Comparing NVIDIA Graphics Cards in OMEN PCs: Finding the Perfect GPU for Your Gaming Needs
If you've spent time as a PC gamer, checking the system requirements for a new game is a matter of routine. When your hardware matches a game's minimum system requirements, you can expect seamless gameplay. However, even with a great processor and loads of RAM, the wrong graphics card (GPU) choice can make a substantial difference in your gaming experience.
Featuring a range of powerful NVIDIA® graphics cards, OMEN gaming PCs are an affordable solution for homebuilders and gamers who want a ready-to-use system out of the box. To help you make your choice, we'll compare entry-level, mid-range, and high-end NVIDIA graphics options and break down common concerns when shopping for a new gaming PC.
Each option represents a different price point, but it's also important to remember that you can upgrade your gaming desktop well beyond the time of purchase. That's why we'll discuss future-proofing your PC so you can maximize performance and put off costly upgrades. Setting a good baseline for performance is important for gamers, especially if you're operating on a budget.
Entry-Level NVIDIA GPUs
For gamers looking to enter the world of PC gaming without breaking the bank, entry-level NVIDIA GPUs offer impressive performance at a more accessible price point. The OMEN by HP 25L Gaming Desktop provides an excellent balance of accessibility and performance for an entry-level gaming PC.
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ i7-14700F (up to 5.4 GHz, 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
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 with 8GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory sets a high bar for entry-level performance, exceeding the capabilities of last-generation GPUs. This card delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance and can even handle some titles at 1440p resolution. The RTX 4060 also supports ray tracing technology and DLSS, providing enhanced visuals and performance in compatible games.
For gamers primarily playing esports titles or popular games at 1080p resolution, the RTX 4060 offers an excellent balance of performance and value. It's powerful enough to meet most minimum system requirements while leaving room in your budget for other components or accessories.
Mid-Range NVIDIA GPUs
Mid-range GPUs offer a significant step up in performance for gamers who want to play at higher resolutions or with more detailed graphics settings. The OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop delivers powerful performance with its NVIDIA GeForce RTX options.
Intel-based model:
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ i7-14700F (up to 5.4 GHz, 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
AMD-based model:
- Windows 11 Home
- AMD Ryzen™ 7 8700G (up to 5.1 GHz, 16 MB L3 cache, 8 cores, 16 threads)
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
- Kingston FURY 16 GB DDR5-6000 MT/s EXPO™ RGB Heatsink (2 x 8 GB)
- 1 TB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti represents a significant leap forward in gaming performance compared to entry-level options. Built on NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace architecture, the RTX 4060 Ti incorporates new streaming multiprocessors that offer improved performance, better energy efficiency, and third-generation RT cores for more efficient ray tracing.
This GPU is ideal for gamers who want to play at 1440p resolution with high settings or enjoy ray-traced graphics in modern titles. The inclusion of DLSS 3 technology also provides AI-enhanced frame generation, boosting performance in supported games without sacrificing visual quality.
The 8GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory provides ample video memory for most modern games, ensuring smooth performance even with high-resolution textures. For gamers looking to balance performance and price, the RTX 4060 Ti offers excellent value and should remain capable for several years of gaming.
High-End NVIDIA GPUs
For gamers who demand the absolute best performance with no compromises, high-end NVIDIA GPUs deliver exceptional frame rates at high resolutions with all graphics settings maxed out. The OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop represents the pinnacle of gaming performance with powerful NVIDIA graphics options.
- Windows 11 Home
- Intel® Core™ Ultra9 285K (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 (4 x 16 GB)
- 2 TB PCIe® Gen4 NVMe™ Performance M.2 SSD
The OMEN 45L features the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 with a massive 32GB of dedicated GDDR7 memory. This flagship GPU offers unprecedented performance for gaming and professional applications alike. The RTX 5090 represents the absolute pinnacle of consumer graphics performance, capable of driving demanding games at 4K resolution with maximum settings and ray tracing enabled.
For those seeking alternative configurations, the OMEN 45L is also available with other powerful options like the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080, RTX™ 5070 Ti, and RTX™ 4080 Super, offering flexibility to match your specific performance needs and budget.
