Best HP gaming PC: are OMEN & Pavilion gaming computers worth it?
Can a HP gaming computer cut it in the ever-growing prebuilt PC market? We take a look at the best models HP has for gaming and break them down to suit different budgets
Share this article...
Hewlett-Packard, more commonly known as HP, became the worlds leading PC manufacturer back in 2007. While HP hasn’t been the leader in this area for many years, they specialize, among other things, in computing and offer a wide range of prebuilt gaming PCs.
We always recommend you build your own gaming PC here are WePC, and for good reason, however, we understand that not everyone has the time or patience. You may also struggle with stock issues or price hikes and this is where one of the best HP gaming PCs comes in. HP has two main lines of prebuilts in their catalogs, the HP OMEN 30L/ HP OMEN 25L and the HP Pavilion gaming desktop.
Our Top Picks
HP gaming PC range
HP are widely known for their electronics, providing consumers with laptops, desktops, monitors, and accessories. The brand is arguably most notable for their laptops, however, they have two distinct gaming PC ranges available.
The main issue with a prebuilt from an OEM such as HP is that you are getting a system with proprietary parts. This means ranges like the HP Pavilion are a nightmare/ impossible to upgrade. This is actually quite wasteful and you rely heavily on HP to fix your issues, which will probably make things more expensive in the long run.
Prebuilt gaming PCs from HP have gotten better though, with the HP OMEN range being a bit closer to custom builder systems. There are still some strange decisions made by HP in these desktops, with the graphics cards utilizing HP-designed cooling solutions that are sub-par and really old chassis’.
HP OMEN 25L & OMEN 30L
These systems feature regular-sized cases, which increases with the specifications. The OMEN 25L equals 25 liters, referring to the space inside the case. The 25L and 30L prebuilts currently feature up to an Intel 10th gen i9 processor and an RTX 3090 graphics card.
These look quite good and are cable managed to a decent level but there isn’t a lot of ventilation for airflow, which is a negative for gaming performance. Take note of the spec you buy as some will ship with a stock air cooler and the higher-end systems feature an AIO cooler.
These systems are more upgradeable than the HP pavilion desktops and should allow you to change every component as long as it is compatible and fits.
HP Pavilion gaming desktop
The HP Pavilion is one of the brand’s older, more compact options. These are priced reasonably well, allowing you to play AAA games at the higher end. These feature anything from a GTX 1650 up to an RTX 3060 Ti.
The Pavilion gaming PC is very small and perfect for anyone who is tight on space or would like their system on the desk. The main downside with these is the proprietary design, you can’t up[grade much of these and some of the components are not great. The chassis is dated and the airflow is nearly non-existent. All that being said, you are still going to get a decent gaming experience out of one of these and if you find one for the right price it isn’t all bad.
We always recommend you build your own gaming PC here but if you are in the market for a prebuilt then please check out the other prebuilt gaming PC options available to you.
The Best HP gaming computers
In-depth Review
- Strongest for gaming
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Poor airflow
- GPU doesn't have the most optimal cooling solution
The HP Omen 30L prebuilt gaming PC is a rather chunky-looking system, thanks to its large PC case. Aside from looks though, this gaming PC offers incredible performance for both gaming and the odd heavy-duty CPU task like streaming or content creation.
At the core of this gaming PC sits one of Intel’s highly regarded 10th gen processors – the i9-10850K. The i9-10850K is an excellent all-around CPU, showing some of the best results in gaming benchmarks and, of course, features great multitasking ability. This CPU features 10 cores and 20 threads running at a base clock speed of 3.6GHz that can be boosted up to 5.2Ghz. Backing up the CPU is one of Nvidia’s latest GPUs – the RTX 3080. This graphics card smashes the performance of the impressive RTX 2080 Ti, meaning you can play whatever you please in any setting.
The positives don’t stop with the CPU and GPU though, this prebuilt also features 32GB of RAM, which is ideal for streaming and other heavy-duty tasks, Windows 10, a 1TB NVME SSD, and a 2TB HDD.
- Balanced components
- Excellent for 1440p
- Poor airflow
The OMEN 25L Gaming PC is a strong prebuilt from HP, with specifications that are going to make your gaming experience very enjoyable.
Powering this gaming PC is one of AMD’s most popular selling CPUs ever- the Ryzen 7 3700X. The 3700X may be older generation but is an excellent all-around CPU, showing decent results in gaming benchmarks and, of course, features great multitasking ability. This CPU features 8 cores and 16 threads running at a base clock speed of 3.6GHz that can be boosted up to 4.4Ghz. Backing up the CPU is one of Nvidia’s latest GPUs – the RTX 3070. This graphics card matches the performance of the impressive RTX 2080 Ti, meaning you can play whatever you choose.
You also get 16GB of RAM, Windows 10, and 512GB of fast NVMe SSD storage. You won’t be getting any additional HDDs with this but you don’t need it, there is more than enough room for your operating system, favorite games, and, well, everything else.
This HP Pavilion Gaming PC offers some value, giving those who seek a solid gaming experience for much less than the competition. The major downside is the fact this is not really going to be upgradeable down the line. It is worth noting that the airflow is poor and the chassis and additional components are dated.
This build comes with the least powerful CPU in the round-up – the Intel Core i5 10400. That being said, it is a perfectly fine CPU for gaming and features six cores and 12 threads running at a base clock speed of 2.9GHz that can be boosted to 4.3GHz.
Unfortunately, you are only getting 8GB of RAM and a small 256GB SSD with this gaming PC, so you may need to upgrade the RAM and increase your storage before anything else.
Better alternatives to a HP gaming PC
Custom builders are the best place to start with a prebuilt gaming PC. OEM providers such as HP, Corsair, and Alienware offer poor value for money and include proprietary solutions that make little sense. You should find your nearest local custom PC builder and take things from there. If you are unsure about where to find a custom builder you can check out the various manufacturers here.
We have already put together a list of the best prebuilt gaming PCs for a range of budgets:
Final Word
A HP gaming PC may not offer the best value for money on the market but they can still provide a solid gaming experience for a variety of different budgets. We have issues with the airflow in some of these cases and some of the parts are questionable but we understand that many see HP as a beacon of quality. That may be true for HP laptops (excluding the budget HP Pavilion laptop range) but take their prebuilt desktop computers with a pinch of salt and consider a local custom PC builder as an alternative.
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
