No wonder, building a gaming desktop that meets your needs is easy. But the process of buying a gaming laptop is challenging. You need to consider a few important things to make the right decision. It becomes important if you like to play video games with realistic graphics.
Not everyone is familiar with the right components in a laptop that can provide a good gaming experience. Keep in mind that the best laptop for gaming can be expensive. Therefore, you have to consider a few important things to make your investment worthwhile.
So, how to choose the best gaming laptop for an amazing gaming experience? Check out this gaming laptop buying guide before making the purchase.
Need to run games well? Look out for the GPU power in a gaming laptop
There is no question that the GPU determines how well a game can run on a laptop for gaming. A weak GPU, on the other hand, won’t allow you to play the latest gaming titles. However, some laptops may allow you to play those games on lower settings.
A GPU with at least 4 GB of VRAM can help you achieve a great gaming experience. Of course, there are other factors to consider. To help you get a better idea, here are the GPUs corresponding to their prices.
- Low-budget gaming laptops (between 28000 and 45000) – Have entry-level GPUs and runs a game at lower settings
- Medium budget gaming laptops (between 46000 and 75000) – Have midrange-level GPUs and run a game at medium to high settings.
- High-budget gaming laptops (between 76000 and 145000) – Have high-end GPUs to play games at maximum settings.
- Extreme budget gaming laptops (over 145000) – Have GPUs that can run games at 4K resolution with medium to high settings.
The screen size is another important component like the GPU
When it is about buying the best laptop for gaming, size matters most. However, the main consideration is choosing between the screen quality and the weight of the laptop. While you might enjoy your games in 1080p, you have to carry it around.
However, it depends on your gaming needs and mindset. Always choose a gaming laptop with more than 15-inch screen size. Or, you may choose a 17-inch screen if you want to enjoy playing games with good graphic details. Midrange GPUs can’t run 1080p games effectively. So, look out for that.
You may consider other important features such as the refresh rate and G-Sync or FreeSync Technology support. There are gaming laptops that even come with 1080p displays, 144Hz refresh rates, and G-Sync/FreeSync. Although they deliver insanely high-end graphics, they are quite expensive.
If you ask me about my thoughts on the battery life of a gaming laptop, you may get an unexpected answer. That’s because I would keep the machine plugged in until I find the battery is fully charged. However, not everyone has to follow my steps.
However, is it good to keep your laptop plugged in always? Check out our post on laptop plugged in to get the right answer.
Battery life is another important factor to consider before buying a gaming laptop. Many laptop manufacturers provide you with minimum single-charge duration. But the duration is not gaming-specific. Hence, you need to go through the reviews left by users online.
Watch out for the laptop’s other hardware such as the CPU, RAM, and storage
By now, you have learned about the GPU, display, and battery life of a great gaming laptop. So, let’s focus on other components of the laptop. These include the laptop’s CPU, RAM, and storage.
Having a fast CPU in a gaming laptop helps the GPU to use it properly. If you have a good budget, you can go for a CPU that has 6 cores. Or else, you can settle for a 4-core CPU as well. But never go for a dual-core CPU, because you won’t get a better gaming experience.
A high-clock speed CPU can produce amazing results. So, it is wise never to settle down on a CPU with a clock speed of below 3.2GHz. Most gaming laptops house a minimum of 8 GB RAM. Again, if you have a high budget, you can choose a laptop with 16 GB of RAM.
Buying a laptop for gaming with less than 8 GB of RAM won’t allow you to play the most wanted game titles. As of now, almost every high-end video games need at least 8 GB of RAM.
Regarding storage, almost every laptop has an SSD as internal storage. However, if your budget allows you to buy a laptop with the traditional HDD on it, don’t be upset. You have to manage a slow loading time and nothing else.
What about the cooling system on a gaming laptop?
Electrical equipment tends to heat up after you use them for some time. And, laptops are no different. It is easy to ensure that a desktop remains cool even after several hours of work. But laptops are compact and the components can cause issues relating to heat.
Whenever laptops get heated, the system forces the CPU and GPU to work at a slower speed. When the components work at minimal speed, the gaming performance takes a hit. Imagine a situation where you are playing a game and suddenly it stops. It takes away the excitement and makes you annoyed.