This configuration is ideal for enthusiast gamers, content creators, and professionals who need maximum graphics processing power for both gaming and creative workloads. While it comes at a premium price point, the RTX 5090 offers unparalleled performance that will remain cutting-edge for years to come.
Ray Tracing and DLSS Technology
Originally a technique used to improve visual output for recorded video, ray tracing has evolved thanks to hardware acceleration, making it efficient enough to be viable in real-time applications. In recent years, ray tracing has considerably impacted gaming, adding new layers of realism to the latest titles—without expanding your energy footprint or holding your system back.
Ray tracing is especially important for building immersion in 3D environments, enabling more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. As more games adopt this technology, gamers enjoy increasingly realistic simulated worlds with more accurate visual effects like refraction and depth of field.
NVIDIA's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology works alongside ray tracing to optimize performance. DLSS uses AI to upscale lower-resolution images to higher resolutions, improving frame rates while maintaining visual quality. The latest iteration, DLSS 3, available in GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs, includes:
- Frame generation technology that creates entire new frames
- Improved image quality over previous DLSS versions
- Better compatibility with a wider range of games
- Reduced input latency for more responsive gameplay
The combination of ray tracing and DLSS technology in NVIDIA's RTX graphics cards provides gamers with both enhanced visuals and improved performance—a win-win that was previously impossible to achieve.
Gaming Performance and Benchmarking
Not sure how to make sense of a game's system requirements? Fortunately for gamers, product comparisons and reading reviews aren't the only way to gauge hardware performance. Since most PC hardware performs differently under varying circumstances, especially when used alongside different components, experienced gamers and budget shoppers typically use data or software for "benchmarking."
Though experienced gamers can perform benchmarking tasks without third-party software, we highly recommend downloading a dedicated benchmarking tool like NVIDIA's FrameView app. Even if you don't use an NVIDIA graphics card, the FrameView app can help you quantify a range of measurements—from frame rate to time to power usage breakdowns based on watt usage.
If you're using an OMEN computer, you already have access to benchmarking tools through the OMEN Gaming Hub. This proprietary software allows you to:
- Test your system's performance in various scenarios
- Compare your results with other similar systems
- Identify potential bottlenecks in your configuration
- Optimize settings for specific games in your library
Benchmarking is particularly useful when deciding which GPU to purchase, as it provides objective data about performance differences between models in real-world gaming scenarios.
Overclocking Capabilities
While overclocking can be a sensitive procedure in some situations, boosting your clock speed does offer clear gaming performance gains. Thanks to improvements in GPU technology and better systems that allow direct user oversight, overclocking is an increasingly popular and safe way to ensure your gaming rig has what it takes to keep up in a pinch.
The process is especially simple on OMEN gaming PCs, with a dedicated Overclocking tab in the OMEN Gaming Hub. Though some older devices may have locked processors that don't support overclocking, most users can easily complete the process in a minute or two. Not only that but first-time visitors to the OMEN Gaming Hub or users with a new device will also be prompted to benchmark their system.
NVIDIA's GeForce RTX series GPUs offer excellent overclocking potential, with features like:
- GPU Boost technology automatically increases clock speeds when thermal and power conditions allow
- Advanced power delivery systems that provide stable voltage during overclocking
- Robust cooling solutions that help maintain lower temperatures even when overclocked
- Memory overclocking capabilities for additional performance gains
When properly configured, overclocking can provide a 5-15% performance boost in many games, effectively giving you a free upgrade without purchasing new hardware.
Cooling Solutions
Thermal management is one of the most important considerations for gamers, especially if your routine involves gaming for long stretches or maxing out quality settings. Fortunately, dedicated gaming hardware incorporates several features to maximize heat dispersal and mitigate the impact of heavy use.
In addition to built-in heatsinks and heat-dispersing pads on sensitive components, OMEN computers typically include a suite of additional built-in cooling solutions:
- The OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop features a strategic fan arrangement to guarantee optimum temperatures, with 2x 140MM front fans and 1x 120MM rear exhaust fan that provide 10-14% thermal improvement over previous designs.
