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HP ProBook 450 G2 Notebook Review

With stamina. The ProBook 450 G2 attracts buyers with its low heating, low system noise, good input devices, and long battery runtimes. The display is a major weakness. In addition, HP charges a steep price for the computer.

For the original German review, see here.

The models of the ProBook 450 series are aimed at private as well as business users. The same is true of the cheaper ProBook 455 series with the same design, but AMD APUs. We have already reviewed several models of both series: the ProBook 450 G0 H0V92EA, the ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA, and the ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA. Our test model is equipped with a Broadwell processor. Our review will reveal whether this ProBook 450 model can outperform its siblings.

The ProBook has many competitors, for example the Fujitsu LifeBook E554, the Dell Latitude E5550, the Lenovo ThinkPad E555, the Lenovo ThinkPad L540, and the Acer TravelMate P455-M.

Case & Connectivity

The ProBook 450 G2 uses the same colors and materials as the previously reviewed ProBook 450/455 models. The topside of the base unit is made of aluminum. The rest of the case is made of plastic. The lid is rubberized, which ensures grip. The build quality and the stability of the G2 model do not give cause for complaint. However, we feel that the base unit can be twisted too easily.

HP has changed the case compared to the predecessor models. The differences are not immediately apparent, but the ProBook 450 G2 is slightly slimmer than its siblings. The area above the keyboard is no longer flat, but curved upwards towards the edge. In addition, the step in front of the touchpad has disappeared. Consequently, the mouse buttons have a slightly different shape. The underside has also changed: the large maintenance hatch has given way to two smaller ones. In addition, the ProBook 450 G2 uses a smaller, lighter battery (227 gram vs. 300 gram; ~8 vs. ~10.6 oz) with a lower capacity (40 Wh vs. 47 Wh).

There is only a small change in connectivity: while the siblings feature a headphones-out and a mic-in, HP has used an audio combo jack in the ProBook 450 G2. 

Maintenance hatch: Probook 450 G0/G1
Maintenance hatch: Probook 450 G0/G1
Maintenance hatch: Probook 450 G2
Maintenance hatch: Probook 450 G2
Touchpad Probook 450 G0/G1 (Bild: HP)
Touchpad Probook 450 G0/G1 (Bild: HP)
Touchpad Probook 450 G2
Touchpad Probook 450 G2
right side HP Probook 450 G0/G1
right side HP Probook 450 G0/G1
right side HP Probook 450 G2
right side HP Probook 450 G2

Input Devices

Input devices
Input devices

We are already familiar with the Chiclet keyboard of the ProBook from the predecessors. The test device houses a model with integrated lighting and two brightness levels. The keys have a short travel and clear pressure point, and are easy to use. Overall, the typing experience is pleasant and the keyboard is suitable for prolific writers. The multi-touch capable touchpad of the ProBook has a size of 10.3 x 5.4 cm (~4.1 x 2.1 in). Therefore, there is not much space for gesture control. The smooth surface does not prevent fingers from gliding. The mouse buttons have a short travel and a clear pressure point.

Display

HP has equipped the ProBook 450 G2 with a 15.6-inch matte display with a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels. This is surprising. We actually expected a Full HD model in view of the price range of the computer (about 800 Euros; ~$868). Brightness (225 cd/m²) and contrast (353:1) of the display are not impressive. Once again, the price creates higher expectations: it should have a brightness of above 300 cd/m² and a four-digit contrast.

219
cd/m²
226
cd/m²
227
cd/m²
214
cd/m²
254
cd/m²
225
cd/m²
221
cd/m²
219
cd/m²
220
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B156XW04 V1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 254 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 225 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 256 cd/m²
Contrast: 353:1 (Black: 0.72 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.73 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 11.23 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
36.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
56.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
37.91% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.21
Probook vs. sRGB
Probook vs. sRGB
Probook vs. AdobeRGB
Probook vs. AdobeRGB

The ProBook cannot represent the sRGB and AdobeRGB color spaces. The coverage is 36.2% (AdobeRGB) and 52% (sRGB), respectively. With factory settings, the DeltaE 2000 shift is 10.73. We usually meet such values in the cheap price category. The target value should be smaller than 3. In addition, the display is bluish cast. By calibrating the display, we were able to significantly decrease the color shift. The color shift dropped to 3.78 and was then very close to the target range.

