The HP OMEN Obelisk was a capable, unusually accessible gaming desktop for its 2018–2019 era, but whether it is worth buying now depends on the exact configuration and price. Its standardized microATX design makes selected upgrades easier than on many prebuilts; its age, cooling, and limited expansion mean it is not a universal upgrade platform. For a used Obelisk, verify the model number, power supply, graphics-card clearance, and board layout before paying or ordering parts.
What the HP OMEN Obelisk offered
HP announced the OMEN Obelisk on August 20, 2018 as a gaming desktop intended to combine prebuilt convenience with a more DIY-like, standardized interior. HP described a microATX chassis with tool-less access, support for full-length graphics cards and industry-standard ATX power supplies, and multiple storage configurations. Depending on configuration, it was offered with 8th-generation Intel or 2nd-generation AMD Ryzen processors and graphics options up to the RTX 2080. HP specified support for up to 32 GB of HyperX FURY DDR4-2666 memory in its announcement. The announced starting price was $849.99 in 2018, not a current-market price. HP’s 2018 announcement.
How fast was the reviewed configuration?
Tom’s Hardware tested one configuration in 2019: Core i7-8700, 32 GB RAM, 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD, 1 TB 7,200-rpm hard drive, GeForce RTX 2080, and a 500 W 80 Plus Bronze power supply. Its results show what that specific higher-end unit could do, not what every Obelisk can do.
| Game and settings in Tom’s Hardware’s test | Measured performance |
|---|---|
| Battlefield V, 4K High, DX12 | 50–67 fps |
| Battlefield V, 1080p, ray tracing Medium | 80–90 fps |
| Hitman, 1080p Ultra | 133 fps |
| Hitman, 4K | 73 fps |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider, 1080p Very High | 82 fps |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider, 4K | 27 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V, 1080p Very High | 97 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V, 4K | 34 fps |
The same review unit scored 24,048 in Geekbench 4, copied a 4.97 GB file at 508.9 MBps, and completed the review’s 4K-to-1080p HandBrake transcode in nine minutes. These are historical, workload-specific measurements from Tom’s Hardware’s 2019 review; they are not predictions for a different CPU, GPU, memory, or game version. Tom’s Hardware’s HP Omen Obelisk review.
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#1 Best Overall
- Hyper-realistic graphics: NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) RTX 2080 Super (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated memory). Enjoy new levels of gaming realism, speed, power efficiency and immersion with real-time ray-tracing technologies
- Cutting-edge gaming performance: Geared with the latest hardware and easy to upgrade, so you can crush the latest and most demanding games including Fortnite, PUBG, and Overwatch
- Ultra-fast processor: 9th generation Intel Core i9-9900K Processor, 8-core, 3.60 GHz
- HP OMEN command center: Included software lets you customize RGB lighting, prioritize gaming network traffic, and stream your PC games on your big screen TV with OMEN game stream (a free remote gaming service)
- Solid state drive and memory: 1 TB PCIe(R) NVMe(TM) M.2 Solid State Drive and HyperX(R) 32 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (upgradable to 64 GB). Load up your favorite games in seconds, transfer files without waiting hours, and enjoy a more powerful and immersive experience than a standard hard drive
Can the Obelisk handle 1440p or 4K gaming?
There is no single answer for the whole product family: the Obelisk shipped in different configurations, and the GPU is the most important gaming-performance distinction. The RTX 2080 unit above produced playable results in some tested 4K games, but its results ranged from 73 fps in Hitman to 27 fps in Rise of the Tomb Raider at the listed settings. That spread illustrates why a label such as “4K capable” does not guarantee a particular frame rate. For a used system, identify the installed GPU and look for benchmarks in the games and settings you actually use. A lower-tier original GPU should not be assumed to match the RTX 2080 review system.
How upgradeable is the OMEN Obelisk?
Its main advantage is access and use of relatively conventional parts, not unlimited expandability. HP documented tool-less interior access, a full-length PCIe x16 graphics slot, M.2 sockets, and a reserved position for an extra 120 mm fan or 120 mm liquid-cooling radiator. On at least one Edoras motherboard configuration, HP documented two DDR4 memory sockets and selected 65 W LGA1151 processor support. These details are model-dependent: HP’s general product announcement is not a compatibility guarantee for every 875-series machine. HP’s OMEN Obelisk specifications.
Rank #2
- Hyper-realistic Graphics: nvidia(r) geforce(r) RTX 2070 (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated memory). enjoy new levels of gaming realism, speed, power efficiency and immersion with real-time ray-tracing technologies
- Cutting-edge gaming performance: geared with the latest hardware and easy to upgrade, so you can crush the latest and most demanding games including Fortnight, PUBG, and Overwatch
- Ultra fast Processor: 9th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i7-9700k Processor, 8-Core, Liquid Cooling, 3.60 GHz
- HP OMEN command center: included software lets you safely overclock your CPU, customize RGB lighting, prioritize gaming Network traffic, and stream your PC games on your big screen TV with omen game stream (a free remote gaming service)
- Solid State Drive and memory: 512 GB pcie(r) nvme(tm) M.2 Solid State Drive and hyperx(r) 16 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (upgradable to 64 GB). load up your favorite games in seconds, transfer files without waiting hours, and enjoy a more powerful and immersive experience than a standard hard drive
Memory and storage
HP announced up to 32 GB DDR4-2666 memory, while the documented Edoras configuration has two memory sockets. Check the exact product number and motherboard specification before buying RAM; do not infer that every board revision supports the same modules or maximum. The platform has M.2 storage sockets, but the number of installed and available sockets and supported drive types can differ by configuration. Confirm the free slot and drive interface before purchasing an M.2 NVMe SSD.
