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HP ProBook 470 G4 Notebook Review

Business giant17-inch laptops are rare in the business sector. Thus, it is all the more pleasing that HP offers a particularly well-conceived model in its portfolio in the form of HP ProBook 470 G4. Our report reveals why it does not have any serious competition.

For the original German review, see here.

HP's ProBook 470 G4 is the largest model in HP's ProBook 400 series. If this is too much laptop, alternative smaller HP ProBook models such as the ProBook 430 G4 (13-inch), ProBook 440 G4 (14-inch) or ProBook 450 G4 (15-inch) are also available. Even though the uniform visual design line underlines the relationship just from outside, there are some fundamental differences inside. HP's ProBook 470 G4 always comes with Nvidia's dedicated 930MX graphics unit and is, fortunately, equipped with a viewing angle stable IPS, Full HD panel. Beyond that, our review sample is equipped with Intel's Core i7-7500U processor from the Kaby Lake generation, 8 GB of RAM, and an SSD-HDD combination. At a current purchase price of around 1100 Euros (~$1173), it comes close to the premium configuration offered in HP's online configurator.

good (86%) HP ProBook 470 G4 Intel Core i7-7500UNVIDIA GeForce 930MX Office - 11/26/2016 - v5.1
Test device courtesy of http://store.hp.com/GermanyStore/Default.aspx
Download your licensed rating image as PNG / SVG
HP ProBook 470 G4 (ProBook 470 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-7500U 2 x 2.7 - 3.5 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1019 MHz, Memory: 1000 MHz, Forceware 368.71, Nvidia Optimus Intel HD Graphics 620 + Nvidia Geforce 930MX
Memory
8 GB 
, 1x 8 GB PC4-2400, 1 empty slot
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, AUO109D, LED IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-256G, 256 GB 
, TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100 (1000 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA-II)
Soundcard
Intel SST Audio Device
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 combo jack (microphone in and headphone out), Card Reader: Realtek PCIe UHS-I card reader, SD, SDHC, SDXC, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Sensors: brightness sensor
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2
Optical drive
HP DVDRW GUD1N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 26 x 417 x 280 ( = 1.02 x 16.42 x 11.02 in)
Battery
48 Wh Lithium-Ion, internal 3 cell battery
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p HD webcam
Additional features
Speakers: 2 stereo speakers, Keyboard: chiclet with dedicated numpad, Keyboard Light: yes, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.77 kg ( = 97.71 oz / 6.11 pounds), Power Supply: 350 g ( = 12.35 oz / 0.77 pounds)
Price
1070 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The aluminum-colored casing of HP's ProBook 470 G4 makes a high-quality and restrained impression. Only the working area around the keyboard presents a brushed metal surface. The casing's tray and display lid are made of plastic. Thanks to the matching colors, the transition of the different materials is seamless, ensuring a uniform, consistent look.

The overall stability is good, and should be more than satisfactory for most application scenarios. However, the review sample's rigidity cannot match the stability of a unibody aluminum casing or that of premium business devices.

The determined weight of 2.77 kg (~6.1 lb) is quite moderate for a 17-inch laptop, and is thus still quite portable. Thanks to the good battery life, the 350-gram (~12 oz) power supply can often be left at home.

Size Comparison

423 mm / 16.7 inch 282 mm / 11.1 inch 28 mm / 1.102 inch 3 kg6.61 lbs417 mm / 16.4 inch 280 mm / 11 inch 26 mm / 1.024 inch 2.8 kg6.11 lbs412.5 mm / 16.2 inch 277.5 mm / 10.9 inch 22.6 mm / 0.89 inch 2.8 kg6.11 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

HP's ProBook 470 G4 features good connectivity, and covers a wide range of possible application scenarios. Two of the four USB ports support the USB 3.0 standard, one of which is implemented as a Type-C port. However, a Thunderbolt port or USB 3.1 Gen.2 is not present.

Although the ProBook is equipped with two video outs and the graphics chips actually support high resolutions at a frame rate of 60 Hz, the laptop cannot utilize this. It does not have the necessary interface, such as DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0. The review sample at most reached 2048x1536 pixels at 60 Hz via analog VGA, and 4096x2160 pixels at 24 Hz via HDMI.

Otherwise, contrary to the current trend, an optical drive and LAN port are installed.

