When it comes to purchasing a gaming laptop, starting the search might be overwhelming. “What important specs for a gaming laptop?” you may ask yourself.
Luckily, we’re here to help! We know the process can be hard if you are new in the field.
A lot of people think they need all sorts of features when they really just want a gaming laptop. But with so many options out there – some inexpensive Some expensive-more than you may ever use–it’s hard to fathom what specs are necessary to give you the best experience.
Good news is that there are really only a few specs that matter! In this article, we’ll explore the most important factors to consider when buying a gaming laptop.
Read About: Is gaming laptop worth it?
Table of Contents
Most Important Specs For a Gaming Laptop
Here’s a quick rundown of the most important specs.
- GPU:
- CPU:
- VRAM:
- RAM:
- FPS:
- HDD:
- SSD:
- Battery life:
- Display:
- Keyboard:
If you want to get the most out of your gaming laptop, it’s important that not only do they have great performance scores but also a low price tag. There are plenty of opportunities for savings when shopping around so don’t be afraid!
GPU: Graphics Processing Unit
A GPU is the most important specs for a gaming laptop because it is what will do the rendering of your games and other PC programs.
Great specs mean you can play more demanding games at higher resolutions and with more texture packs.
AMD and NVIDIA are the primary corporations that make GPUs. Both companies provide high-quality graphics cards.
The ideal gaming laptop has a discrete GPU so you can game at top performance. However, integrated graphics have improved over the past 10 years and are an excellent choice for casual use such as homework help or browsing internet while streaming videos these days!
There are a lot of alternatives, so we’ve gathered performance ratings from over a dozen different GPUs and laptops to help you choose.
Read also: Upgrade laptop graphics card
High-End Vs Mid-Range Laptop GPU Comparison
Considering a good GPU is fun play. One of the most important specs for a gaming laptop.
The price range between high-end graphics cards laptops and mid-range graphics cards laptops is significant. High-end laptops start at around $2,500 or above while mid-range are typically less than $1,500.
Read this article: How much does a gaming laptop cost?
CPU:
CPU is another very important spec for a gaming laptop. The CPU is what processes all the data from your games and other programs, which means it needs to have enough power to run everything smoothly.
A higher-end CPU will be able to handle more complex projects at a higher speed. So if you’re frequently rendering videos and editing large spreadsheets for work, a CPU with a higher clock speed and more cores will be beneficial.
If you’re just planning to do some light browsing or stream video games then an integrated CPU is enough.
AMD Vs Intel CPU Gaming Performance
RAM:
Although taking into account the fact that most video games are stored on the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), they still have a lot of RAM. Taking this into consideration, 8GB is what we recommend for even average productivity activities. If possible, aim for 16GB on a gaming laptop. A GTX 1650 or GTX 1660 Ti is commonly equipped with 8GB on a laptop. Some laptops with the GeForce 2060 or greater will come with 16 GB of RAM.
However, if you are looking for a budget solution you might need to make do with 8GB.
VRAM: (Video Card)
VRAM is the memory that is dedicated to video functions. This means it provides a little extra juice to your GPU, since it is more powerful. So if you have a more advanced GPU that requires 2 or 3GB of VRAM, then it’s worth looking into an advanced model with a more powerful GPU.
The more VRAM you have, generally speaking; the smoother everything looks, especially when playing at higher resolutions such as 1440p or 4k where details can be distinguishable only if they’re really close together on screen. If budget allows for it then I recommend getting one that has 6GB.
FPS: Frames Per Second
FPS is how smooth your game runs. The higher the frame rate, the better your games will look and run overall.
Most laptops with RTX 2070 or 3050 Ti graphics cards will have a decent FPS in most AAA title games.
The game will look better at higher resolutions, but players want the most immersive experience possible. For competitive gamers, 1440P or 4k display is ideal because it provides a seamless frame rate and rock solid response time that can’t be found in lower pixel-dense screens.
HDD + SSD:
This is where you store all your games, music, movies and various other stuff. The more the better!
The higher quality of HDD or SSD that you get means faster loading times while gaming, which will let you get into the game faster while minimizing repetitive actions.
