For those working on heavier workloads, HP has a new range of powerful workstations. The HP Z4 workstation is a particularly strong choice, providing ample processing power and the capacity to handle demanding software. Its physical footprint is comparable to that of a traditional tower, yet it is 10% smaller. The HP Z6 G4 workstation is another strong option, delivering a significant boost in processing power. This new model features the high-powered Intel Xeon Platinum 8280 or Xeon Gold 6252 processor.
imac pro i7
The iMac Pro i7 is one of the most advanced workstations available today. It’s packed with powerful Xeon processors and a stunning 27-inch Retina 5K display. It also has ultra-fast storage and advanced I/O. It’s the first all-in-one designed from the ground up to deliver true workstation performance. The iMac Pro i7 also boasts a new thermal architecture that delivers up to 80 percent more cooling capacity. But it still manages to provide a quiet enclosure for maximum operation.
The iMac Pro is also equipped with a Radeon Pro Vega GPU and up to 16GB of High Bandwidth Memory for enhanced performance. With this GPU, you can run up to 11 Teraflops of computing power in a single second, making it an ideal choice for real-time 3D rendering, high-frame-rate VR, and machine learning. Other features include up to 128GB of ECC memory, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and up to two 5K displays. The iMac Pro also supports 10Gb Ethernet for faster networking.
The iMac Pro i7 is one of the most affordable workstations available today. The new display is almost identical to the one found on the standard iMac. It offers the best non-touch display among all-in-ones. It also boasts a massive 3TB hard drive.
Best Non-HEDT Alternative: AMD Ryzen
AMD has long been a major player in the computer industry. While the company only began selling CPUs and GPUs in the late 2000s, it has remained closely tied to Intel and Nvidia. Since Ryzen’s introduction in early 2015, the company has introduced three new chipset generations and a new flagship chip in late 2019.
AMD’s Threadripper Pro 3995WX is a 64-core/128-thread behemoth. It’s arguably the most powerful HEDT chip on the market. The heaviest of the HEDT chips, it supports 2 TB of memory and has 128 lanes of PCIe 4.0 connectivity. AMD has also confirmed that non-Pro Threadripper chips will no longer be sold.
AMD’s Ryzen 9 5950X comes close to HEDT performance and is an excellent choice for a budget workstation. Its dual-core architecture provides a reasonable level of performance, although it is not as powerful as Threadripper. And unlike the HEDT processors, Ryzen’s compatibility means that you won’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a motherboard to run the chip.
Most Powerful Non-HEDT CPU
If you’re building a workstation, it’s important to choose the best CPU for the job. Although HEDT CPUs are popular among enthusiasts, these are not the most appropriate choice for most people. These chips are geared toward heaving workloads and aren’t suitable for everyday use. They’re also very expensive and aren’t practical for most people.
AMD’s Threadripper 3000 series outperforms Intel’s HEDT processors in many areas. The Threadripper Pro 3995WX has 64 cores and eight memory channels. This means that it is an excellent alternative to HEDT-class CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a powerful workstation CPU, offering performance comparable to entry-level workstation CPUs at a lower price.
There are plenty of workstation CPUs on the market today, but the most powerful non-HEDT chips are the ones made specifically for this purpose. Intel’s Xeon W-3175X is one of the fastest workstation chips available, but AMD’s Thgreadripper chip is a better option for the workstation.
Best HEDT Alternative: AMD Threadripper
Threadripper’s popularity has diminished over time due to the availability of more powerful mainstream CPUs, such as the Intel Core i9-12900K. But that’s not to say that Threadripper is useless. With enough power to handle multi-threaded tasks, Threadripper still has plenty of room for graphics cards, NVMe m.2 drives, and plenty of PCIe lanes. And if you’re on a budget, an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X may be a great choice.
The Threadripper Pro 3995WX is AMD’s top-of-the-range HEDT processor. It has a huge memory bandwidth and supports up to 2 TB of memory. It also has PCIe 4.0 and 128 lanes. That means you can run massive graphics setups on the same CPU.
If you are on a tight budget, an AMD Threadripper may be the best HEDT alternative for your gaming system. Its high-end performance and low price make it a great deal to consider if you are upgrading from an older Intel CPU. It can outperform the Intel 10980XE in almost all benchmarks.