The interface distribution is rather inconsistent: While the ports on the right are situated far back and thus will hardly interfere with connected peripherals, the ports on the left are far front and much too close to each other.

SD Card Reader

Although Realtek's card reader is connected via PCIe, it only supports UHS-I speeds at a maximum. Consequently, a top speed of only 83 MB/s in read and 62 MB/s in write were possible with our Toshiba Exceria Pro 64 GB reference card. On the other hand, the USB performance did not exhibit any weaknesses and achieved a very good 401 MB/s in read and 334 MB/s in write (Samsung Portable SSD T1 250 GB).

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
HP ProBook 470 G4
 
52 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
HP ProBook 470 G4
 
83 MB/s

Communication

Intel's Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n/ac), and Bluetooth 4.2 provide the communications equipment. Gigabit-LAN and an HD webcam are also installed. An internal broadband module cannot be ordered or retrofitted. The Wi-Fi connection speed and stability made a good impression in the test. At a distance of 17 meters (~56 ft) in line of view, the Bluetooth module maintained a stable connection to an external UE Boom 2.

Networking
WiFi Speed Client 1m
WiFi Speed Server 1m

Security

HP's ProBook provides a good basic security configuration in the form of a Trusted Platform 2.0 module and a fingerprint scanner as well as the usual BIOS and system password authentication. On the other hand, a SmartCard reader is not offered, even as an option.

Accessories

Among other things, HP lists its HP Elite USB-C docking station as a compatible model. It facilitates integrating the laptop into a stationary work environment and thus contributes a welcome addition for convenience. Since it is connected via USB 3.0 speed, higher performance interfaces are not available. Currently, the prices start at around 220 Euros (~$235). As a rule, HP's ProBooks do not appear on the compatibility list of HP's Elite Thunderbolt 3 docking stations.

Maintenance

The dedicated maintenance hatch allows accessing the most important components quite easily. One RAM bank is still unoccupied in the review sample; a hard drive and solid-state drive are already inserted in the 2.5-inch drive and M.2 slots. The fan is also easily accessible and easy to clean when required.  On the other hand, it is not possible to access the 48-Wh battery, which is installed under the base-plate.

Warranty

Independent of the legal warranty, the manufacturer's warranty is 12 months. Various extensions and upgrades are available during configuration in HP's online store. For example, a 3-year on-site service can be added starting at 136 Euros (~$145) depending on services, and HP demands 174 Euros (~$186) for a 5-year bring-in service.

Input Devices

Keyboard

As befits a 17-inch laptop, HP's ProBook 17 G4 features full-sized keys in a 19-mm (~0.8 in) grid. However, the dedicated number pad on the right has moved the main keyboard to the left, which leads to an asymmetrical arrangement alongside the touchpad. This left-sided layout will annoy some users as it might lead to an unnatural hand placement during center-seated position in front of the screen. A model without  a number pad is not offered.

The keyboard provides a very good feedback in terms of a decent pressure point, relatively quiet stroke, and overall firm surface. The keyboard's letters are high-contrast and can be illuminated pleasantly in dark environments thanks to a two-level backlight. The key layout corresponds to the standard and is not confusing. HP has also added welcome quick access features for screen brightness control, volume, and keyboard backlight via FN combinations.

Touchpad

The touchpad has a practical size of 121 x 66 mm (~4.8 x 2.6 in) and offers good gliding properties. Inputs are implemented reliably. Two-finger tapping can replace the right-clicking with the mouse. However, the touchpad sometimes produces a clacking noise then. The mouse buttons integrated in the input area are pleasant to use and confirm inputs with a quiet click sound.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad
Extra keys for Wi-Fi and mute
Extra keys for Wi-Fi and mute
The numpad pushes the keyboard to the left
The numpad pushes the keyboard to the left

Display

Pixel structure with a very visibly roughened surface
Pixel structure with a very visibly roughened surface

TTwo different screens are offered for HP's ProBook 470 G4. Buyers should not make the mistake of opting for the model with an HD+ panel (1600x900 pixels). Just looking at its specification sheet, this model already shows too many drawbacks. As well as a much lower resolution, its brightness, viewing angle stability, contrast, and reproducible color space are considerably worse than the Full HD UWVA screen (1920x1020 pixels) in our review sample. The listed surcharge for the superior screen is a moderate 50 Euros (~$53) in HP's online store, and will certainly prove to be a good investment in the long run.

