The Omen line has been HP’s gaming arm for years, which has produced a number of different designs, some more innovative than others, but a quick look around your local electronics mecca reveals show that there is a large market for pre-built computers, and it can be. very profitable.
One of the newest members of the range is the 35L HP, which, as the name suggests, comes in what we can only assume is a 35-litre displacement. It’s pretty good, it seems to cool well, but more importantly, it’s almost silent when running – thank you. The price is around £1,400, and for that you get a nice mid-tower case that has clearly involved industrial designers, who have also added ARGB fans. Then there is the added benefit of creating a design that avoids the use of tools.
Its initial marketing promised “industry standard components” and “advanced gaming desktop that can be customized without sacrificing performance” – which seems very strange, since it reaches RTX 4090, but the CPU choice either AMD’s 8700G Either Intel i7 14700F. In other words, a cheap CPU with low power consumption and a mid-range CPU that cannot be overclocked.
There are inherent differences in the hardware combination that I just can’t see the logic in. It should be 7800X3D and i9 14900K. Instead, both have already disappeared, even if these devices are just entering the market. They also advertise AI support, something AMD’s G series is notorious for lacking. On the other hand, the choice of CPU means that the same AIO 280mm with which it is more than enough, so it does not matter if the power supply can be set to a maximum of 1000 watts highest.
Here’s a hint:
The motherboard looks like a regular micro-ATX standard with an older B650 chipset, but it’s Omen’s own branding, like everything else. The graphics card is identical and is held in place by a heavy-duty locking mechanism. That’s nice because it means you can replace a faulty motherboard yourself, but with only one 10Gbps USB-C port, two USB-A 3.2, and four USB-A running 2.0 it’s not impressive. There’s no HDMI port, so it’s a waste to have a CPU with a small built-in graphics card, and if your graphics card dies, you’re completely screwed. Of course there is also the odd pre-installed software, in this case Omen Gaming Hub.
Our version came with Ryzen 7 8700G, RTX 4070 Super, 1 TB NVMe-but-PCIe 4.0 and 16 GB DDR5 RAM, Kingston Fury 6000 MHz.
The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G selection is, well… unusual. It doesn’t need a built-in GPU, its cache isn’t impressive, it’s a low-power CPU rated at 65 watts, the only advantage is the price, since you’re throwing an 8-core CPU a -into a gaming PC that needs to be half-high It doesn’t make sense at all, unless it’s a 7800X3D or similar. In addition, there is no PCIe 5 support, and PCIe 4.0 support only has 16 ports because there are not many PCIe lanes. This is a CPU you’d use for a budget build or cooling limitation, not one you’d throw into an RTX 4070 Super. This is a big bottleneck, especially if you buy the RTX 4080 Super or RTX 4090 version. The GPU hit 60 degrees in testing, the CPU hit 70 degrees, and everything was set to the maximum height So the cooling is satisfactory and the sound is 42 decibels, a little more than I expected.
Here’s a hint:
In general, it does not perform well in 4K. Performance here is quite successful if you compare it with the numbers from when we tested Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Super reference card, which is not bad with 12 GB of RAM. In general, 4K is not possible for the simple reason that a 40% performance drop is not unusual, and it is impossible to maintain 60 FPS. 1440p is much better. Here we see Red Dead Redemption at 101 FPS, Cyberpunk 2077 at 115 FPS, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at 123 FPS. Expressed in round numbers, choosing the Ryzen 7 8700G means that the expected performance of the card is about 15% lower than the reference.
I’m not quite sure what to think. If you buy the components yourself, you can get them at a much lower price, and Windows licenses are not that expensive either. So, a computer that uses 100% custom parts has a beautiful design, and it’s incredibly quiet, but it’s a low point for a CPU that’s completely off the mark, which really hinders performance total and require a 20% price cut.
**Given the criticism surrounding the CPU choice in the HP Omen 35L, and the potential for bottlenecking high-end GPUs, do you think manufacturers prioritize aesthetics over performance in pre-built PCs to appeal to a broader audience, even at the expense of a smaller but performance-driven segment?**
## Interview: Decoding the HP Omen 35L
**Intro:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of pre-built gaming PCs with a critical look at HP’s latest offering, the Omen 35L.
Joining me are two experts in the PC gaming scene: [Guest 1 Name], a hardware enthusiast and reviewer, and [Guest 2 Name], a tech journalist specializing in the pre-built PC market.
Let’s unpack what makes the Omen 35L tick, both literally and figuratively.
**Section 1: Design & Build Quality**
* The Omen 35L boasts an attractive design with notable features like ARGB fans and tool-less access. How important are these aesthetically pleasing elements to consumers in the pre-built PC market?
* While the design receives praise, the article raises concerns about the CPU choices. Should we prioritize aesthetics over performance in pre-built PCs, especially when targeting gamers?
**Section 2: CPU & GPU Showdown**
* The article criticizes the selection of the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G processor, deeming it a bottleneck for the high-end GPUs available in the Omen 35L lineup. What are your thoughts on this CPU choice, given the price point and target audience?
* This leads us to the question of optimization. Is it acceptable for manufacturers to potentially sacrifice performance for cost-cutting measures, especially when offering high-end GPU options?
**Section 3: Performance & Benchmarking**
* The review highlights discrepancies in 4K performance compared to other RTX 4070 Super benchmarks. Could this be attributed solely to the CPU bottleneck, or are there other factors at play?
* While the 1440p performance seems promising, do you think the Omen 35L’s price tag is justified considering its performance ceiling?
**Section 4: The Pre-Built Dilemma**
* Many gamers argue that building their own PC offers better value and performance. What are the advantages andcompromising elements within the pre-built PC market, particularly for beginners?
* Considering the target audience, does the Omen 35L offer a compelling value proposition against building your own PC?
**Section 5: Conclusion**
* Looking ahead, what future trends do you see emerging in the pre-built gaming PC market, and how might manufacturers address the concerns raised by the Omen 35L’s design choices?
**Outro:**
Thank you to [Guest 1 Name] and [Guest 2 Name] for joining us today and sharing their insights on the HP Omen 35L.
This discussion highlights the complex dynamics within the pre-built PC market, where balancing performance, aesthetics, and affordability remains a constant challenge.
As consumers, it’s important to weigh our priorities and make informed decisions when choosing the right gaming machine.
