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HP ZBook Studio G3 Workstation Review

Too ambitious? The HP ZBook Studio G3 is the latest edition of the ZBook-series and follows the trend towards a slimmer device with powerful components. HP delivers a really good device in many aspects; however there are significant limitations in terms of emissions and the battery runtimes in particular.

For the original German review, see here.

As with other models from HP's current ZBook-series, the ZBook Studio carries the "G3" in its designation suggesting that it is the third generation. However, according to HP the ZBook Studio is an entirely new device and the "First Quad-Core Workstation Ultrabook". It seems that HP has forgotten its own Omen Pro 15, which can also be seen as a kind of predecessor to the ZBook Studio. Within the current ZBook series, the Studio G3 is positioned between the ZBook 15u and the ZBook 15; whereas the chassis follows that of the slim ZBook 15u the features are of the larger ZBook 15.

As is typical of workstation models, there is a wide range of configurations. The entry-level model costs around 2000 Euros (~$2230). Our review unit with the designation T7W04EA currently retails for around 3800 Euros (~$4237) and is equipped with a Core i7 quad-core processor, 16 GB of RAM, a dedicated Quadro GPU from Nvidia, a 4K display as well as an NVMe-SSD. HP even charges 5000 Euros (~$5575) for the most powerful configuration with a mobile Intel Xeon processor.

An obvious direct rival for the ZBook Studio G3 is the Dell Precision 5510, which is also pretty much on par with our review unit in terms of pricing. This is also the case for the MSI WS60, which is based on a gaming chassis, but can be equipped with an even more powerful GPU. There is not a direct competitor from Lenovo. The slim ThinkPad P50s uses much weaker ULV hardware and is also significantly less expensive, which is why we used the slightly thicker and heavier ThinkPad P50 for this comparison. HP also offers models in this range, so we have included the ZBook 15 G3 as well as the ZBook 15u G3. Depending on the range of applications, the Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 could be an interesting alternative as well.

HP ZBook Studio G3 (ZBook Studio Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-6820HQ 4 x 2.7 - 3.6 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1124 MHz, Memory: 1253 MHz, GDDR5, ForceWare 362.13, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2133, dual-channel, 2/2 slots used, up to 32 GB
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 282 PPI, Sharp SPH1445, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel CM236 (Skylake PCH-H)
Storage
Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e, 512 GB 
, 420 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Skylake PCH-H High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 2 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm Headset, Card Reader: SD UHS-II, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-LM (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18 x 375 x 255 ( = 0.71 x 14.76 x 10.04 in)
Battery
64 Wh, 3930 mAh Lithium-Ion, 4-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64 Bit) + Windows 10 Pro (64 Bit)
Camera
Webcam: 720p HD-Webcam
Additional features
Speakers: stereo speakers, Audio by Bang & Olufsen, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 150-Watt PSU, brochures, HP Performance Advisor, HP Remote Graphics Software, HP Client Security, HP Drive Encryption (FIPS 140-2), Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft Defender, HP ePrint Driver, HP PageLift, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
2.086 kg ( = 73.58 oz / 4.6 pounds), Power Supply: 446 g ( = 15.73 oz / 0.98 pounds)
Price
3800 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The chassis design of the HP ZBook Studio G3 is very similar to many other devices from the ZBook series. Probably the most striking difference is the lid, which lacks the rubberized surrounding frame around the inlay with the dotted structure. We think it looks slightly better and creates a more balanced appearance. Otherwise, however, there are hardly any differences. The notebook appears to be slimmer than it actually is due to the rounded edges, and we can find a polished edge around the base unit as well as the touchpad. The top of the base unit is matte-black and does not attract fingerprints. You will not find any glossy surfaces in general. Only the bottom cover, which is made of black plastic affects the tactile impression slightly, but is also well-integrated and has an appealing triangle pattern. The top half has openings to dissipate the heat.

At just 18 millimeters (~0.71 in), the ZBook Studio G3 is one of the slimmest devices in this comparison. However, this does not affect the stability since the base unit, which is made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy is very torsion and pressure resistant. The lid is also very sturdy. We can hear a slight creaking noise when we try to twist it, but we cannot provoke picture distortions, which is also the case for pressure on the back. The hinge is taut and prevents the display from teetering. The stability of the notebook is supported by the MIL-STD 810 certification (humidity, dust, temperatures, etc.), and the keyboard is splash proof. The build quality is excellent and does not have to hide behind the unibody design of a MacBook Pro.

four status LEDs
four status LEDs
left: ZBook Studio G3, right: ZBook 15 G3
left: ZBook Studio G3, right: ZBook 15 G3

On the left front there are four quite small and therefore inconspicuous status LEDs. The battery of the ZBook Studio G3 is located inside the case and secured by screws. A typical maintenance hatch is not included, but there is a cover for accessing the fans. It is also possible to remove the entire bottom cover to gain access to the most important components. We will have a closer look at the procedure in the Maintenance section.

Connectivity

The connectivity features of the ZBook Studio G3 are very similar to those of its larger sibling, ZBook 15 G3. The bigger VGA connector just did not fit into the slim chassis and has to be implemented via an adapter if necessary. We also have to do without a SmartCard reader. Otherwise, HP has used the available space very well and implemented a total of three standard USB 3.0 ports as well as two Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) with a USB Type-C connector. This means that the ZBook Studio G3 is quite future-proof and the missing proprietary docking port is easily compensated. More information about corresponding solutions is available in the Accessories section. We are not completely satisfied with the layout on the left side, because the two USB ports are just too close together. Our USB thumb drive Kingston HyperX blocked the adjacent USB port and we could not use it.

