The HP Omen 45L is $936 off with an RTX 5080 — and it’s a vital hedge against the “AI Tax”

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Artificial intelligence is driving up the cost of computer components. Prices for things like RAM, SSDs, and graphics cards are all going up, making building your own gaming PC increasingly expensive. If you’re planning a gaming PC upgrade, it’s smarter to buy a pre-built system from a company like HP – they can often offer better prices due to their large inventory – before prices increase again.

HP is offering 26% off the Omen 45L and other devices when you use the code NEWYEAR26. A configuration with an RTX 5080 and 32GB of RAM offers a great combination of performance and value, though you can customize the components to your liking.

Is now a good time to buy a gaming PC?

Since the RTX 5080 graphics card alone costs around $1,400, the current price on the HP Omen 45L, which includes that card, is a pretty good offer. It’s not quite as amazing as the previous deal where you could get the RTX 5080 almost for free, but it’s still a solid price.

Considering that the cost of RAM and other computer components is increasing, the HP Omen 45L is definitely worth considering.

I’ve been watching the market, and honestly, if you’re thinking about building or buying a gaming PC, now seems like a really good moment to do it. I don’t foresee prices dropping on comparable systems anytime soon – unless, of course, you happen to have access to a time machine!

PC gaming will likely be more expensive this year due to rising costs for both RAM and graphics cards (GPUs). AMD has announced that some Radeon GPUs will increase in price by at least 10%, and NVIDIA GPUs are also predicted to become more expensive.

Deciding whether now is a good time to buy a gaming PC is tricky. Prices are higher than they recently were, but they’re likely to go up even more later this year, so it’s a bit of a balancing act.

Why buy the HP Omen 45L?

Many computer cases seem alike at first – they’re often rectangular and have glass side panels. However, appearances can be deceiving, and these cases aren’t all the same in terms of quality and features.

The Omen 45L features a durable, all-metal frame and is designed for easy access – you can open it without needing any tools. Simply press a button to remove the front and side panels.

The HP Omen 45L features a Cryo Chamber to effectively cool the CPU. By placing the radiator outside the computer case, this design should lower temperatures better than standard liquid cooling systems. HP clearly believes in its effectiveness, as they’ve included it in the new HP Omen Max 45L.

Even the best cooling system isn’t effective without powerful components inside. The HP Omen 45L can be equipped with up to an RTX 5090 graphics card, but for most gamers, that’s more power than they actually need.

As a gamer, I’d say the RTX 5080 is the best graphics card most people could ask for. Our reviewer, Ben Wilson, put it perfectly: if you pair it with a good CPU and keep it cool, you’ve got an absolute beast of a 4K gaming machine. And with DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Gen, everything looks incredible and runs super smoothly, even with all the settings maxed out.

With the NEWYEAR26 promo code, the powerful 4K gaming PC Wilson mentioned is now $936 cheaper.

FAQ

Why is it sometimes cheaper to buy a pre-built PC than build a PC?

Traditionally, buying a pre-built computer was simpler but cost more than building one yourself. While this is often still true, the high demand for AI technology has recently increased the price of components like memory, storage, and graphics cards. However, some large computer companies, such as HP, purchased parts in large quantities before these price increases, meaning you can sometimes find pre-built PCs that actually cost less than buying all the individual parts.

Can I upgrade the Omen 45L?

It’s easy to upgrade the Omen 45L desktop. You don’t need any special tools to open it up and replace parts like the RAM, graphics card, power supply, or SSD. HP provides a guide to show you exactly what you can upgrade.

What is a Cryo Chamber on a gaming PC?

HP’s Cryo Chamber is a cooling system that sits on top of the Omen 45L and compatible PCs. It works by using regular air to cool the liquid that keeps the computer’s components from overheating. HP says this system lowers CPU temperatures more effectively than standard cooling methods. However, it does increase the height of the Omen 45L by a little over 4 inches.

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2026-01-15 18:10