Our Top Picks
Pros & cons
- 8-core, 16-thread CPU handles gaming and streaming together
- 2TB SSD offers generous room for a large game library
- Four system fans help manage heat during long sessions
- At over 21 pounds, it's a bulky desktop to relocate
- RGB lighting options are limited to preset cycling modes
For most buyers choosing between the two brands, an HP Omen 35L with an RTX 5060 or RTX 5060 Ti suits a mainstream 1080p to 1440p budget, the MSI Aegis or MPG Infinite line suits players who want MSI’s own GPU, board and cooling hardware inside, and the HP Omen Max 45L is the flagship for anyone who wants an RTX 5090 with quiet cooling. This guide sorts the current lines by tier, lists the specs the makers publish and flags what to confirm before buying. It also touches on iBUYPOWER, since many shoppers compare it with these two.
MSI and HP desktops at a glance
| Line | Best for | Maker-listed highlights | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP Omen 35L | Mainstream 1080p to 1440p play | RTX 5060 8 GB GDDR7 and RTX 5060 Ti options; Intel (Core i7-14700F, Core Ultra 5 and 7) and AMD (Ryzen 5 8400F, 8500G, 8700G) configurations; 16 GB DDR5; 1 TB SSD on many SKUs | Many SKUs with different CPUs and storage; some listings use Wi-Fi 6 rather than Wi-Fi 7 |
| HP Omen Max 45L | Flagship 4K play | Up to Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9000 CPUs; up to RTX 5090; 360 mm liquid cooler; Cryo Chamber cooling on the AMD version | Premium tier; large case |
| HP Victus | Entry gaming from HP | HP’s mid-range gaming line | Configurations vary widely and some older listings still show earlier GPUs, so read the exact GPU on the page |
| MSI Aegis (including RS2 AI) | Mid-range to high-end builds with MSI parts | Aegis RS2 AI lists up to Core Ultra 9 285K, up to RTX 5080 and a 360 mm liquid cooler; Aegis R2 appears in guides with an RTX 5060 for 144 Hz esports | US spec pages list a one-year warranty on some models; tight internal layouts reported on smaller models |
| MSI MPG Infinite X3 AI | Premium gaming with Z890 platform | Core Ultra up to 285K class, RTX 5070 Ti in one regional configuration, 360 mm liquid cooler, 850 W 80 Plus Gold supply in that listing | Availability and warranty depend on region |
| MSI MAG Codex | Budget-friendly MSI entry | Described in a 2026 overview with a Core Ultra 5 and RTX 5060 Ti; no official spec page was found | Treat the configuration as a guide only |
Specification details come from the makers’ pages and from reviews by Tom’s Hardware, HotHardware and Techaeris. Configurations change constantly, and several lines (Codex, Victus) are weakly documented online, so confirm the exact SKU before purchase.
msi Codex Z2 Gaming Desktop, AMD R7-8700F, RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, USB Type-C, VR-Ready, Windows 11 Home. Model A8NVP-436US
One of the home product options compared in this guide.
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msi Aegis ZS Gaming Desktop, AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD, Liquid Cooling, Wi-Fi 7, Keyboard & Mouse Included, DIY Friendly, Windows 11 Pro
Chosen because it adds cooling or gel-infused layers.
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msi Codex R2 AI Gaming Desktop: Intel Ultra 7 265, Geforce RTX 5060Ti, 32GB DDR5, 1TB m.2 NVMe SSD, 80+ Gold PSU, WiFi 7, Air Cooling, Windows 11 Home: A2NVM7-455US
Chosen because it adds cooling or gel-infused layers.
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MSI Codex R2 AI A2NVL7-464US Desktop PC, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, 32GB DDR5, 2TB M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, Win11H (Renewed)
One of the home product options compared in this guide.
View on AmazonHP Omen 35L: the mainstream workhorse
HP’s Omen 35L is the line most shoppers will meet first. The listings show RTX 5060 models with 8 GB of GDDR7, 16 GB of DDR5 and a 1 TB PCIe SSD, paired with Intel Core i7-14700F or Core Ultra 5 chips or AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 8000-series chips. HP’s newer HyperX-branded Omen 35L models go up to an RTX 5060 Ti with 8 GB of GDDR7 and a Core Ultra 7 265F. Display outputs on RTX 5060 models are three DisplayPort and one HDMI.
Who it suits
- Players on a 1080p high-refresh monitor or entry 1440p panel.
- Buyers who value a recognizable brand, wide availability and a case with tool-free access.
What to watch
The RTX 5060 has 8 GB of video memory, which reviewers flag as a limit for high-resolution textures in newer games. CPUs on some 35L configurations come from earlier generations, so compare against the Ryzen 9000 and Core Ultra 200S families if future CPU upgrades matter. Wi-Fi 6 appears on some listings, so a wired connection or a later card swap can help.
HP Omen Max 45L: the flagship
The Omen Max 45L is where HP competes with Alienware Area-51. HP lists up to a Core Ultra 9 285K on the Intel version, Ryzen 9000-series CPUs on the AMD version with an Extreme Mode for manual overclocking, up to an RTX 5090 and a 360 mm liquid cooler. Tom’s Hardware reviewed a Ryzen 9 9900X3D, 64 GB DDR5-6000 and RTX 5090 configuration and called it a flagship with a matching price tag. HotHardware described it as cool, quiet and brutally fast, and Techaeris rated it 9.3 out of 10 while calling the price ultra-premium.
Overclocking features can void warranties and cause instability, so read HP’s terms and use conservative settings if you use them.
