HP OMEN HP OMEN 45L GT22 Gaming Desktop PC- Intel Core Review

The HP OMEN 45L GT22 is a powerhouse desktop built for max settings gaming and heavy creative work. Its standout feature is the elite 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU. Prices range from $1999 to $2130, so shop around. We recommend it for power users who have the desk real estate for its massive, but beautiful, chassis.

The HP OMEN 45L GT22 isn't just a gaming PC, it's a statement piece that happens to be one of the fastest desktops you can buy right now. With an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and an NVIDIA RTX 5070, this tower is built for people who want to max out settings at 1440p or 4K without a second thought. It's also a beast for creative work, scoring over 90/100 for creators and developers in our database, which means it's just as happy rendering a video as it is running Cyberpunk.

This thing is massive, weighing in at nearly 50 pounds, so you're not moving it around your apartment every weekend. That size isn't just for show, though. It allows for serious cooling and that iconic, tool-less tempered glass design that lets you show off all the RGB lighting inside. If you like your tech to look as powerful as it performs, the 45L's aesthetic is a big part of the appeal.

What's really interesting here is the spec balance. HP didn't just throw the latest CPU in and call it a day. They paired that monster 24-core processor with 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD, landing it in the 97th percentile for storage and CPU. This is a PC configured to avoid bottlenecks, which is something we don't always see in pre-built systems.

Let's talk about that CPU. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K sits in the 97th percentile, which is basically top-of-the-stack performance. With 24 cores and a boost clock up to 5.7 GHz, it's going to chew through game physics, video encodes, and code compiles without breaking a sweat. The inclusion of an NPU for AI tasks is a nice future-proofing touch, though for most gamers today, it's the raw multi-core power that matters.

The RTX 5070 is a solid performer, landing in the 82nd percentile for GPU power. With 12GB of the new GDDR7 memory, it's built for high-resolution gaming and can handle ray tracing without completely tanking your frame rates. In our benchmarks, a setup like this consistently pushes well over 100 fps in demanding titles at 1440p with settings maxed. The 1TB NVMe SSD is also a speed demon, so load times for games and large files are practically nonexistent.

Pricing is a bit of a moving target with this one. We're seeing it listed between $1,999 and $2,130 across different retailers. That's a $131 spread, so it pays to hunt for the best deal. For a system with a CPU in the 97th percentile, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 5070, hitting that $2k mark is actually pretty competitive. You're paying a small premium for the OMEN brand and that distinctive case design, but you're getting a thoughtfully built machine where the components work well together.

Compared to building it yourself, you'd likely save a couple hundred bucks DIY, but you'd also miss out on the integrated cooling solution, the warranty, and the hassle-free setup. For a pre-built of this caliber, the price-to-performance ratio is solid, especially if you snag it at the lower end of that range.

The most direct competitor is HP's own slightly trimmed-down OMEN 45L with a Core Ultra 7 chip. The trade-off is simple: save some money for a bit less CPU horsepower, but you'll get a very similar experience and that same great case. Then there's the Dell Alienware Aurora. It often competes on price and has strong brand recognition, but its proprietary internal design can be a nightmare for future upgrades, whereas the OMEN's tool-less design is a tinkerer's dream.

On the other side, you have more compact options like the MSI MEG Vision X or the new ROG NUC. These will save you a ton of desk space and can pack similar power, but they often come at a higher price for the mini-ITX form factor and can run hotter and louder under sustained loads. If absolute footprint is your top concern, look there. If you want a classic, upgradeable tower with fantastic thermal headroom, the OMEN 45L makes a strong case for itself.

You should skip the OMEN 45L GT22 if space is your primary constraint. Scoring a 30/100 for compactness means this is a huge tower. If you're in a small apartment or just want a minimalist setup, look at compact gaming PCs or high-end mini-ITX builds, though be prepared for a premium. Also, if you're a pure gaster who doesn't stream, edit video, or run heavy multi-threaded apps, this CPU is overkill. You could get a system with a similar RTX 5070 but a more balanced (and cheaper) Core i7 or Ryzen 7 CPU, saving several hundred dollars for nearly identical gaming performance.

If you're a gamer who also streams, a video editor, a 3D artist, or a developer who needs serious compile power, this PC is a fantastic choice. The CPU is an absolute monster that will stay relevant for years, and the RTX 5070 is more than capable for high-fidelity gaming. The tool-less design also means you can easily drop in more storage or a even more powerful GPU down the line.

However, if you live in a tiny dorm room, move apartments frequently, or strictly game and don't need 24-core CPU power, this is overkill. The size is a genuine commitment, and you could get a similar gaming experience for less money with a system built around a strong GPU and a more modest CPU. This is a flagship machine for users who want flagship performance across the board and have the space to let it shine.