The performance of the ports is very good. We measured very good 311 and 323 MB/s (read/write) at the USB 3.0 port with our external Samsung SSDT1. The transfer rates of the integrated SD-card reader with UHS-II support are also very good. AS SSD determines 214 MB/s and 125 MB/s (read/write) with our reference card from Toshiba (Exceria Pro UHS-II 64 GB, up to 260 MB/s). Typical JPG images with ~5 MB each are transferred with 142 and 135 MB/s (read/write), respectively.

front: no ports
front: no ports
right: 3.5 mm audio, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, 2x Thunderbolt 3, power
right: 3.5 mm audio, USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, 2x Thunderbolt 3, power
left: Kensington Lock, Gigabit-Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0, SD-card reader
left: Kensington Lock, Gigabit-Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0, SD-card reader
rear: no ports
rear: no ports

Communication

Despite the slim base unit, HP has implemented a Gigabit-Ethernet port for wired networks. Wired network connections are handled by the popular module 8260 from Intel. It supports all major standards, including fast 802.11ac in 2.4 as well as 5 GHz and Bluetooth 4.2. The performance of the card is okay, but we have already measured higher transfer rates in other notebooks. We measured up to 62 MB/s (802.11n: ~12 MB/s) at about one meter (~3 ft) away from our router, ASUS RT-AC56U, while the ZBook 15 G3, for example, managed 80 MB/s in the same test environment.

Unfortunately, the ZBook Studio is not equipped with a WWAN module. This is not only the case for our review model, but all configurations. Therefore, Mobile Internet connections have to be established via smartphone or UMTS/LTE stick.

The HD webcam and the two microphones are located above the display. The sensor with 1280x720 pixels does its job, but that is pretty much it. We liked voice recording much better, where an external headset is not always necessary.

Security

HP has equipped the ZBook Studio G3 with many security features, including hardware (fingerprint scanner, TPM, slot for a Kensington Lock) as well as software solutions (HP BIOSphere with Sure Start, Client Security, several passwords). It is also possible to lock individual ports in the BIOS and encrypt the hard drive. The unlocking via fingerprint (finger has to be swiped across the scanner) worked very well in practice, but unfortunately we did not get a SmartCard reader. It is listed in the specification sheet, but was not available in our review model. It is not listed on HP's website, either.

Accessories

The HP ZBook Studio G3 comes with the usual accessories: a power adapter (150 watts) as well as a quick-start guide and warranty information. The optional docking station, the HP ZBook TB3 Dock, is very interesting. You only need one cable for the connection, which will also charge the notebook. HP offers three different models that only differ in terms of the power adapter (65, 150 and 200 watts) and can be used with all modern ZBook models. You can expand the port variety with the following ports: 4x USB 3.0, Ethernet, 1x Thunderbolt 3, 2x DisplayPort 1.2, 3.5 mm headset and a Kensington lock. Prices range between about 220 and 250 Euros (~$245 and ~$279) depending on the model.

optional HP ZBook TB3 Docking Station
optional HP ZBook TB3 Docking Station

Maintenance

The maintenance of the HP ZBook Studio G3 is rather complicated, but no problem with the corresponding screw driver (Torx T9). Before you can remove the whole bottom cover, you have to remove the upper part of the perforated grid. It gives quick access to both fans and you can clean them, but we do not really see the necessity for this division. Underneath this smaller panel are further screws on the bottom cover as you have to remove them anyway if you want to lift the cover.

After this procedure you can access all the major components, but both the CPU and the GPU (unlike the larger ZBook 15 G3) are soldered onto the mainboard. The two RAM slots of our review unit are already equipped with two 8 GB modules, so you would have to replace them both for an upgrade to 32 GB. We can also find an additional M.2-2280 slot for an easy implementation of a second SSD. The battery is only screwed inside the chassis and can therefore be replaced without major problems, if necessary.

Warranty

The warranty period of the HP ZBook Studio G3 is three years and includes a Bring-In service. There are also optional CarePacks to expand the duration as well as the scope of the service. An upgrade to three years On-Site service (product number: U4414E) is around 140 Euros (~$156), while 5 years On-Site service (U7861E) costs around 380 Euros (~$424).

Input Devices

Keyboard

This is one section where the ZBook Studio G3 is different from the other ZBook devices because we get a "normal" chiclet keyboard without a separate numeric keypad and Pointstick. The layout is slightly different as well and we get an additional column with keys on the right side. We still get the small vertical arrow keys and smaller function keys.

These are just small drawbacks though, because the typing experience of the ZBook Studio is impressive and does not differ from the two larger models, ZBook 15 G3 and ZBook 17 G3. Key travel is decent at 15 millimeters (~0.6 mm) and the pressure points are well-defined. The typing noise is still conveniently quiet; only the space bar tends to clatter a little. We can dent the keyboard slightly in the area around the keys J, K, and L, but it does not affect the functionality. The allocation of the function keys F1 to F12 can be permanently changed in the BIOS (FN-Lock), but there is no special key combination to switch it in operation.

Thanks to the two-stage white illumination, you can type comfortably in dark environments. By default, the illumination will be automatically deactivated 5 seconds after the last input. The duration can be changed in the BIOS, or you can activate it permanently. On the top right of the keyboard are two additional buttons for the wireless modules as well as the speakers, and the status is indicated by different colors (white: active; orange: deactivated and mute, respectively).

Input devices
Input devices
ClickPad driver
ClickPad driver

Touchpad

We have already mentioned that HP has not equipped the ZBook Studio G3 with a Pointstick. Cursor movements are therefore limited to the ClickPad, which is provided by Alps. It does not have dedicated buttons, but it is conveniently sized at 11.5 x 8 cm (~4.53 x ~3.15 in). The pad is very responsive across the whole surface, and our inputs were always executed accurately. Even longer cursor movements are not a problem thanks to the smooth surface. Gestures are recognized with up to three fingers, which worked reliably during our review. You can click the pad in the lower area, and it triggers a right or left click depending on the side (can be switched in the driver). We did not experience any issues with unwanted cursor jumps, but the clicking sound itself is quite loud. Handy: The pad can be deactivated by a double tap in the upper left corner, which is indicated by an orange-colored LED. The pad can also be turned off automatically when you attach a USB mouse.

Display

Subpixel arrangement
Subpixel arrangement

HP offers four IPS displays for the ZBook Studio G3, but does not list any specifications for the different versions except for the resolution and panel surface. You can choose between two FHD models (matte or glossy with touch) and two 4K-UHD panels (normal and DreamColor, both matte). Our review unit is equipped with the "normal" UHD-IPS screen from Sharp (SPH1445) and a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels, which results in a good pixel density of 282 PPI. You can still work comfortably with the preloaded Windows 7 and the maximum scaling setting at 150%, but generally we would recommend Windows 10 (license included) for UHD screens. 