HP Victus: entry level, read the listing
Victus is HP’s mid-range gaming line, which replaced Pavilion Gaming in 2021. Because listings span several generations, older pages still show GPUs such as the RTX 3060 Ti with DDR4 memory. A current Victus should be judged by its listed GPU, memory type and power supply, not by the brand name.
MSI Aegis and MPG Infinite: MSI hardware inside
MSI makes motherboards, graphics cards, coolers and power supplies, so its prebuilts use many MSI-branded parts. The Aegis RS2 AI lists up to a Core Ultra 9 285K, up to an RTX 5080 and a 360 mm liquid cooler. A regional MPG Infinite X3 AI listing shows a Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, an MSI RTX 5070 Ti with 16 GB, 16 GB of DDR5 in 2×8 GB, a 1 TB SSD, an 850 W 80 Plus Gold supply and a 360 mm cooler on a Z890 board, with a three-year limited warranty in that region. The US spec page for the Aegis RS2 AI lists a one-year warranty, and a Ryzen 9 9900X and RTX 5080 Aegis sold through a warehouse club was reported at two years, which shows how much terms vary by seller and region.
Who MSI suits
- Gamers who like MSI motherboards and cooling and want a matched system.
- Buyers who want a high-end Intel Core Ultra build with a 360 mm liquid cooler.
- Esports players: guides name the Aegis R2 with an RTX 5060 for 144 Hz and above, noting a tight internal layout.
iBUYPOWER as a comparison
iBUYPOWER is the boutique builder most people compare with HP and MSI. It sells wide ranges of RTX 5060 to RTX 5080 systems and is named in several roundups as a pick for beginners under a mid-range budget. Reviews disagree on its warranty length, so confirm the term for the exact model and seller. Boutique builds tend to give more GPU per budget tier but sometimes use basic power supplies and coolers.
Upgrade paths
| Question | HP Omen 35L / Victus | HP Omen Max 45L | MSI Aegis / MPG Infinite |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU swap room | Limited by the supplied power supply | Large case and high-wattage supply | Depends on case; Infinite is the larger chassis |
| Memory | DDR5, two slots typical; read the listing | DDR5 up to large capacities | DDR5, often two sticks |
| Storage | M.2 slot; extra bays vary | Multiple M.2 and drive bays | Multiple M.2 slots on higher models |
| CPU cooler | Stock or compact air/liquid | 360 mm liquid cooler | Up to 360 mm liquid cooler on higher models |
Check the power supply wattage and connector type before planning a new GPU. If the new card uses the 12V-2×6 connector, follow the GPU and PSU makers’ guidance and stop use if you see heat damage on a connector.
Budget tiers without prices
- Entry: Omen 35L or Victus with an RTX 5060, 16 GB DDR5 and a 1 TB SSD for 1080p.
- Mid-range: Omen 35L with an RTX 5060 Ti or an MSI Aegis with an RTX 5070-class GPU for 1440p.
- Upper mid-range and premium: MSI Aegis or MPG Infinite with an RTX 5070 Ti to RTX 5080 and a 360 mm cooler.
- Flagship: Omen Max 45L with an RTX 5090.
Pick the line by the buyer
| Pick this if… | Choose |
|---|---|
| You want an easy-to-find mainstream 1080p machine | HP Omen 35L with an RTX 5060 |
| You want more headroom for 1440p | Omen 35L with an RTX 5060 Ti or an MSI Aegis with a higher GPU |
| You want an RTX 5090 with quiet cooling | HP Omen Max 45L |
| You want MSI-matched internals | MSI Aegis or MPG Infinite |
| You want the most GPU for the budget tier | iBUYPOWER or similar boutique build |
Alternatives
- Alienware Aurora and Area-51: comparable premium towers with a strong service network.
- Corsair Vengeance a7500: Tom’s Hardware’s top overall prebuilt for its warranty and parts.
- Self-built PC: more flexibility and usually lower cost for the same parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HP Omen or MSI better for gaming?
Neither is universally better. HP Omen offers broad availability and a flagship Omen Max 45L, while MSI uses its own GPU, board and cooler hardware and lists up to an RTX 5080 in the Aegis RS2 AI. Compare the exact CPU, GPU, power supply and warranty on the model you are considering.
Is the HP Omen 35L good for 1440p?
An Omen 35L with an RTX 5060 Ti is a reasonable 1440p option, according to the GPU class. The RTX 5060 has 8 GB of video memory, which reviewers note can limit high settings at higher resolutions in newer games.
What is the MSI warranty on gaming desktops?
It depends on the region and seller. MSI’s US spec page for the Aegis RS2 AI lists one year, a warehouse-club listing reports two years, and a Malaysian MPG Infinite listing shows three years. Read the term shown with your purchase.
Can I upgrade the graphics card in an HP or MSI prebuilt?
Often yes, within the power supply and case limits. Check the wattage and available power connectors, and confirm the card fits in the case. Consult the manual or the maker’s support page for the exact model.
Is iBUYPOWER better than HP or MSI?
iBUYPOWER typically offers more GPU for the same budget tier, but power supply and cooler quality vary by model, and warranty terms are reported differently across sources. HP and MSI offer a larger service network and more consistent parts naming.
Which is better for a beginner, Victus or Omen 35L?
Judge by the specific configuration rather than the name. Look for an RTX 50-series GPU, DDR5 memory and a 1 TB SSD, and avoid listings with older GPUs or DDR4 unless the tier fits your budget.
