T850 · T870 · T950
The HP DesignJet T850, T870, and T950 form the professional tier of HP's DesignJet range, designed for architecture and engineering practices with consistent daily drawing output and 2 to 10 concurrent users. All three models print at A0 format on 36-inch (914 mm) roll media with ±0.1% line accuracy, connect via Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB, and support USB Flash Drive printing and HP Click one-step plotting software. The T850 is the professional upgrade from the T650, suited to growing practices with 2 to 5 regular users. The T870 handles higher daily volumes with increased duty cycle for 3 to 8 users. The T950 is the highest-throughput model in the professional tier, for practices of 5 to 10 users with demanding drawing schedules. Scan and copy capability is available via the T850 MFP and T950 MFP variants. Sold and serviced in South Africa by Graficomp, an HP Amplify Commercial Specialist and certified HP ASDP service partner.
Five configurations matched to team size, daily volume, and whether you need integrated scanning. All models are 36-inch A0-capable with HP Click and USB Flash Drive printing.
The professional step-up from the T650. Higher duty cycle, 5-inch touchscreen, and USB Flash Drive printing for growing practices.
T850 printing capability with integrated large-format scanning and copying. Handles as-built capture and tender set scanning without a separate scanner.
Higher throughput than the T850 for practices with larger daily volumes. Higher-capacity roll system and a stronger duty cycle for sustained output.
Top of the professional tier. Highest throughput before stepping up to the production T1600. For busy practices with demanding drawing schedules.
The T950's throughput combined with integrated large-format scanning and copying. The complete professional print, scan, and copy solution.
These four arguments apply across all five professional series configurations. They explain why a growing practice outgrows the T630 and T650 and why stepping up to this tier is financially justified.
The T650 is designed for occasional drawing output. The professional series is designed for daily, sustained printing across multiple users. The key difference is duty cycle: the number of A1 sheets the hardware can process per month without degraded performance or premature wear. For a practice running tender sets weekly and drawing revisions daily, the professional series handles the load the compact range was not rated for.
Every professional series model supports printing directly from a USB flash drive without a connected computer. For site offices, meeting rooms, and practices where the plotter needs to operate independently of the office network, this eliminates the most common print-room workflow bottleneck. Drop the USB, print, remove. The T650 does not support this — the professional series does across all five configurations.
All five professional series models include a 5-inch colour touchscreen. This shifts printer management from a desktop PC to the device itself. Queue review, job deletion, media loading confirmation, connectivity diagnostics, and firmware status are accessible at the printer without returning to a workstation. For a practice where the plotter sits across the office from the operator's desk, this is a practical time saving on every print run.
The T850 MFP and T950 MFP integrate large-format scanning and copying directly into the plotter. For an architecture practice that needs to scan marked-up site drawings, capture as-built plans, or copy existing drawings for submission, this removes a second device from the office footprint. The scanner feeds into the same HP Smart App workflow, so scan-to-PDF and scan-to-folder jobs follow the same process as print jobs.
The HP DesignJet T850 is the professional upgrade from the HP DesignJet T650. Where the T650 serves practices with occasional to moderate drawing output, the T850 is rated for sustained daily use across 2 to 5 concurrent users. It prints at 36-inch (914 mm) maximum width on roll and sheet media, with the same ±0.1% line accuracy across all modes. Key additions over the T650 include a 5-inch colour touchscreen, USB Flash Drive printing, and a higher duty cycle for consistent daily operation. For a small architecture or engineering practice that has outgrown the T650's capacity, the T850 is the direct next step before moving to the higher-throughput T870 or T950.
Higher duty cycle than the T650, 5-inch touchscreen, USB Flash Drive printing, and Gigabit Ethernet for 2 to 5 regular users. The step-up when the T650's capacity has become a constraint on daily output.
Scan width up to 914 mm. Scan-to-PDF, scan-to-folder, and copy functions built in. Eliminates a separate large-format scanner for practices that capture site drawings, marked-up revisions, or as-built plans.
