HP Z800 review: specs, options & used prices

What this machine is

As used-market workstation desktops go, the HP Z800 (2009) 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.

Only 2 tracked listings survive for this model, so treat any quoted price as indicative rather than a market consensus.

Configurations you will actually see

Configurations we track pair the Z800 with the Xeon E5640 and Xeon X5570. 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 6 GB to 10 GB (6 GB, 10 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 (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 Z800 is not exciting, and that is the point: a known quantity with a known configuration ladder.

Price data is thin for this model, so compare current listings directly rather than relying on a quoted median — configuration differences dominate on this class of machine.

Our composite LB Score currently sits at 9/100 — a score that mostly reflects the platform age — use it to compare like with like, not against modern hardware.

At this age, plan for the drive first, the memory second, and treat the rest as a bonus.