HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop GT22 upgrade guide

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Memory (RAM)

The GT22 has four DIMM slots, all socketed, with no memory soldered to the board. The type of memory depends entirely on your SKU: GT22-0xxx boards take DDR4, while GT22-1xxx and GT22-3xxx boards take DDR5. A DDR4 kit will not fit a DDR5 board and vice versa, so confirm the full product number (for example GT22-0074no or GT22-3002ne) before you order.

Each slot accepts non-ECC, unbuffered UDIMM modules in 8 GB, 16 GB or 32 GB sizes. With 32 GB modules in all four slots you reach the supported maximum of 128 GB, and you will need a 64-bit version of Windows to use it. HP notes that 32-bit systems cannot address even a full 4 GB, so a 32-bit install is effectively capped at around 4 GB. ECC and registered memory are not supported anywhere in the GT22 specifications.

Rated speeds depend on the processor in your machine. On DDR4 boards, DDR4-3733 is the supported maximum with a 125 W K-series CPU, dropping to DDR4-3467 or lower with 65 W chips, and DDR4-3200 on select models. On DDR5 boards, DDR5-5200 is the supported maximum with a 125 W K-series CPU, with lower DDR5 bins on other configurations. HP does ship XMP RGB kits in factory builds (including HyperX DDR4-3733 and Kingston FURY DDR5-5600), but remember that faster-than-supported figures are XMP profiles: they may need to be re-enabled after a BIOS reset or a CPU swap.

One warning about spec sheets: if you see '24 GB, 384-bit, GDDR6X' in HP's documentation, that is the graphics card's frame buffer, not system memory.

Buying tips: buy the memory type your SKU suffix calls for, choose non-ECC unbuffered UDIMMs, and match the rated speed to your CPU rather than paying for speed the machine will fall back from.

Buying tips

• Confirm DDR4 vs DDR5 from the SKU suffix first — the modules are not interchangeable
• Non-ECC unbuffered UDIMM only; 8/16/32 GB modules, 128 GB maximum total
• Match speed to your CPU: full DDR4-3733 or DDR5-5200 needs a 125 W K-series chip

Storage (SSD and hard drive)

For fast storage there are two M.2 sockets. Both are key-M, type 2280, PCIe Gen4 x4 and take NVMe SSDs. A third M.2 slot (2230, key A) is for the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card only and cannot be used for an SSD. No other M.2 lengths (2242, 2260, 22110) are documented for these sockets.

For bulk storage, one 3.5-inch SATA hard drive bay is standard — many units ship with a 2 TB 7200 RPM drive in it. HP's spec tables also carry a 'Hard drive (2nd)' field and the service documentation has separate solid-state drive and hard drive replacement procedures, which suggests a second 3.5-inch bay or bracket exists. However, the bracket and cabling vary by region and configuration, and no per-bay capacity limit is published, so check inside your own tower before buying a second hard drive.

Some GT22 SKUs ship a PCIe Gen3 drive in one of the Gen4 M.2 slots, so a Gen4 2280 NVMe SSD is a worthwhile upgrade even if your machine already has an SSD. If you run out of M.2 slots, the board also provides a PCIe 3.0 x4 add-in-card slot that can host a storage expansion card. There is no memory card reader, and the SSD sockets are PCIe/NVMe rather than SATA M.2. HP publishes no overall maximum storage capacity for the machine.

A note on the name: the 'Cryo Chamber' is the top-mounted 360 mm liquid-cooler housing. It is not a storage bay or expansion feature.

Buying tips: stick to M.2 2280 NVMe Gen4 drives for the two SSD sockets, and verify the second hard drive bracket is physically present before ordering a 3.5-inch drive.

Buying tips

• Buy M.2 2280 NVMe Gen4 SSDs — that is the only SSD form factor these slots accept
• The 2230 M.2 slot is Wi-Fi only, not an SSD slot
• Check your tower for the second 3.5-inch bracket/cables before buying a second hard drive

Processor (CPU)

The processor sits in a socketed Intel LGA1700 socket, so it can be replaced — one of the nicer features of this tower. HP's spec page labels the socket 'LGA 1200', but that is a documentation error: the 12th-Gen Alder Lake Core i7-12700K and Z690 platform use LGA1700, and LGA1200 boards do not support this CPU. Because the sources disagree, verify the socket physically before ordering a processor or a cooler.

What you can upgrade to depends on your generation. GT22-0xxx boards (DDR4, Z690) are 12th-Gen Alder Lake systems; GT22-1xxx and GT22-3xxx boards (DDR5) are 13th/14th-Gen Raptor Lake systems. HP publishes no cross-generation CPU upgrade list, so BIOS and power-delivery support for chips beyond the family your SKU shipped with is not assured. Treat the safe upgrade pool as 'whatever HP offered in your SKU's generation'.