Our measurements determine very good brightness results for the display and an average of almost 300 cd/m² is sufficient enough. Only the Dell Precision 5510 and the Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 have even more powerful background illuminations, but also glossy panels. Thanks to the low black value of just 0.29 cd/m², the contrast ratio of 1000:1 is also very good; subjectively, there is no criticism. Backlight bleeding is not a major problem for our review unit. You can only notice minimum screen bleeding at the lower edge with the highest luminance and a completely black picture, but this is not an issue in practice. The display uses PWM to control the background illumination for brightness levels 11/20 and lower. Because of the low frequency (200 Hz), there can be limitations for sensitive users, especially in darker environments.

296
cd/m²
334
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
287
cd/m²
310
cd/m²
288
cd/m²
313
cd/m²
286
cd/m²
292
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Sharp SPH1445 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 334 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 299.4 cd/m² Minimum: 16 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 307 cd/m²
Contrast: 1069:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.9 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
99% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
85% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
98% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.09
HP ZBook Studio G3
15.60, 3840x2160, IPS
Dell Precision 5510
15.60, 3840x2160, IGZO LED
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
15.60, 3840x2160, IPS
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
15.60, 1920x1080, IPS
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
15.50, 2880x1620, IPS
HP ZBook 15 G3
15.60, 1920x1080, UWVA-IPS
HP ZBook 15u G3
15.60, 1920x1080, TN LED
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
15.40, 2880x1800, IPS-Panel
Display
2%
-31%
-51%
-24%
-18%
-34%
-24%
Display P3 Coverage
86
88.4
3%
55.1
-36%
39.13
-54%
63.7
-26%
66.8
-22%
53.2
-38%
61.4
-29%
sRGB Coverage
98.9
100
1%
83
-16%
58.5
-41%
87.6
-11%
95.5
-3%
80.1
-19%
90.8
-8%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
98
99.5
2%
56.9
-42%
40.45
-59%
63.8
-35%
69
-30%
54.9
-44%
62.9
-36%
Response Times
-38%
193%
-9%
0%
-26%
-18%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(17, 27)
56.4 ?(23.2, 33.2)
-28%
34 ?(13, 21)
23%
46 ?(17, 29)
-5%
38 ?(15.2, 22.8)
14%
54 ?(24.4, 29.6)
-23%
45.6 ?(25.6, 20)
-4%
Response Time Black / White *
23.2 ?(6, 17.2)
34 ?(11, 23)
-47%
24 ?(9, 15)
-3%
26 ?(9, 17)
-12%
28.8 ?(8.4, 20.4)
-24%
35.6 ?(11.6, 24)
-53%
34.4 ?(16.4, 18)
-48%
PWM Frequency
200 ?(55)
1316 ?(40)
558%
219 ?(90)
10%
198 ?(95)
-1%
198.4 ?(90)
-1%
Screen
7%
-6%
-10%
-2%
-8%
-48%
15%
Brightness middle
310
391
26%
237
-24%
263
-15%
319
3%
306
-1%
297.8
-4%
341
10%
Brightness
299
361
21%
208
-30%
236
-21%
290
-3%
289
-3%
284
-5%
315
5%
Brightness Distribution
86
87
1%
77
-10%
78
-9%
82
-5%
85
-1%
89
3%
82
-5%
Black Level *
0.29
0.4
-38%
0.26
10%
0.34
-17%
0.31
-7%
0.34
-17%
0.849
-193%
0.34
-17%
Contrast
1069
978
-9%
912
-15%
774
-28%
1029
-4%
900
-16%
351
-67%
1003
-6%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.9
4.85
18%
4.42
25%
2.35
60%
4.8
19%
5.1
14%
8.68
-47%
2.07
65%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.7
8.54
20%
7.8
27%
9.9
7%
14.98
-40%
3.27
69%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5.5
4.01
27%
4.43
19%
3.33
39%
5.7
-4%
7.4
-35%
9.3
-69%
1.9
65%
Gamma
2.09 105%
2.18 101%
2.23 99%
2.38 92%
2.07 106%
2.37 93%
2.27 97%
2.62 84%
CCT
5980 109%
7340 89%
6133 106%
6917 94%
6260 104%
7263 89%
10585 61%
6514 100%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
85
96
13%
52.5
-38%
37
-56%
56.9
-33%
63
-26%
50.99
-40%
58
-32%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99
100
1%
82.9
-16%
58
-41%
87.4
-12%
95
-4%
80.42
-19%
91
-8%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-10% / -1%
52% / 27%
-23% / -19%
-9% / -6%
-17% / -13%
-33% / -40%
-5% / 6%

* ... smaller is better

CalMAN Grayscale (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Grayscale calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Grayscale calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space AdobeRGB)
CalMAN Grayscale (target color space AdobeRGB)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space AdobeRGB)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (target color space AdobeRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space AdobeRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space AdobeRGB)
CalMAN Colorspace (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN Colorspace (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker calibrated (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space AdobeRGB)
CalMAN ColorChecker (target color space AdobeRGB)

The full potential  of the screen is unlocked by a calibration since the average DeltaE-2000 deviations compared to the sRGB reference are too high at 5.5 for the grayscale and 5.9 (up to 10.7) for the colors ex-works. We can also notice a slightly warm color temperature in the CalMAN measurements. After the calibration, the panel manages reference-like results: The deviations of the grayscale and the colors drop to 1.1 and 0.6, respectively, and both the gamma value as well as the color temperature are almost perfect.

sRGB coverage: 99%
sRGB coverage: 99%
AdobeRGB coverage: 85%
AdobeRGB coverage: 85%

The display almost covers the full sRGB standard (99%) and the more demanding AdobeRGB color space at least by 85%. An interesting option in this respect should be the DreamColor display (4K, matte), which promises wider color gamut. However, HP does not list any detailed specifications.

