Buying a good gaming laptop can be a big decision, and there are many things to consider. This blog post will guide you through the specs and help you find the best gaming laptop.
Selecting a new gaming laptop can feel overwhelming at first. There are numerous aspects to consider, such as the screen quality, design, battery performance, and the hardware that drives the performance. Since upgrading the hardware in a gaming laptop is often not a practical option, it’s essential to think ahead about how you intend to use your device. Identifying and prioritising the specifications that matter most to you is an excellent initial approach. As for the specifications, the minimum requirements for a gaming laptop increase every year. This may cause confusion as the awareness about the requirements of the upcoming games may result in many users buying insufficient configurations.
Suppose you are a gamer who travels a lot and is looking for something very portable that can keep up with the latest demands of the titles. In that regard, we are going to explain what features and specifications you should opt for at the minimum.
What Hardware You Should Get When Buying a Gaming Laptop?
A laptop is designed with various components and parts, but not every component is responsible for the laptop’s performance. When you make a list of what parts make a difference in gaming, choosing a better machine becomes easier.
The elements influencing a laptop’s performance are housed within its chassis, typically located below the keyboard. Each laptop contains a unique motherboard design, which differs between models and supports various components and peripherals.
Key components to consider include:
- Processor (CPU)
- Graphics card (GPU)
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Standard Storage Device (SSD)
These four components directly affect a laptop’s performance, but the display, keyboard, trackpad, connectivity ports, and battery life also matter. We will dive into those areas later.
Processor
The CPU acts as the brain of your laptop. Everything or anything you see on your laptop’s screen is because this small chip with integrated circuity executes all the small and bigger processes. The processor has a major influence on all aspects of your activities, from game frame rates to application response times and even your laptop’s battery life.
While core count and clock speed are the most frequently mentioned CPU specifications, many other factors, such as its potential for overclocking, also play a role. The CPU features that are most relevant to you will depend on your laptop’s usage, so understanding the basics is necessary.
Clock speed: Clock speed refers to the number of cycles a CPU performs per second, measured in GHz. Generally, a higher clock speed indicates a faster CPU, though various other factors also significantly impact performance.
Core count: A CPU requires multiple cores to multitask, with each core acting like an individual processing unit that can work in parallel to get more done. CPUs with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology can execute multiple software threads on each hardware core. For gaming, choosing a CPU with at least four cores is recommended, whether or not it has hyperthreading. This is the minimum requirement to meet the demands of modern gaming.
CPU options: There are multiple CPU options specifically designed for almost every case, so it’s worth taking your time to select the one that best coincides with how you plan to use your system. If you’re looking for higher core counts and clock speeds, the Intel Core H processor would be the best fit. Unclocked CPUs can be optimised to squeeze additional performance out of your device.
Graphics Card
A graphics card creates the pixels that form the images on your screen, making it one of the key players in performance. Together with your CPU, it’s essential for achieving smooth frame rates and high-quality graphics in gameplay.
A powerful CPU and GPU are crucial if you want to game at 1440p or 4K. Higher resolutions display more pixels on the screen; for instance, playing a game at 4K resolution involves rendering four times as many pixels as in standard 1080p.
Aside from reviewing the specifications, you should also confirm that the GPU is from the latest generation to benefit from improved game optimisation, enhanced performance, and greater efficiency. The GPU should have a minimum of 4GB VRAM for moderately demanding games. However, the GPU should ideally come with at least 6GB VRAM or more for games with higher VRAM demands.
The VRAM requirements can vary depending on the game. Still, the GPU should be powerful enough to allow gameplay at medium settings, such as 30 to 40 frames per second, for a reasonably smooth experience.
RAM
Random Access Memory is a memory that temporarily stores data for rapid execution by your CPU. It allows a PC to run more processes simultaneously and enables a system to switch between programs more rapidly while running background applications. Regarding RAM capacity, 2-4GB RAM can be enough for browsing the internet, lightweight applications, or older games. 8GB of RAM is suitable for mid-range gaming and most work applications. For modern gaming requirements, you should never go below 16GB, no matter what game you are trying to throw at it.
In practice, a game might only need around 4GB of system RAM, but if the OS and background applications already use 2-3GB, there won’t be much left for gaming. When games don’t receive enough memory, you may experience frequent frame rate drops, leading to stuttering, and in some cases, it may even cause the game to crash.
SSD
The storage drive is another underrated yet vital component that facilitates the space for storing games and media and speeds up the processes for them. When the storage drives were primarily mechanical, the effect on games was not so noticeable in the past. Still, with the introduction of solid-state drives (SSDs), it became clear that the games would load more quickly if the storage drive had several times faster sequential read and write speed.