Graphics card and power supply
The chassis was designed for full-length graphics cards, and HP described room for an industry-standard ATX PSU. That does not establish that any modern GPU or power supply will fit or work in every Obelisk. Check card length and thickness against the installed layout, power connectors, PSU wattage and condition, and the specific model’s cabling and clearance. The 500 W Bronze supply in Tom’s Hardware’s RTX 2080 test configuration is evidence about that unit only, not a universal Obelisk power-supply specification.
Rank #3
- Hyper-realistic graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (11 GB GDDR6 dedicated memory). enjoy new levels of gaming realism, speed, power efficiency and immersion with real-time ray-tracing technologies
- Cutting-edge gaming performance: Geared with the latest hardware and easy to upgrade, so you can crush the latest and most demanding games including Fortnight, PUBG, and Overwatch
- Ultra-fast processor: 9th generation Intel Core i9-9900k Processor, 8-Core, Liquid Cooling, 3.60 GHz.Power supply type: 750 W Platinum efficiency power supply
- HP OMEN command center: Included software lets you safely overclock your CPU, customize RGB lighting, prioritize gaming Network traffic, and stream your PC games on your big screen TV with omen game stream (a free remote gaming service)
- Solid state drive and memory: 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive and HyperX 16 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (upgradable to 64 GB). load up your favorite games in seconds, transfer files without waiting hours, and enjoy a more powerful and immersive experience than a standard hard drive
Cooling and expansion limits
The chassis leaves a position for one additional 120 mm fan or a 120 mm liquid-cooling radiator, but reviewers criticized airflow and the need for more cooling. PC Gamer also noted only two DIMM slots and a single additional storage bay on its reviewed system. Limited motherboard slots and drive expansion make the Obelisk less suitable if you expect many internal drives or broad future expansion. PC Gamer’s review.
What reviewers liked—and what they criticized
Tom’s Hardware called it HP’s most upgradable PC at the time, while noting it needed at least one more fan and was not entirely customizable. PC Gamer praised tool-less access and the open, navigable interior, but flagged the limited DIMM and storage expansion. Across those assessments, the appeal is straightforward access to components; the trade-offs are cooling, cable routing, limited board expansion, and less freedom than a fully custom build. These are reviewer observations from 2019, not a guarantee of the condition or noise level of an individual used PC.
Rank #4
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285K 24-Core 3.70 GHz Processor (36MB Smart Cache, Turbo Boost up to 5.70 GHz), Intel AI Boost 13 TOPS NPU
- 64GB DDR5 5600 MHz Memory, 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solis State Drive, OMEN CRYO CHAMBER, OMEN Light Studio, AI Copilot, Windows 11 Pro
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 Graphics Card (1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) & Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless, Gigabit Ethernet
- 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) / Supports Video Alt Mode, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 4x USB-A 2.0, 1x Headphone/Microphone Input
- 2-Year Warranty by Techno Intelligence & Free Tech Support, Liquid Cooling, RGB Lighting, Tempered Glass Case, Keyboard & Mouse, Black
Should you buy an OMEN Obelisk today?
Consider one only after comparing its asking price and actual hardware with newer used or discounted desktops and a DIY build. Historical prices do not establish today’s value: HP’s $849.99 figure was the 2018 announced starting price, while Tom’s Hardware listed $2,378.99 for its particular 2019 test configuration. Both are historical context, not current offers.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- INDUSTRY STANDARD FORM FACTOR AND TOOL-LESS ACCESS - Built with ease of upgrading and customization in mind, this chassis adheres to the industry standard form factor; Easily, access and swap out components and parts without any tools or equipment
- EXPERIENCE POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT AI PERFORMANCE - Unlock optimized gaming, creation and AI capabilities for desktops and workstations like never before with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor
- GAME CHANGER - Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU brings game-changing AI capabilities to gamers and creators
- STORAGE AND MEMORY - 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 solid-state drive offers fast speed and efficient storage; and 32 GB DDR5 RAM memory boosts performance with higher bandwidth
- WINDOWS 11 PRO AND Microsoft Copilot - Windows 11 helps you think, express, and create in a natural way; Microsoft Copilot is always on hand to boost your productivity, accelerate your creativity, and help you communicate with maximum clarity
- It may make sense if the exact unit is inexpensive, has a GPU that meets your target resolution, and its PSU, cooling, and expansion layout suit the upgrades you intend.
- Look elsewhere if you prioritize current-generation performance, quieter cooling, numerous drive bays, extensive RGB customization, or a broad upgrade path without model-specific checks.
Before buying or upgrading, use this checklist:
- Get the complete product number or 875 model identifier and confirm its motherboard and factory configuration with HP’s documentation.
- Inspect the installed CPU, GPU, memory, storage, and power supply rather than relying on the listing title.
- Measure available graphics-card clearance and verify its power connectors and PSU suitability.
- Check which DIMM slots, M.2 sockets, and drive bays are actually free, then match parts to that layout.
- Inspect fans, dust, cable routing, and temperatures under load where possible; used condition can outweigh the chassis’s original design advantages.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