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
23.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 17.2 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 47 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17 ms rise
↘ 27 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 detected 200 Hz ≤ 55 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 200 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 55 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 200 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The situation for the outdoor usability of the ZBook Studio G3 is excellent: lightweight and with a matte display. The luminance is not reduced on battery power, and it is actually comfortable to use the device in very bright environments and under sunlight, at least as long as you avoid direct reflections. The IPS technology of the screen ensures very wide viewing angles. There is a slight brightness drop even with small vertical shifts, but the visibility is not affected.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

There are different components for the ZBook Studio G3, but the selection is not as comprehensive as for the full-fledged workstation ZBook 15 G3, for example. All models are equipped with a quad-core from Intel's modern Skylake generation (Core i7-6700HQ or Core i7-6820HQ in the review model). In combination with the mobile Xeon processors (E3-1505M v5 or E3-1545M v5), you can also get the ZBook Studio G3 with ECC-RAM and the maximum capacity with the two slots is 32 GB. Our review unit is equipped with two DDR4 modules and a capacity of 8 GB each (dual-channel). HP uses only flash based storage devices with the M.2 form factor; some models also get NVMe drives.

The dedicated graphics card is always the Quadro M1000M from Nvidia, although the specification sheet only lists the version with 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM. However, our model has 4 GB of dedicated video memory. The ZBook Studio can cover a wide range of applications with these components and there should not be any bottlenecks thanks to the fast components.

 

Processor

maximum Turbo Boost
maximum Turbo Boost

Our review configuration is equipped with the Core i7-6820HQ from Intel. This quad-core processor (Skylake) has a specified TDP of 45 watts and manages a maximum Turbo Boost of 3.6 GHz (4 cores: 3.2 GHz). More technical information is available in our Tech section. The processor can always utilize its maximum performance in our benchmarks. The consumption in the CPU-only tests is below the TDP limit, even in the extreme scenario with Prime95 (43 watts).

The processor also leaves a good impression in the benchmarks. Only the Xeon E3-1505m v5 is usually slightly faster, but the i7-6820HQ benefits from the excellent Turbo utilization in multi-core scenarios and can beat Dell's Precision 5510 in particular. If you do not need the additional features of the Xeon CPUs or ECC-RAM, the Core i7 is a very good choice and the upgrade to the Xeon does not make that much sense when you are only looking at the performance.

The consumption of the processor is limited to ~26 watts on battery power, so the clocks drop to 2.6 to 2.7 GHz in this case. The multi-core performance is reduced by around 15% (Cinebench R11.5 Multi: 7.7 vs. 6.62 points). More benchmarks of this processor are available in our database.

Cinebench R15
CPU Multi 64Bit
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
732 Points +4%
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
732 Points +4%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
706 Points
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
674 Points -5%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
594 Points -16%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
589 Points -17%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
592 Points -16%
HP ZBook 15u G3
Intel Core i7-6600U
330 Points -53%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
307 Points -57%
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
158 Points +6%
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
158 Points +6%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
149 Points
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
144 Points -3%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
143 Points -4%
HP ZBook 15u G3
Intel Core i7-6600U
143 Points -4%
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
142 Points -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
129 Points -13%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
117 Points -21%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Multi 64Bit
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
7.93 Points +3%
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
7.91 Points +3%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
7.7 Points
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
7.42 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
6.48 Points -16%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
6.3 Points -18%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
6.18 Points -20%
HP ZBook 15u G3
Intel Core i7-6600U
3.67 Points -52%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
3.45 Points -55%
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
1.78 Points +2%
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
1.78 Points +2%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
1.74 Points
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
1.64 Points -6%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
1.58 Points -9%
HP ZBook 15u G3
Intel Core i7-6600U
1.63 Points -6%
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
1.6 Points -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
1.49 Points -14%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
1.32 Points -24%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
21834 Points +5%
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
21436 Points +3%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
20868 Points
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
20115 Points -4%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
17747 Points -15%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
17506 Points -16%
HP ZBook 15u G3
Intel Core i7-6600U
11464 Points -45%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
10447 Points -50%
Rendering Single 32Bit
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
5670 Points +5%
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
5560 Points +3%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
5401 Points
HP ZBook 15u G3
Intel Core i7-6600U
5383 Points 0%
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
5367 Points -1%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
5358 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
4886 Points -10%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
4420 Points -18%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
28384 Points +4%
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
28057 Points +3%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
27362 Points
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
23488 Points -14%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
23333 Points -15%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
22840 Points -17%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
14039 Points -49%
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
7347 Points +5%
HP ZBook 15 G3
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
7222 Points +3%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
Intel Core i7-4870HQ
7044 Points +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
6991 Points
Dell Precision 5510
Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5
6890 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
Intel Core i7-6500U
6241 Points -11%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
Intel Core i7-6820HQ
5791 Points -17%
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6991 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
27362 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
6840 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6833
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
20868
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5401
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
81.5 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.7 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.74 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
93.7 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
706 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
149 Points
Help

System Performance

Despite the fast components, the review unit only manages one of the lower places within our comparison group in the PCMarks. We cannot clearly say why the results are comparatively bad, despite the similar hardware equipment. All the comparison devices are, however, on a very high level. At least, there is no subjective criticism. Windows 7 Professional (license for Windows 10 Pro also included) boots quickly and overall, the device is very responsive.

