HP Z640 review: specs, options & used prices

What this machine is

The HP Z640 is a workstation desktop, and on the used market it is one of the straightforward ways to get a complete, serviceable computer for a modest sum.

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.

Across 7 tracked listings, the median asking price is $200.

Configurations you will actually see

Configurations we track pair the Z640 with the Xeon E5-2620, Xeon E5-2620 v3, Xeon E5-2620 v4 and Xeon E5-2650 v3. 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 8 GB to 64 GB (8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB). 8 GB is workable for one person; 16 GB is the comfortable setting for typical office and home use.

Solid-state storage options include 256GB SSD, 512GB NVMe and 512GB SSD.

Hard-disk listings (2TB HDD) also exist — an SSD remains the single most noticeable upgrade on this class 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.

Full specifications, current options and tracked prices live on its spec sheet; the desktop catalog and the HP desktops page help place it among the alternatives.

Verdict

The Z640 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 $170 to $430, and most of that spread is configuration, not condition.

Our composite LB Score currently sits at 18/100 — a score that mostly reflects the platform age — use it to compare like with like, not against modern hardware.