HP Z420 review: specs, options & used prices

What this machine is

As used-market workstation desktops go, the HP Z420 is a known quantity: standard parts, a wide configuration ladder, and steady supply on the secondary market.

Workstation lines exist for sustained professional loads: server-derived CPU options, high memory ceilings, and a chassis designed to run all day rather than all morning.

Tracked used listings cluster around a median of $150 (5 active listings at the time of writing).

Configurations you will actually see

Configurations we track pair the Z420 with the Xeon E5-1620 and Xeon E5-1620 v2. Xeon-branded options are server-derived silicon aimed at sustained, multi-user loads; check the exact model number in each listing.

Memory options run from 4 GB to 32 GB (4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB). For a current operating system, treat anything below 8 GB as a first upgrade, not a final configuration.

The storage options we track are hard drives (160GB HDD and 500GB HDD); budget for an SSD swap on day one — it transforms this generation of machine.

Workstation notes

Workstation configurations target engineering, CAD, rendering and virtualisation workloads that run for hours, not minutes.

Expect higher idle draw and more fan noise than office small-form-factor machines; these were designed to be worked, not to whisper.

Who it fits

It fits engineering, CAD, rendering and pro-workstation roles on a budget — as long as the software tolerates the age of the platform.

The spec sheet carries the full option ladder and tracked prices; for context, browse the desktop catalog or the HP desktops page.

Verdict

The Z420 is not exciting, and that is the point: a known quantity with a known configuration ladder.

Buy it when you need a cheap, repairable machine for its class of work, and verify the configuration before paying — RAM and storage vary widely between listings. Tracked prices span $140 to $170, and most of that spread is configuration, not condition.

Our composite LB Score currently sits at 11/100 — a score that mostly reflects the platform age — use it to compare like with like, not against modern hardware.