303
cd/m²
316
cd/m²
315
cd/m²
309
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
320
cd/m²
325
cd/m²
324
cd/m²
325
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO109D tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 361 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 322 cd/m² Minimum: 21.5 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 361 cd/m²
Contrast: 1504:1 (Black: 0.24 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
93.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
91.6% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.1% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.17
HP ProBook 470 G4
AUO109D, , 1920x1080, 17.30
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
AU Optronics B173HTN01.1, , 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
LG Philips LGD 0513 / 173WF4, , 1920x1080, 17.30
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
LEN4123, , 3840x2160, 17.30
Dell Precision 7710
SDC8151, VHN17_173HL, , 1920x1080, 17.30
Display
4%
-2%
27%
4%
Display P3 Coverage
64.1
71.3
11%
67.4
5%
90.8
42%
66.6
4%
sRGB Coverage
92
91.7
0%
86.3
-6%
100
9%
96.9
5%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
65.7
67.1
2%
63.1
-4%
85.4
30%
68.6
4%
Response Times
9%
17%
-3%
-26%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(15, 29)
42 ?(21, 21)
5%
36 ?(14, 22)
18%
44 ?(17.2, 26.8)
-0%
50 ?(17, 33)
-14%
Response Time Black / White *
26 ?(7, 19)
23 ?(6, 17)
12%
22 ?(5, 17)
15%
27.6 ?(4.8, 22.8)
-6%
36 ?(11, 25)
-38%
PWM Frequency
1000 ?(90)
228 ?(95)
198 ?(25)
Screen
-44%
-35%
-14%
-7%
Brightness middle
361
353
-2%
327
-9%
365
1%
332
-8%
Brightness
322
320
-1%
314
-2%
341
6%
307
-5%
Brightness Distribution
84
82
-2%
87
4%
85
1%
83
-1%
Black Level *
0.24
0.38
-58%
0.3
-25%
0.4
-67%
0.33
-38%
Contrast
1504
929
-38%
1090
-28%
913
-39%
1006
-33%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.4
5.07
-49%
6.75
-99%
3.8
-12%
3
12%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
6.6
10.12
-53%
11.82
-79%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4
13.38
-235%
7.91
-98%
6.09
-52%
4
-0%
Gamma
2.17 101%
2.69 82%
2.31 95%
2.3 96%
2 110%
CCT
6879 94%
15991 41%
7642 85%
6332 103%
7089 92%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59.6
60.1
1%
57
-4%
76.01
28%
62
4%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
91.6
91.6
0%
86
-6%
99.97
9%
97
6%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-10% / -27%
-7% / -21%
3% / -4%
-10% / -7%

* ... smaller is better

Color space coverage in comparison with sRGB1966
Color space coverage in comparison with sRGB1966

It is not only on the specification sheet that the good rates are seen, but they are sometimes even clearly surpassed. The maximum screen brightness, measured in the center, reaches 361 cd/m² (manufacturer: 300 cd/m²) and the contrast is 1480:1, thanks to the low black value of (manufacturer: 600:1). 10 brightness levels allow setting the brightness accurately enough. We measured 141 cd/m² at level 7, which we also used for the battery tests. The screen's illumination of 84% is still good and, above all, it does not display any conspicuous backlight bleeding or clouding. The screen's maximum brightness is also available in battery mode. This, combined with the matte surface ensures good outdoor usability.

Color space coverage in comparison with AdobeRGB98
Color space coverage in comparison with AdobeRGB98

The total of reproducible colors is above average with a 91.6% coverage of the sRGB color space. This ensures relatively accurate color gradations and an overall balanced color reproduction. However, the color accuracy is quite modest in the state of delivery. Many rates are far outside the actual target range. Calibrating improves the color accuracy considerably. All measuring points are then within the standard and the colors are accurate enough even for the professional field. The average DeltaE 2000 (aberration from the ideal; the less the better) is 1.5 and the maximum DeltaE 2000 is 3.9.

Grayscale
Grayscale
Colorspace
Colorspace
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Grayscale
Grayscale
Colorspace
Colorspace
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker
ColorChecker

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 19 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 57 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15 ms rise
↘ 29 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 69 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The viewing angle stability of AU Optronics' screen is very good. Inverting or fading colors were not discovered. Only a light red color tint and a slight change in brightness were observed from acute viewing angles.