Sadly, there are not many options available in terms of cooling solutions on laptops.
Low and medium-budget gaming laptops don’t provide adequate cooling solutions. However, high-end machines come with intuitive cooling solutions. There is a way to tell whether a laptop can withstand the heating issues without hurting your gaming experience, though.
Check the reviews on specific models online to find out what users experienced. Additionally, you may look out for gaming laptops with bulkier cases. These machines have an amazing cooling system that gives you a smooth experience when gaming.
Gaming laptops are not for everyone. It is a good option for people who love to play games. They are the ones that benefit most.
- People with mobility issues – Sitting for longer hours while gaming is not a convenient thing to do always. Especially, gamers with mobility issues face the situation. But sitting on a sofa while playing games gives you the comfort you seek.
- People who have limited space – Playing games on a desktop will take up a considerable amount of space. But if you have a limited living space at your home or you share an apartment, having a desktop seems almost impossible. In that case, you need a gaming laptop. You do not have to worry about the space required to keep the monitor, cabinet, and accessories. Take the laptop anywhere and start playing your favorite games. These laptops are easy to store as well.
- Travelers or students – Sometimes, people travel between locations such as work and home, or even school frequently. For them, a gaming laptop is the best option. They can play games even if they are not confined in one place for several hours. Gamers can take their setup anywhere they want.
- Graphic designers – Graphic designing and web designing require powerful components to produce great results. So, graphic designers can use a gaming laptop to get the most out of their creative work. Check out our post on what to consider before buying a graphic designing laptop if you do not want a gaming laptop for your creative work.
Gaming Laptop Buying Guide: Is it worth buying a laptop for gaming?
If you compare the in-game performance between a gaming laptop and a desktop gaming computer, the former might be the best option. Despite this, if you like playing games anywhere anytime, and are not bothered about the budget, you can buy the best gaming laptop.
Hopefully, the considerations mentioned in this gaming laptop buying guide will help you find the best laptop to play the latest gaming titles with ease. To help you get started, we have a post on some of the best gaming laptops under 70000 INR.
Laptop for Gaming: FAQ
1. How can I improve performance on my gaming laptop?
Whenever you play games, it is wise to use the laptop with the charger plugged in. Try to keep the laptop on a suitable surface when playing games. This allows for even airflow. Close background apps that are running to avoid lags when playing games. Moreover, you have to check your network speed if you are playing games online.
2. Are all laptops perfect for gaming?
No, every laptop you find around cannot be called a gaming machine. A laptop should have a dedicated graphics processor, unlike an integrated one that almost every laptop has. Apart from that, the laptop should have a good CPU with not less than 3.0GHz speed and multiple cores. Besides, the laptop should come equipped with at least 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage space for an unmatched gaming experience.
3. What makes the laptop fast for gaming?
The graphics processing unit or the GPU is the most important component that makes the gaming laptop faster. It creates pixels that are responsible to develop images on your screen so that you can experience a transition of textures smoothly. The CPU is equally important when it comes to enjoying a high-resolution game with smoother frame rates. If you want to play a game in 1080p or even in 4K, aim for a laptop with a robust CPU and GPU.
4. Are there disadvantages to buying a gaming laptop?
As you know, running a game requires different components to perform at their best. That way, a gaming laptop will need a lot of power to give the performance you want. It means that the laptop will drain the battery quickly. Gaming laptops are expensive compared to standard laptops. This is because of the high-end components that the laptops come with. So, these laptops make it a less affordable option for some people.
5. Why are gaming laptops heavy?
Most gaming laptops that you find around are heavy because they have huge batteries, dedicated graphic cards, and large screens. Also, they have powerful cooling systems along with a sturdy case. Gaming laptops are known for their performance because of those extra components. So, gaming laptops are heavy.
6. How long will a laptop for gaming last?
If you buy a laptop that gives you the liberty to upgrade its components, it will last longer. Consider buying a laptop that you can upgrade later. Even if the initial specs of a certain laptop attract you, make sure it is upgradeable. The longevity of a gaming laptop depends on the hardware requirement that games rely on. There is no use for a laptop if you are unable to play games after a couple of years.