PCMark 8
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP ZBook 15 G3
E3-1505M v5, 32768, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5221 Points +21%
Dell Precision 5510
E3-1505M v5, 16384, SK hynix SC920 512 GB
5100 Points +19%
HP ZBook 15u G3
6600U, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4900 Points +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
6820HQ, 8192, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN256HCHP
4677 Points +9%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
4870HQ, 16384, Apple SSD SM0512G
4638 Points +8%
HP ZBook Studio G3
6820HQ, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4301 Points
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
E3-1505M v5, 16384, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5128GP
4045 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
6500U, 8192, Samsung PM871 MZYLN256HCHP
3744 Points -13%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
4870HQ, 16384, Apple SSD SM0512G
4662 Points +10%
HP ZBook 15u G3
6600U, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4453 Points +5%
Dell Precision 5510
E3-1505M v5, 16384, SK hynix SC920 512 GB
4429 Points +5%
HP ZBook 15 G3
E3-1505M v5, 32768, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4392 Points +4%
HP ZBook Studio G3
6820HQ, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4235 Points
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
6820HQ, 8192, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN256HCHP
4213 Points +29%
HP ZBook 15u G3
6600U, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
3974 Points +22%
HP ZBook 15 G3
E3-1505M v5, 32768, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
3959 Points +21%
Dell Precision 5510
E3-1505M v5, 16384, SK hynix SC920 512 GB
3941 Points +21%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
4870HQ, 16384, Apple SSD SM0512G
3821 Points +17%
HP ZBook Studio G3
6820HQ, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
3262 Points
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
E3-1505M v5, 16384, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5128GP
3134 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
6500U, 8192, Samsung PM871 MZYLN256HCHP
2790 Points -14%
PCMark 7 - Score
HP ZBook 15 G3
E3-1505M v5, 32768, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5521 Points +3%
HP ZBook 15u G3
6600U, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5493 Points +3%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
4870HQ, 16384, Apple SSD SM0512G
5480 Points +3%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
E3-1505M v5, 16384, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5128GP
5340 Points 0%
HP ZBook Studio G3
6820HQ, 16384, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5336 Points
Dell Precision 5510
E3-1505M v5, 16384, SK hynix SC920 512 GB
5317 Points 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
6500U, 8192, Samsung PM871 MZYLN256HCHP
4992 Points -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
6820HQ, 8192, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN256HCHP
4892 Points -8%
PCMark 7 Score
5336 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3262 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4235 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4301 points
Help

Storage Devices

HP has equipped our configuration of the ZBook Studio G3 with the HP Z Turbo Drive G2. The name describes the PCIe-NVMe-SSD, which is provided by Samsung in this case. The SM951 has a capacity of 512 GB and is currently used in many premium notebooks, including some of our comparison devices. Once again, we can see quite a big difference between the individual benchmarks. The sequential results are at around 1500 MB/s according to CrystalDiskMark, and the other results are good as well. It is certainly one of the fastest drives you can currently get and you do not have to worry about its performance. More comparisons and benchmarks with HDDs/SSDs are available in our database.

Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
Sequential Read: 1578 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1557 MB/s
512K Read: 1234 MB/s
512K Write: 1391 MB/s
4K Read: 59.9 MB/s
4K Write: 225.6 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 946 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 359 MB/s

GPU Performance

The HP ZBook Studio G3 is only available with the dedicated graphics card Quadro M1000M from Nvidia. It is based on the Maxwell architecture (GM107) and has 512 shader units. We have already mentioned that our model has quite an unusual configuration since instead of the advertised 2 GB video memory; we get 4 GB of the fast GDDR5 memory. The latter runs at 1253 MHz, while the core can reach up to 1124 MHz thanks to GPU Boost. These values can be maintained in the GPU benchmarks, and the performance is not reduced on battery power, either. The system can switch between the dedicated GPU and the integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 of the processor depending on the load (Optimus). This is automatically controlled by the system and was quite reliable during our review; we only had to assign the GPU manually in the driver for a couple of benchmarks.

The professional chip differs from the consumer GeForce cards in terms of a modified BIOS as well as special drivers, which are designed for stability. Comprehensive certifications also ensure a trouble-free operation between the hardware and the software. The drivers can result in a significant performance advantage in OpenGL-optimized applications in particular. We use the benchmarks SPECviewperf 11 and 12 for professional purposes. They cover the areas CAD, CAM, geology and medical MRI. The two M1000M GPUs within our comparison group are usually on par in the benchmarks and sit comfortably between the less powerful Quadro M500M and the faster Quadro M2000M. The Radeon R9 M370X of the MacBook Pro also performs surprisingly well here and can usually beat the AMD FirePro W4190 and in some cases also the Quadro M500M.

SPECviewperf 12
1900x1060 Solidworks (sw-03)
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
71.7 fps +26%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
66 fps +16%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
63 fps +11%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
62 fps +9%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
56.7 fps
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
38.02 fps -33%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
37.22 fps -34%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
31.41 fps -45%
1900x1060 Siemens NX (snx-02)
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
35.87 fps +15%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
33.95 fps +9%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
32.52 fps +4%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
31.13 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
31 fps 0%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
19.89 fps -36%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
19.13 fps -39%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
10.24 fps -67%
1900x1060 Showcase (showcase-01)
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
24.25 fps +17%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
23.86 fps +15%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
21.35 fps +3%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
20.72 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
20 fps -3%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
15.31 fps -26%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
6.08 fps -71%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
4.98 fps -76%
1900x1060 Medical (medical-01)
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
15.03 fps +25%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
14.68 fps +22%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
14.4 fps +19%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
12.06 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
12 fps 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
9.51 fps -21%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
7.5 fps -38%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
6.09 fps -50%
1900x1060 Maya (maya-04)
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
38.46 fps +23%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
35.94 fps +15%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
31.27 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
30 fps -4%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
29.89 fps -4%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
25.1 fps -20%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
16.38 fps -48%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
11.14 fps -64%
1900x1060 Energy (energy-01)
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
3.29 fps +21%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
3.2 fps +18%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
3.16 fps +16%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
2.72 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
0.69 fps -75%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
0.53 fps -81%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
0.41 fps -85%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
0.37 fps -86%
1900x1060 Creo (creo-01)
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
40.61 fps +20%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
38.95 fps +15%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
37.48 fps +11%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
34 fps +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
33.8 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
20.62 fps -39%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
20.07 fps -41%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
16.87 fps -50%
1900x1060 Catia (catia-04)
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
47.08 fps +24%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
46.26 fps +22%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
44.29 fps +17%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
37.89 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
37 fps -2%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
23.89 fps -37%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
21.42 fps -43%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
18.62 fps -51%
SPECviewperf 11
1920x1080 Siemens NX
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
43.31 fps +6%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
43.17 fps +6%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
42.14 fps +3%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
41 fps 0%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
40.87 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
29.41 fps -28%
1920x1080 Tcvis
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
44.89 fps +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
43.93 fps +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
43.34 fps
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
42.91 fps -1%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
40 fps -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
35.63 fps -18%
1920x1080 SolidWorks
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
51 fps +10%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
48.13 fps +4%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
47.71 fps +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
46.69 fps +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
46.32 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
39.63 fps -14%
1920x1080 Pro/ENGINEER
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
21.57 fps +7%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
21 fps +4%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
20.22 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
17.54 fps -13%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
17.4 fps -14%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
14.87 fps -26%
1920x1080 Maya
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
58.3 fps +4%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
57.7 fps +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
56.9 fps +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
56.2 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
56 fps 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
46.88 fps -17%
1920x1080 Lightwave
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
54 fps +6%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
52.5 fps +3%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
52 fps +2%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
50.9 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
48.27 fps -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
46.9 fps -8%
1920x1080 Ensight
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
46.68 fps +16%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
46.43 fps +16%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
43.49 fps +8%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
40.12 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
39 fps -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
20.44 fps -49%
1920x1080 Catia
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
54 fps +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
53.5 fps +1%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
53.5 fps +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
53.1 fps
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
48.98 fps -8%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
38.08 fps -28%