Viewing angles: HP ProBook 470 G4 Full HD UWVA panel
Viewing angles: HP ProBook 470 G4 Full HD UWVA panel

Performance

As in many new releases, processors of Intel's latest Kaby Lake generation are used in HP's ProBook 470 G4. All three versions starting with Intel's Core i3-7100U over Intel's Core i5-7200U up to Intel's Core i7-7500U are found on the configuration list. Our review sample is equipped with the currently slightly stronger descendant of the series. Nvidia's dedicated GeForce 930MX graphics card from the lower mid-range, 8 GB of RAM and an M.2 solid-state drive as the system drive, are also part of the package.

Processor

The review sample's performance based on Intel's Core i7-7500U processor has a legitimate edge on Intel's Core i5-7200U and its direct predecessor, Intel's Core i7-6500U, primarily in the single-core tests thanks to its higher clock rate. The performance is overall good here, and it is more than sufficient for everyday tasks. On the other hand, the multi-core performance is rather disappointing. Although the processor should achieve a clear lead in this scenario, it remains on par with its rivals. As our previous tests show, this is not unique to the ProBook but can be observed in other laptops. The reason for this could be the cooling system since MSI's CX72-7QL is much faster here.

The performance drops by roughly 20% in battery mode.

The processor's clock rate gradually throttled from an initial 3.4 GHz to a stable 2.8 to 2.9 GHz in the stress test. More CPU comparisons can be made using our extensive CPU benchmark list.

Stress test initiation
Stress test initiation
Stress test roughly 80 minutes later
Stress test roughly 80 minutes later
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo IdeaPad 510-15IKB 80SV0087GE
Intel Core i7-7500U
148 Points +1%
HP ProBook 470 G4
Intel Core i7-7500U
146 Points
MSI CX72-7QL
Intel Core i7-7500U
145 Points -1%
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i7
Intel Core i7-7500U
137 Points -6%
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points -12%
MSI CX72-7QLi581
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points -12%
HP ProBook 470 G3
Intel Core i7-6500U
125 Points -14%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
116 Points -21%
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI CX72-7QL
Intel Core i7-7500U
363 Points +9%
Lenovo IdeaPad 510-15IKB 80SV0087GE
Intel Core i7-7500U
338 Points +2%
Dell XPS 13 9360 QHD+ i7
Intel Core i7-7500U
334 Points 0%
HP ProBook 470 G4
Intel Core i7-7500U
333 Points
MSI CX72-7QLi581
Intel Core i5-7200U
332 Points 0%
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
Intel Core i5-7200U
328 Points -2%
HP ProBook 470 G3
Intel Core i7-6500U
323 Points -3%
HP ProBook 450 G3
Intel Core i5-6200U
288 Points -14%
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5646
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
11649
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6810
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.66 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.7 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
40.7 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
146 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
333 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
47.8 fps
Help

System Performance

The system performance benefits from the review sample's overall balanced composition of components. In addition to the processor, primarily the installed storage devices have a major impact on the subjective work speed. HP combines a fast solid-state drive as the system storage and a high-capacity hard drive as the data container. This is complemented by an 8 GB RAM module and Nvidia's GeForce 930MX graphics unit. The working memory is a minor bottleneck as it only operates in single-channel mode. A second module would enable the faster dual-channel mode, which would increase the storage performance by roughly 20%. Installing a second module would quickly and easily remedy this.

Basically, the components achieve a very good speed in routine use. Office, Internet, image editing or casual gaming is not a challenge for the system. Intel's efficient Quick-Sync video technology is best used for converting (providing that the software is supported).

In the PCMark 8 System benchmark, the review sample achieved very good 4823 points in the work test and good 3626 points in the home test.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-CE512
3696 Points +2%
HP ProBook 470 G4
GeForce 930MX, i7-7500U, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-256G
3626 Points
HP ProBook 470 G3
Radeon R7 M340, 6500U, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-75JC3T0
3399 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
3345 Points -8%
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD5000LPCX-24C6HT0
2854 Points -21%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP ProBook 470 G4
GeForce 930MX, i7-7500U, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-256G
4823 Points
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-CE512
4572 Points -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
4411 Points -9%
HP ProBook 470 G3
Radeon R7 M340, 6500U, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-75JC3T0
4177 Points -13%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3626 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4576 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4823 points
Help

Storage Devices

Although SanDisk's Z400s solid-state drive installed in the review sample is made in the more modern and compact M.2 form factor, it still operates with the SATA interface. Furthermore, this NAND solution's maximum write speed of 323 MB/s lags far behind some rivals. This primarily affects the speed at which programs are installed or data is transferred to the system partition.

