HP ZBook Fury G1i 18 runs cooler than the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus, but there's a catch

The HP ZBook Fury G1i 18 and Dell Pro Max 18 Plus are some of the strongest 18-inch mobile workstations currently available. Each model can be configured with similar top-of-the-line processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX CPU and Nvidia RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU for extreme levels of performance. Nonetheless, the two models couldn't be more different in several respects once you dig deeper beyond their paper specifications.

As shown by the screenshots below, the processors in the HP system run noticeably cooler than on the Dell even when both test units are configured with the same CPU and GPU. When running Cyberpunk 2077 on Performance mode, for example, the CPU and GPU in the HP would stabilize at 77 C and 64 C, respectively, compared to 104 C and 75 C on the Dell. Lower core temperatures are desirable for longevity concerns especially when running demanding loads for extended periods.

Unfortunately, for HP, there are several key disadvantages to the ZBook Fury G1i 18. Raw performance, for example, is slightly but consistently slower than the Dell. Fan noise is also noticeably louder on the HP when running demanding loads meaning that its cooler core temperatures may not be ideal for all scenarios. Performance hunters might therefore want to consider the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus while the HP has slight advantages elsewhere including its support for up to four M.2 SSDs and a faster display refresh rate.

More benchmarks and differences about the HP ZBook Fury G1i 18 can be found on our full review.