Customer Ratings & Reviews

The HP OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop with the AMD Ryzen 5 8500 CPU, 16GB DDR5 Memory, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, and 1TB SSD, is a quality entry level Prebuilt and a good bang for your buck. I've had a chance to put it through its paces over the past week, and here’s my thoughts on it. From the moment I powered up the HP OMEN 35L, it's clear that this machine was designed for gaming. The AMD Ryzen 5 8500, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, made light work of everyday tasks. Whether I was multitasking between a dozen browser tabs, gaming, streaming high-definition videos, or working on big spreadsheets, the desktop remained smooth and responsive. The computer comes equipped with the Omen software where you can tune your PC, along with changing the RAM Speeds (which by default is not set to the highest speed), adjust fan curve and change the RGB Lighting. The PC also comes with a ton of bloatware installed that I recommend uninstalling to free up space and memory usage. The 16GB of DDR5 memory was more than sufficient for handling simultaneous applications. Switching between demanding programs, such as photo editing software and virtual machines, was seamless. Booting up was quick, thanks to the 1TB SSD, which also made file transfers and program launches virtually instantaneous. I will say I was concerned initially that the motherboard only had one M.2 SSD slot on it. But after flipping the case on its side I noticed there was an SSD logo on the motherboard under the GPU. So if you do decide to upgrade your Storage by adding an additional SSD, you will need to take out the GP, in order to install the new M.2 SSD. Since this is a prebuilt, and most people will be hesitant in removing their GPU, I wish HP would have installed the M.2 in that Slot. It does also have a sled enclosure in the case for Hard Drive storage, but only room for one HDD or SSD. Also the 500 Watt Power supply is not modular, so adding more HDD or SSD limits you to one and you will not be able to add more. The cable management is well done in the case and is neatly organized and routed throughout and has a fan splitter in the back of the case if you want to add more fans for air flow. The motherboard also has WiFi built in on it along with bluetooth, and plenty of I/O in the back with 6x USB-A ports, 2x of those being 5gbs ports, 1x 10GBs USB-C port, Cat5 ethernet jack, microphone and audio jacks. The PC does come with a mouse and keyboard, but they are cheap and I recommend getting something better. Now, onto the fun part—gaming. With the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 onboard, I was excited to see how it fared, especially with the latest DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology. I fired up a few demanding titles to test its capabilities. In Cyberpunk 2077, running with a mixture of low and medium settings with DLSS set to “Ultra performance,” on my 4K TV, the game ran around 30-55 FPS. It was very choppy and was kind of hard to play. So, I decided to run it on my 1440P monitor along with DLSS, which made a noticeable difference, enhancing frame rates without compromising visual fidelity. The AI upscaling seemed to handle the heavy lifting well, maintaining acceptable visuals without any choppiness. In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, I enabled DLSS and set it to “Performance” mode, I was getting anywhere from 80-100 FPS. The gameplay was fluid, with minimal stuttering or frame drops, even during intense firefights. The graphics were stunning, and DLSS provided a visual experience that was immersive and smooth. The 4060 GPU is usable at 4K if you’re playing competitive games that are not too graphics intensive compared to high end AAA games and I’d recommend using a 1440p display to get the most out of the card. Pros and Cons Pros: 1. Good price to Performance: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500 and 16GB DDR5 RAM ensure smooth performance for both daily tasks and demanding applications. 2. Gaming: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, combined with DLSS technology, delivers exceptional gaming performance, even at Medium to higher settings at 1440p. 3. Fast Storage: The 1TB M.2 SSD provides quick boot times and rapid access to files, making everything from starting up to loading games a breeze. 4. Design and Build: The HP OMEN 35L has a sleek, modern design with good airflow, which helps keep the system cool even under heavy load. Cons: 1. Bloatware: The pre-installed software includes some unnecessary bloatware that takes up space and can be a hassle to remove. 2. Power Supply: Lack of modular power supply limits you to what you can upgrade. 3. Keyboard and Mouse: Cheap plastic and sound awful, invest in better ones. Overall, the HP OMEN 35L Desktop is a good starter PC for those wanting to get into PC gaming and for those not wanting to break the bank. This PC is perfect if you want to play competitive games like Fortnite, Valorant, Apex and Warzone at 1440p. If you are wanting to play high end AAA games at 4K, you will probably want to go with something that has a higher end GPU and CPU.