Compared with conventional hard drives, this storage device still writes twice as fast and does not give the impression of a slow storage system. This is also the case with the additionally installed, Toshiba hard drive. However, this concept  is not intended to shine with the highest possible transfer rates, but rather, to provide as much and as cheap a storage capacity as possible. A capacity of 1 TB should be enough for photos, videos and other files for some time. Replacing either drive is no problem thanks to the dedicated maintenance hatch.

Extensive comparisons can be made using our storage device benchmark list.

HP ProBook 470 G4
SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-256G
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD5000LPCX-24C6HT0
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
Liteonit CV3-CE512
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
HP ProBook 470 G3
WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-75JC3T0
MSI CX72-7QLi581
WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-22JC3T0
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-93%
42%
60%
-89%
-91%
Read Seq
472
88.9
-81%
486.4
3%
509
8%
111.4
-76%
102.8
-78%
Write Seq
323
70.9
-78%
438.4
36%
457.8
42%
107.7
-67%
100.2
-69%
Read 4k
16.9
0.381
-98%
32.3
91%
29.88
77%
0.434
-97%
0.422
-98%
Write 4k
81.4
1.117
-99%
65.8
-19%
104.1
28%
1.281
-98%
1.063
-99%
Read 4k QD32
148
0.891
-99%
334.4
126%
391.8
165%
1.126
-99%
0.918
-99%
Write 4k QD32
254
1.13
-100%
289.5
14%
350.4
38%
1.313
-99%
1.064
-100%
SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-256G
Sequential Read: 472 MB/s
Sequential Write: 323 MB/s
4K Read: 16.9 MB/s
4K Write: 81.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 148 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 254 MB/s

Graphics Card

HP's ProBook 470 G4 is equipped with an Nvidia Optimus solution in the form of Intel's HD Graphics 620 and Nvidia's GeForce 930MX. The ideal graphics unit is selected automatically or according to personal preferences. Intel's integrated graphics unit is used for low demands or converting via Intel's Quick Sync, while Nvidia's dedicated graphics unit is enabled when as much 3D performance as possible is needed. This is usually the case when playing games or creating 3D-designs. Intel's HD Graphics 620 is easily enough for all other tasks, especially since the review sample is hardly suitable for outputting high-resolution 4K material due to the absence of the required interfaces.

As expected, Nvidia's GeForce 930MX is situated slightly below Nvidia's GeForce 940MX in the benchmark test. Compared with Intel's HD Graphics 620, it achieves a few more frame rates per second, but cannot really be called suitable for gaming. For example, it achieves 7050 points in 3DMark Cloud Gate and is enough for a tight 48 FPS in Cinebench R15 OpenGL.

The graphics performance drops by roughly 10% in battery mode. For example, 37 FPS rather than 40 FPS are reached in Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL Shading.

Nvidia's graphics unit maintains its full performance without clock fluctuations during full load. The clock rate remains stable at just over 1 GHz.

More comparisons can be made with our GPU benchmark list.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, Intel Core i7-6820HQ
8264 Points +276%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
2734 Points +24%
MSI CX72-7QLi581
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i5-7200U
2387 Points +9%
HP ProBook 470 G4
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
2197 Points
HP ProBook 470 G3
AMD Radeon R7 M340, Intel Core i7-6500U
2151 Points -2%
Lenovo Yoga 710-14IKB 80V4002HGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1403 Points -36%
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1331 Points -39%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, Intel Core i7-6820HQ
38539 Points +325%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
11713 Points +29%
HP ProBook 470 G4
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
9066 Points
Lenovo Yoga 710-14IKB 80V4002HGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6670 Points -26%
HP ProBook 470 G3
AMD Radeon R7 M340, Intel Core i7-6500U
6125 Points -32%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
NVIDIA Quadro M3000M, Intel Core i7-6820HQ
6415 Points +308%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
1889 Points +20%
HP ProBook 470 G4
NVIDIA GeForce 930MX, Intel Core i7-7500U
1573 Points
HP ProBook 470 G3
AMD Radeon R7 M340, Intel Core i7-6500U
1212 Points -23%
Lenovo Yoga 710-14IKB 80V4002HGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
777 Points -51%
3DMark 11 Performance
2336 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
51249 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
7050 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
1407 points
Help

