Gaming Laptop - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2023
Whether you play at home or on the go, a gaming laptop is a great way to take the latest games with you wherever you go. Gaming laptop specs vary widely, and not all laptops are as easy to upgrade to maintain peak performance.
To play the latest games at peak performance, you need a machine powerful enough to handle your needs. Screen size and resolution are important considerations, as is the GPU when it comes to visuals and frame rate. The CPU and RAM determine how fast the computer will run and how many tasks it can handle at once. You should also find a gaming laptop with a style that suits your tastes.
Any gaming laptop is a moderate to significant investment and should keep you gaming for years. As a result, it's important to consider every aspect of your gaming machine, so you can play your favorite games at peak performance.
It's all in the (video) Cards
Video games, especially first-person view games, rely on the computer's graphics processing unit (GPU). to display the images that are seen while playing the game. Naturally, the GPU is the most important factor for gaming on a laptop.
If you think of a GPU as a computer's video "muscles," it's easy to see why gaming laptops need a particularly strong GPU.
We recommend a minimum of 4GB of VRAM. Video cards are often measured by the chipset they use and the amount of on-board memory (VRAM) they have. For example, you might see a video card described as a "GeForce" series with 4GB of VRAM.
While shopping for gaming laptops, pay attention to both the series of chips and the VRAM, and make sure that both are suitable for the games you want to play most frequently.
Gaming Laptop CPUs
The second most important component of a gaming laptop is its central processing unit (CPU), which is responsible for keeping the computer running. It is the chip that processes all the data and executes all the commands.
While a gaming laptop's GPU is dedicated to video rendering, the CPU is responsible for everything else, from the operating system to the latest Solitaire game. It can be hard to keep up with CPU technologies because they evolve quickly, but in general, consider the following when deciding what type of processor you'll need.
Brand : Most laptop CPUs are made by Intel, although AMD's newer processors (called "Ryzen") are a favorite with gamers. Think twice before buying a gaming laptop with a non-Intel or AMD CPU. CPUs from other brands rarely perform as well.
Generation : Most CPU manufacturers release new iterations of their best chips on a regular basis, with each chip generation given a code name. For example, Intel replaced its popular "Skylake" CPUs with the "Kaby Lake" generation. When shopping for a gaming laptop, buy one with the most current CPU you can afford.
Gaming Laptop Screen Size
As with all laptops, when you're deciding what screen size is right for you, you're also deciding what size laptop is right for you, because the screen determines the machine's footprint. Since gaming laptops are notorious for displaying stunning visuals, it's especially important to choose a display that you like and that adequately displays the games you want to play.
Gaming laptops typically have three different screen sizes.
14-inch Gaming Laptops typically have lower resolutions, which can mean a lot of extra scrolling and zooming while gaming. Go for a 14-inch model if you're looking for an entry-level gaming laptop or primarily play games that are less graphics-intensive.
15-inch Gaming Laptops are by far the most common because they have screens big enough to display action-packed video games, but not so big as to be unwieldy. If you are looking for a good balance between size, power and weight, a 15-inch gaming laptop is your best option.
17-inch Gaming Laptops are as huge and cumbersome as you'd expect. Although a 17-inch screen offers an incredible gaming experience, it also consumes much more battery power than a smaller screen. Buy this size if you absolutely must see every pixel in your games and don't expect to have to carry your machine around very often.
Essential Accessories
You're going to need the right peripherals to complete your gaming experience on your laptop. Here are our favorite essentials.
- Gaming Headset :
If you play a lot of online games, you'll need a headset to chat with other gamers, and it's best to get one that sounds good without costing a fortune. Redgear Cosmo 7,1 Usb Gaming Wired Over Ear Headphones delivers, plus: they're big, they sound amazing, and they have a noise-canceling mic, so other gamers will hear your voice...more than that. Don't settle for your laptop speakers, grab this headset and fully immerse yourself in your games.
- Gaming Mouse :
If you play a lot of first-person shooters, you know that pixel precision is everything, especially when it comes to landing the perfect shot. Redragon M686 Wireless Gaming Mouse is the best of the best when it comes to gaming mice: it has LED lights, programmable buttons, and a huge 16,000 DPI sensor to track even the smallest movements. The Redragon has the potential to be a competitive advantage, so if you play to win, this is the mouse to get.
- Gaming Chair :
When it comes to marathon gaming sessions, comfort is key—which is why sitting in the right gaming chair is so important. We're big fans of Green Soul Monster Ultimate Series T Gaming Chair, because it has the basics: it's comfortable, it's easy to adjust to multiple positions and angles, and it's incredibly affordable. Save yourself some back pain and make sure you have a solid gaming chair before you fire up your gaming laptop.
Tips
Take your gaming laptop and AC adapter with you. Video games use a higher than average amount of power, and you don't want to run out of battery power in the middle of a gaming session when you're playing on the go. Most gaming laptop batteries die after two to four hours of gaming.
Research the minimum hardware required for each game you want to play. Each video game has a list of the technical requirements needed to run it. Before buying a gaming laptop, check that the model you want meets the requirements.
Choose a gaming laptop that allows you to change the battery. Gaming consumes a lot of power, so if you expect to keep your laptop for more than a few years, you should plan on changing the battery at some point. Not all gaming laptops allow users to change their own batteries, so when shopping, rule out models that don't.
While deciding which screen size is right for you, pay attention to the maximum supported resolution. For best gaming results, we recommend a minimum resolution of 1440p.
When a gaming laptop isn't powerful enough to play games, it can freeze, stutter, or crash. If you experience strange slowdowns or random crashes, consider closing all other applications while playing to dedicate all system resources to the game.
When comparing gaming laptop specs, be careful not to confuse video card memory with RAM or computer hard drive space. They are all measured in gigabytes (GB), but each has a unique purpose.
The most popular screen resolutions are often referred to by their short names. For example, 1920 x 1080 is often referred to as “FHD,” which stands for “full high definition.” 2560 x 1440 is known as “QHD” (for “quad high definition”), and 3840 x 2160 is known as “UHD” or “ultra high definition.”
Some gaming laptops are designed to allow user-specific hardware upgrades. Many manufacturers sell add-on kits so users can swap in a larger hard drive. If you think you might want to upgrade your laptop in the future, buy one that supports user updates.
FAQ
Que. How much RAM do I need in a gaming laptop?
Ans. Random Access Memory (RAM) is the memory a computer uses to store data related to active tasks. While adding more RAM won't make your computer faster, it will allow you to handle more tasks simultaneously, making for a smoother, more responsive experience. Although some low-end gaming laptops ship with 4 or 8 GB of RAM, for an optimal gaming experience, we recommend buying one with a minimum of 16 GB of RAM.
Que. Can I play virtual reality (VR) games on a gaming laptop?
Ans. Yes, you can do this with additional hardware. VR games can be installed and run from any Windows-based machine, and require special equipment such as VR headsets and handheld controllers (sold separately). Before you invest in VR gear, make sure your gaming laptop meets the technical requirements of the VR games you want to play.
Que. Does Apple make a gaming laptop?
Ans. Although many video game developers port their most popular titles to Apple's Mac OS X operating system, Apple does not have a laptop that's designed specifically for gaming. However, most of Apple's laptops have capable GPUs that can deliver an average gaming experience. If you're more than an occasional gamer, stick with Windows. Many of the most popular game titles are exclusive to PC.