KEY SPECS Ryzen 5 8500G (6C / 12T) 16GB DDR5 5200MHz RAM 1TB NVMe SSD nVidia RTX 4060 w/ 8GB PORTS USB-A 3.0 x 4 (5Gb) USB-C x 2 (10Gb) USB-A 2.0 x 4 1 RJ-45 1 HDMI / 3 DP 3.5mm HEADPHONE / LINE / MIC 3.5” HDD Drive Tray x 1 DESIGN HP has come a long way with their Omen desktops. I was fortunate to receive an Omen 30L desktop several years ago for review. The 30L Omen case was abysmal. Air flow management was so horrible, that the processor and graphics card rapidly reached 100C and thermal throttled. Even with an old nVidia 1660 graphics card and 9th generation Intel processor, the PC was nearly unplayable. I spent several hundred dollars on the Omen just to make it usable. I had to buy an AiO and multiple case fans for cooling. Even then, you could tell that the results were adequate, at best. Fast forward 3 generations later and HP has finally brought out an acceptable redesign. Gone are the gimmicky designs, going back to what works, a box with a lot of fans. 2 in the front drawing in air, 1 in the back exhausting air, and 1 on the AMD Boxed cooler. Combine that with airflow vents on the top, bottom, and back and HP has finally given the enthusiast market a case that allows for sufficient airflow and low noise levels, even after hours of gaming. Going along with that re-design are honest, off-the-shelf compatible parts. Even with HP specific part numbers and builds, the installed items are standard sized components. Standardized items include: mATX motherboard, standardized 500W power supply, cooling fans, etc. Excellent. Should something fail, or should the end-user want to upgrade, he/she is not forced to ditch the entire PC and can upgrade when the need, budget, and time allows without being limited to vendor-specific parts. GAMING PERFORMANCE TLDR – On most AAA games, this PC is severely GPU bound. Some games like Forza are optimized pretty well for the CPU / GPU combo, but for most games, the GPU is running at nearly 100% while the CPU chugs along at a leisurely 35% (give or take). Not saying the Omen 35L can’t turn some decently respectable numbers, but there is quite a bit left on the table with pairing a base 4060 with this Ryzen processor. My go-to games for testing are usually Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, and F1 2023. Most are games I play on a fairly regular basis, but are also games that will demand a great deal from the GPU if you have it (Starfield). My test monitor is a 48” LG Ultra Gear 4k OLED 120Hz gaming monitor. My testing of the various games returns the following: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 4k – 42fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option) 1440p – 106fps with DLSS / 117fps without DLSS Forza Horizon 5 4k Ultra – 77fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option) 1440p Ultra – 93fps without DLSS / 101 with DLSS 4k High – 78fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option) 1440p High – 118 fps with and without DLSS Starfield 4k High – 27fps without DLSS / 62 with DLSS 1440p High – 55fps without DLSS / 109fps with DLSS F1 2023 4k Medium – 37fps without DLSS / 63fps with DLSS 1440p High – 86 without DLSS / 127fps with DLSS 1440p Ultra – 51fps with DLSS (Unplayable without DLSS) I did not test lower than 1440p resolution. For me, these framerates are more than enjoyable even if they aren’t competition level. Enabling the DLSS option at 1440p makes a discernible difference in video quality, sharpening images and reducing on-screen artifacts. NEGATIVES First – HP has no provisions to access the integrated graphics of the AMD processor. Unlike most manufacturers, there isn’t a separate HDMI connection on the rear header, forcing sole use of the RTX 4060. There is no way to save power and disable the discreet graphics card. Two – I seriously question HP’s included selection of ports. Port selection feels like a desktop from 4 years ago. There are no Thunderbolt ports, no USB-C 4.0 ports, just basic USB A & C ports. In this day and age, there is no reason not to provide high-speed USB-C style ports. A simple USB-C 4.0 or Thunderbolt port to provide 40Gb output and access to the integrated GPU would be welcome and quite frankly, should be a standard addition for any desktop wanting to appeal to enthusiasts. CONCLUSIONS The Omen 35L is a decent entry-level gaming computer from HP. It has more than enough power for everyday workloads. Streaming 2 independent 1080p videos, while downloading games at more than 500Mb/s, reading emails, and updating some drivers in the background barely taxed the PC. CPU and GPU utilization was at a reasonable 40%. Not bad at all. The new Omen design is a marked improvement over Omens from the past. Even after long, strenuous gaming sessions, CPU and GPU temps remained good with no signs of thermal throttling. Even better, even when being fully taxed, the whole system remains quiet and composed. I was shocked at how quiet the new PC is. Compared to my older Omen, the 35L is a night and day difference. You can hear the fans, but they are not obnoxious and considerably quieter than most desktops. HP should be commended for their improvements. In the end, there are 2 things holding this desktop back. One is the underpowered graphics card compared to the CPU. A 4060Ti would go a long way in improving overall system effectiveness. Two is the anemic selection of ports. Even though there is a sufficient quantity of ports, they are substandard. Too slow for modern times and severely inhibit hooking modern devices to the desktop. However, the desktop is still a decent entry-level gaming rig. RECOMMENDED

This computer offers a high-performance processor, GPU, and ample memory, making it well-suited for entry-level gaming. However, the use of a low-cost motherboard warrants a three-star rating.

