If the prospect of building your own PC is daunting, the HP Omen 35L presents a compelling alternative. This pre-built gaming desktop balances significant gaming prowess with a relatively compact and quiet design. However, its premium price point, especially considering the necessity of purchasing peripherals separately, could be a deterrent for some potential buyers.
The Omen 35L lives up to its name, measuring 35 liters in volume. While not a small form factor (SFF) machine, it avoids being overly bulky. Its construction is solid, featuring glass front and side panels that showcase the internal RGB lighting and liquid cooling system. The motherboard configuration includes two RAM slots, both occupied by 32GB of 6000MT/s DDR5 memory, offering decent headroom for future upgrades, particularly with the AM5 platform's expected longevity.
Performance and Components
The reviewed model is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU with 16GB of VRAM. Storage is handled by a 1TB SSD. For connectivity, the case offers four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports (topping out at 10Gbps), and four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, alongside 2.5Gb Ethernet and Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4. The rear ports include three DisplayPort 2.1b and one HDMI 2.1b on the graphics card, ensuring proper display connections.
In 1440p gaming, the Omen 35L delivers excellent framerates. In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora at Ultra settings, it achieved 99 average FPS and a 66 1% low FPS. While slightly behind a previous Omen 35L configuration featuring an RTX 4080 Super, this current iteration offers a notable upgrade from older Nvidia RTX 20- or 30-series cards. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor continues to be a standout, performing exceptionally well in CPU-intensive titles like Metro Exodus, where temperatures remained commendably low, with the CPU and GPU rarely exceeding 70°C during demanding gameplay. This quiet and cool operation is facilitated by the system's liquid cooling, with a 240mm radiator for the CPU, while case fans manage airflow for other components.
Design and Upgradability
The Omen 35L's aesthetic is characterized by its glass panels and internal RGB lighting, presenting a clean, modern look. The internal layout provides some room for upgrades, including a spare M.2 slot for additional SSD storage, though accessing it may require removing the GPU. The AM5 platform offers a future-proof foundation, suggesting compatibility with upcoming CPU generations up to Zen 7.
For users who prefer to avoid the complexities of PC building, the HP Omen 35L is a strong contender. It delivers substantial gaming power without excessive noise or size, making it an accessible entry point into high-end PC gaming. While the initial investment is significant and does not include essential peripherals, the system's performance and cooling capabilities justify its price for those prioritizing convenience and raw gaming capability. The value proposition is further enhanced when compared to more expensive custom-built systems, offering a near price/performance sweet spot for a pre-built machine.