Overview
Key features
Model Number: | 880-120 |
---|---|
Motherboard: | Tampa 2 |
Processor: | 3.2 GHz Core i7 8700 |
RAM: | 16 GB DDR4 |
Graphics/Video Card: | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 |
Integrated Graphics: | Intel HD Graphics 630 |
Primary Storage: | 256 GB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 Solid State Drive |
Secondary Storage: | 1 TB 7200RPM SATA hard drive |
Optical Drive: | DVD Writer |
Memory Card Reader: | 3-in-1 Memory Card Reader |
Bluetooth: | Integrated Bluetooth 4.2 |
Other Wireless Networking: | Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac featuring Dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz) 2 x 2 technology |
Power Supply: | 500 W internal power supply |
Case Height: | 41.7 cm (16.43 in) |
Case Width: | 19.2 cm (7.56 in) |
Case Depth: | 44.2 cm (17.41 in) |
Case Weight: | 17.6 Kg (38.80 lbs) |
Pros & Cons
- Powerful
- Great design
- Easy upgradeability
- Comes with keyboard and mouse
- Great port layout
- Comes with a one-year limited warranty and 24/7 tech support
- VR-Ready
- Pricey
- Limited expansion capability
- LED Light s cannot be customized
Ask any hardcore gamer or computer enthusiast advice on what pre-built gaming PC you should buy, and youâre bound to hear (or read) that you should not under any circumstances buy a pre-built PC. Itâs a rip-off. This is a bit of a privileged way to look at it.
Firstly, your hobby with PCs may just be limited to gaming. Thatâs what makes consoles so accessible. Console gamers donât really have to care about how their graphics are rendered or how much memory their machines have.
Basic knowledge of how computers work has never hurt anyone. However, these days pre-built systems are built more like consoles to attract customers who want to dip their toes in PC gaming without them having to take an amateur course in IT.
And either way, consoles are basically just slender pre-built PCs (and vice versa). So in this guide, weâre going to review the HP Omen and see if it actually has a right to call itself a gaming PC (or even a console).
Omens can either be good or bad. And on that note, isnât it sad that we may not be getting a second season of Neil Gaimanâs Good Omens? According to Gaiman, he wonât be returning as showrunner for season 2. Who knows if Amazon will renew it now and if they do, will it suffer without Gaimanâs input and support? Hopefully not. Just look at what happened to Preacher after Seth Rogan left, but I digress.
Youâre here to find out if the HP Omen is a good one, despite its very ominous exterior. In this guide, weâll go over the HP Omenâs design and performance. Weâll also list a few alternatives worth checking out. It should be noted that since manufacturers like to release more than one version of their flagship builds, we chose to review the HP Omen 880-120. Near the end of the review, weâve also listed and answered a few frequently asked questions.
HP Omen 880 Performance
I know Iâm stating the obvious, but a computerâs performance is largely based on its interior components. While the Chassis is there to provide ventilation and protection, itâs also there for cosmetic value.
Under the hood, the HP Omen runs an 8th generation Intel i7 processor with a powerful GTX 1080 graphics card. The graphics card has 8GB of virtual ram while the processor’s clock speed is 3.2 GHz. This is without overclocking it. Both the CPU and GPU are a little outdated, but theyâll get the job done, especially if youâre looking for mid to high-end gaming.
We would have much preferred a mighty RTX 2080 with a ninth-generation i7. However, this probably would have made the PC a lot less affordable. If you donât take into account the cost of the motherboard, cooling, and chassis, the HP Omenâs inner components will cost you around $975 in total.
In terms of performance, you really do get some bang for your buck. The HP Omen comes with a 256 GB NVMe PCLe which is perfect for those speedy load times. 256 GB may not be enough, so the Omen comes equipped with a secondary 1TB drive to house all your offline games and saves.
It has 16 GB of RAM which is standard for most mid to high-end gaming PCs. But how well do all these components play together? Letâs look at a game like Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey whose Recommended 4K specs are as follows:
- Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit versions only)
- Processor: Intel Core i7 7700 @ 4.2 GHz
- Video:Â NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (8GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0)
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Video Preset: High
- Storage: 46GB available hard drive space
Well, looking at these specs and comparing them with the Omenâs specs, you can see that the Omen has enough to run AC Odyssey to its fullest potential. Running AC Odyssey at 1080p (Full HD) will give us 75 frames per second which is excellent. Running it at 1440p will give us a frame rate of 81 frames per second.
Running it at 4K will yield frame rates of about 39 fps. Our targeted frame rates for AC Odyssey were around 30 fps, so as you can see, the Omen exceeded our expectations by far. Itâs important to remember that while the Omen has the power to render Odysseyâs gorgeous panoramas, but you need the right monitor to do it any justice truly. So why not check out our guide of the best 4K monitors after reading through the rest of this review.
The HP Omen will perform well as a media center, workstation or multipurpose desktop. However, it would go wasted as anything but a gaming computer. This thing outperforms any current-gen console, and I suspect that it has enough juice to survive the next generation too.
HP Omen 880 Design
The HP Omenâs case resembles a black knightâs helmet. Itâs almost furnace-like with its vents, sharp edges and red glow. Itâs sure to give small children nightmares. A really great reason for buying a pre-built PC is you get exclusive components that you may not be able to get as aftermarket parts. For instance, HP doesnât sell this case as a standalone. Which is unfortunate.
