4 Best Gaming PCs from HP: Top-Performing Desktops for Every Gamer
Whether you want to dominate intense multiplayer battles in the latest AAA titles or play competitive esports games with your squad, owning the best gaming PC for your budget and needs is crucial. But with so many options available, which specs are truly necessary to keep you at the top of your game?
Sometimes you want to go all out with premium components, and other times you need the most powerful gear for the least investment. We've done the research to find the best gaming desktops from HP with the most eye-blistering graphics, lowest latency, and zippiest memory and storage while keeping various budget considerations in mind.
Elements of a Top Gaming PC: What You Should Look For
Gaming PCs require different capabilities than computers designed for business professionals, students, or general household use. They must have lightning-fast, low-latency displays so you're always the fastest on the draw. They need reliable network connections and blistering WiFi connectivity to avoid stuttering and lag.
Let's do a quick overview of what serious gamers should look for in the best gaming computers:
- Processor (CPU): To play today's best triple-A (AAA) games, look for gaming PCs with at least 14th Generation Intel® Core™ i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen™ 5/7 processors.
- Graphics (GPU): Dedicated graphics cards are a must for gamers, with cards like the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070/5080 or AMD Radeon™ RX 7600 offering excellent performance.
- Memory: Modern gaming machines need at least 16GB of super-fast DDR5 RAM to handle today's demanding games.
- Storage: A 512GB or larger SSD (solid-state drive) provides rapid boot times and quick game loading, while a secondary HDD offers additional space for your game library.
- Cooling: Effective thermal management is essential for maintaining peak performance during extended gaming sessions.
- Expandability: Tool-free entry and upgrade capabilities ensure your gaming PC remains future-proof as new titles and technologies emerge.
Now, let's explore the four best HP gaming desktops that deliver exceptional performance across various price points:
1. OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop: The Ultimate Powerhouse
The OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop is HP's flagship gaming machine, designed for enthusiasts who demand the absolute best performance without compromise.
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ Ultra9 285K processor (up to 5.70 GHz, 36 MB cache, 24 cores, 24 threads)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 (32 GB GDDR7 dedicated)
- Kingston FURY 64GB DDR5-5600 MT/s XMP RGB Heatsink RAM (4 x 16 GB)
- 2 TB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ Performance M.2 SSD storage
The OMEN 45L is a powerhouse gaming machine designed to deliver extreme performance and immersive gaming experiences. Its standout feature is the innovative OMEN Cryo Chamber™, which enhances cooling efficiency by isolating the radiator in a separate chamber above the main compartment. This revolutionary cooling solution pulls in cooler air from outside the chassis rather than using the warmer air inside, resulting in significantly lower CPU temperatures even during the most intense gaming sessions.
The NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 with 32GB GDDR7 memory is currently one of the most powerful consumer graphics cards available, capable of handling any game at 4K resolution with ray tracing enabled while maintaining high frame rates. This makes the OMEN 45L perfect for gamers who demand the absolute best visual experience without compromises.
The system's tool-less design makes upgrading components simple, ensuring your investment stays relevant as technology advances. With multiple USB ports, DisplayPort™ connections, Thunderbolt™ 4, and high-speed networking options, this gaming desktop provides everything serious gamers need for a premium gaming experience.
2. OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop: High-Performance Value
The OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop offers exceptional performance at a more accessible price point, making it an excellent choice for serious gamers who want premium features without the top-tier cost.
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ i7-14700F (up to 5.4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 33 MB L3 cache, 20 cores, 28 threads)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Ti (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
- Kingston FURY 16 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s XMP RGB Heatsink (2 x 8 GB)
- 1 TB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ M.2 SSD storage
The OMEN 35L strikes an excellent balance between performance and value. Its Intel® Core™ i7-14700F processor provides impressive multi-core performance with 20 cores and 28 threads, reaching boost speeds up to 5.4 GHz. This processor excels at both gaming and streaming, making it ideal for content creators who also game.
The NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Ti graphics card delivers exceptional 1080p and 1440p gaming performance with support for ray tracing and DLSS 3 (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which uses AI to boost frame rates while maintaining visual quality. This combination of processor and graphics power makes the OMEN 35L capable of running the latest AAA titles with high settings and smooth frame rates.
