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HP only has one all-new laptop in its Omen gaming line to show off at CES 2025, but it looks like a doozy because the company claims its the most powerful 16-inch notebook it has ever made. The Omen Max 16 looks like HP took a standard Omen 16 (which is retaining the same design but getting refreshed with new components for 2025) and then crammed in as many high-end components as it could. This includes support for CPUs from both Intel and AMD with up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX or Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 along with a range of NVIDIA RTX 5000-series GPUs. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget But the blazing specs dont stop there, because the Max 16 can also be equipped with up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM (at 5,600 MT/s), PCIe Gen 5 SSDs and either OLED or IPS displays with 240Hz refresh rates. So there shouldnt be many questions about this thing delivering a ton of speed. Connectivity also looks solid with two Thunderbolt 4 ports (with support for USB power delivery), two USB-A jacks, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio and HDMI 2.1. But the features I like the most are some of the smaller touches HP added, like a new vapor chamber the first ever on any Omen gaming laptop. Thanks to a new liquid Cryo compound, the Max 16 should have much improved thermal management, while the addition of reversible fans are designed to keep the inside of the laptop clean. HPs thought process is that by occasionally spinning its fans backwards, the machine can blow out any dust stuck inside. This might not sound like a big deal, but let me ask, when was the last time you opened up your laptop and gave it a good cleaning? If youre like most people, probably never. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Meanwhile, in case the Max 16s RGB-lit keyboard doesnt draw enough attention, theres a new lightbar on the front of the system that pumps a ton of color. Alternatively, in a bit of company synergy, the laptop also has a built-in wireless receiver that allows it to connect to up to three different HyperX peripherals without the need for extra dongles or adapters. Its not a game changer, but definitely nice if you already own a pair of late-model Cloud headphones. Finally, in an attempt to get the most out of the Max 16s beefy hardware, HP is adding Omen AI to its Gaming Hub app. Admittedly, shoehorning AI into everything is a bit of an overdone trend, but the idea seems solid as the company says it will use machine-learning to adjust settings in order to deliver optimal performance with the touch of a single toggle. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Unfortunately, due to embargo restrictions from one of HPs hardware partners, I wasnt allowed to game on the Omen Max 16 myself. However, the company is claiming increased framerates by 25 percent or more depending on the title. Sadly, this means Ill have to reserve judgement on the system until I can get one in for more in-depth testing. But, at least on paper and from some of its clever new features, it feels like HP has an intriguing new flagship for anyone looking for big performance from a relatively portable gaming notebook. HP has yet to announce official pricing for the Omen Max 16, though it is slated to go on sale sometime later this spring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-hp-omen-max-16-is-its-most-powerful-gaming-laptop-yet-040025199.html?src=rss
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The Alienware Area-51 desktop PC, a line of high-end gaming rigs dating back to 1998, has returned after several years out of the game. The company announced the new model at CES 2025, describing the resurrected Area-51 as retaking the throne as Alienwares latest flagship gaming PC. But royalty doesnt come cheap, as its launch configuration will cost around $4,500. (Cue spit take.) The new Area-51 PC has a full-sized 80L tower with headroom for over 600W of dedicated graphics power and 280W for processing. It supports the latest NVIDIA graphics cards and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU. The rig uses a positive-pressure system with only intake fans; exhaust comes exclusively from passive airflow. That setup includes dual 140mm fans that blow air upward to the GPU, dual 180mm fans aimed laterally from the front toward the GPU, CPU and RAM and dual or triple 120mm fans pulling air in from the top for liquid cooling configurations. The greater internal pressure passively forces heated air out of the back. Alienware says the new airflow system (in a build using the GeForce RTX 4090 and an Intel Core i9K processor) moves 25 percent more air, runs 13 percent cooler and is 45 percent quieter than the two previous Alienware Aurora desktops. The company says that leads to 50 percent more processing power. Alienware You can open its chassis by unlocking a knob on the back of the tower. Alienware says theres plenty of room to fit your hands and move upgrade parts in and out. Inside are QR codes linking to instructional videos, which likely do little more than save you a few seconds of searching YouTube. The collection includes guides on swapping out the RAM, GPU, SSD, and power supply, as well as maintenance issues like cleaning its fans and three removable / cleanable filters. The Area-51 rig supports up to 64GB DDR5 XMP (2x 32GB) RAM at 6400 MT/s, 8TB of storage, and liquid cooling in 240mm and 360mm configurations (with a DIY upgrade path to 420mm). Configurations use a 1500W Platinum Rated ATX12VO or an 850W Gold Rated ATX12VO power supply. Shaun Lucas / Alienware The launch configuration, including a next-gen NVIDIA GPU, will cost around $4,500 when it arrives later in Q1 2025. Other builds will follow later, including a (unspecified) cheaper entry-level option.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/alienware-resurrects-its-area-51-desktop-pc-040024043.html?src=rss
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Acer just announced a trio of new Predator gaming laptops at CES 2025 that are packed with high-end specs. They arrive with different price points and feature sets, but all of them include NVIDIA RTX-50 series GPUs. The baddest of the bunch is the Predator Helios 18 AI. As indicated by the name, this laptop features an impressive 18-inch 4K Mini LED display. The refresh rate can typically go up to 120Hz, but a new dual-mode display feature lets users switch to FHD resolution at 240Hz. The brightness metrics are decent, at up to 1000 nits. Acer The Helios 18 AI is available with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and up to the NVIDIA GeForce 5090 GPU. It also includes a dedicated NPU for AI tasks, which allows for premium graphical gaming and AI experiences. To the latter point, this laptop ships with more than 150 optimized AI apps, including many popular LLMs and image generators. Users can soup this beast up with up to 192GB of RAM and up to 6TB of PCIe storage. The cooling tools have also been improved, as the laptop feature's Acers proprietary 6th-gen AeroBlade metal fans, which boost airflow by around 20 percent when compared to plastic fans. Purchasers also get Acers swappable MagKey 4.0 keyboard. The Predator Helios 18 AI will be available in the US in May, with a starting price of $3,000. The Helios 16 AI is pretty much the same laptop as the 18 AI, with an identical cooling system, MagKey 4.0 keyboard and the same available CPU and GPU options. The display is smaller, at 16-inches, and this one is an OLED panel with a refresh rate up to 240Hz. The memory takes a hit here, with configuration options up to 64GB of RAM. Storage caps out at 4TB. The Predator Helios 16 AI will be available in the US in June, with a starting price of $2,300. Acer The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is the most budget-friendly of the bunch, while still retaining high-end features. This is a slim laptop, at just 19.9mm. It also supports CPU options up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with an integrated NPU and includes the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU. It can be outfitted with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. The laptop comes with a 16-inch OLED WQXGA screen with up to a 240Hz refresh rate, a 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut and integration with NVIDIA G-Sync. The price is where this computer really shines. It starts at just $1,700, with availability beginning in April. Acer In addition to the trio of laptops, Acer unveiled the Predator XB323QX gaming monitor. This 31.5-inch 5K IPS display boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and a 0.5ms response time. It supports NVIDIA G-Sync Pulsar, with 10-bit color depth and a 95 percent DCI-P3 color gamut. On the back, theres a DisplayPort 1.4 and a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports. It features adjustable tilt, swivel and height and comes with an integrated two-watt speaker system. Theres no pricing or availability information on this one yet. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/acers-latest-predator-gaming-laptops-include-rtx-50-series-gpus-040018258.html?src=rss
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