Hey everyone! I recently picked up the new HP Omen 35L, and while I absolutely love the aesthetics and the performance out of the box, I’m getting a bit concerned about the thermals during long gaming sessions. When I’m running more demanding titles at 1440p, I’ve noticed the CPU temps spiking higher than I’d like, and the fans get pretty loud trying to keep up.
I’ve been looking at the internal layout, and while it's much better than previous Omen models, I’m wondering what the best path forward is for peak cooling. I’m specifically curious if anyone has successfully swapped out the stock 120mm AIO for a high-end 240mm liquid cooler or if a top-tier air cooler like a Noctua would even fit with the RAM clearance in this chassis. Also, has anyone experimented with adding extra intake fans at the bottom or swapping the stock rear exhaust for something with better static pressure?
I really want to keep this rig running cool and quiet without voiding my warranty or doing crazy case mods. For those of you who have optimized your 35L, what specific cooling upgrades gave you the best drop in degrees?
Honestly, I was so disappointed with the stock thermals on my 35L because it literally sounds like a jet engine when playing Cyberpunk... Background info-wise, these cases are basically air-constricted because of the glass, so you gotta prioritize static pressure or just more surface area to keep things chill. Here is what I found after experimenting:
* **Option A: The AIO Swap.** I tried the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240mm Multi-Compatible All-in-One CPU Water Cooler and it's SO much better than the stock 120mm. It actually fits the top mount, but it is a tight squeeze with the cables!
* **Option B: High-End Air.** I looked at the Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black Dual-Tower CPU Cooler, but ugh, the RAM clearance is a nightmare with the stock Omen sticks. I ended up trying the Noctua NH-U12S chromax.black Slim Tower CPU Cooler instead. It is quiet, but honestly, not as good as the liquid cooling for high spikes.
So basically, if you want peak cooling without case mods, the 240mm AIO is the way to go. Also, adding a Noctua NF-F12 PWM 120mm Focused Flow Fan to the rear exhaust really helped pull out the trapped heat. Good luck!!
Just sharing my experience: I went through this last year with a similar HP build and honestly, I was sooo worried about the budget lol. Background info: Omen cases look amazing but they're basically heat traps because of the limited airflow. Why it matters? High temps literally kill your performance and parts long-term!
So basically, I ditched the fancy AIO and went for a more cost-conscious route:
1. I swapped the rear fan for a Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM which was only like $15. The static pressure is incredible for the price!
2. I added a Thermalright Assassin King 120 SE air cooler. It's super cheap (under $20!) and somehow keeps things cooler than that stock 120mm liquid setup.
Ngl it was a game changer for my temps and my wallet... plus no more jet engine sounds! good luck 👍
For your situation, I recommend looking into a high-end air cooler from Noctua or maybe a beefy liquid setup from Corsair... basically anything with high static pressure fans will do the trick tho.
Respectfully, I'd consider another option before swapping that AIO or going with a massive air cooler. I've been tinkering with Omen rigs for like 10 years now, and honestly, the safest way to drop temps without clearance headaches or risking your warranty is focusing on the case pressure first!
1. **High-Flow Case Fans vs. Stock**: Instead of a new CPU cooler, try swapping the rear/top fans for Be Quiet! Silent Wings 4 120mm PWM. They're literally silent and move way more air than the stock ones.
2. **Static Pressure Intake vs. Airflow Fans**: If you add bottom intakes, go for Noctua NF-F12 PWM Chromax.Black.Swap... basically these pull air through those tight grilles much better than standard fans.
I mean, a 240mm AIO is cool, but in the 35L case, it's often an airflow bottleneck. Better fans fixed my thermal spikes in Cyberpunk and I didn't have to worry about RAM clearance at all. gl!
> "I really want to keep this rig running cool and quiet without voiding my warranty or doing crazy case mods." Tbh, the absolute best DIY move for these prebuilts is often overlooked: a simple repaste. HP's stock application can be realy inconsistent, you know? I'd grab some Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut and do it yourself—it’s a cheap, 15-minute fix that can drop temps by several degrees without any real risk. If you’re dead set on a hardware swap, the DeepCool AK620 is a great air cooler that’s a bit more compact than some of the massive flagship towers, so RAM clearance is way less of a headache in the 35L chassis. Also, definitely look into undervolting your CPU with Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) or Ryzen Master. It’s basically a free cooling upgrade that doesn't require any physical mods and keeps the fans from ramping up like crazy during 1440p gaming sessions. Definitly the smartest path forward if you want to keep things chill while keeping the warranty intact!!!
TL;DR: My Omen has been a tank for years now and I am super satisfied with the durability, though I have been more focused on my desk ergonomics lately. Building on the earlier suggestion, I have had my Omen setup for a long time and it has honestly been one of the most reliable machines I have owned. I am still very happy with it. It actually survived a pretty rough move across state lines last year when I was relocating for work. I remember packing the tower into the front seat of my truck and driving through the desert in July. I was so stressed about the heat but I was mostly worried about my collection of rare succulents in the back. I had this one Echeveria that I have been growing for like four years and the poor thing barely made it because the AC in my truck kept cutting out. I spent the whole trip stopping at gas stations just to buy bags of ice to keep the plants cool while I grabbed coffee. There was this one incredible taco truck outside of Phoenix though... best carnitas I have ever had. Anyway lol, sorry I kinda went off topic there. Just saying these rigs are tougher than they look.