Analyst(s): Olivier Blanchard
Publication Date: March 28, 2025
At its Amplify 2025 event, HP launched new additions to its Z by HP portfolio – the ZBook Fury G1i and Z2 Tower G1i – built for professionals running high-performance AI, CAD, and 3D workloads. These systems integrate Intel Core Ultra processors and NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell GPUs, enabling powerful local compute capabilities.
What is Covered in this Article:
- Launch of ZBook Fury G1i (16”/18”) and Z2 Tower G1i with support for NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell GPUs
- Desktop-class Z2 Tower G1i supports up to 600W GPU and 36TB storage
- Introduction of ZGX Nano and ZGX Fury AI Stations, powered by NVIDIA GB10 and GB300 chips
The News: At its Amplify 2025 event, HP introduced its latest Z by HP workstations. Engineered for demanding AI and creative workflows, the ZBook Fury G1i (which comes in 16-inch and 18-inch variants) comes powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX CPU, which features an integrated NPU capable of delivering up to 13 TOPS. Users can equip it with up to 192GB of DDR5 RAM, 16TB of NVMe storage, and NVIDIA’s RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell mobile GPU. The workstation also brings an industry-first three-fan cooling setup alongside Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and optional ECC/non-ECC memory. The 18-inch version is touted as the most powerful 18-inch mobile workstation globally, delivering 30% more digital workspace compared to the 16-inch model.
The Z2 Tower G1i is built to support up to a 600W RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPU with 96GB of GDDR7 memory, 256GB DDR5 RAM, and 36TB of storage. It features a re-engineered chassis with lattice-style venting and phase change cooling for better thermals. It also fits into rack setups with support for HP’s remote system controller.
HP also launched the ZGX Nano AI Station G1n and ZGX Fury AI Station G1n, which were created in partnership with NVIDIA and powered by GB10 and GB300 chips. These are intended for flexible and secure on-premise AI development.
HP Expands Workstation Portfolio with AI-Ready ZBook Fury G1i and Z2 Tower G1i
Analyst Take: HP’s refreshed ZBook Fury G1i and Z2 Tower G1i aim to address the high-performance needs of developers, designers, and engineers working on AI-centric projects. Armed with cutting-edge NVIDIA RTX PRO Blackwell GPUs, Intel’s Arrow Lake chips, and revamped cooling, HP is broadening local AI computing options beyond the Copilot+ ecosystem to lean more on the GPU than on the NPU for use cases that benefit from that type of configuration. The broader workstation lineup and branding tweaks also reflect a user-centric product design strategy that aims to meet users where they are rather than funnel them toward AI PC configurations that may not always suit their specific needs.
ZBook Fury G1i Prioritises GPU-Driven Local AI
The ZBook Fury G1i packs robust specs into a mobile chassis, offering up to 192GB DDR5 RAM, 16TB of NVMe storage, and compatibility with RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell GPUs. HP’s triple-fan cooling—an industry first—ensures sustained power for AI tasks, CAD, and 3D rendering. The 18-inch model provides 30% more working space than its 16-inch sibling, appealing to professionals using tools like Autodesk Inventor.
With its integrated NPU limited to 13 TOPS—far under the 40 TOPS needed for Windows Copilot+—the AI workstation moniker comes with caveats. HP addresses this by leaning on the RTX PRO 5000 GPUs for handling AI loads. Although unavailable at launch, these GPUs are expected once NVIDIA ships its new workstation lineup. Paired with Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and ECC/non-ECC memory options, the machine is built for high-performance local workflows that don’t depend on the cloud.
This type of configuration denotes a notebook PC that will spend most of its time plugged in, at least when relying most heavily on the GPU for AI and other graphics-heavy workloads. That said, its 99Wh fast charge battery is specced to charge up to 50% in about 30 minutes, allowing a user to get back to work while on the road quickly. The compromise is that this setup is less suited for road warriors and purely mobile PC users, who might find more battery autonomy and pure portability in a Copilot+ PC but less GPU horsepower. Again, this PC is designed with a particular type of use case in mind, unlike most general-use PCs, like the ones found in the Copilot+ category.
Note that this also serves as a market-proof point for Intel’s Arrow Lake generation of Core Ultra processors, which continue to have a place in the AI PC ecosystem despite the popularity of the newer Lunar Lake generation of Core Ultra processors (designed for use in Copilot+ PCs). Intel is helping make the case for the argument that not all AI PCs need to fit within the Copilot+ ecosystem with this type of PC, and it will be interesting to see how well Arrow Lake PCs do in the next few cycles.
Z2 Tower G1i Delivers Scalable Thermal and Compute Power
HP’s Z2 Tower G1i supports up to a 600W RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPU with 96GB of GDDR7 memory, 36TB of storage, and notable thermal enhancements—88% more GPU power and 67% improved CPU cooling over its predecessor. Its redesigned case incorporates lattice vents and phase change materials to handle sustained workloads.
For 3D artists and Revit users, that translates to faster rendering, smoother interactions, and improved handling of complex models. With rack-mount compatibility and optional Remote System Controller, IT teams can deploy and manage these systems at scale. HP’s assertion that it’s the “world’s most powerful entry workstation” signals a push toward budget-conscious segments without compromising capability.
AI Station Series Expands HP’s Role in On-Prem AI Development
The ZGX Nano and ZGX Fury AI Stations extend HP’s footprint in AI infrastructure, standing as its equivalents to NVIDIA’s DGX Spark and DGX Station. Built on GB10 and GB300 architectures, these units are designed for scalable, secure on-prem AI workflows—supporting everything from training to inference.
HP augments this with its proprietary software suite: AI Studio for collaborative development, Z Boost for GPU tuning, and GenAI Lab to monitor model bias and reliability. This integrated ecosystem is meant to boost developer efficiency and maintain complete control over the end-to-end AI pipeline—without needing to rely on external cloud platforms.
What to Watch:
- HP has not released pricing or launch timelines for any of the new systems
- Workstation NPUs top out at 13 TOPS, far below the 40 TOPS Copilot+ threshold, requiring heavy GPU reliance
- Competing OEMs like Dell are launching similar GB300-based workstations with comparable specs
- Integration of HP’s AI software stack with enterprise environments will be critical to long-term adoption
See the complete press release on HP’s ZBook Fury G1i, Z2 Tower G1i, and AI Station announcements on the HP website.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
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Image Credit: HP
Author Information
Olivier Blanchard is Research Director, Intelligent Devices. He covers edge semiconductors and intelligent AI-capable devices for Futurum. In addition to having co-authored several books about digital transformation and AI with Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman, Blanchard brings considerable experience demystifying new and emerging technologies, advising clients on how best to future-proof their organizations, and helping maximize the positive impacts of technology disruption while mitigating their potentially negative effects. Follow his extended analysis on X and LinkedIn.
