New and amazing technology is being developed but can be difficult to obtain – depending on budget and availability. Considering how much gaming laptops have improved over recent years, on-the-go gaming is a real option.
Often featuring the coveted high-end hardware found in desktop PCs, the performance gap between gaming laptops and PCs is being closed. Today, we’re taking a look at these laptops to see if they are worthy of AAA gaming.
Graphics: What to Look Out For
For the best gaming performance, choose a laptop with a dedicated AMD or NVIDIA graphics card. Many of the popular titles today require more than the CPU’s integrated graphics can offer. Especially if you want to game with high FPS and resolutions. These all require the higher performance garnered from a dedicated GPU.
Does a Gaming Laptop’s Performance Compare to a Desktop’s?
Since the NVIDIA RTX 30 Series laptops, yes, laptop performance can compare to a desktop. Plus, with the RTX 40 Series and now 50 Series, the high-powered gaming hardware just keeps on coming. With just a little Googling, you can find benchmarks on various tech expert websites showing that laptop GPUs are only a third less powerful than their desktop counterparts. Effectively, in a laptop, an RTX 4070 would perform at similar levels to a desktop RTX 4060.
Naturally, settings can be adjusted, and most modern games have relatively moderate system requirements. With the right settings enabled, you could happily game at 1080p with a 60Hz refresh rate on an RTX 20 Series laptop. As each generation drops, these numbers will only get better – especially as other tech is developing around GPUs, too.
Gaming Specs
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Display: Do they Work for Gaming?
Gaming at 1080p or Full HD works great on a laptop display. Often, they are designed to operate at FHD and will provide stunning resolutions. Many even boast QHD, WQHD, WQXGA, and even 4K resolutions now. Their main drawback is the fact they are so much smaller than standard monitors,though the 17.3” display is becoming more widely available, and you can even get 18” screens!
However, dedicated graphics cards provide HDMI connectivity, with certain models even supplying DisplayPort. This means that you can add a monitor to your gaming setup. If your gaming laptop doubles up for work, you can play on the external monitor but use the built-in screen for your spreadsheets and word processing. Not that we’re recommending you do them at the same time…
Will the Refresh Rate Affect My Gaming?
Generally speaking, the higher the refresh rate, the smoother the picture. For more performance-intensive games, refresh rates can be dropped to aid in the running of the application. This is not always necessary, however. Plus, 1080p at 60Hz is still beautifully clear and great for gaming. That said, gaming laptops are boasting impressive refresh rates that rival those of dedicated gaming monitors.
CPU: Which Model Do I Go For?
One of the great advantages of buying a laptop is that all of the hardware has been pre-selected. Manufacturers will only equip their products with components that work cohesively and efficiently together. Picking the right CPU for you is very much still an important factor to consider, which largely depend on what else you use the laptop for. If you require multi-threading technology for heavy workloads, then an AMD Ryzen 9 / Ryzen AI 9 or Intel Core i9 / Core Ultra 9 is the ticket. For more moderate usage, an AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 / Core Ultra 5 will be a good fit.
With a laptop, however, you can pick a machine confident that the processor will have been carefully selected and be able to provide the GPU with sufficient data. Plus, the cooling of these vital components has been incorporated into the design, ensuring high-quality performance.
Intel or AMD?
Both AMD and Intel produce CPUs that are more than capable of handling AAA titles. The brand you opt for can be entirely preference-based. Even if you are operating on a strict budget. You can rest assured that the laptop will pack the performance needed, whether you go Team Red or Team Blue.
Plus, many Intel and AMD mobile processors now include hardware designed to handle AI workflows. Instead of over-taxing your CPU or GPU, these NPUs take on the often demanding AI processes to optimise performance overall. As such, you can be rest assured that whichever brand is your preference, you’re still getting the very latest in tech advances.
RAM: Is This the Bottleneck to Worry About?
If you don’t opt for enough RAM, then this could be a potential bottleneck. To avoid this, it is advised you go for a minimum of 16GB DDR4/DDR5 RAM. Upgrading is a cornerstone of desktop PCs, and certain models of gaming laptops now provide this option too, without voiding the warranty. Always double check on the manufacturer’s website before you go buying new RAM modules and dismantling, though! Should the thought of opening up a laptop trigger anxiety, then stick to models with at least 16GB of RAM.
Or Should I Be Worried about Storage?
Memory-hungry games can affect your storage too, especially the loading times. It’s all well and good, getting a high-end graphics card if you’re only going to grind to a halt because of slow storage devices and full caches. This is another area where gaming laptops are allowing for upgrades, often with additional M.2 slots for extra drives. Alternatively, as PCIe NVMe technology becomes more accessible, there are plenty of laptops equipped with high-capacity SSDs that handle extensive libraries and boot times with ease.