- The OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop includes a comprehensive cooling solution with the innovative OMEN Cryo Chamber™. This patented design places the radiator in a separate chamber at the top of the case, allowing it to draw in cooler ambient air instead of the warm air inside the main compartment.
These advanced cooling systems ensure that your NVIDIA GPU can maintain its peak performance during extended gaming sessions without thermal throttling, which would otherwise reduce performance to prevent overheating.
Connectivity and Display Options
Not every gaming setup is the same. That means connectivity is important, whether you juggle multiple peripherals or prefer working with multiple monitors. Though most GPUs can support additional monitors, the exact capabilities vary. Some systems only support a single extra monitor, and not all can handle 4K gaming across multiple displays.
NVIDIA's RTX graphics cards offer excellent display connectivity options:
- RTX 4060/4060 Ti: Usually includes 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs
- RTX 5070 Ti/5080: Typically offers 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort outputs with support for up to 4 simultaneous displays
- RTX 5090: Provides 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort outputs with support for up to 4 simultaneous displays at high resolutions
If you want an immersive workstation for gaming and multitasking with multiple 4K monitors, check your specific graphics card to ensure compatibility. Most of the OMEN desktops we covered today are up to the task, though you should focus on the higher-end GeForce RTX models from NVIDIA if you want to make sure you won't have to adjust your settings to avoid performance issues.
Future-Proofing for PC Gaming
New technology and more demanding games hit the market almost daily, which sometimes makes it difficult to align existing hardware with the latest system requirements. To avoid the need for expensive upgrades and to extend the useful lifespan of pricey gaming components, gamers do their best to "future-proof" their systems.
For most gamers, future-proofing involves weighing your routine against all the different hardware configurations you can afford. Consider these factors when choosing a GPU with longevity in mind:
- VRAM capacity: Games are increasingly using more video memory, especially at higher resolutions. 8GB is adequate for 1080p gaming, but 16GB or more is recommended for 1440p and 4K gaming to ensure future compatibility.
- Architecture generation: Newer GPU architectures like NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace (RTX 40 series) and the latest RTX 50 series offer not just performance improvements but also new features that may become more widely used in future games.
- Ray tracing capabilities: As more games implement ray tracing, having hardware that efficiently supports this technology will become increasingly important.
- AI acceleration: Technologies like DLSS that use AI to improve performance are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated with each generation.
The good news is that OMEN gaming PCs are designed with upgradability in mind. The tool-less access to OMEN towers makes future GPU upgrades straightforward, allowing you to start with a configuration that meets your current needs and budget, with the option to upgrade later as requirements evolve.
Summary
Sometimes, comparing gaming PCs at different price points can seem like comparing apples and oranges. Each option we discussed is relatively customizable, and each can easily guarantee that you can play your favorite games comfortably. So why all the talk about future-proofing and benchmarking?
Because gaming needs and preferences can change as quickly as system requirements. Let's summarize the key options:
- The OMEN by HP 25L Gaming Desktop with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 offers excellent performance for 1080p gaming and decent 1440p performance in less demanding titles. It's an ideal entry point for gamers on a budget or those primarily playing esports titles.
- The OMEN 35L Gaming Desktop with options for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or 4060 Ti provides a significant performance boost over entry-level options, making it perfect for 1440p gaming and light 4K gaming. The newer architecture also offers improved ray tracing and DLSS 3 support.
- The OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop featuring the RTX 5090 and with options for RTX 5080, 5070 Ti, and 4080 Super represents the pinnacle of gaming performance. The top-end configuration with the RTX 5090 can handle any game at 4K resolution with maxed settings and ray tracing enabled.
Competitive gamers and those with demanding routines should consider the OMEN 35L and the OMEN 45L. Though top-tier configurations offer similar upgrade potential, the 35L and 45L add premium features like high-efficiency Kingston FURY RAM and premium cooling solutions—perfect if you want to avoid tinkering under the hood for a while.
No matter which OMEN desktop and NVIDIA GPU combination you choose, you'll be getting a powerful gaming system that balances performance, value, and future upgradeability. To explore the full range of gaming PCs and find the perfect match for your needs, visit HP's Gaming PCs & Laptops page.
