Save money on HP computers

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[Kathy Stevens]

Just discovered a way to save a substantial amount of money when acquiring HP computers.

We are in the process of upgrading our computer fleet and have settled on acquiring customizable HP Z2 G9 Tower Workstations (SKU: 4N3U9AV_MB) purchased directly from the HP store.

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/ConfigureView?langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&catEntryId=3074457345620313320&urlLangId=&quantity=1

The machines are available via HP’s “Black Friday Deals Now!” program and are marked down from $2,007.00 to $1,123.92 a saving of  $883.08 before customization.

The first two workstations we ordered were configured as follows:

• Windows 11 Pro,
• Intel Core i7-14700 Processor vPro Enterprise (2.1 GHz, up to 5.4 GHz w/Boost, 33 MB cache, 20 core, 65W) + Intel UHD Graphics 770,
• 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR5-4800 UDIMM Memory,
• 256 GB PCIe 4×4 2280 Value M.2 SSD,
• NVIDIA T400 (4 GB GDDR6, 3 x Mini DisplayPort) Graphics,
• 5mm SuperMulti DVDRW Optical Disc Drive,
• Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 + Bluetooth 5.4 (no-vPro), and
• HP Z2 Tower G9 Workstation – 450 W.

However, after ordering the first two PCs Susan Bradley recommended that we go with at least 32 GB of memory vs the 16 GB we ordered.

During a conversation with HP support they recommended that we upgrade the machines we have already purchased with either Crucial or Kingston RAM.  A search of the online sites of memory vendors revealed that the additional RAM will be less than what we paid HP for their customization RAM upgrades.

Bottom line, when it comes to RAM and storage, we are better off configuring our HP computers with the least expensive options and then going out to third party vendors to purchase the components to configure the machines the way we want them.

• This topic was modified 5 months, 4 weeks ago by Kathy Stevens.
• This topic was modified 5 months, 4 weeks ago by Kathy Stevens.

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opti1, TechTango

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If you’re looking for desktops or servers, look at building your own. I usually order my parts from NewEgg, Microcenter, … whoever has the parts I need at the best price. Massive savings with huge specs. Never had any problems.

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AlphaCharlie

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Mike

I am afraid that I do not have the technical knowledge or time to build a workstation myself.

I find it a challenge to simply add RAM and a couple of drives to a new computer.

The thought of having to:

• Have the expertise to know what components I would need to build a PC;
• Finding the required components at NewEgg, Microcenter, BestBuy, B&H Photo, etc.;
• Attaching them to the motherboard; and
• Closing up the case is overwhelming and probably very time consuming.

Think about it.  I have to ask myself if I am better off focusing on my job running a small energy analysis organization (data collection, building quantitative models, undertaking analysis, and sharing results with our clients) and thereby generating revenue or building computers.

It all comes down to the cost benefit of building my own or purchasing a workstation from HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.

In addition, the HP Z2 G9 Tower Workstations that we are purchasing come with three-year on-site parts and labor warranties.  I the past, HP technicians have come to our facility and repaired malfunctioning computers that were still under warrantee.

I respect your ability to build your own PCs, but purchasing the finished product better fits our business model.

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Kathy,

Right on POINT!

One comment thought Micro-Center will build the computers for you. However, you will be responsible for the individual parts warrantee’s and probably something else that would just take you away from those revenue generating activities.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Kathy Stevens

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Fair enough. I assumed you were in IT/device provisioning.

There is something to be said with being able to hand off problems when they are under warranty.

(BTW, building PCs is super easy these days; Sites like NewEgg will let you choose the specs you want and then show you the options of what you need to buy to meet the compatibility reqs… but you are right — it will take a little longer to mount and plug everything together, especially if you’ve never done it before)

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Kathy Stevens

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HP’s “Black Friday Deals Now!” sale continues here in the States.

We have now acquired two customizable HP Z2 G9 Tower Workstations (SKU: 4N3U9AV_MB).  One is scheduled for delivery on Monday and the other has not been shipped.

However, after configuring the first two, we realized that HP charges premium prices for “customizable” components such as memory, SSDs, and graphics cards.

We will be ordering additional work stations later this week.  But this time we will be ordering bare bone workstations and purchasing additional memory, SSDs, and graphics cards from third parties such as B&H Photo, Newegg, and Best Buy and installing the components ourselves.

Hopefully we can save even more on components due to Black Friday sales.

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Cybertooth

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That’s been my experience with HP, as well: you can get fantastic deals on their specials, but you’re much better off buying as basic a set of components as you can, and then filling out the system with upgrades purchased elsewhere.

However, when shopping for the customizable models, even if you don’t buy components from them it pays to fill them in on the customization page, as selecting a component may reveal additional expansion options. Yesterday I checked out the page for the model you had linked to, and as I clicked on each additional drive option for storage, there turned out to be a second, a third, and even a fourth drive spot available for the machine. They’re all very pricey of course, but had I not kept clicking successively on those options I wouldn’t have known that this PC could take that many drives. Pretty impressive system you’re getting.

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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Kathy Stevens

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