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HP Z Series Z420 Workstation Quad Core 16GB 1TB Renewed — main product image
HP Z Series Z420 Workstation Quad Core 16GB 1TB Renewed
HP Z Series Z420 Workstation Quad Core 16GB 1TB Renewed
HP Z Series Z420 Workstation Quad Core 16GB 1TB Renewed
HP Z Series Z420 Workstation Quad Core 16GB 1TB Renewed
HP

HP Z Series Z420 Workstation Quad Core 16GB 1TB Renewed

Xeon E5-1620 V2 workstation horsepower at a fraction of new pricing — 16GB ECC-capable RAM and 600W PSU ready for professional workloads.

$159.00*
✓ In Stock on Amazon.com
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 30, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The HP Z420 is a first-generation LGA 2011 workstation platform built around Intel's Romley-EP architecture. The E5-1620 V2 at its core runs four cores at 3.7GHz base (up to 3.9GHz Turbo) on a 22nm process, with a 10MB L3 cache and full ECC memory support. The 16GB DDR3 RAM configuration gives the platform its footing in multitasking workloads — enough headroom for simultaneous rendering, compilation, or virtualization tasks without page file pressure. The 600W power supply is an HP workstation-grade unit designed for continuous professional use, and it provides meaningful headroom for discrete GPU additions. The dual-DVI 256MB card shipped in this configuration is a placeholder — assume GPU replacement will be part of most deployments.

The Z420 occupies the budget professional segment: organizations that need Xeon platform stability, ECC memory support, and workstation-grade thermal management without the capital cost of current-generation hardware. It is a solid fit for CAD workstations, light 3D rendering nodes, VM hosts for developer environments, or audio production machines where the platform's low-latency characteristics matter more than peak throughput. The storage configuration is the clearest upgrade path — swapping the 7,200 RPM SATA drive for a SATA SSD is a sub-$50 upgrade that eliminates the most significant performance bottleneck in the system. Buyers should approach this as a platform purchase: the chassis, PSU, and CPU are the value; the GPU and storage are expected to be refreshed.

Specifications

Processor
Intel Xeon E5-1620 V2 Quad Core, 3.7GHz
Memory
16GB DDR3 RAM
Storage
1TB 7,200 RPM SATA HDD
Optical Drive
DVDRW
Graphics
Dual DVI, 256MB
Power Supply
600W
Condition
Renewed

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Xeon E5-1620 V2 at 3.7GHz base delivers sustained multi-threaded throughput validated for professional workstation workloads
  • 600W power supply provides 400W+ of headroom for discrete GPU upgrades without a PSU swap
  • Z420 platform supports DDR3 ECC memory for error-corrected operation in data-critical workflows
  • HP workstation chassis offers tool-free internal access and robust build quality rated for long duty cycles
  • Renewed pricing brings professional workstation hardware in at a fraction of original acquisition cost

👎 Cons

  • 1TB 7.2K RPM SATA HDD creates a significant storage throughput bottleneck — sequential reads cap around 150MB/s versus 500MB/s+ for a SATA SSD replacement
  • DDR3 memory platform is two generations behind current DDR5 standards, limiting maximum memory bandwidth to approximately 51.2 GB/s
  • Dual DVI 256MB integrated graphics card is functionally limited for modern display output — VGA-era DisplayPort and HDMI adapters will be needed for current monitors
  • Xeon E5-1620 V2 does not support AVX-512 or newer instruction sets required by some modern professional applications
  • Renewed unit condition variability means thermal paste, fan health, and internal cleanliness are unknown quantities without inspection

Frequently Asked Questions

The Intel Xeon E5-1620 V2 runs four cores at 3.7GHz base with a 39W TDP and supports ECC memory — capabilities the consumer Core i7-3xxx series lacked. The Xeon's advantage is workstation-grade memory error correction and a validated platform designed for continuous operation under sustained professional loads, not consumer burst performance.
The HP Z420 platform supports ECC Unbuffered DDR3 memory. Whether the installed 16GB kit is ECC depends on what was configured in this specific renewed unit — the listing specifies 16GB RAM without confirming ECC status. If ECC is critical for your workflow, verify before purchase.
600W gives meaningful GPU upgrade headroom. After accounting for the Xeon and system load (~150W combined), you have approximately 400-450W available for a discrete GPU — enough for a mid-range workstation card like an NVIDIA Quadro P2000 or consumer equivalent without additional PSU upgrades.
The listing does not specify an OS. Renewed workstations in this class typically ship without a licensed OS or with a refurbisher-installed Windows image. Budget for a Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 license if needed, as HP Z420 is fully compatible with both.
Yes, for storage-intensive workflows. The 7,200 RPM SATA HDD delivers sequential reads around 150MB/s — roughly 3-5x slower than a budget SATA SSD. The Z420 supports SATA SSD replacement (2.5" or 3.5" bays) and PCIe SSD cards, so upgrading storage is the highest-ROI performance improvement available on this platform.

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