Company HP unveiled an update to its last year’s line of gaming laptops OMEN… We got two models for review – with displays measuring 15.6 and 17.3 inches. Prices on HP OMEN 15/17 in different configurations vary from 102 to 240 thousand rubles.
Received by the editor GameMAG.ru for testing, the models are supplied in black packaging. There is nothing unusual in the package bundle: documentation, power supply and the laptop itself. The box inside protects the devices from mechanical damage using a polymer material.
The casing of notebooks is made mainly of black painted metal. However, plastic inserts are also present in the top lid – they serve as a decorative function, creating the signature cross pattern for the HP OMEN series interspersed with metal. This pattern is now completely monochrome, without the red inserts like on older HP OMEN models. The bottom cover of the devices is completely covered with plastic, it is perforated with holes for air intake. There are also rubber feet that lift laptops off a hard surface, creating space for more efficient air intake.
When you open the laptop for the first time, the striking cutouts below the display are striking. The bottom edge of the screen is beveled on the right and left sides, and it looks unusual.
Both HP OMEN models have a full keyboard with a numeric keypad. The “WASD” buttons have additional engraving with a frame, they are highlighted in their own color. In this case, the backlight can be changed at any time in the proprietary software installed on the laptop from the factory. The keyboard is not mechanical, unlike the 17-inch model of 2018, but it is good, because it feels better and more pleasant, the keys do not come off and hold firmly.
The older laptop model has a block of additional programmable keys to the left of the keyboard.
The touchpad on both HP OMEN models is made of plastic and is quite comfortable compared to other gaming laptops. Supports gesture controls Windows 10, but it is felt several orders of magnitude worse than on MacBooks even in 2015. Involuntarily there is a desire for it to be large and made of glass.
HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur equipped with a 144 Hz IPS-matrix with a size of 15.6 inches. The display is juicy with good viewing angles. However, its attachment to the case does not seem very reliable. When using the laptop not on the table, the screen dangles at the slightest movement. The display lid has a metal body, but it bends well if you don’t grab the lid in the middle, which can negatively affect its durability. There is a risk that the display mount will simply loosen over time.
HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur got a 144 Hz display with a 17.3-inch IPS matrix. It is identical in characteristics to the younger version of the HP OMEN, but has a slightly larger margin of brightness. Unfortunately, it has the same flimsy mount. And on top of that, the pixel density is slightly lower – demanding users may notice graininess on the screen.
The abundance of various ports, inputs and outputs can be clearly recorded in the advantages of these laptops. We have in stock three USB 3.2, one USB Type-C port, first generation thunderbolt, full HDMI first generation, fold-out ethernet port, mini-jack with microphone support (HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur has two mini-jacks, one for microphone, the second for headphones) and a card reader for SD cards.
The power cable is located on the left side of the laptop. This is not very convenient, the competitors have it in the back. This is a better solution because it doesn’t matter which side of you the outlet is on.
Both laptops have Wi-Fi with support for both 2.4 and 5 Ghz. The network card works stably, quickly, no problems.
The HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur laptop weighs 2.4 kilograms, its dimensions are (WxDxH) 360x260x20 mm. It works on a full charge in game mode for 1 hour 40 minutes, and when using light applications, browsing the web and videos with an average, sometimes low screen brightness, it was possible to achieve 5 hours.
HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur is noticeably heavier at 3.31 kilograms. Its dimensions are (WxDxH) 405x295x27 mm. The operating time is comparable to the younger model.
Both laptops charge up to 50% in 45 minutes and take about two hours to fully charge.
The HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur power supply is compact and lightweight, while the HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur is, on the contrary, more bulky. But considering modern solutions from competitors, we can say that these are some of the smallest power supplies in gaming laptops, this is definitely a plus.
HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur has NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 in the Max-Q version, and in the HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 standard laptop version, not Max-Q. It is noticeably more powerful.
As is customary for gaming laptops, the video cards are not 100% loaded from the battery, even the coolers do not spin up. Therefore, you will not be able to play very much, only if in very light games. However, when power is turned on, the 2070 and 2080 in both laptops start to run to their fullest.
In the proprietary HP OMEN software, you can choose the operating mode of the laptop between the “comfort”, “default” and “performance” profiles. It is also possible to choose the speed of the coolers between automatic and maximum. Under the official program, according to the tradition of the HP OMEN series, there is a special button on the keyboard that calls it. The software is really useful: it shows the temperature (and doesn’t lie at the same time, because the temperatures are identical to those shown in the Aida 64), allows you to control the keyboard backlight, macros, monitor driver updates, and you can also add games there, like in a launcher.
Laptop profiles affect the rotational speed of the coolers, as well as the performance of the CPU and GPU. In the default settings, the laptop chooses a comfortable operating mode by itself, not very loud, not very hot. In performance mode, on the other hand, the CPU and GPU run at their maximum capacity, and the coolers rotate at their maximum speed. Comfort mode is only suitable for simple tasks. The coolers do not work in it, and the CPU and GPU operate at the minimum comfortable frequencies.