CalMAN - Color Checker
CalMAN - Color Checker
CalMAN - Gray levels
CalMAN - Gray levels
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - Color Checker (calibrated)
CalMAN - Color Checker (calibrated)
CalMAN - Gray levels (calibrated)
CalMAN - Gray levels (calibrated)
CalMAN - Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN - Color saturation (calibrated)
The Probook outdoors
The Probook outdoors

HP has equipped the ProBook with only a TN panel with narrow viewing angles. An IPS panel with wide viewing angles would have been justified in view of the price. The ProBook can also be used outdoors, but the sun should not be too bright.

Performance

The ProBook 450 G2 is an entry-level business notebook. It is aimed at professionals as well as private users. At the time of writing, the price was about 800 Euros (~$868). Thus, it is not particularly attractive to private users. However, HP also offers cheaper models with Haswell processors. For example the HP ProBook 450 G2 J4S59EA (Core i3-4030U, matte HD display, 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB HDD, Windows 8.1) is available for 430 Euros (~$466). Several models of the ProBook 455 series are priced under 400 Euros (~$434).

Processor

With the Core i5-5200U dual-core processor, the ProBook houses a representative of Intel's new Broadwell series. It is a ULV processor with a TDP of 15 Watts. The CPUs of the predecessor generation (Haswell) have the same TDP. The processors works at a base clock of 2.2 GHz. The Turbo can increase the clock rate to 2.5 GHz (both cores) or 2.7 GHz (only one core). It is only used in mains operation. In battery mode, the CPU constantly clocks at 2.2 GHz.

Intel's naming suggests that the Core i5-4200U processor is the predecessor of the Core i5-5200U. The latter features slightly higher Turbo clocks (2.5 GHz vs. 2.3 GHz; 2.7 GHz vs. 2.6 GHz) while the base clocks difference falls (2.2 GHz vs. 1.6 GHz). Thanks to a slightly higher clock rate and improvements in the Broadwell architectures, the Core i5-5200U is about 5 to 15% faster than its predecessor. The performance gain is greater in multithread applications than in single thread applications.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
8671
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4595
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4189
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
2.86 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.29 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
17.33 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
23.16 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
260 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
109 Points
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
260 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
581 Points +123%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
93 Points -64%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
307 Points +18%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
140 Points -46%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
236 Points -9%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
294 Points +13%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
230 Points -12%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
279 Points +7%
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
109 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
123 Points +13%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
60 Points -45%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
123 Points +13%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
48 Points -56%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
100 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
115 Points +6%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
97 Points -11%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
116 Points +6%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2.86 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
6.3 Points +120%
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
2.45 Points -14%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
1.03 Points -64%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
3.3 Points +15%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
1.55 Points -46%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
2.54 Points -11%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
3.25 Points +14%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
2.46 Points -14%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
3.08 Points +8%
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
1.29 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
1.42 Points +10%
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
0.95 Points -26%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
0.68 Points -47%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
1.41 Points +9%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
0.56 Points -57%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
1.12 Points -13%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
1.36 Points +5%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
1.11 Points -14%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
1.37 Points +6%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
8671 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
17431 Points +101%
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
7214 Points -17%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
3148 Points -64%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
10389 Points +20%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
4103 Points -53%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
7722 Points -11%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
9355 Points +8%
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
4189 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
4577 Points +9%
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
3401 Points -19%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
2214 Points -47%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
4582 Points +9%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
1287 Points -69%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
3568 Points -15%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
4498 Points +7%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2472 Points
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
1512 Points -39%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2945 Points +19%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
1459 Points -41%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
2688 Points +9%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
2291 Points -7%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2650 Points +7%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
4983 Points
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
2115 Points -58%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
6185 Points +24%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
3355 Points -33%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
5641 Points +13%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
4430 Points -11%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
5390 Points +8%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
122.4 ms *
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
188.4 ms * -54%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
161.4 ms * -32%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
96.5 ms * +21%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
199.5 ms * -63%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
101.2 ms * +17%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2532 ms *
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2240 ms * +12%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
1304 ms * +48%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
1272 ms * +50%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
4950 ms * -95%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2389 ms * +6%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
13037 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
27518 Points +111%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
24097 Points +85%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
14952 Points +15%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
7421 Points -43%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
13570 Points +4%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2325 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
5154 Points +122%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
4690 Points +102%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2781 Points +20%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2779 Points +20%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

