Introduction
In 2019, the demands of the gamers are much higher than what it was a few years back. Developers are always involved in several new changes that they need to work on to keep the gamers satisfied. Good gameplay and storyline are not all that it takes to satisfy the gamers. However, the development teams need to infuse ultra-realistic graphics, immersive gameplay, and virtual reality technology as well. Anyone can tell how PC games have changed over the years. However, to run a game of such intensity requires the people to own desktops that will be able to support the requirements of the game.
Even though there are several desktops at low prices in the market, you will not be able to enjoy the full potential of the games. To do that you will need investing in an aggressive desktop like the HP Omen Obelisk. HP has been a leading developer of some of the best gaming desktops over the years. However, they are also criticized for not being able to meet all the demands of gamers worldwide. In this guide, we are going to give the Omen Obelisk review and check the potential of what this desktop holds. Before we move into the detailed review, have a look at the quick pros and cons of this gaming desktop.
Pros
- The sleek, compact design of the desktop
- Ray tracing-ready and VR capabilities
- Designed for upgradeability in the future
- Accessible and modern ports
- Priced at an affordable range
Cons
- The CPU is not ideal and slower storage speed
- Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti not in the option
- Common internal design without any changes
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Bottom Line
HP has managed to pack some impressive hardware features in this gaming desktop. However, it still lacks some sophisticated features which would have otherwise made it an all-rounder gaming desktop. Nonetheless, at this price, you can enjoy Ray Tracing in the latest games and Virtual Reality technology that makes you think this gaming cabinet to be a value for money and upgrade your old desktop. Also, if you are okay with purchasing a desktop without any overclocking capabilities, then you are making a good purchase for sure.
Contents
HP Omen Obelisk Review – Detailed Overview
The HP Omen Obelisk is an excellent choice for those who are looking for an affordable yet efficient gaming desktop. Even though it misses out on some critical components, let us have a look at why it can be your choice.
Price
The price of HP Omen Obelisk is less than $919 from a base price which surely makes it one of the most affordable gaming towers in the market. However, you can upgrade it to a more robust version that is priced at $2400 and comes with more revamped internal hardware specifications. The upgraded version also comes with the RGB feature which allows you to light up the internal components in any color accent you want. This feature is sadly unavailable in the first few versions.
But for defense, the base variant that is priced below the $999 mark is not a wrong package as it supports most of the DirectX 12 games and comes with the sophisticated Nvidia technology that many competitors fail to provide at this tag. The build quality and finish honestly justify the price it has been put up on sale, and you will not be disappointed with it. There is also an expensive variant that is available at $3200.
Design
The HP Omen Obelisk is an aesthetically built gaming desktop that will match any interior in which you place it. It comes with a side glass panel which gives a clear view of the internal components. The cabinet is not too compact nor too big which allows it to fit anywhere in your home. It has a dimension of 6.5 x 14.1 x 17-inch. The most beautiful addition to the desktop is the matte black finish with red accent lines all over the body. It looks minimal and yet aggressive.
You can see the glowing OMEN logo at the front that can be customized to any color of your choice. The logo is placed over a small triangular indentation on the top of the cabinet which looks eye-catching. On the inside, you can see the internal components lit up by a red LED light, but unfortunately, you can’t change it or turn it off in the base variant. Over the glass window, you can also see some grilles that provide extra support to the structure. The exhaust fan of 80mm is at the back of the case. However, there is no intake fan available with this desktop which can worry many gamers.
Hardware
The HP Omen Obelisk is powered by an Intel Core i7-8700 processor coupled with 16/32GB HyperX FURY DDR4 RAM. If you go for the $2400 variant, then you get the 32GB DDR4 RAM or else you need to satisfy with 16GB RAM which is powerful as well. The storage memory available in this desktop is 512GB PCIe NVMe 128 M.2 SSD with the 1TB 7200 rpm SATA HDD. It has a 500W of power supply that will make sure that you have no trouble in running the most intensive games in the market. However, it will pay a toll on your electricity bills nonetheless.
The powerful hardware of the HP Omen Obelisk is undoubtedly going to let you play latest games without any worries, and the inclusion of Nvidia GTX 2080 will not disappoint you. This new generation Omen Obelisk has been revamped to provide remarkable gaming graphics and immersive experience to the users. For those who choose the $999 variant, it is a real value for money investment, but the real power and aggressive performance comes at the $2400 CPU variant.
Connectivity
The HP Omen Obelisk comes with several ports for flawless connectivity. On the front, you can see 2-USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports and the audio jacks. The stock of connectivity ports is even more at the back of the cabinet where you get five USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, one USB 3.1, one Type-C, a single Ethernet outlet, and a 3.5mm audio jack outlet. The ports are efficient which makes the desktop usable without any issues with connectivity. The inclusion of Type-C port is undoubtedly a welcome feature. The GTX 2080 also comes with 3-DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b and another USB Type-C port. Regardless of the variant you go with, you will be able to enjoy all these connectivity ports without any worries.
Performance
As you might have understood by now, the HP Omen Obelisk is a desktop that has been made to perform well. However, the most significant deficit which a hardcore gamer can experience is that the desktop is not yet GTX 2080 Ti ready which prevents it from competing with some other desktops available in the market such as Alienware Aurora R7, Dell XPS Tower Special Edition, etc. The Core i7-8700, a hexa-core processor with 65W TDP is genuinely remarkable. Even though, this chipset is not made for overclocking which is another deficit in the desktop. However, without the overclocking feature, the Omen does not fail to extend its abilities when you run the most intensive games on it; thanks to the GTX 2080 and a brilliant HyperX FURY DDR4-2666 RAM inclusion.
The DDR6 GTX 2080 will never let you down when you install DirectX 12 games. We tested some of the latest games like Call of Duty World War 2, Battlefield 5 and the GTA V on it and without any surprise; the desktop handles all the games with ease and allows you to enjoy a stutter-free experience. The biggest highlight when we are talking about the GTX 2080 is the Ray Tracing Technology which comes handy with this HP Omen Obelisk regardless of the variant you choose.
It worked phenomenally when we ran the Battlefield 5 on it. It is capable of providing ultra-realistic graphics and real-time lighting. At Ultra settings and 60FPS, the desktop performed brilliantly in all conditions without any noticeable frame drops. 4K gaming capabilities are what you get when you invest your money on the HP Omen Obelisk.
Conclusion
The HP Omen Obelisk review reveals that this is a performance packed and aggressive gaming desktop that is available in different price tags but holds brilliant gaming capabilities in all the ranges. If you are okay without the GTX 2080 Ti and the absence of overclocking feature, then the HP Omen Obelisk can surely be a gaming desktop that will serve your gaming needs in the future as well.