SSD storage is far superior than HDD. As a general number, I would aim for 1TB HDD or 512GB SSD, which is enough storage space for all your important files and games.
Battery Life:
I know what you’re thinking, but let us assure you that having a battery lifespan of an hour or two is not practical when it comes to gaming laptops.
It’s important to know that, on most instances, a gaming laptop battery can only last for about 2-3 hours when playing games. More expensive models also drain quickly if you’re playing hardware demanding titles like Rise of the Tomb Raider or Call Of Duty : Black Ops 4.
If you’re okay with keeping your laptop plugged in while playing games, then this spec doesn’t matter as much.
If possible, get one with at least 6 hours on the battery life while playing video games in the best settings without charging it. Sometimes manufacturers will advertise hours of battery life, but what you really need to consider is how long a single charge will last if you’re using it for your regular activities while playing games at the same time.
More: How long do gaming laptops last?
Display:
Laptop displays have come a long way over the years. And nowadays laptops can either have an IPS display or a TN panel.
IPS stands for In-Plane Switching, and this is where you get far superior color accuracy and viewing angles.
TN stands for Twisted Nematic, and this type of panel is the one found on cheaper laptops. Quality displays usually cost a lot more than others so you might want to invest in a good one if you’re planning on getting a gaming laptop.
The specs to consider when buying a display are the resolution, refresh rate, response time, and aspect ratio (16:9, 16:10, etc.).
Keyboard:
The gaming laptop keyboard spec will vary from one model to another. There are a couple of points you should consider when selecting keyboard specs that will matter to you.
First, try to find a laptop that has at least six-seven mechanical keys on the keyboard since this will offer you more control while gaming. Mechanical keys are generally for gamers who have time to master the way they play games which is great if you’re looking for an edge over other players in online games like Call Of Duty or Counter Strike.
Some keyboards offer low travel distance keys, which are ideal for gamers who want a slight feel when they tap on their keys. Other specs include RGB lighting, multi-color backlighting, and anti-ghosting.
Key specs like RGB lighting, multi-color backlighting, and anti-ghosting sound great in marketing terms, but they don’t play a huge role in helping you win games.
How to Save Money on a Gaming Laptop?
By Buying Pre-Owned
First, you need to consider the specs and features of the laptop you want to buy new. Then check if those specs are available in 2nd hand laptops as well so that you can save money on a new gaming laptop.
The only specs you should avoid when buying used laptops are built-in battery, touch screen, and built-in webcam since they can easily be damaged.
If you can find specs like CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, HDD, WiFi adapter that match the specs of your desired laptop then go for it! You might save hundreds or even thousands buying used than new.
Buy Low Specification and Upgrade Yourself
This option is ideal for gamers who have a lot of money to spare or have a generous budget when buying gaming laptops.
In this strategy, you buy the cheapest laptop of the specs required and upgrade them on your own. This way you can save more than $500-700 since most of the specs that are essential for games aren’t included in the budget laptops.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about gaming laptops. Many people don’t know that you can upgrade your specifications manually, and some even think they’re only good for playing games on low settings!
A great way around the problem is by investing in an affordable model with lower specs then upgrading them yourself later. Buying individual components like RAM or SSDs will save money while giving future-proofing features so you never run into problems down the line.
To accomplish the same, all you need is a screwdriver and some computer-savvy know-how. If you’re unsure about it, you can simply ask someone to do it for you.
Market Research and Examining Laptop Ads
Finally, another great way to save money on a laptop is by doing your research. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, the first option that comes across should not be your only consideration.
Before investing in anything else, it is recommended that you scout out all other available options within your budget range and see what makes them so special.
You’ll likely spend more time shopping around than actually deciding on which computer will work best with whatever needs or desires have captured your attention.
Don’t let any single choice made today become tomorrow’s regret!
Conclusion
To wrap it up, specs like CPU, GPU, RAM, HDD/SSD specs are important specs for a gaming laptop. You need to check the specs of your desired laptop and see if an affordable model with lower specs is available so that you can save money on buying new ones.
Every spec has its own importance so before you buy a new one, define your specs and see if it matches what is available in the market.
If specs required for games are available in 2nd hand laptops then consider buying used rather than buying a new one.