HP ZBook 14u G5 review
HP ZBook 14u G5 — from 2017, 1.5 kg, performance 36.
Technical specifications
| Type | Ultrabook |
| Release year | 2017 |
| Screen | 14" · 1920x1080 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7 8650U |
| Graphics | Radeon Pro WX 3100 |
| Max. RAM | 32 GB |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
Performance scores
A 2017 ZBook 14u G5 with a Radeon Pro WX 3100 — a thin workstation with low reliability
The HP ZBook 14u G5 (2017) is a thin-and-light mobile workstation built around an 8th-gen Intel Core i7 8650U with an AMD Radeon Pro WX 3100 dGPU, 32 GB of RAM, landing at $319 — below the ultrabook-class median of about $373. The WX 3100 is an entry-level ISV-certified pro GPU whose score of 18.81 sits above the category median because most ultrabooks have integrated graphics only. The honest weak spot is reliability (22, low), which reflects a 2017 platform ageing.
An entry-level ISV-certified GPU in a thin chassis
The Radeon Pro WX 3100 is an entry-level ISV-certified pro GPU — suitable for light CAD, entry-level creative work, and Adobe applications, which is rare to find in a thin-and-light form factor. Capability data confirms minimum-level play for Overwatch, GTA V (around 140 fps), Civilization 6, and minimum-level fit for Visual Studio Code.
Reliability is the honest warning on a 2017 workstation
The weak spot by level is reliability (22 against an ultrabook median of 51), which is the right way to think about a 2017 mobile workstation — this is a workhorse platform well into its later life, and the CPU score of 41.57 is also below the ultrabook median. Buyers should set expectations accordingly.
Slow depreciation, near the floor
From a base near $1400, the laptop has settled to $319 at roughly 7.6% per year, with a projected value around $272 in two years. The curve has flattened, typical for hardware this far into its life.
Cheaper non-workstation alternatives
Cheaper alternatives include the HP 14-cm0970nd ($276) and Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15API ($303), which offer similar hardware (without the ISV-certified GPU) for somewhat less. No pricier analogs appear in the close bracket.
Bottom line
The ZBook 14u G5 is worth considering for a buyer who specifically needs an ISV-certified GPU in a thin-and-light chassis on a tight budget, and who can accept low reliability. For most buyers needing a dependable daily driver, slightly newer peers with stronger reliability are the better spend.
🧭 Your context
Stage: Vague sense of need
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🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration is built for office apps, web browsing, and basic daily tasks.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 51) ↔ price (median 373.2).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 64) ↔ overall performance (median 41.7).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 50) ↔ battery life (median 4.4).
ZBook 14u G5: verdict
➡️ Next step
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