Poor choice of a CPU that bottlenecks even the worst of GPUs, a HP motherboard that is barely capable with any upgrades for the CPU. Basically only buy this PC if you want a built in bottleneck without needing to rebuild the PC to fix a built in defect. Onto other issues, RAM and memory. 16GB and only 1TB in 2025 on a gaming PC? They really did skip on everything to pickpocket you buying this. Luckily it was on a cheap sale when I bought it but even at that price point it's still a scam honestly, HP and bestbuy should be ashamed they sell this.

This HP OMEN gaming desktop is an acceptable option as a pre-built gaming desktop at a higher-end entry level gaming PC. There is such an array of gaming desktop equipment on the market, where there are GPUs costing around the total price of this build, to where one much approach a pre-built desktop within its weight class. Given price point along with hardware, this fits well within stated category. Out of the box, the HP OMEN - 35L is sleek. When searching for a desktop, there are often two main options of black or white. This being within the white case category has a bit of expectation to uphold as these are expected to be bright, sleek and clean appearing. This case achieved the goal having 2 Front RGB fans, 1 back RGB fan, top with a grate and with window on right/starboard side to allow for RGB color to not only be displayed on the front but also from the side and top, which is appreciated in a gaming device by myself. With the white case and OMEN labeled a very sleek and clean look is produced and when sitting off looks non-obnoxious. The desktop comes with a white keyboard and mouse that allows for basic functionality (I would not use them long term) while keeping color scheme theme, although personalized peripherals are a well welcomed addition to any device. The size is pretty standard for a desktop (a little smaller even than my previous). There are 8 total USB 2.0 Type-A and 2 total USB Type-C ports. This is a point to note in that USB 2.0 Type-A is predominant, considering more and more peripherals are transitioning to USB-C connection types. Otherwise, there are 3 DisplayPorts and 1 HDMI port, all feeding from the GPU. This works well, but does not allow for bypassing of the GPU, which gives me slight nervousness as I have had issues with NVIDIA software updates needing to be restored and utilized a bypass of this to achieve the goal. Not necessarily an issue, but just something to be aware of. There is also a headphone jack, depending on how you wish to have sound through the device. The hardware of this desktop is an AMD Ryzen 5 8500G processor paired with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 along with 16 GB DDR5 RAM. There is a 1TB SSD. When it comes to hard drives, I expect to see an SSD. The SSD facilitates a quick boot-up into Windows 11, an almost seamless transition from power button on to use. The AMD Ryzen 8500G process is a solid CPU. I have tended to prefer Ryzen processors and when it comes to this desktop, the CPU is not the limiting factor. The GPU is a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060. This provides a strong GPU with the ability to have multiple displays, but does become the limiting factor with gaming on the desktop. The flip side to any limitations is the cost and level of gaming desktop that this device is. This desktop is not pushing the more expensive end of gaming desktops and is not focused toward that consumer type, which is the key to keep in mind as mentioned earlier. These are also things which can be upgraded if desired in the future with investment. I have had absolutely no issues using this computer for work. I do use a Citrix portal along with having multiple windows open and the device seamlessly transitions between work without hiccups or limitation. Have also gone through various larger files without significant lag or burden on the device. For gaming, I am able to have tandem internet and framed gaming going without significant hesitancy or lag if go into the webpage. I would describe the quality of gaming as solid for the average consumer who wishes to explore the world of PC gaming. My two main games that I consistently enjoy/play across devices are FFXIV and GTA5, along with BG3 lately. All three of these games were able to play fabulously as expected based on hardware at 1440P resolution with strong framerates that created a smooth and seamless gameplay environment. Overall well appreciated, but the GPU does seem to be the portion straining some with increased graphic option demand. I do not have the monitor to support 4K testing, but do expect there would be some limitations with that upscaling creating an acceptable framerate. Software to note is the OMEN Gaming Hub, which allows for control of the RGB settings. This is easily accessible and usable but is a control hub software that is in the background. I have found every main company producing a laptop or desktop these days has their various version of this. Luckily for me, the headphone and monitor I have is also happened to be OMEN (have had for over a year) so now at least everything uses the same interface. Otherwise there are various other pre-installed software one may wish to uninstall, as I personally like to keep my devices as clean as possible when comes to unnecessary programs. Overall this is a sleek, well displayed device with RGB fans for color personalization in a pre-build device. Providing a quality of performance I believe is well within the appropriate consumer range as marketed. The hardware provides a quick startup with adequate storage for a few larger games with smooth performance. For being ready to go out of the box, I am overall satisfied with this OMEN.