The fast solid-state disk ensures that the system works fast and Windows boots up quickly. The powerful processor provides sufficient processing performance for most everyday tasks. It is not surprising that the computer performs very well in the PCMark benchmarks. The graphics performance could be increased by adding a second RAM module. The RAM will then work in dual channel mode and the GPU is used more efficiently.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2973 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3377 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4125 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2973 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
2737 Points -8%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2723 Points -8%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
2173 Points -27%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
3008 Points +1%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
2028 Points -32%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2800 Points -6%

Storage Devices

a free M.2 slot
a free M.2 slot

Our test device comes with a 2.5-inch solid-state disk from Samsung. It delivers very good read rates, but the write rates lie well below today's possibilities. The notebook features an additional M.2 slot. Thus, the user can enjoy the advantages of an SSD without waiving a big storage capacity by connecting an SSD to the M.2 slot and replacing the existing SSD with a conventional hard drive.

We tried this and incorporated an M.2 SSD (Transcend TS128GMTS400, 128 GB) in the computer. We did not want to perform a fresh Windows 8.1 installation, but copy the existing installation to the M.2 SSD. More specifically: We wanted to clone the existing SSD. This works flawlessly. We used the tool "Macrium Reflect Free Edition (64-bit)" for cloning. It took 10 minutes. Certainly, you can also use other programs. When the cloning has finished, the PC is shut down and you can remove the 2.5-inch SSD from the computer. The next time the computer is switched on, it boots from the M.2 SSD.

Note: In case Macrium Reflect cannot detect the M.2 SSD or does not allow you to select it as target drive, you need to create a primary partition on the M.2 SSD first. The tool "Diskpart" can be used for this, which is part of Windows. Microsoft provides a user guide for this program.

All partitions shall be copied to the new M.2 SSD.
All partitions shall be copied to the new M.2 SSD.
The process took only 10 minutes.
The process took only 10 minutes.
Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
Sequential Read: 517 MB/s
Sequential Write: 139.3 MB/s
512K Read: 424.2 MB/s
512K Write: 137.6 MB/s
4K Read: 27.92 MB/s
4K Write: 92.9 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 27.92 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 139.1 MB/s

Graphics Card

HP has not equipped our test model with a dedicated GPU. Intel's HD Graphics 5500 graphics core is used. It supports DirectX 11.2 and clocks at up to 900 MHz. The results of the 3D Mark benchmarks are as expected. As already mentioned, adding a second RAM module (= dual channel mode) will improve graphics performance. We tried this and the score increased by about 15% to 1105 points in the 3D Mark 2011 benchmark.

3DMark 11 Performance
958 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
41489 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4399 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
561 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
958 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
1042 Points +9%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
501 Points -48%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
1040 Points +9%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
964 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
849 Points -11%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
777 Points -19%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
1028 Points +7%
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
41489 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
48718 Points +17%
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
22863 Points -45%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
24007 Points -42%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
47406 Points +14%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
24924 Points -40%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
33711 Points -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
36385 Points -12%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
33077 Points -20%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
45368 Points +9%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
4399 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
5705 Points +30%
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
2688 Points -39%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
1963 Points -55%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
5192 Points +18%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
2594 Points -41%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
3865 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
4421 Points +1%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
3744 Points -15%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
4680 Points +6%
1280x720 Sky Diver Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2378 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2888 Points +21%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
2010 Points -15%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
2501 Points +5%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
561 Points
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
595 Points +6%
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
345 Points -39%
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
332 Points -41%
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
653 Points +16%
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
527 Points -6%
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
480 Points -14%
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
524 Points -7%
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
494 Points -12%
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
618 Points +10%