We evaluate the GPGPU performance, where calculations can be transferred from the processor to the graphics card, with the tools LuxMark 2.0 and SiSoft Sandra 2016. There are different standards, which can differ depending on the manufacturer (QuickSync, APP, CUDA). The Quadro M1000M is still a pretty new GPU, and there have been several new driver versions since its launch. We can sometimes see the expected results in the two benchmarks, where both M1000M GPUs are on par, but the GPU in our review unit can sometimes manage a significant lead and even compete with the faster Quadro M2000M (older driver).

LuxMark v2.0 64Bit
Room GPUs-only
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
930 Samples/s +12%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
903 Samples/s +9%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
830 Samples/s
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
791 Samples/s -5%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
534 Samples/s -36%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
379 Samples/s -54%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
378 Samples/s -54%
Sala GPUs-only
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
1556 Samples/s +6%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
1470 Samples/s
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
1434 Samples/s -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
1426 Samples/s -3%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
1034 Samples/s -30%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
945 Samples/s -36%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
889 Samples/s -40%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
659 Samples/s -55%
SiSoft Sandra 2016
Image Processing
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
228.6 MPix/s +18%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
194.4 MPix/s
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
155.8 MPix/s -20%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
155.7 MPix/s -20%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
127.5 MPix/s -34%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
99.5 MPix/s -49%
GP Cryptography (Higher Security AES256+SHA2-512)
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
12.28 GB/s +58%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
9.82 GB/s +26%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
9.28 GB/s +19%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
7.77 GB/s
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
7.38 GB/s -5%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
5.37 GB/s -31%
GP Financial Analysis (FP High/Double Precision)
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
21.8 KOPT/s +28%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
21.75 KOPT/s +28%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
21.63 KOPT/s +27%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
17 KOPT/s 0%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
17 KOPT/s
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
12.82 KOPT/s -25%

Finally, we have a look at DirectX applications, which also include games. The raw performance of the GPU is more important than special optimizations in this case. The two Quadro M1000M GPUs are once again on par, so the additional VRAM of our review unit does not improve the benchmark results. We can also compare the DirectX and the OpenGL performance (without optimizations) in the Unigine Benchmarks. As expected, the DirectX results are slightly higher. The comparison with the consumer models from the GeForce series is also interesting. The specifications of the Quadro M1000M are similar to the GeForce GTX 950M, but the faster GDDR5 memory is an advantage. The Graphics score of the current 3DMark Fire Strike Test, for example, is about 10% higher, while the GeForce GTX 960M has a healthy advantage of about 25%. Our review unit should still be able to handle games. More benchmarks with the Quadro M1000M are available in our Tech section.

Unigine Heaven 3.0
1920x1080 DX 11, Normal Tessellation, High Shaders AA:Off AF:Off
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
53.4 fps +19%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
52.5 fps +17%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
51.8 fps +15%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
44.9 fps 0%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
44.9 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
21 fps -53%
1920x1080 OpenGL, Normal Tessellation, High Shaders AA:Off AF:Off
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
51.6 fps +18%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
43.8 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
43.4 fps -1%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
33.9 fps -23%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
32.4 fps -26%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
20 fps -54%
Unigine Valley 1.0
1920x1080 Extreme HD DirectX AA:x8
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
20.4 fps +8%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
20.4 fps +8%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
20.3 fps +7%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
18.9 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
18.7 fps -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
6.5 fps -66%
1920x1080 Extreme HD Preset OpenGL AA:x8
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
18.3 fps +12%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
16.4 fps
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
16.2 fps -1%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
13.8 fps -16%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
13.2 fps -20%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
6.8 fps -59%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score
Asus G501VW-FY081T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
4028 Points +22%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
3952 Points +20%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
3820 Points +16%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
3813 Points +15%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
3344 Points +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
3302 Points
Asus N752VX-GC131T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
2866 Points -13%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
2350 Points -29%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
1517 Points -54%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
1432 Points -57%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus G501VW-FY081T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
4348 Points +25%
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
4243 Points +22%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
4126 Points +19%
HP ZBook 15 G3
NVIDIA Quadro M2000M
4091 Points +18%
Dell Precision 5510
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
3517 Points +1%
HP ZBook Studio G3
NVIDIA Quadro M1000M
3478 Points
Asus N752VX-GC131T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M
3174 Points -9%
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
AMD Radeon R9 M370X
2501 Points -28%
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
NVIDIA Quadro M500M
1610 Points -54%
HP ZBook 15u G3
AMD FirePro W4190M
1588 Points -54%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
24393 points
3DMark 11 Performance
4673 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
42096 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
15717 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3302 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Our gaming table clearly shows that the graphics card is not powerful enough for the native 4K resolution of the ZBook Studio G3. Otherwise, the situation is not that bad since older games can usually be played smoothly in high settings, while more demanding games such as “The Witcher 3” are still enjoyable with the Medium preset. By the way, there were no driver issues during our gaming tests (crashes, picture errors), and the GPU allocation also worked perfectly. More gaming benchmarks are available here.

low med. high ultra4K
BioShock Infinite (2013) 176.7 115 100.1 37
The Witcher 3 (2015) 59.4 36.5 20.8 10.8 7.7
Rainbow Six Siege (2015) 137.8 79.9 43.5 32 13.2

Emissions

System Noise

Our review unit of the ZBook Studio G3 comes with BIOS version 01.03. Because of the extremely high temperatures as well as the heavily pulsating fans, we installed the BIOS update 01.05 "improvements for system stability", which was also used for the following measurements. However, we could not notice any improvement and this did not change with the BIOS versions 01.06 or 01.07, which were also released during the review period.

