High core temperatures prevent the HP ZBook X G1i 16 from performing even faster

The 2025 ZBook G1i 16 has replaced the 2024 ZBook Power 16 G11 with updated processor options from both Intel and Nvidia. While the name change may seem drastic, both models otherwise share the same chassis design and physical features. The new CPU in particular could have been even faster had the system shipped with a more capable cooling solution.

When running Prime95 on our ZBook G1i 16 test unit, its Core Ultra 7 265H processor would boost almost immediately to an alarming 104 C for an average clock rate and power draw of 3.6 GHz and 108 W, respectively. It would then quickly drop to 3 GHz and 66 W in order to maintain a more manageable core temperature of 90 C. Maintaining the higher 3.6 GHz clock rate indefinitely and at a lower core temperature would have been ideal especially for an H-series laptop. Instead, the underlying cooling solution is likely being stressed to its limits for the Arrow Lake-H processor.

Granted, HP offers the thicker and heavier ZBook Fury G1i 16 with better cooling and even faster Arrow Lake-HX processor options as a step up from the slimmer ZBook G1i 16. Performance hunters are therefore incentivized to upgrade to the ZBook Fury whereas the ZBook G1i 16 favors a thinner profile over maximum Turbo Boost performance.