The new HP workstations from Axiz provide power to do more

Workstations: previously the domain of a very select group of users; now set to become yet another "must have" for consumers.

While workstations were for users looking for incredible display abilities and the power and speed to support these, the new range of HP workstations looks set to turn the market upside down. Gerhard Jacobs, HP workstation product manager at Axiz, says with three new models available, the average user will find it hard to resist the features and affordability on offer.

"Workstations offer users the opportunity to really immerse themselves in their work. By combining next-generation performance technologies, they give both individuals and businesses a professional and competitive edge," says Jacobs.

He explains that a workstation offers its user immediate performance benefits. Faster processors mean you can do more in less time. The display cards - which are critical - are also bigger and faster, making your work come to life in front of you; essential for anyone involved in aspects of design and creative arts. The larger memory configuration additionally allows you to expand memory capacity, while better warranties ensure complete peace of mind.

The new HP range has been designed with both the average and the extremely dedicated user in mind. "Because the applications you use on a workstation typically define what you`re looking for, HP has ensured it meets the needs of all user types," says Jacobs. "The HP xw4600 caters for the lower end of the market, while the HP xw6400 and HP xw8400 have been designed for the mid and high-end user respectively."

The HP xw4600 offers users an affordable workstation solution. Based on the new Intel X38 Express performance chipset and the latest workstation-class dual and quad core Intel processors, it delivers up to twice the performance bandwidth of previous interfaces on a choice of 2D or 3D graphics cards. With its 80 PLUS efficient power supply and ENERGY STAR options, it allows users to save electricity without sacrificing performance. The HP xw4600 can also support up to 8GB of memory. This, in conjunction with its other features, makes it ideal for everything from mechanical design to video editing.

Focused on specific customer requirements, the HP xw6400`s innovative, tool-less chassis is designed for space and power-constrained environments. "This mid-range dual processor quad core and dual core workstation can support up to three internal hard disc drives, two optical discs, four PCI Express (PCIe) I/O slots and two legacy PCI slots. This gives it the capacity to handle large and complex data sets," says Jacobs. He adds that with 4GB DIMMs, the HP xw6400 can support applications requiring up to 16GB of memory.

And, for those demanding even more, HP`s highest performing Intel Xeon processor-based xw8400 workstation won`t disappoint. This model offers a full range of the latest professional graphics, the OS that best fits your requirements and HP`s Performance Tuning Framework (PTF) - an easy to use tool that guides workstation set-up and custom configuration, increasing performance of selected applications and overall productivity. With 16 slots for memory expandability, it`s also enabled to achieve extremely high memory configurations.

With so much on offer in this space, Jacobs recommends that anyone in the market for a desktop should spend sometime investigating workstation options before making their choice. Offering that much more at an affordable price, the new range of HP workstations looks set to transform desk space throughout South Africa.

For more information, contact Gerhard Jacobs at Axiz on 011 237-7165.