Choose the T850 when you have 3 or more regular users, your weekly volume consistently exceeds 30 A1 sheets, or your T650 is showing queue delays. The gains are in duty cycle and workflow convenience, not print quality.
If the T850 creates queue delays as the team grows, the T870 handles 3 to 8 users at higher throughput. The T950 is the top professional-tier choice for 5 to 10 users with demanding drawing schedules.
The HP DesignJet T870 sits between the T850 and T950 in the professional series. It is designed for practices with higher daily drawing volumes than the T850 handles comfortably, for teams of 3 to 8 regular users running consistent tender sets and drawing register updates. The T870 delivers higher throughput and a higher-capacity roll system, making it the better fit when a practice's output has outgrown the T850 but does not yet justify the T950. Like all professional series models, the T870 connects via Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB, includes a 5-inch touchscreen, and supports USB Flash Drive printing and HP Click batch PDF plotting.
Higher throughput and a higher-capacity roll system. The right choice when the T850 is creating queue delays for a team of 3 to 8 users with a consistent daily drawing workload.
The T870 is a print-only model. There is no T870 MFP configuration. If you need scan and copy capability at the T870 throughput level, the T950 MFP is the appropriate choice.
The T950 MFP combines T950-level print throughput with integrated large-format scanning and copying. For practices that need both higher-volume printing and scan/copy capability in one device.
If your team has 8 to 10 users or your daily A1 output consistently pushes beyond what the T870 handles, the T950 is the next step — the highest-throughput model before the production T1600 tier.
The HP DesignJet T950 is the highest-throughput model in the professional series, positioned for architecture and engineering practices of 5 to 10 users with demanding daily drawing output. It delivers the fastest A1 print speeds in this tier and is the correct choice when the practice's output requirements have moved beyond what the T850 and T870 can sustain without queue delays. The T950 is a print-only device. For practices that also need integrated scanning and copying at this throughput level, the T950 MFP is the appropriate configuration. Both models share the same printing hardware, with the T950 MFP adding the large-format scanner module. Before moving to the HP DesignJet T1600, the T950 is the last stop in the professional tier.
Highest throughput in the professional series. Rated for 5 to 10 concurrent users with demanding daily drawing output. The last professional-series stop before the production T1600.
Combines T950 print throughput with a 914 mm integrated scanner. Scan-to-PDF, scan-to-folder, and copy functions included. The complete professional print, scan, and copy solution at this tier.
The T1600 adds dual-roll, a higher-volume ink system, and production-tier duty cycle. Consider it when you have 10+ users or consistently exceed 100 A1 sheets per week.
The T2600 MFP adds LDAP authentication, role-based access, and HP Wolf Pro Security. The right choice for government, corporate, or IT-security-governed environments.
Practices choosing between the professional series models are typically already past the point where in-house printing makes financial sense. The question is which configuration is appropriate for the volume. At bureau rates of R15 to R25 per A1 sheet, the figures below illustrate when moving from the compact range to the professional series is also a financial upgrade.
| Weekly A1 Volume | Estimated Bureau Cost (per month) | Estimated Bureau Cost (per year) | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 sheets/week | R600 to R1,000 | R7,200 to R12,000 | At this volume, the HP DesignJet T630 or T650 is the correct starting point, not the professional series. |
| 20 to 30 sheets/week | R1,200 to R3,000 | R14,400 to R36,000 | T850 is the entry point. Bureau costs at this volume typically justify the T850 within 12 to 18 months. |
| 50 sheets/week | R3,000 to R5,000 | R36,000 to R60,000 | T870 for print-only. T850 MFP if scan and copy are also required. In-house is clearly more economical at this volume. |
| 75 to 100 sheets/week | R4,500 to R10,000 | R54,000 to R120,000 | T950 or T950 MFP. Bureau outsourcing is not viable at this volume for a practice of any size. |
| 100+ sheets/week | R6,000+ | R72,000+ | Consider the HP DesignJet T1600 production tier. Contact Graficomp for a volume-matched recommendation. |
These estimates are based on typical bureau rates in Johannesburg and Cape Town as of 2026. Contact Graficomp for a cost comparison based on your actual weekly volume and drawing complexity.
