For gamers and power users seeking a commanding desktop experience, the HP Omen 35L emerges as a compelling contender in the mid-tower category. This gaming rig, available in various configurations, aims to deliver top-tier performance, a sleek design, and user-friendly features for both newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts. Let's delve into the details of what makes the Omen 35L a noteworthy addition to the gaming landscape.
Striking Design and Practical Build
The HP Omen 35L boasts a classy mid-tower design that is both visually appealing and functional. Its aesthetic is described as a boxy design with an all-black chassis, though a white option with black accents is also available. This modern vibe is further enhanced by the front of the system featuring two 140mm RGB fans located behind a screen displaying the Omen wordmark. The inclusion of a tempered glass side panel on many configurations allows users to admire the internal components and their RGB lighting, including the AIO CPU cooler, case fans, Kingston Fury RAM, and GeForce RTX 4080 Super GPU. While some options might include a metal side panel, the glass window showcases the vibrant colours inside.
Beyond aesthetics, the Omen 35L prioritizes practicality. The cables visible through the window are largely hidden by a shroud, contributing to a clean and tidy look inside. The right side panel maintains a simpler appearance with a black metal plate and the Omen logo. The top of the system features conveniently placed ports and square hold grills likely for radiator exhaust. Notably, HP has focused on toolless entry, securing each side panel with just two thumbscrews, making accessing the internals incredibly easy for upgrades or maintenance.
The overall build quality of the Omen line is considered exceptional, utilizing a robust metal case and both front and side tempered-glass panels. This gives the Omen 35L a more high-end feel compared with some competitors. The dimensions of the case are approximately 16.1 by 8.3 by 16.1 inches (HWD), translating to about 35 liters in volume, giving the product its name. This size is considered pretty compact for the mid-tower category, even replacing both the Omen 40L and 25L as a new standard size for the company.
Powerhouse Performance and Flexible Configurations
The HP Omen 35L is positioned as a desktop-class gaming machine capable of catering to a wide range of users thanks to its diverse configurations. It offers various pre-tuned and optimized setups, accommodating both budget-conscious users and those seeking high performance. The entry-level model targets 1080p gaming with an AMD Ryzen 5 8500G processor, an AMD Radeon RX 7600 graphics card, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive.
However, the reviewed configurations often showcase the system's high-end potential. One popular configuration includes an AMD Ryzen 7 8700G CPU paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super GPU. This combination, along with up to 64 GB of RAM and multiple storage drives, aims to deliver exceptional gaming experiences at 1440p and even 4K resolutions. The system boasts support for Wi-Fi 7 for cutting-edge wireless connectivity.
Performance benchmarks reveal the capabilities of the Omen 35L. In demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K Ultra settings with DLSS Quality, it can achieve an average of 67 FPS. Even without ray tracing, the game runs smoothly. For competitive esports shooters like Fortnite, the system can average over 270 FPS at 4K performance mode with high settings, demonstrating its potential for high refresh rate gaming. While the Ryzen 7 8700G is considered pretty decent for high CPU-demanding games, some sources suggest that for purely CPU-intensive tasks or competitive gaming at the absolute highest frame rates, an Intel counterpart might offer better performance due to more cores. However, for most users, the Ryzen 7 8700G proves to be more than adequate for productivity work, handling tasks like Microsoft Office, email, and web browsing with ease.
Storage options are also generous, with configurations featuring up to two M.2 SSDs and an additional 3.5-inch hard drive bay, providing a balance of speed and capacity. The Western Digital Black drives used in some models offer excellent read and write speeds, crucial for gaming and demanding applications.
Upgradeability and Standardized Parts
A significant advantage of the HP Omen 35L is its reliance on industry-standard parts, making future upgrades and repairs significantly easier. The motherboard adheres to the Micro ATX standard, and the Omen branded PSU is a standard part, not a proprietary component. This means users can readily swap out components like the GPU (which can be up to 335mm in size), RAM, and storage devices as their needs evolve. Accessing internal components is further simplified by the toolless entry design. While accessing all storage slots and the wireless card might require removing the GPU, the overall process is designed to be user-friendly.