System Noise

Noise measurements
Noise measurements

The cooling system of the ZBook Studio G3 consists of two fans, which are connected to the CPU/GPU via several heat pipes. Unfortunately, there are only two settings for the fans: off or not audible and annoying. Under load, and this does not have to be the stress test, we can measure more than 50 dB(A). This alone is already very loud, but the real problem is the fan behavior with the heavy pulsation. The two fans are also controlled individually. This means that one fan can run at a steady RPM level, while the other one is pulsating, and the noises will be overlapping. The pulsation is particularly strong under sustained load. We can also notice some coil whining while idling and under light workloads. Sadly, this behavior did not change despite several BIOS updates.

Noise Level

Idle
30 / 30 / 30 dB(A)
Load
51 / 52.8 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: 30 dB(A)
HP ZBook Studio G3
6820HQ, Quadro M1000M
Dell Precision 5510
E3-1505M v5, Quadro M1000M
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
E3-1505M v5, Quadro M2000M
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
6820HQ, Quadro M2000M
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
6500U, Quadro M500M
HP ZBook 15 G3
E3-1505M v5, Quadro M2000M
HP ZBook 15u G3
6600U, FirePro W4190M
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
4870HQ, Radeon R9 M370X
Noise
6%
-10%
10%
11%
3%
9%
7%
off / environment *
30
30
-0%
Idle Minimum *
30
30
-0%
37.2
-24%
30
-0%
30
-0%
30
-0%
29.8
1%
28.9
4%
Idle Average *
30
30
-0%
37.2
-24%
30
-0%
30
-0%
30
-0%
29.8
1%
28.9
4%
Idle Maximum *
30
30
-0%
37.2
-24%
30
-0%
30
-0%
30
-0%
29.8
1%
28.9
4%
Load Average *
51
42.08
17%
42.1
17%
34.5
32%
33.5
34%
45.3
11%
39.5
23%
46
10%
Load Maximum *
52.8
46.78
11%
50.7
4%
42.1
20%
41.9
21%
49.7
6%
43.2
18%
46
13%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Stress test after 10 minutes (BIOS 01.05)
Stress test after 10 minutes (BIOS 01.05)

In addition to the noise development, another big problem of the ZBook Studio G3 is the temperatures. There is already a significantly warmer spot above the keyboard while idling. We can see this hot spot under load and it really lives up to its name, because it is too hot to touch after a short while. The surrounding areas warm up as well, and the situation is hardly better at the bottom. You should therefore not use the device on your lap. This behavior is not limited to our stress test, but also noticeable when you play games or run complex applications.

Because of the extreme temperatures, we cancelled the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark for at least one hour) after about 30 minutes. Up to 77 °C (~171 °F) above the keyboard and 70 °C (~158 °F) in the center of the keyboard were just too high for our taste, and the bottom also reached the 70 °C (~158 °F) mark. We can quickly find the reason, because the processor reaches 100 °C (~212 °F) within a few minutes. However, it is surprising that the performance is hardly affected. The processor still runs with clocks of 3.1 to 3.2 GHz and the graphics card, with a core clock of around 950 MHz. It is not bad that HP wants to give us the maximum amount of performance for as long as possible, but lower temperatures would definitely make sense here. A 3DMark 11 run immediately after the stress test did not determine a lower result, which was to be expected.

Max. Load
 55.2 °C
131 F
69.8 °C
158 F
56.1 °C
133 F
 
 39.7 °C
103 F
47.9 °C
118 F
39 °C
102 F
 
 37.4 °C
99 F
38 °C
100 F
37.6 °C
100 F
 
Maximum: 69.8 °C = 158 F
Average: 46.7 °C = 116 F
46 °C
115 F
77.3 °C
171 F
37.7 °C
100 F
43.4 °C
110 F
70.7 °C
159 F
36.2 °C
97 F
37.2 °C
99 F
39 °C
102 F
35.3 °C
96 F
Maximum: 77.3 °C = 171 F
Average: 47 °C = 117 F
Power Supply (max.)  55.5 °C = 132 F | Room Temperature 21 °C = 70 F | Fennel FIRT 550-Pocket
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 46.7 °C / 116 F, compared to the average of 32 °C / 90 F for the devices in the class Workstation.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 69.8 °C / 158 F, compared to the average of 38.1 °C / 101 F, ranging from 22.2 to 69.8 °C for the class Workstation.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 77.3 °C / 171 F, compared to the average of 41.3 °C / 106 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.1 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 32 °C / 90 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38 °C / 100.4 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.8 °C / 82 F (-10.2 °C / -18.4 F).
HP ZBook Studio G3
6820HQ, Quadro M1000M
Dell Precision 5510
E3-1505M v5, Quadro M1000M
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
E3-1505M v5, Quadro M2000M
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
6820HQ, Quadro M2000M
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
6500U, Quadro M500M
HP ZBook 15 G3
E3-1505M v5, Quadro M2000M
HP ZBook 15u G3
6600U, FirePro W4190M
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
4870HQ, Radeon R9 M370X
Heat
22%
17%
24%
26%
16%
30%
29%
Maximum Upper Side *
69.8
45.8
34%
42.3
39%
36.7
47%
44.2
37%
54.6
22%
44.6
36%
43.2
38%
Maximum Bottom *
77.3
46.7
40%
60.1
22%
41.3
47%
57.8
25%
60.8
21%
46
40%
39
50%
Idle Upper Side *
37.8
31.2
17%
32.7
13%
31.1
18%
26.4
30%
30.3
20%
25.8
32%
30
21%
Idle Bottom *
31.4
31.9
-2%
33.1
-5%
36.2
-15%
28.1
11%
30.7
2%
27.4
13%
29.3
7%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

