You may have considered getting a robust rig for your gaming needs. But if you want something sleek, then a laptop would do just as well. The good thing about a gaming laptop is that you can carry virtually anywhere. And they go for well less than most of the gaming consoles out there. You can get even the best gaming laptop under 500 with the desired performance.
If that sounds more like what you are after, then read on to find out how to choose a gaming laptop. Some of the most important things to go for include the processor and the GPU. You also need to consider the display, as well as the size and speed. Enhancing your gaming immersion doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Here are several crucial aspects that you will find worth considering.
Crucial aspects of Gaming Laptop
The processor
One of the underlying determiners of a gaming laptop’s performance is the processor. This feature makes all the difference when it comes to the speed and reliability of your machine. While most people concentrate on the GPU, the CPU is as important too. To make the most out of your CPU, here are some of the things to keep in mind. The first thing to avoid is any CPU with a suffix like “T” or “U”. These ones can deliver low performance since they are built with consideration for battery life. With poor performance comes an unimpressive gaming experience.
The model you go for also matters. Make sure not to go for anything in less of Core i7. In essence, the CPU should have at least four physical cores for more bang than dual-core processors. Another thing to remember is that those promises of a “Turbo Boost” are not the real deal. Unlike PCs, laptops usually heat up fast, which sees the CPU to run at base clocks. Don’t be fooled by these promises of a high clock speed when looking for the right CPU.
The GPU
With the CPU sorted, the next crucial aspect to look into is the Graphics Processing Unit or GPU. You will have a difficult decision here too. But the market has an array of options, with the Nvidia GeForce and AMD. Getting a good GPU means, you will be able to play at high settings, no problem at all. If you are not into the top settings, then consider a GTX 1050 for most of the games.
For higher power, go for the GTX 1050 Ti. AMD also offers some impressive GPUs that you can count on for an exciting performance. The only problem with GPU is that you cannot upgrade in laptops. So it’s best to get a great one that packs in some punch.
You’ll need memory, lots of it
Gaming or no gaming, one of the most crucial aspects of a computer is the memory. This becomes more essential for gaming due to the need for speed. Gaming is usually a RAM intensive affair. As such, you might need to consider getting higher RAM for the best outcome.
In most cases, 8 GB is always recommended for tackling average tasks. However, if you are turning up the heat, then consider upgrading your memory to about 16GB. Fortunately, most of the gaming laptops out there will come with either of these memory types. In addition, you will need to consider other storage options as the SSD or the HDD.
Some of these laptops feature a hard disk drive with 1TB storage capacity. Others will have the additional SSD, which is relatively small, roughly 128GB. Nevertheless, the SSD comes in handy as the boot drive. However, if you can upgrade the SSD, you can get shorter loading time, although you will need to dig deeper into your pocket. Luckily, you can always upgrade both the memory and storage to get the desired performance for your needs.
How big, how heavy?
The size of a laptop will most likely increase with the increase in its performance. The increase in is essential for allowing room for the machine to breathe. If you want a semi-permanently positioned laptop, then a big one will be ideal or if you want the best laptop for trade thus core i5 will be a choice. On the downside, if you mind about lugging with your device, then this can be a challenge. Unfortunately, going for the small size might mean settling for less, since this will likely compromise its performance.
The screen and display
Another thing we cannot leave out is the display of the device. The screen is what connects you to the laptop, and puts you on the frontline. Virtually any gamer would want a larger and high-resolution screen. But when it comes to laptops, there’s a problem with this aspect. Unfortunately, these devices don’t have the power to play games at 2K, 4K, or full-HD resolution. It seems like the bigger is not always better when it comes to these laptops. So you can consider getting a screen that matches what your hardware can deliver instead of paying more.
How good is the battery?
With the robust hardware comes the need for more power. Hence, if your laptop’s battery isn’t up to the challenge, you are out of the game. Hence, we can’t wind up our tips on how to choose a gaming laptop without looking into this crucial feature. Most of these laptops will give you about two to six hours of battery life. While this depends on the tasks you are running on the laptop, playing games always suck up more power. If you are concerned much about your laptop’s battery life, then a gaming one might not be the right category for you.
Does it heat up fast?
Heating up is inevitable in laptops; actually, any PC is bound to heat up at any moment. The powerful hardware and top performance can be things to reckon with. But these could come at a terrible price. Some laptops will heat up pretty fast when you run programs that take a toll on the GPU or CPU.
With the high heat, the hardware performance drops drastically to prevent damaging the respective components. No gamer wants to run into those stuttering, reducing frame rates during a gaming session. The only unfortunate thing is that finding out about this problem beforehand can be virtually impossible. The best you can do is check out reviews before putting your money on the line.
When trying to understand how to choose a gaming laptop, you can always look into many aspects. All these are essential to keep in mind. Besides, you will need to consider other ones that might be less important but still count. Things like the keyboard, fingerprint scanners, and audio features are also worth considering. It all comes down to ensuring you get a laptop you can count on for the impressive gaming experience. So remember to check out everything that matters before hitting that buy button.
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