely on forums (maybe with the help of pills?)
Ignore the iSheep. When Cinebech shows Apple M chips to be the fastest then it's an absolute perfection of an ultimately relevant benchmark to them. As soon as Apple M is not the fastest there anymore the whole benchmark immediately becomes an absolute junk and suddenly only relevant ones are those where Apple M is still leading.
Your m o t h er is a fu ck ing sheep you c o ck su ck er x86shill.
C-Ray2.0 5K full SIMD FMLA load, 285K 300w++ =145s to render, M4pro 63.5W under full SIMD = 143.5s
M4Max absolutely annihilates 285K and 9950X in pure raw performance
Skill issue. Stay mad.
you stay mad f u c k i n g x86shill C-Ray 2.0 5k M4pro is faster than 285K and 9950X. M4pro has more raw power than desktop x86 garbage. Stay mad  r e t a r d CISCshill
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Worgarthe on July 29, 2025, 17:00:54
Quote from: M4M on July 29, 2025, 16:19:33you stay mad f u c k i n g x86shill C-Ray 2.0 5k M4pro is faster than 285K and 9950X. M4pro has more raw power than desktop x86 garbage. Stay mad  r e t a r d CISCshill
And exactly this is why you don't do drugs as a child 👆
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: M4M on July 29, 2025, 19:30:05
Quote from: Worgarthe on July 29, 2025, 17:00:54
Quote from: M4M on July 29, 2025, 16:19:33you stay mad f u c k i n g x86shill C-Ray 2.0 5k M4pro is faster than 285K and 9950X. M4pro has more raw power than desktop x86 garbage. Stay mad  r e t a r d CISCshill
And exactly this is why you don't do drugs as a child 👆
You dont talk to me like that l i tt l e  boy i promise that IRL you'd scream in pain like  the rest of them painfully average arrogant c l o w n s. I am a 1x pro nats winner athlete, you a r e weak p l e b F U CK !!!!
Title: Re: First serious 14-inch workstation laptop thanks to Strix Halo: HP ZBook Ultra G1a review
Post by: Foxxii on July 30, 2025, 13:31:20
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The ZBook Ultra G1a 14 really stands out, not just for its price but for packing AMD's Strix Halo and Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 into a sleek 14-inch form—finally, a real contender in the mobile workstation space with serious AI chops and thermal efficiency.
The ZBook Ultra G1a 14 really stands out, not just for its price but for packing AMD's Strix Halo and Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 into a sleek 14-inch form—finally, a real contender in the mobile workstation space with serious AI chops and thermal efficiency.