We’ll admit it: we’re big fans of gaming laptops. This may come as no surprise, but we believe that a gaming laptop is well worth the investment. Gaming laptops are powerful, portable computers that can play games that formerly required a large, powerful desktop computer to play. But that is no longer the case. PC gaming has become a portable experience for many people, with gamers who haven’t touched a desktop in years fleeing to the tempting greatness of a powerful gaming laptop. A great portable gaming gear helps you forget you’re playing on a laptop, which is one of the main reasons behind this trend.
Advantages of a Gaming Laptop that makes gaming laptops worth it.
There are a few conditions that must be met before purchasing a gaming laptop. For many gamers, the advantages exceed any possible drawbacks. Here are a few reasons why we believe a gaming laptop worth it!
1. The cost
If you recall, a gaming laptop was often more expensive than its non-gaming equivalent. Then you’ve probably observed that costs have dropped in recent years while quality has risen. To play the newest games, you had to pay $1200, but now $900 buys you a gaming computer like the Lenovo Legion with an RTX 2060 graphics card. You’ll also receive useful tools like basic ray tracing.
2. Strength
One of the numerous advantages of a gaming laptop is that its performance is almost identical to that of a comparable desktop computer; benchmarks of a mobile version of the NVIDIA RTX 2080 GPU vs the desktop model reveal only minor variances. Unfortunately, to protect the gaming laptop from overheating, manufacturers prefer to underclock components. OEMs, on the other hand, have complete freedom to reduce a GPU’s clock speed as much as they choose.
3. Expensive Alternatives
When compared to other possibilities, the cost of a new gaming laptop might be very high. However, with that price tag come some great ancillary perks, like as high-resolution monitors. Except for a few low-cost versions that make compromises to save money. There’s a slew of moderately priced gaming laptops with magnificent 1920 x 1080 resolution displays, which means gaming images are shown in all their sparkling glory. If you pay a little extra, you can get 4K to play games with the stunning clarity of UHD. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are becoming more common, even more so than on desktop computers. So, what does this imply for you? When compared to a desktop machine with an MHD, the load speeds are lightning quick and the operation is nearly quiet.
4. Improved portability and construction
The major benefit of a laptop is its mobility; it provides a smaller screen than a desktop computer with a bigger screen. The usual size for any laptop, including gaming laptops, is 15 inches. 17-inch devices are ideal for delivering a desktop experience while remaining in a much more portable package. Gaming Ultrabooks, on the other hand, are a kind of gaming laptop that falls on the other end of the spectrum. They’re surprisingly light. However, since life is full of trade-offs, graphics capability tends to lag behind competitive gaming laptop categories. Prices, on the other hand, have a tendency to skyrocket like a rocket breaking orbit.
5. The ability to adapt
More than simply graphics brilliance is available with a gaming laptop. You also get a lot more features than if you went the console route (more about this later). If you’re a student, a gaming laptop is a great choice that will last you all four years of university due to the higher-rated hardware when compared to a generic notebook. If you’re a working professional, you can not just utilize your gaming laptop to unwind or relieve stress while you’re not working. However, the high-end components negate the need for a specialized business laptop; simply look at the large range of professional grade laptops for working from home, SolidWorks, Revit, 3D Modeling and Rendering, Engineering, Architecture, AutoCAD, Programming, and Data Science!
The Drawbacks of a Gaming Laptop
Obviously, we believe gaming laptops are fantastic. However, there are various reasons why you might reconsider purchasing a gaming laptop, all of which are worthwhile considerations.
1. The cost
That’s correct. The same factor that makes a gaming laptop worthwhile is also the reason why it could not be for you. Gaming laptops are often substantially more expensive than identical desktop PCs with the same hardware. Why? It has a lot to do with component miniaturization. A genuine portable gaming setup capable of running current games at high settings would typically cost between $1,200 and $1,300; the same goes for any VR-ready computer. A top-of-the-line event costs about $2,000 per person.
2. Dimensions and Weight
We also discussed how a laptop’s size and weight make it much more maneuverable than a full-fledged desktop. Choosing a 17-inch laptop, on the other hand, lowers mobility since some desktop replacement laptops may weigh up to 10 pounds! Not to mention the fact that, when compared to regular notebooks, gaming laptops are typically difficult to handle.
3. Upgrade Potential Is Limited
This is a problem, especially if you bought a cheap gaming laptop and want to update the components to something more powerful, or just to stay up with the times — Gaming laptops, although more portable, offer less upgrade possibilities than a desktop. On the whole, though, many models make it simple to upgrade components like RAM and the hard drive with a few simple screwdriver turns. But, although not impossible, upgrading graphics cards and CPUs is generally out of the question for many machines. However, what you get is typically what you get.
4. Components that are less powerful than others
Many gaming laptops, particularly if you’re on a budget, have less power than a gaming desktop. Remember how we said that component shrinking is a contributing cause to a laptop’s greater price? Because of the portable nature of gaming laptops, the hardware inside usually has underclocked CPUs and graphics cards, which may be as much as 30 to 50 percent — Max-Q built laptops, although slim in appearance, have less power than full-desktop equivalents. The Razer Blade 15 with a GTX 1070, for example, has somewhat worse graphics performance than the same card in a desktop computer. If you don’t have these gaming rigs plugged in all the time, the CPU and graphics card may not be able to work at full speed.
