HP Omen Takes Gaming Computers To Next Level With Cube-Shaped ‘Omen X’

HP has made some major mods to its ‘Omen’ gaming brand, unveiling the ‘Omen X,’ a high-end, giant cube-shaped computer tower that looks like it belongs in a video game itself. Resting on one of its edges for optimal cooling, the Omen X Desktop is unusual in it’s design, HP even opting for programmable multicolored lights that adorn the front of the chassis. The flashiness of the hood does not hid the fact that this is a powerful device with numerous options for customization.

HP’s Omen X Desktop Review

The main idea behind the tilted-cube-look aesthetic is more about cooling than looks; internally divided into three chambers, one whole section is dedicated to cooling, while the other two respectively house disk drives and the Omen’s power supply. The top of the desktop also has room for a 360mm radiator or three 120mm fans. There is also plenty of space for high-end graphics cards and processors, and HP allows upgrades up to dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080s or dual AMD Radeon R9 Fury X cards. Tech Radar reported that the Omen X Desktop is also surprisingly standard, offering the MicroATX motherboard, which supports Intel Core i7 or i5 Skylake processors. This means that gamers do not have to deal with proprietary hardware, opening the door for increased flexibility in customization. However, HP does pack in some unique features, which includes room for four external storage bays. For those interested in the growing market for virtual reality, Omen X is optimized to work with the Oculus and other VR devices.

Gamers can purchases a entirely pre-built system, or HP offers varying levels of DIY-customization. HP will dole out just the cube-shaped body for $600, while more intense configurations will have you collaborating with boutique system maker, Maingear. The gamer boutique has some tweaks of its own in the works, which include hard tube water cooling and glass panel to show off the inner mechanics.

The Omen X Desktop was released early this month and is available for purchase at $1,799 for a pre-built system. Early reviews from Tech Radar argue that the desktop lacks screen brightness and audio performance may be uneven, but all together the Omen X offers great gaming performance in a striking package.