Gaming Performance

Those looking for a gaming capable notebook should not put the ProBook on the short list. The ProBook is suitable for casual gaming at best, and the owner has to be satisfied with low resolutions and low quality settings. Higher settings are only possible in games with low hardware requirements. Performance hungry top games from 2014/2015 usually do not achieve playable frame rates. A second RAM module also increases the frame rates in computer games. Depending on the game, the performance gain is 5 to 40%. Thanks to dual channel mode, the frame rate increased by over 35% to 53.8 fps (min.), 28.2 fps (medium), 18.2 fps (high) in the game “Tomb Raider”.

low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 40.8 21 13.5

Emissions & Energy

System Noise

The ProBook 450 G2 is interesting for those looking for a quiet notebook. While idling, the fan usually stands still and the notebook is silent. Even under load, the fan is not loud. During the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour) we measured a noise level of 34.3 dB(A) - a good value.

Noise Level

Idle
28.9 / 28.9 / 28.9 dB(A)
DVD
36.4 / dB(A)
Load
32.9 / 34.3 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-451 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

The Probook during the stress test
The Probook during the stress test

Whether on battery or mains, the Aspire behaves the same way during our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour): In the first minute, the processor clocks at 2.5 GHz and the graphics core at 900 MHz. Afterwards the clock rates fall to 1.4 to 1.6 GHz (processor) and 750 to 800 MHz (GPU), respectively. A positive impact of the lower clock rates is the low heating of the case. The computer does not get warmer than lukewarm.

Max. Load
 31.7 °C
89 F
25.8 °C
78 F
23.5 °C
74 F
 
 32.7 °C
91 F
32.4 °C
90 F
23.5 °C
74 F
 
 25.2 °C
77 F
25.4 °C
78 F
23.3 °C
74 F
 
Maximum: 32.7 °C = 91 F
Average: 27.1 °C = 81 F
24 °C
75 F
25.5 °C
78 F
28.4 °C
83 F
24.3 °C
76 F
28.2 °C
83 F
34.5 °C
94 F
24.5 °C
76 F
26.2 °C
79 F
26.9 °C
80 F
Maximum: 34.5 °C = 94 F
Average: 26.9 °C = 80 F
Power Supply (max.)  39.9 °C = 104 F | Room Temperature 20.5 °C = 69 F | Fluke 62 Max
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 27.1 °C / 81 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 32.7 °C / 91 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.5 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.4 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.5 °C / 77.9 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (+2.2 °C / 4 F).

Speakers

The speakers still sit above the keyboard beneath a perforated cover in the ProBook 450 G2. Overall, they produce a decent sound, which is pleasant to listen to for a prolonged period. At higher volumes, high tones tend to sound tinny. With the pre-installed DTS software, you can adapt the sound to your preferences.

Power Consumption

The ProBook is very frugal while idling. We measure values of up to 5 Watts, which is even lower than most Haswell notebooks that were already very frugal. HP has done a good job in this respect. Under load, the power consumption is at a normal level. We recorded the maximum power consumption (36.2 Watts) at the beginning of the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour). Later, the value drops to about 25.1 Watts as the CPU and GPU are throttled.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.4 / 4.4 / 5 Watt
Load midlight 23.8 / 36.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Extech Power Analyzer 380803
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

Our realistic WLAN test automatically opens websites at 40-second intervals. The energy saving profile is active and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². The ProBook reaches a very good battery life of 7:36 h and outperforms all ProBook 450/455 models we have reviewed so far by a big margin. The battery life is even more impressive, in view of the fact that the ProBook 450 G2 has a lower battery capacity than its predecessors/siblings (40 Wh vs. 47 Wh).