5. Excessive Heat
Increased heat is one of the worst enemies of any computer system. On comparison to a desktop, there is less area in a laptop for hardware to play well with each other. High-end components produce far more heat than their less powerful counterparts. Gaming computers may become so hot that they won’t fit on your lap comfortably. Exhaust vents should also be kept away from wires or anything else that may melt. However, by selecting a gaming machine with enough cooling and purchasing a low-cost cooling pad, this problem may be quickly resolved.
Is It Worth Buying Gaming Laptops for College?
Today’s gaming laptops have enough horsepower to fulfill the high-end performance requirements of today’s games. Portable gaming laptops may be as powerful as high-end desktop PCs, which is great for college students, commuters, and travelers. They can even outperform gaming consoles and certain gaming desktops.
It’s clear that it’s not only the performance that makes gaming laptops such a good option for college students; it’s also the mobility. These devices are great for everyday duties like accessing the Internet and video editing, in addition to education.
Consider the following while selecting the best gaming laptop for college:
- A 15.6-inch gaming laptop strikes the golden spot for game immersion and getting from class to class.
- A Core i7-based gaming system will be quick enough for day-to-day tasks like surfing the Internet and producing PowerPoint presentations, as well as playing AAA games (Core i5 laptops are also worth looking into).
- You’ll be able to run more programs at the same time if you have more RAM (up to a point). Choose a laptop with 8 to 16GB of RAM for gaming.
- A nice display is essential for successful gameplay. A screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 will make it simpler to view your school assignments.
- While NVIDIA G-sync technology is great to have, it isn’t essential. However, we can’t advocate spending your money on 4K just now since there isn’t much 4K material available.
- A gaming laptop with a long battery life is comparable to a sports vehicle that gets high gas economy. Even yet, as a college student, you may not always have access to power outlets. Choose a gaming laptop with at least 4-hours of unplugged battery life.
- A laptop with both an SSD and a mechanical hard drive (MHD) is great since you can put the operating system (OS), frequently used programs, and a few favorite games on the SSD for speedier loading times. Place the remaining games and data on the MHD, which offers additional storage capacity.
Is There a Difference Between a Gaming Laptop and a Console?
Remember how we stated that a gaming laptop gives you a lot of options? Did you know that a large library of modifications may dramatically extend the life of a game on a gaming laptop? On an Xbox or Playstation, give it a go.
If you associate gaming with YouTube and Twitch, you’re not alone. Or maybe you simply need some help through a particularly difficult level — online groups, such as Discord, are far simpler to reach when you’re already on a laptop than they are on a console.
The new Xbox Series X, by the way, is presently available for $499. This might be a nice choice if all you want is a gaming machine. Gaming laptops, on the other hand, include expansion connectors designed expressly for connecting to peripherals such as a larger external display or television. Incorporate into
Gaming on a Tablet
Did you know that popular games like Fortnite and PUBG can be played on a tablet? Yes, it is correct! But if you don’t care about either of those games and don’t want to play the newest and best AAA shooters, this is the game for you. To satisfy your nostalgia, there are survival simulators like Ark and a slew of vintage SNES titles.
Purchasing a Gaming Laptop: A complete A to Z guide
For gamers, it’s all or nothing: we want beautiful visuals and teeth-clenching speed. The most ridiculous and absurd weaponry may be seen in the most recent AAA games. However, you’ll need a decent gaming laptop before you can start playing. Pay attention to these variables to separate the best from the rest for the finest gaming experience.
Computer Graphics Card (GPU)
Because gaming is such a visually stimulating hobby, here is where you should invest the most of your money. By processing data and providing the signal to the display, the graphics card is responsible for presenting pictures to the display. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX GPU is found in the majority of gaming laptops.
With an RTX 2070, you’ll be able to play almost everything on high settings. The GTX 1650 and AMD RX 5500M, on the other hand, are more cost-effective solutions if you don’t often play games at the cutting edge of performance.
The advantage of a separate graphics card over an integrated GPU is that it comes with virtual memory (vRAM). Because of the dedicated RAM, you won’t experience any significant lag during your game’s most crucial moments. For comparing GPU benchmarks, Notebook Check is a fantastic resource.
8 GB of RAM is plenty for most gamers, ensuring that you won’t have any issues with the vast majority of games available. However, if you game while running many apps in the background, such as Twitch, you’ll need 12 to 16 GB of RAM. However, keep in mind that anything more is overkill when it comes to gaming. Also, don’t feel obligated to purchase the laptop with the biggest RAM since you may easily update system memory later.
NOTE: Running RAM in dual-channel mode provides more RAM bandwidth. However, it may increase the expense of future updates.
Computer processor (CPU)
Most games can be played with an Intel Core i5 processor. However, a decent gaming laptop, in our opinion, should have at least Quad-Core or more; dual-core processors aren’t capable of gaming.