The M.2 NVMe SSD is currently the fastest storage drive available. It is similar in size to a system RAM module but significantly faster than 2.5-inch SSDs. When setting up games, ensure sufficient storage to accommodate multiple games, the OS, and essential applications. For any gaming laptop, we recommend at least 512GB of SSD space as a baseline, though opting for more storage will be advantageous if you want to avoid uninstalling games to make room for new ones.
Consideration for Other Hardware Components
Display
If you don’t connect a laptop to a monitor, you’ll see all your games on the built-in screen. Thus, the right display can significantly impact your gameplay, but there are many more factors to consider than just the size of the screen.
The first feature you need to look out for is the resolution of the screen. The higher the resolution, the more pixels appear on the screen, which can mean a clearer image. Newer laptops may feature 1440p or 4K screens instead of the 1080p standard, but the hardware required to power games at these resolutions will likely add cost. Secondly, a refresh rate can help the action on-screen appear smoother and easier to follow. It achieves this by redrawing the image more times per second. Many gaming laptop displays use this technology, with some featuring 120Hz or 144Hz (or even higher) refresh rates. Lastly, OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is available on some gaming laptops; these screens use pixels that produce their light rather than relying on a backlight. That means they can achieve deeper black levels and more contrast than most laptop screens, often LED-lit liquid crystal displays.
Keyboard and Trackpad
When buying the best laptop gaming, the quality of the keyboard and trackpad is essential for a seamless gaming experience. Look for a keyboard with a comfortable layout, responsive key travel, and, ideally, anti-ghosting or N-key rollover features, which allow multiple keys to be pressed simultaneously without error—necessary for fast-paced gaming.
Backlighting, especially RGB lighting, can also be valuable. It offers customisable lighting schemes and better visibility in low-light environments. The trackpad, while not typically a primary gaming tool (most gamers prefer a mouse), should still be smooth, responsive, and large enough for comfortable navigation outside of gaming.
Connectivity Options
More connectivity options mean more options for expanding your laptop’s functionality. Some brands reduce the number of ports available on laptops to achieve a smaller form factor, so keep this in mind when choosing a laptop for gaming. When considering connectivity for a gaming laptop, focus on the range and quality of ports and wireless options available. A good gaming laptop should feature multiple USB ports (preferably USB-C and USB 3.2) to accommodate high-speed data transfer and peripherals like external drives and controllers.
HDMI or DisplayPort outputs are required to connect external monitors for a more immersive gaming experience. Thunderbolt 4 support is also valuable, offering faster data transfer speeds and the option to connect high-performance external GPUs. Look for Ethernet ports if you want to enjoy stable, lag-free online gaming, but if not available, ensure the laptop supports the latest Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6 or 6E) for a reliable wireless connection.
Minimum Specifications for 1080p Gaming
Most budget and mid-range machines are 15–17-inch gaming laptops that can achieve an optimal gaming experience at 1080p resolution; certain minimum specifications should be met to ensure smooth gameplay and visual fidelity. Firstly, a powerful graphics card is essential; models such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or the AMD Radeon RX 570 are recommended as they can smoothly handle modern games at high settings. Accompanying this, a quad-core processor, like the Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, is ideal for computational power and multitasking capabilities. Additionally, a minimum of 8GB of RAM is recommended, allowing for efficient data processing and enhancing overall system performance during gaming sessions. A solid-state drive (SSD) is preferable for storage, as it reduces load times compared to traditional hard drives.
Moreover, having a display that supports at least a 60Hz refresh rate is crucial to fully appreciate the fluidity of gameplay at 1080p.
Minimum Specifications for 1440p or 4K Gaming
QHD, also known as 1440p resolution, requires more resources than it may appear. With 1.7 times the pixel count of FHD, simply choosing an entry-level GPU won’t guarantee that contemporary games will hit the 60-fps target. For 1440p gaming, a minimum of an Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is recommended. If you want to achieve 144Hz refresh rates, a more powerful setup with at least an Intel Core i7-13700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is necessary.
For 4K gaming, a minimum of an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-12600K paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is recommended for a gaming laptop. However, if you want to play 144Hz at 4K, a more powerful setup with at least an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D or Intel Core i7-13700K and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is necessary would be a sweet spot.
Conclusion
You might have had to make some compromises on the top gaming laptops in the past, but they have come a long way, improving not only the hardware but also software capabilities, battery life, and display quality.
The minimum requirements to play games on a laptop are the same as those for desktops, but it’s mostly for gaming at 1080p. When you upgrade to 1440p or 4K resolution, the laptop’s hardware, especially the GPU, begins to hinder performance because laptops have restricted space for a desktop-level GPU.
Ultimately, take the time to understand your gaming needs and prioritise the right specifications. It will pay off in the long run, ensuring your new laptop can handle current and future gaming demands.
If you want good, inexpensive gaming laptop deals in the UK, check out Box.co.uk’s vast collection.