Gaming Performance

As mentioned in the Graphics Card section, the gaming performance is not enough to call the laptop suitable for gaming. Many games can only be played using low or medium settings. Demanding games such as the "Witcher 3" are no fun with this in the long run. The graphics' power is simply too weak for these intentions. More comparisons can be made using our gaming benchmark list.

low med. high ultra
Metro: Last Light (2013) 50 39 22 11
Dirt Rally (2015) 161 58 31 13
The Witcher 3 (2015) 27 20 8

Emissions

System Noise

Despite the moderate temperature development, the review sample's cooling system is very restrained. If it was not for the engine noise of the 1 TB hard drive, the laptop would be silent during little load. However, most users are unlikely to perceive our measured noise level of 31.7 dB(A). It first gets louder when medium processing load is demanded for more than a few seconds. The fan then speeds up and produces a noise of 37.82 dB(A). The measured rate gradually climbs from initial 40.2 dB(A) to around 43 dB(A) after about 15 minutes and then almost 46 dB(A) in the stress test. The fan produces a restrained noise characteristic with slowly fluctuating speeds. We did not observe sporadic speed variations or high-pitched noises in the review sample.

Noise Level

Idle
29.7 / 31.7 / 31.7 dB(A)
HDD
31.7 dB(A)
Load
37.8 / 45.9 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1 Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29.7 dB(A)

Temperature

The casing of the big 17-inch device remains cool even after one hour of our stress test as well as during little load. A maximum of 40 °C (~104 °F) is recorded in the work area and 46 °C (~115 °F) on the underside. A bit of caution is only needed in the vent's area since the grilles could get unpleasantly hot at 63.7 °C (~147 °F). However, this is true for almost all laptops and is not a real restriction.

Max. Load
 40 °C
104 F
29.5 °C
85 F
25.7 °C
78 F
 
 37.5 °C
100 F
39.6 °C
103 F
25.3 °C
78 F
 
 27.4 °C
81 F
25 °C
77 F
24.8 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 40 °C = 104 F
Average: 30.5 °C = 87 F
26.4 °C
80 F
29.1 °C
84 F
46 °C
115 F
25.8 °C
78 F
30.6 °C
87 F
30.7 °C
87 F
25.3 °C
78 F
27.4 °C
81 F
27.3 °C
81 F
Maximum: 46 °C = 115 F
Average: 29.8 °C = 86 F
Power Supply (max.)  56.4 °C = 134 F | Room Temperature 20.5 °C = 69 F | Fennel FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.5 °C / 87 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 40 °C / 104 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 46 °C / 115 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27 °C / 81 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 27.4 °C / 81.3 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 (+0.3 °C / 0.6 F).

Speakers

HP's ProBook 470 G4 has two 2-watt stereo speakers that are situated above the keyboard in the perforated area.

Although the treble-heavy sound characteristic offers some bass and mids, overall, it gives a slightly tinny impression. However, it is quite suitable for a short Internet video, some background music or video chats.

Users should fall back on external solutions for presentations, movies or games. They can be connected via Bluetooth, the 3.5-mm jack or USB.

A maximum volume of 76.7 dB(A) is achieved, but it sounds tinny
A maximum volume of 76.7 dB(A) is achieved, but it sounds tinny
Combined 3.5-mm jack for headsets
Combined 3.5-mm jack for headsets
Speaker bar
Speaker bar

Energy Management

Power supply with a nominal output of 65 watts
Power supply with a nominal output of 65 watts

