Up until recently, laptops and gaming simply didn’t go hand in hand. Things have changed in the last couple of years, though, and now, it is possible to game comfortably without purchasing a bulky PC.
However, not all laptops are the same. You can read more here for some tips to help you choose the best laptop for a great gaming experience.
Graphics Chip
The graphics card shipped with your laptop is the most important part when it comes to gaming. For demanding and modern 3D games, only the best will suffice. Currently, the best chips are NVidia’s GTX 1060/1070/1080 series, which are literally desktop graphics cards stuffed into a laptop.
This is possible because of recent advances in manufacturing. The chips don’t heat as much and don’t require bulky fans and heatsinks. AMD is offering its RX 490M, which is a good contender as well.
CPU
A fast graphics card should be paired with a good CPU. Otherwise, bottlenecking is a huge risk and the GPU could end up being underutilized. The only serious choice for hard-core gaming is Intel’s I7 and i5 processors. AMD’s are simply too slow for such a purpose.
However, if you want to run less demanding games or can bear toning down the visuals, AMD has well integrated APU options, where the GPU comes together with a CPU. They are rather cheap and very functional as a mid-range option.
Other Hardware
Ensure that the laptop comes with at least 8 GB of RAM, even though 16 GB is better. DVD drive adds bulk, but may sometimes be necessary.
A good SSD hard drive ensures fast boot times and sleek operation in day-to-day tasks, while a high-capacity HDD is essential for movies and games. The laptop should have USB 3.0 support so that external drives can be connected without a large performance penalty.
Display
Generally, a 17-inch screen is the norm for gaming laptops. This is both due to the bulkiness of parts and the fact that gaming is easier on a larger screen. 1920x1080p resolution is the minimum, and some more expensive laptops come with 2560×1440 or even 4K resolutions.
Most displays are high-quality, with good color representation and little to no glare. Laptops come with HDMI connectors, and it is easy to connect a TV or an external monitor to it.
Ergonomics
Keyboards for such laptops are enhanced for a better gaming experience, with dedicated keys and backlights. They come with many customizable keys, but it is best to try a keyboard out before buying, as keyboards are largely a personal preference. Gaming laptops weigh more than regular notebooks and are not as portable – 10lbs is the norm.
Final Remarks
Good gaming laptops nowadays aren’t difficult to find. It is safe to say that we have entered an era where laptop gaming is finally possible. Such laptops are also very fast and can be used for rendering, data analysis and other, more serious, purposes. Still, such laptops do come with a hefty price tag that not everyone can afford.