AMD is excellent on the cheap, and with each successive generation, it gets closer to Intel performance. Nothing, however, compares to Intel’s top-tier products. The Core i9 is at the top of the line for gaming laptops, however the Core i7 still performs well.
Even some of the newest Core i3 CPUs may exceed AMD series APUs when it comes to gaming. However, if you’re on a tight budget, we don’t advocate investing much in this area; since newer games are more streamlined, the hyper-threading and turbo boosting capabilities that bigger CPUs provide are mostly wasted.
Storage
The storage capacity of the gaming laptop you pick will also have a significant impact on its price; the more storage capacity a laptop has, the higher its price. We usually suggest picking a gaming laptop with both a hard disk drive (7200RPM instead of 5400RPM) and a fast solid-state drive since some huge games demand as much as 20GB to 30GB of space. Not only does this storage solution save money, but it also gives you a significantly quicker gaming setup thanks to the SSD, and you can save your games on the extra MHD’s big storage space. Here’s where you may learn about the many types of SSDs.
Display size
It’s not always true that smaller is better. A 15- to 17-inch display is standard on the most popular gaming laptops. Some are considerably larger, such as the MSI GT83 Titan’s immersive 18.4-inch display. However, with a massive 21-inch screen, Acer’s crazy Predator 21 X takes the top spot.
It may seem counter-intuitive given all you’ve heard about laptops. Thinner isn’t always better when it comes to gaming laptops. That isn’t to suggest that a slim profile doesn’t have a place in the gaming industry.
An Ultrabook size laptop might be appropriate if you’re playing non-demanding games like Dota 2 or Minecraft. A thinner laptop, on the other hand, may suffer overheating and speed slow down if you want to play the largest PC series and beefier games.
To keep things cool, any excellent gaming laptop, regardless of size, can sustain a twin fan system. It’s also large enough to fit critical game-playing components like a better graphics card, additional RAM, and a complete keyboard and trackpad.
Resolution
It will also be more enjoyable to play on a larger screen. The trade-off will be a larger, more power-hungry laptop. However, since the screen size is proportional to the laptop’s entire size. More powerful components are likely to be found in a gaming laptop with a 17- or 18-inch display.
If you’re anything like us, you’ve seen a rise in 4K content from video game companies. Despite the fact that more gaming laptops are able to drive 4K screens, the technology required to support this resolution is still rather demanding. As a result, we often propose a panel with a 1920 x 1080p resolution: Full-HD. IPS (in-plane switching) technology is also found in an excellent gaming laptop.
Touchpad & Keyboard
A decent gaming laptop will also include a keyboard that has the same actuation force as a desktop computer’s mechanical keyboard; the SteelSeries keyboards on MSI laptops are an excellent example of this. On a faulty keyboard, the keys will feel mushy, making you doubt if you truly touched them. This is obviously not suitable for a gaming laptop. More gaming laptop makers are including backlighting in their keyboards. This feature isn’t critical, but it’s nice to have. It comes in handy if you ever need to game or work in the dark. Some even have RGB lights that can be changed.
Even though you’ll almost certainly be using a gaming mouse. A responsive touchpad is still essential for a good gaming experience. A decent gaming laptop’s touchpad will support two-finger scrolling, pinch-to-zoom, and all of the buttons you’ll need for those crucial stages (some touchpads can even light up in the dark).
Is the gaming laptop you’re contemplating equipped with all of the ports you’ll need?
A decent gaming laptop will at the very least feature an HDMI connector, allowing you to connect your laptop to a bigger display. Here’s a list of ports to think about while buying a gaming laptop.
Speakers
A few high-end gaming laptops come with decent speakers built in. However, for the highest sound quality, the speakers on any laptop are unlikely to suffice. You’ll need a good set of noise-cancelling headphones to fulfill your need for Michael Bay-level explosions.
Life of the Batteries
It’s not always simple to charge your laptop when you’re on the go. Gaming laptops aren’t renowned for their battery life when they’re not plugged in. With all the settings cranked up, even a laptop with a larger battery can die after barely an hour. Consider acquiring a rechargeable battery pack for your gaming laptop to enjoy some more playing time without the need for a power outlet.
Brand
Any gaming laptop brand, like every other laptop brand, has its own niche in the market. To put it another way, each gaming laptop manufacturer has something unique to offer in the gaming market. For example, Acer’s Predator line creates some fairly distinctive premium gaming laptops. MSI is known for producing some of the greatest high-end gaming laptops on the market. Look no farther than Razer’s Blade and Stealth series if you’re searching for a tiny laptop that can also serve as a business notebook.
Last Thoughts on “Are gaming laptops worth it?”
Gaming laptop technology is advancing at a breakneck pace. In the end, gaming laptops, like Floyd Mayweather or Mahammad Ali, outperform every other gaming platform in terms of FPS. Bulky, costly rigs still rule the roost at the upper end. However, if spending $1500 on a portable gaming PC makes you question whether your money would be better spent on a desktop and a lightweight laptop, you’re not alone. Because of Max-capabilities, Q’s steadfast efforts are continuously balancing power and a stealthy form factor to better serve mid-range gaming. Is a gaming laptop the best option for you? There’s just one option for us: gaming laptops!
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