iFixit

The RAM replacement requires flexing a couple of fingers.

We would praise the Z1 for having easy-to-remove RAM modules, but then we remembered that most computers have easy-to-remove RAM modules.

The Z1 is capable of supporting up to 32 GB of DDR3 RAM. If you have to ask why you need 32 GB, then you clearly don't need it.

Next out is the grab-and-go power supply — 400 watts of "that was easy."

We're not nearly as worried about zapping ourselves on this power supply as we are with other, more naked versions.

Hopefully, the ease of replacement of the power supply does not fortell an ease of failure.

What's under the big black casing? Nothing, at least in our $2,000 "cheapo" machine.

If you shell out a few more clams for your Z1, you'll find a fancy schmancy NVIDIA Quadro graphics card here, as seen by HP's artistic rendering in the second image.

The internal USB is a great place to hide the wireless mouse dongle.

• We would like to take a second to reflect on how awesome this is. Imagine being able to plug in that annoying wireless dongle and never think about it again. Incredible!

Finally! Our first screws. We were beginning to worry there would be no use for our 54 Bit Driver Kit.

But even with pesky Torx T15 screws, removing the fans and heatsink from the top of the CPU is super-simple.

Speaking of screws...

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Like this handy-dandy electronics tool kit that we used to take apart the HP Z1. You know you want one. It'll pay for itself the first time you use it!

We sell Mac parts & upgrades, parts for iPhone screen repair, kits for fixing the infamous Xbox Red Ring of Death, and tons more.

We need your support to continue building the free repair manual for everything in the world.

This is almost too easy! A simple flip of a lever and the Intel processor practically jumps off the motherboard.

These days we mostly encounter soldered-on CPUs on laptops and smartphones, so it's a bit refreshing to touch and feel a nice hunk of CPU silicon in one's hand. Even though this machine is nothing like the PC beige-boxes some of us built back in the day, there's something comforting about holding a can-be-upgraded CPU and inspecting it up close.

Fake rumor confirmed: our Z1 did, in fact, come with an Intel Core i3 2120 processor, running at 3.30 GHz.

According to the Z1 treasure map, this little button is for resetting the CMOS. No more jumpers to short out. Cool.

This connector is where the power button plugs into the motherboard.

And, according to the same treasure map, this connector allows you to plug in a second internal USB port, should you need another one inside the device.