Battery Runtime
WiFi Surfing
7h 36min
Battery Runtime - WiFi (sort by value)
HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
456 min
HP ProBook 450 G1 E9Y58EA
HD Graphics 4600, 4702MQ, Seagate Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB
288 min
HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA
HD Graphics 4000, 3120M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
191 min
HP ProBook 455 G1 H6P57EA
Radeon HD 7420G, A4-4300M, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT012-1DG142
261 min
Fujitsu LifeBook E554
HD Graphics 4600, 4210M, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
382 min
Lenovo Thinkpad E555
Radeon R5 (Kaveri), A8-7100, Seagate ST500LM021-1KJ15
238 min
Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD075
315 min
Lenovo ThinkPad L540 20AV002YGE
HD Graphics 4600, 4200M, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K500 HTS725050A7E630
298 min
Acer TravelMate P455-M-54204G50Makk
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, Seagate Momentus Thin ST500LT0 12-9WS142
270 min
Dell Latitude E5550 Broadwell
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR
381 min

Verdict

The ProBook 450 G2 has many properties expected from a business device. For example, it comes with a processor, which delivers sufficient processing performance for most application scenarios. The notebook always works quietly and hardly gets warm. The power consumption is low and the battery runtimes are very good. As in most notebooks, the greatest weakness is the display. HP has incorporated only a quite dark, low-contrast model with HD resolution. In view of a price of roughly 800 Euros (~$868), the built-in display is unacceptable. The same applies for only one year of warranty.

The price is another point of criticism. 800 Euros (~$868) is too much for this device. The price range is on the level of the higher-end ProBook 650 models. The Haswell siblings of the ProBook 450 are significantly cheaper. Even if you would retrofit an SSD in these, it would still be cheaper. For example the similar HP ProBook 450 G2 J4S75EA (Core i5-4210U, 500-GB-HDD) is priced at about 620 Euros (~$672). Several retailers also include a warranty extension to three years.

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In Review: HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA. Test model courtesy of HP
In Review: HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA. Test model courtesy of HP

Specifications

HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA (ProBook 450 G5 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-5200U 2 x 2.2 - 2.7 GHz, Broadwell
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 5500, Core: 900 MHz, single channel, 10.18.10.3995
Memory
4 GB 
, DDR3, single channel, two RAM slots (one slot used)
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel, AU Optronics B156XW04 V1, TN LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Broadwell-U PCH-LP (Premium)
Storage
Samsung SSD PM851 128 GB MZ7TE128HMGR, 128 GB 
, 80 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC282 @ Intel Broadwell PCH-LP - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audiokombo, Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, TPM 1.2
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive
hp DVDRW SU208GB
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 25.5 x 375 x 262.8 ( = 1 x 14.76 x 10.35 in)
Battery
40 Wh Lithium-Ion, 14.8 V, 2550 mAh
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD web cam
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Cyberlink Power2Go 8, Cyberlink PowerDVD 12, MS Office (trial version), 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.1 kg ( = 74.08 oz / 4.63 pounds), Power Supply: 313 g ( = 11.04 oz / 0.69 pounds)
Price
800 Euro

 

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Pros

+matte screen
+fast Solid State Disk
+free M.2 slot
+very good battery life
+works quietly
+gets hardly warmer
+two Windows operating systems
 

Cons

-dark, low-contrast screen
-just 12-months warranty
-steep price

Shortcut

What we like

Quiet system noise, low heating, low power consumption and good battery runtimes.

What we would like to see

A better display.

What surprises us

The computer has the same price point as the models of the higher-end Probook 650 series. Why shouldn't you the Probook 650 right away?

The competition

Fujitsu LifeBook E554, Dell Latitude E5550, Lenovo Thinkpad E555, Toshiba Satellite Pro R50-B-112, Lenovo Thinkpad L540, HP Probook 455, Acer Travelmate P255-M, Acer Travelmate P455-M

Rating

HP ProBook 450 G2 L3Q27EA - 03/04/2015 v4(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
83 / 98 → 85%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
84%
Connectivity
70 / 80 → 88%
Weight
62 / 20-67 → 89%
Battery
90%
Display
74%
Games Performance
66 / 68 → 97%
Application Performance
76 / 92 → 83%
Temperature
94%
Noise
96%
Audio
59%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
75%
82%
Office - Weighted Average
Sascha Mölck, 2015-03- 8 (Update: 2015-03- 9)