HP OMEN GT16-0285t 2025, Core Ultra 9 285K, 64GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 5080, Shadow black glass

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is the best CPU we've tested, period. With 64GB of RAM and an RTX 5080, this OMEN is a workstation powerhouse that also games. The price varies by USD 1,100 across vendors, so shop around.

Let's start with that CPU because it's the star of the show. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is a 24-core monster running at 3.3GHz base. In our database, it's at the 100th percentile. That's not just good, it's the absolute best right now. Pair that with 64GB of DDR5 RAM at the 87th percentile and you've got a machine that will chew through video editing, 3D rendering, and any game you throw at it without breaking a sweat.

The RTX 5080 with 16GB of VRAM is no slouch either, landing at the 78th percentile. That's well above average and will handle 4K gaming and DLSS 4 without much drama. The 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD is solid at the 69th percentile, though for a workstation-focused build we'd love to see faster storage. The 850W PSU gives you enough headroom for future upgrades, and the tool-less design means you can actually get in there and swap parts without a screwdriver collection.

Against the Apple Mac Studio M5 Max, the OMEN wins on raw CPU power and upgradeability, but loses on compactness and that Apple silicon efficiency. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 is a closer gaming-focused rival, but the OMEN's 64GB of RAM and 24-core CPU put it in a different league for workstation tasks. The ASUS ROG GM700 and CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM are both solid gaming rigs, but neither matches the OMEN's port selection or CPU performance. The Dell Desktop ECT1250 is the budget option here, but you're giving up a lot of performance for the savings. If you need a machine that does serious work and plays games on the side, the OMEN is the most balanced option in this group.

Here's where things get interesting. The price spread across US listings is wild, ranging from USD 3,600 to USD 4,700. That's a USD 1,100 difference for the same machine depending on where you buy. The Best Buy listing is the one to watch here, especially with their price match guarantee. At USD 3,600, you're getting a 100th percentile CPU and 64GB of RAM, which is genuinely impressive for a workstation. At USD 4,700, you're paying a premium that's harder to justify when the GPU and storage are merely above average. Shop around before you commit.

The HP OMEN GT16-0285t is a serious piece of hardware. We're talking an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K with 24 cores, 64GB of DDR5, and an RTX 5080 with 16GB of VRAM. That CPU sits at the 100th percentile in our database, which means it's literally the best processor we've tested in this category. The port selection is also top-tier at the 99th percentile, with 9 USB-A ports, a USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, and Ethernet. You won't be hunting for a dongle with this thing.

But here's the thing. The GPU lands at the 78th percentile, which is strong but not mind-blowing for a machine in this price bracket. Storage is middle of the pack at the 69th percentile with a 2TB NVMe SSD. And the weakest area is compactness at 50.5 out of 100. This is a 14.5kg mid-tower, so don't expect to tuck it behind your monitor. It's built to sit on your desk and look like it means business, VALORANT-inspired design and all.

If you're tight on space, look elsewhere. The compactness score of 50.5 out of 100 is the weakest area here, and at 14.5kg, this is not a machine you'll want to move around. The storage is also just average at the 69th percentile, so if you need blazing-fast file transfers for large video projects, you might want to budget for a faster SSD upgrade. And if you're purely a gamer who doesn't need 24 cores and 64GB of RAM, you can get similar gaming performance for less money with a machine that has a better GPU-to-price ratio.

The HP OMEN GT16-0285t is a workstation disguised as a gaming PC. That 100th percentile CPU and 64GB of RAM make it a legitimate content creation and productivity beast, while the RTX 5080 keeps it more than capable for gaming. The weak social proof is a concern, but the specs speak for themselves. If you can find it at the lower end of that USD 3,600 to USD 4,700 range, it's a strong buy. Just make sure you have the desk space for a 14.5kg tower.