Efficient Cooling and Quiet Operation
Maintaining optimal temperatures is crucial for peak performance, and the HP Omen 35L addresses this with a well-designed cooling system. The front panel features two large cutouts to draw air into the two 140mm intake fans. Depending on the configuration, cooling can be provided by either an air cooler or a liquid cooler for the CPU, with space for up to a 240mm CPU liquid cooler on the top. Additionally, two 120mm fans on the top and one at the rear act as exhaust. HP's custom fan curve aims to optimize both cooling and noise levels.
Impressively, the Omen 35L is often described as having quiet cooling fans. Even under heavy gaming loads, the fans reportedly never get overly loud or annoying. In performance mode, the fan noise levels have been measured at surprisingly low levels, making it one of the quieter pre-built gaming desktops in its class. While some sources noted slightly higher than average CPU temperatures when using an air cooler compared to liquid-cooled systems, the overall thermal performance is generally considered good, with no thermal throttling detected during stress tests. The design also includes washable dust filters behind the front panel and underneath the system, simplifying maintenance.
Omen Gaming Hub: Your Central Command
HP's Omen Gaming Hub software provides users with comprehensive control over their system. This one-stop gaming application allows for customization of RGB lighting across various components like fans, RAM sticks, and the graphics card. Users can synchronize lighting effects or control individual zones, with various appealing themes available.
Beyond aesthetics, the Omen Gaming Hub offers crucial system monitoring, displaying real-time stats for the CPU, GPU, and RAM, as well as temperature readings. Performance settings allow users to switch between balanced and performance modes to optimize power usage and cooling. Thermal controls offer presets ranging from Quiet to Turbo to manage fan speeds and cooling performance. For enthusiasts, the software enables XMP RAM boosting to achieve higher memory speeds. Additionally, features like network booster and performance control (PBO for AMD CPUs) can further enhance the gaming experience. The Omen Gaming Hub also facilitates system updates and diagnostics, and even allows for BIOS updates without needing to enter the BIOS directly. Settings can be conveniently saved in profiles.
Pricing and Value Proposition
The HP Omen 35L is available at various price points depending on the chosen configuration. The starting price can be around $1,099.99, but high-end configurations, such as those featuring the RTX 4080 Super and 64GB of RAM, can reach $2,449.99 or more. While higher-end models can become pricey, the Omen 35L is often considered to offer good value for the money, particularly for those seeking a pre-built system that is ready to go out of the box.
Comparisons with other pre-built gaming PCs suggest that the Omen 35L, especially in configurations with powerful GPUs like the RTX 4080 Super, can offer a competitive price-to-performance ratio, particularly for 4K gaming. While the unusual pairing of the Ryzen G-series CPU with a dedicated high-end GPU might raise some eyebrows, the overall gaming performance remains strong. For users primarily focused on high-fidelity gaming at higher resolutions, the Omen 35L presents a compelling option. However, for those prioritizing maximum CPU performance for specific CPU-intensive tasks or aiming for the absolute highest frame rates in esports titles at lower resolutions, exploring alternative systems with different CPU configurations might be beneficial. HP frequently runs sales, so it's advisable to check for the latest pricing and availability.
Final Thoughts: A Strong Contender for Gamers
The HP Omen 35L stands out as a well-rounded gaming desktop that caters to a broad spectrum of gamers. Its attractive design, practical build with toolless entry, reliance on standardized parts for easy upgrades, and efficient yet quiet cooling system make it a user-friendly choice. The inclusion of the feature-rich Omen Gaming Hub software further enhances the user experience by providing comprehensive control over system settings and aesthetics. While the choice of CPU in some configurations might be unconventional, the overall gaming performance, especially at 1440p and 4K resolutions, is undeniably impressive. With a range of configurations available at different price points, the HP Omen 35L offers a compelling value proposition for gamers looking for a powerful and reliable pre-built gaming desktop.