HP ProBook 445 G8 in review: Quiet office laptop with AMD Turbo

[Redaktion]

The affordable HP ProBook 445 G8 is a 14-inch office laptop with many strengths. Very good portability meets strong AMD Ryzen performance. Read on to find out whether the competition is able to keep up.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-ProBook-445-G8-in-review-Quiet-office-laptop-with-AMD-Turbo.634313.0.html

[_MT_]

283 MB/s clearly doesn't mean what you think it does. B = byte, b = bit. 1 B = 8 b, meaning 283 MB/s = 2264 Mb/s which would be a blast for Wi-Fi.

"The included 45-watt power adapter is capable enough for prolonged operation, but it can't completely handle the initial load peaks of up to 46 watts in the stress test; however, the stress test is farm from what users will experience in every day use."

How does that manifest itself that it can't handle 46 W peak? You do know that a quality power supply is designed to handle some overloading and nominal power rating is not peak power rating? The difference between 45 and 46 W is so small that it won't make a practical difference. If it's well made, it will last just fine; if it's not, lowering the load by 1 W wouldn't save it.

[NikoB]

Absolutely disgraceful laptop with blatant slow memory in dual-channel(?) mode.
Shameful memory allegedly in dual-channel mode(?), pumping 2 times less than the typical level for DDR4 3200. Along the way, HP silently turned off dual-channel mode, or what is this strange testing in AIDA64? Did the tester accurately check with 2 memory sticks? I'm not sure.

But everything else is also wildly shameful. Shameful wi-fi, shameful performance of 5600U(Zen3!) which slow then Zen2+ 5500U! A shameful screen - slow, shameful colors  (and what, in the office people don't look at photos from a smartphone, or just when they surf they have normal color reproduction, which has long become the norm on the cheapest smartphones, the buyer of this s*** for 700 euros is not supposed to?).

Well, to complete the picture, the idiotic location of the ports on the right, despite the fact that the majority of the world's population is right-handed. Well, at least thanks for the corner power connector on the edge!

What idiot came up with the idea of ��inserting the power button into the main keyboard block for ridiculous savings on pennies?

The funny thing is that reviever did not appreciate this office "miracle" at all for typing text - the keyboard is tactile rubbish only 79% for quality. And what is the point of this infamous HP series? For whom is it with such a keyboard, shameful screen, shameful performance for that kind of money?

In my country, this series has been gathering dust on the shelves for many months - no one wants to buy it, especially since we are aching for this garbage in shops 25% more expensive...

Not surprisingly, Lenovo owns 25% of the global market - American manufacturers have been producing outright overpriced, made in China, which is amazing, garbage for many years.

It's just that someone in the US wants to get too much, without deserving it at all.

[_MT_]

Absolutely disgraceful laptop with blatant slow memory in dual-channel(?) mode.
Shameful memory allegedly in dual-channel mode(?), pumping 2 times less than the typical level for DDR4 3200. Along the way, HP silently turned off dual-channel mode, or what is this strange testing in AIDA64? Did the tester accurately check with 2 memory sticks? I'm not sure.

The laptop has two slots and supports dual-channel (at least that's what the specification here claims), but only one slot is populated and therefore this actual unit works in single-channel mode. Yes, the specification section fails to mention that only one module is installed (1x16) and not two (2x8). But you can clearly see it in the "system performance" section.

[NikoB]

Absolutely disgraceful laptop with blatant slow memory in dual-channel(?) mode.
Shameful memory allegedly in dual-channel mode(?), pumping 2 times less than the typical level for DDR4 3200. Along the way, HP silently turned off dual-channel mode, or what is this strange testing in AIDA64? Did the tester accurately check with 2 memory sticks? I'm not sure.

The laptop has two slots and supports dual-channel (at least that's what the specification here claims), but only one slot is populated and therefore this actual unit works in single-channel mode. Yes, the specification section fails to mention that only one module is installed (1x16) and not two (2x8). But you can clearly see it in the "system performance" section.

You're lying:
HP ProBook 445 G8-3Z6Q8ES
Memory 16384 MB
DDR4-3200, 22-22-22-52, dual-channel, 2x SO-DIMM

[_MT_]

You're lying:
HP ProBook 445 G8-3Z6Q8ES
Memory 16384 MB
DDR4-3200, 22-22-22-52, dual-channel, 2x SO-DIMM

And you're thick as a brick. "Yes, the specification section fails to mention that only one module is installed (1x16) and not two (2x8). But you can clearly see it in the "system performance" section."

Just look at the picture of internals (main gallery; no, the picture is not recycled). Or the System performance section. The description even reads: "1x 16 GB RAM module in single-channel mode." Yes, the specification says dual-channel, I wrote as much. But it won't work in dual-channel with one module, will it.

According to HP ( support.hp.com/de-de/document/c07006087#AbT3 ), it supports dual-channel and the 16 GB configuration is shipped with single module.

[NikoB]

What is the point of testing a laptop in single-channel mode if a second dimm is added there in a couple of minutes? And more than 90% of buyers will do it right away. The meaning of such "testing" is almost equal to zero in terms of performance review. Choosing a laptop, it is important to understand the jambs of the lineup in a normal, working configuration.

[_MT_]

What is the point of testing a laptop in single-channel mode if a second dimm is added there in a couple of minutes? And more than 90% of buyers will do it right away.

I very much doubt that 90 % of buyers will add a second module - at all, not just right away. It's more likely to be less than 10 %. If someone upgrades memory right away, it's probably because factory option was significantly more expensive than aftermarket; not because it was too slow. I think most users won't even notice that memory is slower than one might expect and so won't give it any thought whatsoever.

Why test it this way? Because it's how it's shipped. It's what people receive. Yes, it is sometimes possible to easily improve a product. You might add a second module out of curiosity but that should just complement testing of the factory configuration, it shouldn't be primary focus. You're reviewing a finished product, not writing a DIY guide. Such tips and data are a bonus, not the point.

[Marvin Gollor]

Yes, sorry it is def. in single channel mode. specification is wrong. I changed it now, thanks!

For the WiFi-Speeds: If you look at the measured speeds in the table it is stated in MBit/s there. So it's another mistake in the text, sorry for the confusion!