A quiet, quick mid-tower for 1440p gaming
With a wide range of configurations, HP’s Omen 35L mid-tower gaming desktop (starting at $1,099.99; $2,449.99 as tested at Best Buy) caters to entry-level and enthusiast PC gamers. This updated model flaunts a sleek case with tempered glass and striking RGB lighting. We find it impressively quiet and appreciate its industry-standard part selection, which simplifies future upgrades. Its only eyebrow-raiser is its AMD Ryzen G-series processor paired with a motherboard lacking an HDMI port (we also would prefer an X-series chip), but it doesn’t compromise the tower’s performance. For driving effective 1440p performance and serving a wide range of consumers, the Omen 35L earns our Editors‘ Choice award for a mainstream mid-tower gaming desktop.Configurations & Design: An Upscale Mid-Tower
HP’s Omen line focuses on more powerful hardware and more premium designs than its Victus and Pavilion series. The Omen 35L reviewed here is one of two Omen desktop models; the other is the full-tower HP Omen 45L, which has even greater performance potential.
The Omen 35L’s entry-level setup is aimed at 1080p gaming, with a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 8500G processor, an AMD Radeon RX 7600 graphics card, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive. Our review unit, priced more than three times higher than the base model, includes all available upgrades such as CPU liquid cooling, 64GB of RAM, three storage drives, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super. HP’s online configurator allows for nearly any configuration in between, and this model also has Intel processor options.
The Omen 35L gets its name from its dimensions: 16.1 by 8.3 by 16.1 inches (HWD), translating to approximately 35 liters in volume. The Alienware Aurora R16 is similarly sized at 16.5 by 7.8 by 18.1 inches.
HP’s Omen build quality is exceptional, crafting a robust metal case and both front and side tempered-glass panels. Our model comes in black, but HP also sells a white version with black accents. The RGB-lit fans and interior components not only look premium but are bright enough to illuminate a small room. Overall, the Omen evokes a more high-end feel compared with the Alienware.
The case’s front ports on the top of the tower include a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-C port (10Gbps), and two USB Type-A ports (5Gbps). The power button is on the right.
HP’s motherboard I/O selection includes one USB Type-C port (10Gbps), two USB Type-A ports (5Gbps), four USB 2.0 connections, an Ethernet jack, and audio ports for line-in, line-out, and a microphone. A clear CMOS button, typically found on enthusiast aftermarket motherboards, is a notable inclusion. Weirdly, the motherboard doesn’t have any monitor outputs, rendering the AMD Ryzen G-series CPU’s integrated graphics moot. The GeForce RTX 4080 Super (of course, a vastly superior graphics accelerator to the Ryzen’s integrated silicon) provides one HDMI and three DisplayPort ports for monitor output. The Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless antennas are seamlessly integrated into the case, avoiding any protrusions.
The tempered-glass side panel (a tiny $5 upgrade over the steel panel) slides back and detaches after loosening its two retainer-style thumbscrews. Inside, the layout is standardized and straightforward, exactly as you might expect from an aftermarket tower. Two 140mm fans handle air intake, while the two 120mm fans on the CPU liquid cooling radiator and an additional 120mm fan at the rear handle exhaust duties.