Itâs extremely well designed but a bit bulky. Itâs a mid-tower case. In the daylight, with all of its LED lights off, it resembles a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica. Not only does it look ominous, but itâs also silent due to its liquid cooling system. Thereâs a single 120mm fan on the rear which is effectively there to inhale air through the vents and feed the rest of the computer with cool air.
The computer also has a clear side panel for you to show off all your components. One of the biggest selling points of this computer is its tool-free design. You can swap out hard drives on a whim by simply opening two of the front flaps on the case’s head.
On the right side of the flaps, you get 6 I/O ports, conveniently placed for easy access. Removing the side paneling is even easier. All you have to do is press a single button near the top of the rear of the case then the panel pops out. The HP Omen comes with a double-sided screwdriver because thereâs always a limitation to how tool-free a rigâs design can be. Speaking of limitationsâŚ
While this is a Mid-Tower case, in an effort to save interior space, HP saw fit to use a Tampa 2 motherboard – which utilizes a micro-ATX form factor. This wouldnât be a problem if there wasnât such a lack of expandability.
When you get this computer, thereâs only one expansion slot open. In reality, you have all you need here with the HP Omen, but it really takes points away from itâs future-proofness. The less expandable or upgradeable a device is, the harder it will be to protect it from obsoletion.
HP Omen 880 Pricing and Alternatives
Iâd like to take this opportunity to reiterate that in this guide we reviewed the HP Omen 880-120 because, at $1,679.99, itâs currently the most affordable in the range. If youâre looking for something with the same chassis, but with a little more power, then I invite you to check out the:
- HP Omen 880-180: i7-8700K Processor and RTX 2080 8GB
- HP Omen 880-190: i7-9700K Processor and RTX 2080 8GB
- HP Omen 880-191: i7-9700K Processor and RTX 2080 Ti 11GB
However, if the HP Omen isnât your cup of tea and youâre looking for something a little cheaper but wonât compromise on power, try the Alienware Aurora R8 review. Additionally, you can check out our guide on the best gaming PC. Thereâs a slew of great alternatives on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Graphics Card Does the HP Omen Have?
The HP Omen 880-120 uses an NVIDIA GTX 1080 graphics card. The HP Omen comes in different models and styles. Most models come with different specs and graphics cards.
What does the HP Omen symbol mean?
According to HP, the Omen symbol is a Voodoo mask that reinforces HP’s place in history. According to HPâs Twitter feed: “Our logo is a tribal mask. The tribal mask reinforces our strong history in gaming as it is also the original Voodoo PC brand logo, and we want to continue making powerful hardware for gamers!â
What Does a Desktop Tower Do?
A desktop tower may refer to a computer cases form factor. People often use these terms erroneously. A desktop and a tower are two separate case/chassis styles or form factors. A desktop computer sits horizontally while a tower stands vertically (upright).
Is HP Desktop Good for Gaming?
HP Desktops are good for gaming. HP has various desktop computers. Not all of them are great for gaming, but HP does have a line or two for the gamers. They also have a range of gaming laptops. Most notably their Omen range of laptops and desktop computers is geared toward the gamers.
Is GTX 1080 Good for VR?
The GTX 1080 is good for VR. It utilizes NVIDIAâs Pascal architecture which allows you to experiences the current generation of Virtual Reality. The HP Omen 880-120 uses a GTX 1080 graphics card, which means you should be able to use your Oculus Rift or HTC Vive headsets with it.
Whatâs a PSU on a Computer?
PSU stands for Power Supply Unit. A power supply unit regulates your computer’s power by converting AC current into DC current from the electricity it pulls from your outlet. PSUs usually have a watt of power output rating between 200 watts and 1800 watts.
Does HP Omen Have Bluetooth?
The HP Omen 880-120 has integrated Bluetooth. It uses Bluetooth 4.2, which is ultra-fast.
When Did the HP Omen Come Out?
The HP Omen 880-120 came out in November 2017.
Can You Upgrade an HP Omen?
You can upgrade the HP Omen 880-120. It gives you easy access to its drive bays, and it has one expansion slot open. Furthermore, you can overclock or replace the graphics card if youâre not satisfied with it.
Final Verdict
I guess you could say that the HP Omen 880-120 is Aziraphale even though itâs dressed up as Crowley. Iâm sorry if you had to Google any of these references. Even with some of its core components being a little outdated, the HP Omen 880-120 will handle the latest games without breaking a sweat.
Performance: âââââ
I can say that Iâm very happy with the HP Omenâs performance. Itâs perfect for both work and play.
Design: ââââ
Itâs a very ominous knight like exterior, and tool-free design makes it stand out. However, I do wish it had a little more upgradeability, and the LED lighting cannot be customized.
Price: âââ
You can get something cheaper with some of the very same specs. However, you wonât get anything thatâs exactly quite like it for the same price. Youâre not just paying for performance; youâre paying for HPâs design and implementation.
Overall: ââââ
The HP Omen desktop gaming computer is impressive. Iâd like it more if it were a little cheaper and had used a better motherboard. Either way, itâs still great value for money. I would not stop anyone from purchasing this as their first PC.