For gamers, the argument of whether to build our PC or purchase a pre-built one has been going on for years. However, how does the HP OMEN 40L compare? We will examine its specifications in this review and determine if it should be part of your investments or not.
Is the HP OMEN 40L worth buying as a prebuilt gaming PC?
What are the key features and first impressions of the HP OMEN 40L?
What software features does the HP OMEN Desktops offer?
What alternatives to the HP OMEN 40L offer better value for money?
Unboxing and First Impressions
When you open the box, you are greeted with accessories that aren’t exciting. The mouse that is included is light and feels like something meant for a toy while the flat keyboard has a feel similar to laptop keyboards and thus may disappoint gamers used to more solid gaming things. Nevertheless, these peripherals are enough to start any gaming journey.
Design and Build Quality
Although most features are similar to those of its predecessor–OMEN 45L, it scales down in some aspects. The front panel features a glowing OMEN emblem at its center which can be removed if more air needs circulating in there. Internally, the computer is organized such that upgrades are fairly easy. The side glass panel can be removed easily therefore giving quick access to internal components; this comes in handy during tweaking or upgrading processes later on.
Internal Components
The HP OMEN 40L is equipped with:
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i7 14th generation processor.
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, a competent but not top-tier option for modern gaming.
- RAM: 16GB of Kingston Fury Beast RGB 5200 MHz, which is more than adequate for gaming.
- Storage: 1TB Western Digital SSD, with additional slots for further upgrades.
While the components are solid, they’re not exactly cutting-edge, especially when considering the price point.
Software and Performance Features
The HP OMEN 40L comes with the OMEN Gaming Hub, a robust software suite designed to enhance the gaming experience. Here’s a closer look at its key features:
- System Monitoring
- The OMEN Gaming Hub provides a comprehensive dashboard that displays real-time stats for your CPU, GPU, and RAM usage. This allows you to keep an eye on your system’s performance, ensuring everything is running smoothly during intense gaming sessions.
- Overclocking
- The software includes basic overclocking options, allowing you to boost your system’s performance without having to dive into the BIOS. While this feature is convenient for beginners, it’s somewhat limited for more advanced users who might prefer more granular control over their overclocking settings.
- Network Booster
- This feature allows you to prioritize your internet connection for specific apps or games, ensuring that your online gaming experience is as smooth as possible. By allocating more bandwidth to your games and less to background tasks, Network Booster helps reduce lag and improve responsiveness.
- Lighting Effects
- The OMEN Gaming Hub offers a range of RGB lighting customization options. You can choose from various pre-set animations or create your lighting effects to match your style. Additionally, the software allows you to sync your RGB effects across multiple devices, creating a cohesive lighting experience across your entire setup.
- Performance Modes
- The software includes several performance modes that you can switch between depending on your needs:
- Quiet Mode: Reduces fan noise and power consumption for less intensive tasks.
- Performance Mode: Balances performance and noise levels for everyday gaming.
- Turbo Mode: Cranks up the power for the best possible gaming experience, though it may increase fan noise.
- You also have the option to manually control your fan speeds, giving you more control over your system’s cooling.
- The software includes several performance modes that you can switch between depending on your needs:
- Omen Light Studio
- For those who are serious about their RGB setups, Omen Light Studio is an extension of the Gaming Hub that allows for even more detailed customization. You can create complex lighting schemes that sync across your PC and peripherals, and even map the lighting to match the physical layout of your devices on your desk.
- HP Enhanced Plus Display Settings
- If you pair the OMEN 40L with an HP monitor, you can use the software to fine-tune your display settings. This includes options like HP Enhanced Plus, which boosts the clarity and detail of your visuals, making games look crisper and more immersive.
- Game Remaster
- This feature allows you to upscale older games, improving their resolution and texture quality to make them look better on modern displays. It’s a nice touch for those who enjoy playing classic titles but want them to look more current.
OMEN Gaming Hub does have its pros but not all that shiny. HP’s pre-built systems BIOS are limiting compared to custom PCs therefore advanced users won’t have a chance to customize much. While beginners will find it handy for their daily needs; advanced users will miss out on more complex overclocking or tweaking features.
Gaming and Benchmark Performance
When it comes to actual performance, the HP OMEN 40L does a respectable job, but it falls short when compared to similarly priced competitors. In gaming benchmarks, it handles titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at almost 100 FPS on Ultra settings, which is solid but not spectacular.
In terms of rendering and content creation, the OMEN 40L’s performance is also middling. For instance, in Cinebench and V-Ray tests, it lags behind systems equipped with Intel i7 processors and similar GPUs, indicating that it’s not the best choice for those who need their PC for more than just gaming.
Cooling and Thermals
OMEN 40L has a regular air-cooling arrangement which follows through but does not cool as much compared to liquid cooling arrangements seen in some of its counterparts. On high-load CPU and GPU, the system usually heats up; however, it still stays on the safe side of the heat operating range. On the other hand, too many competitors have included highly optimized cooling solutions that help keep their parts cool for longer run life and safer performance.
Price-to-Performance Comparison
This is where the HP OMEN 40L starts to lose its appeal. Several prebuilt systems, such as those from CyberPower and iBUYPOWER, offer similar or even superior performance at a lower cost. For example:
- CyberPower PC with an Intel i7 and RTX 4060 Ti provides better gaming and multitasking performance at a comparable or lower price.
- Skytech Azure 2 and iBUYPOWER Slate Mesh models, which feature similar specs, outperform the OMEN 40L in benchmarks while also being more affordable.
In various benchmark tests, the HP OMEN 40L underperforms compared to these lower-priced alternatives. This makes it difficult to justify its price tag, especially when these competitors offer better cooling solutions, more advanced BIOS options, and overall better value for money.
Final Verdict: Is the HP OMEN 40L Worth It?
The HP OMEN 40L belongs to a category of solidly constructed, aesthetically pleasing factory-built computers for light gaming and mundane tasks. It falls short of offering good value for money in terms of price-performance ratio but it is a good option for people who strictly want pre-built PCs with premium HP branding and design. If your objective is to get the most out of the money you spend however there must be an alternative one somewhere else.
Manufacturers like CyberPower, iBUYPOWER as well as Skytech have comparable or better-performing devices priced lower than OMEN 40L which makes them more viable choices for budget gamers or those willing to manage their systems. To conclude although HP OMEN 40L can play if it is not on par with other comparably priced machines. These options should be given thought before a purchase decision if you evaluate the price of low-range prebuilt PCs.
Looking to buy a custom budget PC instead of a Pre-Built one? Click to read about our $700 RTX4060 Gaming PC Building video!