HP Z1 gets torn down, given rare perfect repair score
updated 11:40 am EDT, Thu April 26, 2012
HP Z1's tool-less upgrade claims tested, proven
HP's Z1 Workstation has gone under the tools of the iFixit crew for a teardown and generated a first-ever perfect 10 score for reparability. It appears HP made good on its promise of offering the first 27-inch workstation that lets user upgrade its major components without any tools. The only comments against the Z1 was its relatively high starting price of $1,900.
The team said getting to the internals of the PC was as easy as opening a briefcase and, once inside, finding a convenient diagram that shows the location of the most easily replaceable components. Major components such as the RAM, hard drive, and optical disk drive simply snap out with bare hands. Even the CPU can be detached from the mainboard simply by flipping a lever.
Speakers, the mainboard and other component boards are held down by screws, with only the thermal sensor being taped down.
Delving deeper to remove the glass and LCD did require taking out 18 Torx screws, however, though there was no glue or tabs in the way. This part would be the most expensive and time-consuming repair, with the source estimating it would take only an hour to do.
HP offers manuals online to guide users through the disassembly process as well.