On power, 125 W K-series chips are the top tier in HP's own memory-speed tables (the tier that unlocks DDR4-3733 and DDR5-5200), which implies 125 W is the supported maximum for the platform. The 360 mm Cryo Chamber all-in-one liquid cooler is sized for these K-series parts, so you have decent cooling headroom out of the box. If you swap the CPU, remember that memory speed is tied to the chip: moving from a K-series to a 65 W part can drop your RAM to DDR4-3467 or lower DDR5 bins, and XMP profiles may need re-enabling afterwards.

Buying tips: confirm the socket by looking at it, stay within your generation of Core chips, and keep the 125 W ceiling in mind when choosing a part.

Buying tips

• Expect LGA1700 despite HP's 'LGA 1200' text — verify the socket yourself
• Stay within your SKU's CPU generation; cross-generation upgrades are not guaranteed
• 125 W is the supported maximum; the 360 mm Cryo Chamber cooler is designed for these chips

How to upgrade

Before you start

• Back up your data before any hardware change.
• Shut down the computer, switch off the power supply and unplug the power cable and all peripherals.
• Ground yourself to avoid static damage — touch the metal chassis or use an anti-static wrist strap.
• Open the case following the owner's manual for your exact GT22 model; HP's service documentation separates the solid-state drive and hard drive replacement procedures, but fasteners and panels vary, so the manual is the reliable reference.
• Install the new part, taking care with memory module alignment and M.2 screw retention.
• Close the case, reconnect the power and cables, and start the machine.
• Check that the BIOS/firmware sees the new part at the expected size and speed. For RAM, re-enable XMP if your kit relies on it. If anything is not detected, reseat the component and re-check the BIOS.
• Afterwards, install or update drivers and your 64-bit operating system as needed, especially if you have gone beyond 4 GB of memory.

Good to know

• Always confirm your SKU suffix before ordering memory — DDR4 and DDR5 GT22 boards are not interchangeable.
• HP's processor-socket field says 'LGA 1200', which conflicts with the 12th-Gen hardware in the machine; verify the socket yourself before buying a CPU or cooler.
• Documents suggest a second 3.5-inch drive bay exists, but the bracket and cabling vary and no per-bay capacity limit is published.
• Memory speeds above the CPU-matched figure are XMP profiles and may need re-enabling after a BIOS reset or CPU swap.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the HP OMEN 45L GT22 take?

Up to 128 GB, using four 32 GB non-ECC unbuffered UDIMMs. You need a 64-bit operating system to address the full amount; 32-bit Windows is limited to roughly 4 GB.

Does the OMEN 45L GT22 use DDR4 or DDR5?

It depends on the SKU. GT22-0xxx models use DDR4, while GT22-1xxx and GT22-3xxx models use DDR5. The two types are not interchangeable, so check the full product number on your unit before buying memory.

How many SSDs can I install in the OMEN 45L GT22?

Two NVMe SSDs, in the two M.2 2280 key-M sockets (PCIe Gen4 x4). The third M.2 slot (2230, key A) is reserved for the Wi-Fi card and cannot take an SSD. Beyond that, you have 3.5-inch SATA bay(s) and a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot for an expansion card.

Can I upgrade the CPU in the OMEN 45L GT22?

Yes. The processor is socketed (Intel LGA1700) and replaceable, with a supported maximum of 125 W. In practice, stay within your SKU's generation: 12th-Gen Core on GT22-0xxx boards, 13th/14th-Gen Core on the DDR5 boards. HP does not publish a cross-generation upgrade list, so support for chips outside your factory family is not guaranteed.

Does the OMEN 45L GT22 support ECC memory?

No. The GT22 specifications list only non-ECC, unbuffered UDIMMs. ECC and registered memory are not supported.

Is the Cryo Chamber an expansion bay?

No. The Cryo Chamber is the top-mounted 360 mm liquid-cooler housing. It provides cooling for the CPU but is not a storage or expansion feature.

Official documents and references

• HP OMEN 45L GT22 specifications — memory, storage, CPU and slot details
  HP support document
• HP OMEN 45L DDR5-era specifications (memory module sizes and speeds)
  HP support document
• HP OMEN 45L memory module information (DDR4 8 GB / 16 GB modules)
  HP support document
• HP OMEN 45L specifications — DDR4 speed tables by CPU power tier
  HP support document
• HP OMEN 45L product specifications (M.2 slot summary, DDR5 configurations)
  HP product page
• HP OMEN 45L product specifications (2nd hard drive field)
  HP product page
• HP OMEN 45L GT22-0000i service documentation (SSD and hard drive replacement procedures)
  Manuals mirror