The professional series shares the same workflow platform as the rest of the DesignJet range. All five models work with the same software, drivers, and connectivity options.
All professional series models work with any application that exports to PDF or sends output through a standard Windows or macOS print driver. No plugin, no add-in, no specialist operator required. HP-GL/2 print language is natively supported for direct driver output from AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, and all other standard AEC applications. Mac users have full native driver support.
HP Click is included with all professional series models. Drop multiple PDF files in, and the software detects the page size of each automatically. One click sends the entire batch to the plotter — no manual driver selection, no page-by-page size configuration. For a practice exporting 20 PDFs from AutoCAD for a tender submission, this eliminates the most time-consuming step in the print workflow. HP Click is not a RIP. AEC buyers do not need a RIP for standard CAD plotting.
HP provides a raster driver for both Windows and macOS on all T850, T870, and T950 models. HP Click and HP Smart App are both available for macOS. Architecture and design practices running macOS can print directly with no Windows intermediary.
| Connection | Details |
|---|---|
| Gigabit Ethernet | 1000Base-T. Recommended for offices with multiple users sharing a network print queue. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g/n. Wireless printing from desktops and laptops without cabling. |
| Hi-Speed USB 2.0 | Direct connection for single-user workstations. |
| USB Flash Drive | Print from USB stick without a connected computer. Present on all five professional series models. |
| HP Smart App | Remote job submission, queue management, and printer status from any device. |
All professional series models include a 5-inch colour touchscreen. Queue review, job cancellation, media loading confirmation, and connectivity diagnostics are accessible without returning to a workstation. For any practice where the plotter is not immediately next to the operator's desk, this eliminates the back-and-forth of managing print jobs through a desktop interface.
Specifications sourced from HP product datasheets. Verify specific values against current HP documentation before procurement. Contact Graficomp if you need a specification confirmed.
| Specification | T850 | T850 MFP | T870 | T950 | T950 MFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Print Width | 914 mm (36") | 914 mm (36") | 914 mm (36") | 914 mm (36") | 914 mm (36") |
| A1 Print Speed | Contact Graficomp | Contact Graficomp | Higher than T850 | Highest in tier | Highest in tier |
| Print Resolution | 2400 × 1200 dpi | 2400 × 1200 dpi | 2400 × 1200 dpi | 2400 × 1200 dpi | 2400 × 1200 dpi |
| Line Accuracy | ±0.1% | ±0.1% | ±0.1% | ±0.1% | ±0.1% |
| Ink System | HP 712 (4-color) | HP 712 (4-color) | HP 712 (4-color) | HP 712 (4-color) | HP 712 (4-color) |
| Touchscreen | 5-inch colour | 5-inch colour | 5-inch colour | 5-inch colour | 5-inch colour |
| USB Flash Drive Print | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Integrated Scanner | No | Yes (up to 914 mm) | No | No | Yes (up to 914 mm) |
| Copy Function | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Connectivity | GbE, Wi-Fi, USB, USB Flash | GbE, Wi-Fi, USB, USB Flash | GbE, Wi-Fi, USB, USB Flash | GbE, Wi-Fi, USB, USB Flash | GbE, Wi-Fi, USB, USB Flash |
| Media: Roll Feed | 279 to 914 mm | 279 to 914 mm | 279 to 914 mm | 279 to 914 mm | 279 to 914 mm |
| Auto Sheet Feeder | A4 to A3 | A4 to A3 | A4 to A3 | A4 to A3 | A4 to A3 |
| Operating Temp | 5 to 40°C | 5 to 40°C | 5 to 40°C | 5 to 40°C | 5 to 40°C |
| Power (SA) | 220-240V, 50/60 Hz | 220-240V, 50/60 Hz | 220-240V, 50/60 Hz | 220-240V, 50/60 Hz | 220-240V, 50/60 Hz |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited | 1-year limited | 1-year limited | 1-year limited |
Graficomp does not sell you a plotter and leave you to set it up. Every HP DesignJet professional series purchase includes on-site installation, driver and network configuration, and operator training. Graficomp's engineering team holds an estimated 40 to 50 years of combined hands-on experience with HP DesignJet and Latex printer ranges.