- In the default mode in 3DMark TimeSpy tests at 1080p, the HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur produces an average of 40 frames, makes 40db cooler noise, the temperature of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 stays at around 77 degrees, and the Core i7 9750H heats up to 96 degrees.
- In the performance mode, the HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur in 3DMark TimeSpy tests at 1080p produces an average of 48 frames, makes noise with coolers at 52db, the temperature of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 stays at about 72 degrees, and the Core i7 9750H warms up to 90 degrees.
The increase in power is small, on average 8 frames per second, and the discomfort due to the strong noise of the coolers becomes much greater. As a result, we can conclude that there is little sense from these modes, and only one can be used – the default.
When playing DOOM Eternal the situation in terms of temperatures and cooler noise is the same as in the 3DMark benchmark. However, playing on ultra-graphics settings at 1080p averages over 100 FPS, but falls short of 120.
- In the default mode, HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur in 3DMark TimeSpy at 1080p showed an average of 60 frames, the published noise level was 46db, the temperature of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is kept at around 73 degrees, and the Core i9 9880H heats up to high 95 degrees.
- In the mode, the performance of the HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur in the 3DMark TimeSpy test in 1080p resolution showed an average result at the same level of 60 frames, the published noise level was 53db, the temperature of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is kept at around 70 degrees, and the Core i9 9880H is warming up to values above 95 degrees.
In DOOM Eternal, I got 180 frames per second in the default mode, but in the performance mode this figure increased slightly. The temperature of the video card was 66 degrees in both modes, the processor temperature is kept at around 80 degrees.
It is comfortable to play on the older version of HP OMEN in the default mode, the increase in power compared to the productive mode is small.
Both laptops support G-Sync technology, which is an inherent advantage. It is much more comfortable to play with the enabled function
On HP OMEN 15/17 I also tested Borderlands 3 on ultra-settings, the game on the older model turned out to be started at stable 120 frames per second, and on the younger model – at stable 60, limiting both options to vertical sync (disabling G-Sync). In the same mode, “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt”And Destiny 2…
It should be noted that in games weaker laptops are not loaded so much. For example, in Mafia: Definitive Edition GPU temperatures on the older model were kept at around 57 degrees.
All of the above temperatures are only relevant when the laptop is on a hard surface. One has only to put him on his knees or, say, on a sofa, and the situation becomes extremely deplorable – temperatures in games begin to go up. This is logical, because the air intake for both models is located at the bottom, but it is worth keeping this nuance in mind. However, when using a laptop for simple tasks, there are no problems.
Both laptops have enough power reserves. It turns out to comfortably pass even the most demanding games. Laptops will be enough for a long time, even despite the fact that NVIDIA recently updated its graphics cards to the three thousandth series.
Both laptops come with a 512GB SSD with 32GB Intel Optane cache. The cache is an NVMe drive, but it does not stand out as a separate disk and acts as a link between the hard disk and the computer, giving the maximum level of speed of interaction with the system. The SSD can be replaced with a larger model by removing the back cover, which the manufacturer easily allows. You can also replace the RAM. Here it is installed 16 GB DDR4 2600 MHz on the younger model and 32 GB DDR4 2600 MHz on the older model. In our CrystalDisk Mark benchmarks, we average 2707 MB for writing and 1320 MB for reading on both laptops. Which is a very good result.
As a result of combining technology from Intel with SSD-drives, we have just lightning-fast computer performance. All programs open instantly, both models turn on in less than 10 seconds. This speed is really impressive.
Sound is perhaps the most controversial point of both models. Although the brand logo flaunts on the case Bang & olufsen, however, the experience is negative in terms of sound quality. In HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur, the sound in games can be called normal in principle. There are low frequencies, mids and highs are not pronounced, but they are. Everything about HP OMEN 17-cb0007ur is terrible. The sound is quiet, flat, dull. The bass is not felt at all, and there is even no point in talking about high and middle frequencies. It seems that we are facing some very budget segment of laptops. On both models, if you don’t have headphones at hand, you can put up with the sound in games. But in movies and when listening to music, laptops are no match for even the 2018 iPad Pro.
Both laptops do an excellent job of their functions. They are convenient to work with and comfortable to play. They have a stylish and modern design, high-quality IPS-matrix with high hertz. They work extremely fast. The younger version HP OMEN 15-dh0004ur pleases with its portability, it is a powerful and thin laptop. And the older one is the ultimate solution for complex tasks and the most demanding games. The only real disappointment was the sound and the small amount of disk space. But if you wish, you can buy a more capacious SSD, for example, 1 TB, and the problem will be solved, since it will not be difficult to replace it.
Author: Alexey Sarafanov (ASarafanov)
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