The best budget gaming laptop doesn’t have to be the most expensive laptop you’ll ever own, but it should provide you with the right balance between power and portability without breaking your budget. Here are a few options that won’t break the bank while still giving you the performance and visuals you need on the go. Let’s dive in.
Finding the Right Balance Between Performance and Portability:
Finding a gaming laptop that’s powerful enough to handle today’s games, but portable enough to take with you on trips or commute with on trains isn’t easy. At some point, it may seem like there aren’t any good choices left but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, our most recent guide breaks down each and every one of your options for buying a modern gaming laptop.
Consider Your Usage:
While a gaming laptop such as Lenovo IdeaPad is fun to purchase, it’s not always fun to carry. The overall weight and size can vary quite a bit depending on what your needs are. If you plan on using your gaming laptop primarily for watching movies, reading email, or word processing then you might be more inclined to consider a smaller form factor. On the other hand, if you play games that require high-end graphics performance such as first person shooters or racing simulators then having a larger form factor may make sense.
Things to Look For in a Gaming Laptop:
Here are some key things to look for in a gaming laptop. Performance : Performance is obviously one of your biggest concerns. If you want to play all your favorite games, then you need to make sure that your system has enough RAM and processing power. A good rule of thumb is to get a laptop with at least an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM and if possible, opt for 16GB. However, bear in mind that newer laptops can easily feature processors with six or eight cores.
How Powerful Should My CPU Be?
Your choice of CPU can be a decisive factor in your gaming laptop’s performance. That’s why it pays to know what options are available and where they stand in terms of power. The top CPU options currently include: Intel Core i9-8950HK, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, Intel Xeon E3-1535M v6 and Intel Core i7-8750H. These processors will give you top-of-the line performance for all but budget gaming laptops.
How Much Storage Do I Need?
The amount of storage you need depends on what you’re doing with your laptop, as well as how much you intend to store on it. If you’re mainly going to be using your laptop for web browsing and documents, then 8GB or 16GB should suffice. However, if you want a machine capable of playing high-end PC games, 32GB might be more appropriate.
How Much RAM Is Good Enough?
If you’re serious about getting in on some competitive gaming action, a powerful processor and a strong graphics card aren’t enough to satisfy your needs. If that’s your intention and if you want to take full advantage of top-of-the-line virtual reality headsets such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive you also need plenty of memory. Where does that leave us?
What Graphics Card Should I Get?
If you want to know what graphics card you should get, it depends on two things: your budget and your games. You’ll want a high-end graphics card if you play demanding games at ultra settings but if all you do is stream Netflix, a cheaper option may be just fine. Depending on what kind of gaming laptop you’re looking for, there are several ways to determine which GPU is right for you.
How Can I Save Money on My New Gaming Laptop?
If you are worried about spending too much money on a gaming laptop, don’t be. There are plenty of ways to save cash while still buying a quality gaming laptop that will last for years. Most people just don’t know where to look or what to do, but with some simple tips, you can buy your dream laptop for less.
