I'm trying to build a NAS using an HP Omen gaming PC I picked up for just $20. It has an i5 6600, and I'm adding some DDR4 memory and a new i5 7400t CPU. This CPU offers better video encoding thanks to its new GPU architecture, plus it runs cooler. Problem is, when I booted up with the 7400t, it took forever to get to the BIOS screen. It looks like I need a BIOS update, but here's the catch: HP seems to make it a real hassle unless you have the original factory partitions. I've tried running their BIOS updater in Windows 11, but I keep getting errors. Even their tool to create a bootable flash drive isn't working for me. I just want to get this new CPU running smoothly—does anyone know how I can work around this? Thanks!
3 Answers
Right? Those types of HP models are often designed to be disposable. Swapping CPUs rarely goes smoothly; it might not even be worth the effort if it’s not supported.
LOL, HP does have a ton of proprietary stuff which can make things a nightmare to upgrade. Honestly, at this point, you might as well use it for parts and look for something more upgrade-friendly!
Honestly, it seems like HP wants you to buy new hardware instead of upgrading. This kind of proprietary setup is pretty common in prebuilt systems like yours; they really don’t want you tinkering. You probably should’ve looked into this before jumping on the Omen for your NAS build, but I totally get it. It's frustrating!
Yeah, I didn't think about that when I bought it! Just wanted a simple NAS. I guess it’s too late now, huh?
That makes sense. They probably make more money from selling new machines than from upgrades. But it’s still a bummer that it’s this complicated.