Authorised HP service in and out of warranty. Genuine parts, trained technicians, and service coverage from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
On-site: Graficomp validates print quality, configures HP Click, and connects the device to your network before handover. You do not set it up yourself.
HP Click workflow, USB Flash Drive printing, sheet feeder loading, roll media loading, ink cartridge replacement, and driver configuration on your OS.
36, 48, or 60-month rental and financing options on the professional series. Contact Graficomp for a monthly cost comparison against your current bureau spend.
HP Amplify is HP's global partner programme. Specialist status requires demonstrated technical competency, customer satisfaction metrics, and a minimum volume of certified deployments. Graficomp holds designations across two solution areas plus Synergy Commercial Partner status.
When you buy an HP DesignJet professional series model through Graficomp, you are buying through a partner HP recognises as qualified to deliver the full solution: hardware, installation, training, and ongoing service.
HP delivers equipment free to any South African location. For AEC practices in outlying towns, this eliminates a cost barrier that competitors do not address.
Graficomp's Cape Town office in Tokai serves the entire Western Cape with on-site installation and support. Architecture practices in Stellenbosch, engineering consultancies in Paarl, GIS teams at Winelands universities, and civil engineering firms along the Garden Route are all within service range.
Use these three routing cards to confirm whether the professional series is the right tier for your practice, and which configuration within it is appropriate.
| Buyer Condition | Recommended Model |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 15 A1 per week, lowest entry cost, solo or small studio | HP DesignJet T630 |
| 15 to 30 A1 per week, automatic sheet feeder, 1 to 3 users | HP DesignJet T650 |
| Growing practice, 2 to 5 users, need USB Flash Drive printing, consistent daily output | HP DesignJet T850 (or T850 MFP if scan and copy needed) |
| 3 to 8 users, higher daily volume, T850 creating queue delays | HP DesignJet T870 |
| 5 to 10 users, demanding daily output, top of professional tier | HP DesignJet T950 (or T950 MFP if scan and copy needed) |
| 30+ A1 per day, multiple concurrent users, dual-roll required | HP DesignJet T1600 |
| Need wide-format signage, vehicle graphics, or production print beyond CAD | HP Latex 630 (separate category) |
If your practice prints fewer than 15 A1 drawings per week and does not need USB Flash Drive printing or the higher duty cycle, the HP DesignJet T650 delivers the same print quality at a lower entry cost. The professional series is priced above the compact range for good reason: the gains are in duty cycle and workflow features, not in line quality. Do not over-specify for a practice that the T650 can serve adequately.
If your team has 10 or more people printing concurrently, or your daily output consistently exceeds 30 A1 sheets, the HP DesignJet T1600 is the production-tier upgrade. It adds dual-roll capability, a higher-volume ink system, and throughput rated for sustained high-volume environments. Contact Graficomp to discuss whether the T950 or T1600 is appropriate for your specific volume.
The HP DesignJet T2600 MFP adds LDAP authentication, role-based access control, HP Wolf Pro Security, and secure erase. For government clients, corporate facilities teams, or organisations with IT security requirements for network-connected devices, the T2600 MFP is the correct choice over the T950 MFP.
Answers written to stand alone and address the specific questions AEC buyers ask when choosing between these five configurations.
Tell us your team size, weekly drawing volume, and whether you need scan and copy. A Graficomp DesignJet specialist will recommend the right model and provide a detailed quote including installation and HP Click setup. No obligation.
