This tiny PC is changing the lives of graphic designers in a big way

Graphic designers make their living bringing creative ideas to life — and ideas need room to breathe. This can be a challenge when your workspace is swallowed up by an enormous desktop computer.

Among tech innovations of the last few years, the miniaturization of once-behemoth devices is one game-changer worth celebrating. For creative professionals in particular, whose work involves brainstorms, freelance gigs, and pitches, mobile tech tools are a must-have.

But how about tiny tech that doesn’t sacrifice on power? Enter the HP Z2 Mini, a mini high-performance PC that’s a quarter of the size of a desktop rig, but equally (if not more) powerful. Mount it under your desk, behind your monitor, or rack mount it for total versatility in your setup. Here’s why creatives should check it out:

Big on power

Tiny size aside, the Z2 Mini takes on multi-layered and complex 2D and 3D design projects like a beast. It works seamlessly in multiple pro design apps, so Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Lightroom are just the tip of the digitally rendered iceberg.

The HP Z Turbo Drive uploads in a flash and has up to 1 TB of M.2 storage and up to 3 TB of total system storage. That’s plenty of space to organize and store high-res files. And it has plenty of I/O ports to connect external hardware and displays.

The latest gen Intel® Xeon® processors have 33 percent faster CPUs and give you performance when multi-tasking between projects and taking on parallel workflows. And you don’t have to worry about overheating — engineers at HP designed a thermal system to optimize airflow throughout the unit keeping it cool, whisper-quiet and efficient, even during heavy workloads.

Breakthrough graphics

The Z2 Mini was seemingly created with designers in mind. The NVIDIA Quadro® P1000 graphics cards are equipped with twice the graphics performance over the last gen, meaning designers can render complex 2D designs faster and better.

Connect the Mini to up to six HP DreamColor displays. Over one billion colors give you amazing graphics, with DCI P3 and Adobe RGB coverage for liquid-smooth transitions. It’s some serious eye candy.

3D champ

Where the Mini Z2 really excels is in its 3D rendering ability. Every graphic designer worth their salt knows the big brands are looking for designers with 3D in their portfolio, and the Z2 Mini holds up. Use it to create richly detailed 3D models with real-time interactivity.

From creating 2D brand packaging to 3D gaming imagery, the Z2 Mini lets creatives stay in the zone without worrying about backing up their work constantly. The EEC memory detects and corrects soft errors on the fly to avoid crashes.

Smaller is better

The 2.7-liter Z2 Mini gives design professionals a powerful engine that won’t lag when working with multiple layers. It’s got top-notch graphics and plenty of storage space. And its tiny size still leaves plenty of room on the desk for takeout containers, design sketches, and both elbows. Is that the perfect set-up for success or what?

Get inspired

Check out HP’s Changemaker Series for some serious inspiration, and see how real designers use Z by HP devices to power their creativity.