Power Consumption

The review sample's power consumption is throughout moderate with a minimum of 4.3 watts (energy-saving mode, minimum screen brightness, and wireless off) to a maximum of 60.5 watts (stress test, high-performance profile, and dedicated graphics). Apparently, Intel's Kaby Lake generation makes a very positive impression primarily during little load. However, the other components, such as the dedicated graphics unit or screen, probably contribute to its two to three watts lower consumption in the comparison. The power supply has a nominal output of 65 watts, and thus even has a small reserve.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.22 / 0.35 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.3 / 8.8 / 9.4 Watt
Load midlight 51.2 / 60.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
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.
HP ProBook 470 G4
i7-7500U, GeForce 930MX, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-256G, LED IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
HP ProBook 470 G3
6500U, Radeon R7 M340, WDC Scorpio Blue WD10JPVX-75JC3T0, UWVA TN LED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
6500U, GeForce 940MX, Liteonit CV3-CE512, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Western Digital Scorpio Blue WD5000LPCX-24C6HT0, TN LED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Power Consumption
-18%
-12%
4%
Idle Minimum *
4.3
5.7
-33%
5.6
-30%
5.3
-23%
Idle Average *
8.8
11.3
-28%
11.2
-27%
10.1
-15%
Idle Maximum *
9.4
12.2
-30%
11.9
-27%
10.5
-12%
Load Average *
51.2
44.8
12%
46
10%
34.3
33%
Load Maximum *
60.5
66.3
-10%
53
12%
37
39%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The entire ProBook (G4) series is equipped with a 48-Wh battery. It cannot be removed from the outside. Thanks to the good consumption rates, the battery life is very good. Using adapted setting (balanced profile, wireless on, screen brightness approx. 150 cd/m²), the review sample managed 7 to 8 hours without its power supply. 5 to 6 hours should not be a problem even with intermediate load periods. This is an outstanding result, especially for the 17-inch category and considering the nominally low battery capacity, and is evidence of a very good configuration of components.

Battery Eater Reader's test
Battery Eater Reader's test
Video test
Video test
Wi-Fi test
Wi-Fi test
Battery Eater Classic test
Battery Eater Classic test
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
14h 31min
WiFi Websurfing (MS Edge)
7h 18min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
8h 46min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 32min
HP ProBook 470 G4
i7-7500U, GeForce 930MX, 48 Wh
Acer Aspire E5-774-54HJ
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 41 Wh
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
6500U, GeForce 940MX, 56 Wh
HP ProBook 470 G3
6500U, Radeon R7 M340, 44 Wh
MSI CX72-7QLi581
i5-7200U, GeForce 940MX, 41 Wh
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
i5-7200U, GeForce GTX 950M, 62 Wh
Battery Runtime
-27%
-7%
-44%
-37%
-18%
Reader / Idle
871
811
-7%
490
-44%
767
-12%
H.264
526
270
-49%
460
-13%
WiFi v1.3
438
320
-27%
495
13%
277
-37%
278
-37%
451
3%
Load
152
110
-28%
81
-47%
75
-51%

Pros

+ casing
+ screen
+ configuration
+ input devices
+ emissions
+ maintenance options
+ system performance

Cons

- CPU performance cannot be exhausted
- No UHD panels usable at 60 Hz

Verdict

In review: HP ProBook 470 G4
In review: HP ProBook 470 G4

HP's ProBook 470 G4 is a great business laptop in a rare 17-inch size. The user will find a very good keyboard, a very good screen, and an attractive casing at a fair price. Thanks to the extremely good battery life, the power supply can often be left at home. This compensates the limited mobility that the large size involves to some extent.

The performance configuration of the review sample has been set up practically, and provides a good performance for many application fields. Although the processor's performance does not quite fulfil the expectations during full load and some interfaces are absent, this will probably only be a minor restriction for the intended target group.

On the other hand, the missing possibility of using high-resolution UHD monitors at 60 Hz will probably be rather more dramatic, not only in the business sector. This unnecessarily limits the combination options, especially since it is "only" due to the lack of a corresponding interface.

Nevertheless, the concept of HP's ProBook 470 G4 is rounded and the lack of competition in the business sector makes it seem unrivalled at the moment. It might be just the right solution even for some home users.

HP ProBook 470 G4 - 11/26/2016 v5.1(old)
Tobias Winkler

Chassis
85 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
99%
Pointing Device
84%
Connectivity
53 / 80 → 67%
Weight
58 / 20-67 → 81%
Battery
90%
Display
89%
Games Performance
63 / 68 → 92%
Application Performance
87 / 92 → 95%
Temperature
91%
Noise
85%
Audio
69%
Camera
46 / 85 → 54%
Average
77%
86%
Office - Weighted Average

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Tobias Winkler, 2016-12- 3 (Update: 2018-05-15)