The system features a specialized cooling setup with a 120 mm 4-heatpipe aRGB air cooler and two 120 mm aRGB front fans, ensuring optimal thermal performance during extended gaming sessions. The custom fan curves keep your system cooler and quieter, providing up to 14% thermal improvement over previous designs.
With its tool-less design for easy upgradability and a black metal chassis with clear side cover, the OMEN 35L provides both impressive aesthetics and practical functionality for serious gamers. The OMEN Gaming Hub software allows you to customize performance, RGB lighting, and fan controls to match your preferences.
3. OMEN 25L Gaming Desktop: Compact Performance
The OMEN 25L Gaming Desktop delivers impressive gaming performance in a sleek, more compact form factor, making it perfect for gamers with limited space.
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ i7-14700F (up to 5.4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 33 MB L3 cache, 20 cores, 28 threads)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
- Kingston FURY 16 GB DDR5-5200 MT/s XMP RGB Heatsink (2 x 8 GB)
- 1 TB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD storage
The OMEN 25L combines powerful performance with a more compact design that fits easily into smaller spaces without sacrificing gaming capabilities. Its 14th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor provides exceptional speed and responsiveness, while the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 with 8GB GDDR6 memory delivers excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
One of the standout features of the OMEN 25L is its efficient cooling system, which maintains optimal temperatures even in a smaller chassis. The design includes strategically placed vents and fans to ensure air flows effectively throughout the system, preventing thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Storage is handled by a fast 1TB SSD, providing quick boot times and rapid game loading. The OMEN 25L also features a range of connectivity options, including multiple USB ports, HDMI, and DisplayPort™ connections, along with high-speed networking capabilities for lag-free online gaming.
With its snow white, glass side panel design and customizable RGB lighting, the OMEN 25L is not only powerful but also visually striking. Its combination of powerful components, efficient cooling, and compact design makes it an excellent choice for gamers who want high-performance capabilities without taking up too much space in their setup.
4. Victus by HP 15L Gaming Desktop: Entry-Level Excellence
The Victus by HP 15L Gaming Desktop offers reliable gaming performance at a more accessible price point, making it perfect for budget-conscious gamers and those new to PC gaming.
- Windows 11 Home
- AMD Ryzen™ 7 processor
- AMD Radeon™ RX 6600 XT Graphics (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
- 16 GB memory
- 1 TB HDD + 512 GB SSD storage
The Victus 15L is designed for gamers seeking a balance of performance and affordability. The AMD Ryzen™ 7 processor offers excellent multi-core performance for both gaming and productivity tasks, while the AMD Radeon™ RX 6600 XT graphics card delivers smooth gameplay at 1080p resolution with high settings in most modern titles.
Storage is well-handled with a dual-drive solution that combines a 512GB SSD for quick boot times and faster loading of frequently played games, plus a 1TB HDD for additional storage capacity. This hybrid approach gives you both speed and space, addressing one of the common challenges for gamers with growing game libraries.
The Victus 15L features a clean, understated design that fits well in any environment, whether it's a dedicated gaming space or a multi-purpose area. Despite its more accessible price point, it doesn't compromise on build quality or thermal management, ensuring reliable performance during extended gaming sessions.
With its combination of capable components, smart storage solution, and affordable price, the Victus 15L is an excellent choice for new PC gamers or those looking to upgrade from older systems without breaking the bank.
HP Gaming Desktops: Why Specs Matter
While there are numerous features that contribute to the best gaming PCs, here's a deeper dive into the most crucial elements to consider:
1. Processor (CPU)
The central processing unit (CPU) is the "brain" of your computer, carrying out instructions, processing data, and performing input/output operations. Modern CPUs have multiple cores, with each one handling specific tasks. For gaming, a minimum of 6 cores is recommended, with higher-end models featuring 20 or more cores for superior multitasking and gaming performance.
When evaluating processors, consider both the number of cores and the clock speed (measured in GHz). Higher clock speeds translate to faster processing, especially important for games that rely heavily on single-thread performance. For instance, the Intel® Core™ i7-14700F in the OMEN 35L can boost up to 5.4 GHz, delivering excellent gaming performance.
