A laptop must possess key specifications to be considered suitable for gaming. These components include a powerful GPU, an excellent GPU, and enough RAM to support high-end games. In addition, you will want ample storage space and a clear HD screen resolution. All these specs combine to form the ultimate gaming machine.
When purchasing new gaming laptops, it’s crucial to do your research and compare different models. Remember that laptop features differ vastly based on the price range. Some gaming laptops deliver a better performance than others, but they may be out of your budget. However, that doesn’t mean you must purchase a high-end laptop for gaming. Some mid-range devices can run programs smoothly and satisfy your gaming needs.
Use this guide to figure out if a laptop is good for gaming.
CPU
The CPU is the processor, like the brain of the laptop. The more powerful the processor, the better games will run. A lot of games are incredibly demanding of the CPU. You need a high-end CPU to manage the most popular games.
A minimum of an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 is the ideal processor. Alternatively, you want a minimum of an AMD Ryzen 5. Anything less than this, and you may not have the specs to run the games you want. CPUs are also not upgradeable, so this is a spec you must get right when buying the laptop.
The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 is one of the best gaming laptops with immense processing power. It supports up to the 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, empowering fast gaming speeds and robust performances. In addition, it includes up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU to support excellent visuals. With these stellar specs, the ROG Strix SCAR 16 makes a great laptop for intense gaming sessions.
GPU
The GPU, the graphics card, is the component that renders the video game’s graphics. A low-quality graphics card could mean the game stutters. Likewise, the frame rate will be low, and some games may not even be able to run. The best graphics cards are the NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon series. You may want to research what graphics cards work best for the type of games you play.
If you seek a gaming laptop with an excellent CPU and GPU, consider the ASUS ROG Flow X13. This powerful device is optimal for serious gamers. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and up to 32GB of LPDDR5 memory, the laptop provides the power and speed to operate high-end games. In addition, it supports up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which can render visuals smoothly. This laptop brings a new level of realism to your gaming experience.
RAM
A gaming laptop should have at least 8GB of RAM, if not 16GB or higher. RAM allows your laptop to run multiple tasks without slowing down its performance. This component is crucial since gaming is very RAM-intensive. Although some laptops are upgradable, your best option is to purchase a unit with lots of built-in RAM.
Keyboard
You’ll spend hundreds of hours on your laptop keyboard as you game. You don’t want it to be mushy or feel stiff to operate. The keyboard should feel easy to glide your fingers over comfortably. Most gaming laptop keyboards are also backlit, which can be extremely helpful during late evenings. Backlit keyboards are also ideal for overnight sessions when you may otherwise have difficulty seeing the keys.
Display Quality
Full HD, or 1920×1080 resolution, is your minimum for a gaming laptop. A gamer wants to see their game’s graphics in optimal light, and Full HD will get you there without straining a laptop’s resources. You can go higher with a 4K or 1440p resolution. However, a higher resolution requires more powerful hardware to run smoothly. A 4K screen will be slower without showing much difference from a Full HD display.
Storage
A solid-state drive, or SSD, has faster load times and transfer speeds. It is also more power-efficient than a traditional hard drive. SSDs are more expensive than traditional hard drives, but they are worth the cost if you want the best gaming experience possible. If you don’t have an SSD, look at your hard drive and see its speed. Most hard drives run at 5,200-5,400 RPMs. However, a 7,200 RPM hard drive will deliver better performance.
Another critical factor is how much laptop storage you have. Some games require gigabytes of space. Having an SSD with 1 TB of storage or more is best. A 500 GB hard drive or 250 GB hard drive will not be sufficient to run games. A hard drive running low on space will take more resources to multitask, increasing the chance of problems when gaming.