Speaker measurements
Speaker measurements

HP has implemented two stereo speakers, which are located on both sides of the keyboard and direct the sound towards the user. At around 82 dB(A), the speakers are sufficiently loud, but they start to drone at about 60% of the maximum volume. The playback is also not very balanced due to the lack of a dedicated subwoofer. The addition of Bang & Olufsen only refers to the software, which provides several presets as well as an equalizer. This will create a richer sound, particularly at lower volume levels. The ZBook Studio G3 is definitely sufficient for occasional videos or some background music, but you should use external speakers or headphones for better results.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Our idle measurements in particular show the impact of the high-resolution display, which does not use PWM for the highest luminance or 150 cd/m² and therefore consumes more power. The minimum consumption is 8.7 watts, and 5.6 watts are consumed by the display – at the lowest brightness settings. The other two idle scenarios consume little more than 14 watts, and the share of the display should be even higher here. The maximum consumption of the ZBook Studio G3 is almost 130 watts, so the supplied 150-watt adapter is sufficient.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 0.5 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 8.7 / 14.2 / 14.4 Watt
Load midlight 85.6 / 129.7 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 ZBook Studio G3
64 Wh, 3840x2160
Dell Precision 5510
56 Wh, 3840x2160
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
47 Wh, 3840x2160
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
90 Wh, 1920x1080
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
67 Wh, 2880x1620
HP ZBook 15 G3
90 Wh, 1920x1080
HP ZBook 15u G3
90 Wh, 1920x1080
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
100 Wh, 2880x1800
Power Consumption
-5%
-71%
25%
43%
11%
42%
16%
Idle Minimum *
8.7
8.6
1%
18.8
-116%
5.6
36%
4.3
51%
5.7
34%
4.3
51%
6
31%
Idle Average *
14.2
16.2
-14%
29.6
-108%
8.6
39%
9.7
32%
12.2
14%
7.9
44%
12.8
10%
Idle Maximum *
14.4
16.7
-16%
30.3
-110%
9.3
35%
10.2
29%
12.6
12%
11.5
20%
13.3
8%
Load Average *
85.6
82.6
4%
90.4
-6%
89.5
-5%
45.7
47%
83.1
3%
43.3
49%
82.4
4%
Load Maximum *
129.7
131.8
-2%
150.2
-16%
105
19%
55.8
57%
138.2
-7%
72.3
44%
91.8
29%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

Despite the comparatively high battery capacity of 64 Wh, the practical runtimes are extremely short. We check the minimum runtimes for workstations with the usual Battery Eater Classic Test (65 minutes) and also a loop of the SPECviewperf benchmark (version 11 in this case), so the result of 52 minutes is the worst-case scenario. Particularly sobering are the two realistic tests with a display luminance of around 150 cd/m² (16/20, 157 cd/m²), which are hardly competitive at 3:30 h and 3:50 h, respectively. This is not a good performance for such a light and compact device in particular. The FHD version should last a bit longer. It takes about 2.5 hours before the battery is completely charged again.

Battery Eater Reader's Test
Battery Eater Reader's Test
Battery Eater Classic Test
Battery Eater Classic Test
SPECviewperf 11 loop
SPECviewperf 11 loop
Wi-Fi Test
Wi-Fi Test
Video Test
Video Test
Charging
Charging
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
8h 31min
WiFi Websurfing
3h 28min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
3h 48min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 05min
HP ZBook Studio G3
64 Wh
Dell Precision 5510
56 Wh
MSI WS60-6QJE316H11
47 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad P50
90 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad P50s-20FKS00400
67 Wh
HP ZBook 15 G3
90 Wh
HP ZBook 15u G3
90 Wh
Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15 inch 2015-05
100 Wh
Battery Runtime
19%
-45%
104%
112%
78%
72%
89%
Reader / Idle
511
428
-16%
160
-69%
860
68%
1107
117%
822
61%
756
48%
1039
103%
H.264
228
197
-14%
141
-38%
533
134%
537
136%
449
97%
413
81%
WiFi v1.3
208
286
38%
106
-49%
498
139%
408
96%
386
86%
312
50%
432
108%
Load
65
109
68%
51
-22%
113
74%
129
98%
110
69%
141
117%
105
62%
WiFi
298

Pros

+ excellent case
+ modern ports
+ very good UHD-IPS display
+ good input devices
+ high performance, also under load

Cons

- alarmingly high temperatures (surfaces and internally)
- loud and pulsating fans
- short battery runtimes
- no SmartCard reader
- no WWAN
- expensive

Verdict

In review: HP ZBook Studio G3. Test model courtesy of HP Germany.
In review: HP ZBook Studio G3. Test model courtesy of HP Germany.

The ZBook Studio G3 is a small mystery to us. HP delivers a great product in some respects, while it disappoints in other categories. Sadly, overall, our impression of the ambitious workstation is negative. This is mainly a result of the emissions as well as the battery runtimes. The surfaces reach alarmingly high temperatures that can cause burns, even with normal workloads. The fan behavior is also very annoying, because both fans act independently, get very loud and pulsate heavily. The practical runtimes of less than four hours are also hard to justify for a device that is actually pretty mobile. Otherwise, there are just small issues, like the lack of a SmartCard reader or the missing WWAN module.

The ZBook Studio is an ambitious project. We get a lot of performance in a compact package, but we also get extreme temperatures and annoying fans in return. This should not happen for a retail price of around 3800 Euros (~$4237).

The ZBook Studio actually convinces in many respects: We get a lot of performance in a great chassis, combined with a great 4K screen as well as good input devices. We still think the limitations are just too severe. Then there is also the extremely high price of around 3800 Euros (~$4237) for our review configuration, which is hard to justify considering the problems. The BIOS updates have not improved the situation so far, but we hope HP can at least improve the annoying fan control with an upcoming update. Right now, the larger workstations have an advantage in terms of emissions and can also be equipped with even more powerful components.

HP ZBook Studio G3 - 05/19/2016 v5.1(old)
Andreas Osthoff

Chassis
92 / 98 → 94%
Keyboard
88%
Pointing Device
91%
Connectivity
80 / 81 → 98%
Weight
62 / 10-66 → 93%
Battery
72%
Display
86%
Games Performance
77%
Application Performance
87%
Temperature
35 / 95 → 37%
Noise
68 / 90 → 76%
Audio
70%
Camera
42 / 85 → 49%
Average
72%
80%
Workstation - Weighted Average

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Andreas Osthoff, 2016-05-25 (Update: 2018-05-15)