2. Graphics (GPU)
The graphics processing unit (GPU) is perhaps the most critical component for gaming performance. While the CPU handles sequential processing with multiple cores, the GPU contains thousands of cores designed to process multiple instructions simultaneously, making it perfect for rendering the complex visuals in modern games.
For 1080p gaming, look for cards with at least 6GB of video memory (VRAM), such as the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 or AMD Radeon™ RX 7600. For 1440p gaming, 8GB is recommended, while 4K gaming demands 16GB or more, like the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 found in the OMEN 45L.
Modern GPUs also offer advanced features like ray tracing for realistic lighting and DLSS 3 for AI-enhanced performance, significantly improving visual quality and frame rates in supported games.
3. Memory (RAM)
Random Access Memory (RAM) is crucial for smooth gaming performance, especially in open-world games and titles with complex simulations. While 8GB is the absolute minimum for gaming, 16GB has become the standard, providing enough headroom for most modern games and background applications.
The type and speed of RAM also matter. DDR5, found in the newest OMEN desktops, offers significantly higher bandwidth than DDR4, improving overall system responsiveness. The Kingston FURY DDR5-6000 MHz RAM with RGB heatsinks found in several OMEN models not only provides excellent performance but also contributes to the system's aesthetic with customizable lighting.
4. Storage
Storage affects both game loading times and overall system responsiveness. Modern gaming PCs typically use one of two approaches:
- SSD-only: A large SSD (512GB-2TB) provides fast access to all your games and applications, as seen in the OMEN 25L.
- Hybrid storage: A combination of a faster SSD for the operating system and frequently played games, plus a larger HDD for additional storage capacity, like the Victus 15L with its 512GB SSD and 1TB HDD.
NVMe SSDs, which connect directly to the motherboard via PCIe, offer significantly faster speeds than traditional SATA SSDs, reducing loading times and enabling features like DirectStorage in supported games.
5. Cooling
Effective cooling is essential for maintaining peak performance during extended gaming sessions. High-end components generate significant heat under load, and without proper thermal management, your system may throttle performance to prevent overheating.
The OMEN 45L's innovative Cryo Chamber™ represents the pinnacle of desktop cooling technology, physically separating the radiator from the main compartment to dramatically improve thermal efficiency. The OMEN 35L uses a combination of 120mm front fans and a 4-heatpipe aRGB air cooler to maintain optimal temperatures while keeping noise levels down. These cooling solutions ensure your system performs at its best even during the most demanding gaming sessions.
6. Expandability
One of the key advantages of desktop gaming PCs is their upgradeability. As games become more demanding or new technologies emerge, you can extend your system's lifespan by upgrading individual components rather than replacing the entire computer.
Look for features like tool-less access to internal components, standardized form factors for easy part replacement, and plenty of expansion slots for adding more storage, memory, or other peripherals. The OMEN series excels in this area, with spacious interiors and thoughtful designs that make future upgrades straightforward.
Add a Little Extra to Your Gaming Setup
To complete your gaming experience, consider enhancing your new desktop with complementary accessories. Visit the HP Gaming category to explore gaming monitors, keyboards, mice, headsets, and more that can help elevate your gaming performance to the next level – whether you're a competitive or casual gamer.
Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect HP Gaming PC
HP offers an impressive lineup of gaming desktops designed to meet the needs of gamers at every level and budget. From the flagship OMEN 45L with its revolutionary Cryo Chamber™ cooling and top-tier components to the accessible Victus 15L that delivers reliable performance without breaking the bank, there's an HP gaming desktop perfect for every type of gamer.
When selecting your ideal gaming PC, consider the types of games you play, your performance expectations, and your budget. Remember that investing in a system with some headroom for future demands will extend its useful lifespan, potentially saving money in the long run.
With their combination of powerful components, efficient cooling, smart designs, and upgradeability, these four HP gaming desktops represent the best options for gamers seeking exceptional performance and value in 2025.
About the Author: Tom Gerencer is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Tom is an ASJA journalist, career expert at Zety.com, and a regular contributor to Boys' Life and Scouting magazines. His work is featured in Costco Connection, FastCompany, and many more.
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