Network: Should There Be a LAN Port?
Whether or not you opt for a gaming laptop with a LAN port depends on how you will be using the machine. Inherently, they are designed for portability, therefore making WiFi the more sensible choice. However, should you be using your gaming laptop as a desktop alternative or competing at LAN parties, then having a LAN port becomes a requirement. It’s all about reducing that lag!
What Connectivity Will My Laptop Have?
Currently, most laptops come equipped with WLAN modules, based on WiFi 6E (802.11ax), although we can expect to start seeing them come with WiFi 7 as that becomes more readily available.These provide more than sufficient speeds, when not over-burdened with devices. With limited space for ports, LAN connections cannot always be provided on gaming laptops. The way around this is to use a LAN USB dongle.
Battery Life: Can I Game on the Go?
Battery life numbers should always be taken with a pinch of salt. They are formulated within the best conditions to make the number sound better. This is not to say battery life is non-existent, though. Every gaming laptop should be able to give you a few hours of gaming between charges. So long as you have plenty of planned stints at a plug socket, you can game on the go. Plus, with the increasing availability of USB-C power cables, you can take full advantage of quick charging. Most models utilising this feature boast 50% charge in just 30 minutes!
Why Are Games Power Hungry?
Games require a lot of power because they demand a lot from your GPU. Whilst most CPUs are optimised for power efficiency, the task of rendering graphics is intensive and will eat into your battery.
Sound: Will it Compare?
With all the components being brought into one, portable package, there is always the worry of a dip in quality for some of the peripherals. Such as speakers. Many gaming laptops have impressive sound quality with the latest advances from DTS:X embedded into the hardware. For when you are on the move, there are 3.5mm jacks for connecting headsets as well as Bluetooth providing alternative options.
What About Other Peripherals?
The beauty of laptops is that everything is built-in and pre-selected. There will be a keyboard, a trackpad to function as your mouse, as well as all the necessary hardware for running your PC. This does not stop you from upgrading your set-up with external peripherals. Very few gaming laptops utilise mechanical switches, but they have plenty of USB ports for connecting your favourite keyboard. Even when working, it is advisable to use a mouse over the trackpad. They may be highly responsive, but their limited field of use can inhibit your workflow.
Budget-Friendly Gaming
High-end gaming doesn’t have to break your wallet either! If a PC isn’t for you or doesn’t match your budget, you can still enjoy premium performance, ultra-fast speeds, and immersive graphics with your very own gaming laptop.
Medion Erazer Crawler E50 Gaming Laptop:
| Features |
|---|
| Intel Core i5-13450H CPU |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU |
| 16GB DDR4 RAM |
| 15.6” FHD display with 144Hz refresh rate |
| 512GB SSD |
Available for £799.99*
*Prices correct at time of writing
What Conclusion Can We Draw?
At the end of this, we can say that gaming laptops do, indeed, stand up to the demands of AAA gaming. Whilst there will always be drawbacks to using a laptop, they are more than capable of running your favourite games. As always, at Overclockers UK, we will stress that the machine you game on should best suit your personal requirements. If you are someone who is often on the move or don’t have the space for a desktop, then a gaming laptop is going to serve you perfectly. We’ve picked out a couple of our favourite gaming laptops, but have plenty more should these not vibe with your needs.
ASUS ROG Strix G16 NVIDIA RTX 4060, 16GB, 16.0″ WUXGA 165Hz, Intel I7-13650HX Gaming Laptop
LT-2K6-AS
£1799.99 £ 1299.95
-27.78%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKET
MSI Crosshair 16 HX NVIDIA 4070 16GB 16 QHD+ Intel I7-14700HX Gaming Laptop
LAP-MSI-02393
£1799.99 £ 1499.99
-16.67%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
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MSI Pulse 17 NVIDIA RTX 4060 16GB 17″ QHD+ 240Hz Intel Ultra 9 185H Gaming Laptop
LAP-MSI-02280
£1799.99 £ 1499.99
-16.67%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETShould a gaming laptop not fit need your needs, we have an extensive range of gaming PCs, both pre-built and custom. Explore our full collection by clicking the button below.
Still on the Fence about Laptops?
We have plenty of articles to help you decide if a gaming laptop is the machine for you.
Are You Team Laptop or PC?
Let us know in the comments whether you are gaming laptop or PC user. Personally, I am all about that portability and all-in-one platform gaming laptops provide.
- 9 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK since 2020, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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