HP's Omen Mindframe and Omen Obelisk bring special features to PC gaming

HP used Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, to unveil two unusual pieces of gaming hardware on Monday. The Omen Mindframe gaming headset offers a first: in-ear cooling for sweaty noggins. The Omen Obelisk desktop PCs offer a first among big PC vendors: tempered glass. We'll tell you why both are special.

HP Omen Mindframe: Literally cool

The Omen Mindframe gaming headset, unveiled in May, is the first to integrate Peltier or thermal electric cooling (TEC) in to a headset. The big idea is the TEC's lowered temps will prevent your ears from getting sweaty. Even the fabric on the headset cups is designed to be extra-comfortable.

HP finally unveiled the price: The Omen Mindframe will sell for $200. While that's not as pricey as the upper end of the spectrum, such as $329 for the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, it's a far cry from our favorite pick: the HyperX Cloud Alpha.

Let's face it, if no gaming headset works for you because you have Sweaty Ear Syndrome, this may be the only answer. HP said it has sweetened the pot with active noise cancellation as well. The headset is due to ship in October.

HP Omen Obelisk: Tempered glass is a first

HP's other big announcement is the redesigned OMEN Obelisk desktop, expected to ship in September. Touting RGB lighting and industry-standard components (rather than proprietary), the other feature of the OMEN that's quite unusual for a large PC OEM is the window.

Case windows have been around for almost 20 years on DIY gaming rigs and boutqiue builds, but they're rarely used by big PC makers. That's because big PC makers must also pass FCC regulations, which test for radio frequency pollution. While metal cases reduce the RF emissions, glass and plastic let it pass straight through. To address the regulations, HP coats the tempered glass window to help it contain the RF inside the PC.

HP has four Obelisks in its offerings:

HP said all are air-cooled, but the case is actually designed to allow for aftermarket CLC coolers.