Buying a gaming laptop is a big decision. There is a range of components to consider, like screen, CPU, GPU, RAM, form factor, and battery life. With many options, you might be confused about where to start. So, here is a buying guide that covers important subjects in detail.
Display
It is one of the crucial components that are directly related to your gaming experience. Besides screen size, you also need to consider the resolution and refresh rate.
Resolution – A higher resolution generally means more pixels on the screen and better clarity. High-end laptops for gaming have 4K displays. If your budget is small, it is okay to buy a gaming laptop with a 1080 p resolution.
Refresh Rate – Modern games are demanding and need a display with a higher refresh rate for a smooth gaming experience. When looking for gaming laptops, consider laptop screens with 120 Hz or 144 Hz refresh rates.
CPU
It is needless to say that the CPU is the “brain” of your laptop. It sends signals to the computer’s essential components and processes the instructions sent by the gaming software.
The choice of CPU has a significant impact on gaming experience, including frame rates, battery life, and gaming applications’ response time. Some of the CPU’s vital features are clock speed, number of cores, and the ability to overclock.
GPU
The laptop’s GPU plays a vital role in creating pixels to form images on display while gaming. The GPU works in conjunction with CPU to deliver smoother frame rates and high-resolution gameplay. Some of the key features of the GPU are the Display Refresh Rate and Resolution.
RAM
RAM is the temporary storage unit used by the CPU for rapid retrieval. Additional RAM allows the computer to run more processes simultaneously. The size of the RAM you need depends on the games you plan to play on your laptop. Here are some recommendations.
– 8GB of RAM is adequate for mid-range gaming
– 16GB of RAM allows you to run newer resource-intensive games on your laptop
Besides the capacity of the RAM, you need to consider the speed of the RAM in MHz.
Laptop Cooling
If the gaming laptop does not have an excellent cooling system, it is bound to overheat when playing. High-end laptops for gaming have meticulously engineered cooling systems.
You need to enquire about the cooling system when purchasing a laptop for gaming. The cooling system consists of fans, vents, cooling pipes, and heat sinks. You can check the laptop reviews to know the performance of the cooling system and its efficiency.
Additionally, you can consider buying a cooling pad for your gaming laptop.
Inputs
Modern games need special game controllers. If you want a theatrical experience while playing games, you would want to connect the sound system. All this can be possible if the laptop has required inputs. Some of the critical input types are 2-3 USB ports to connect gaming keyboards, controllers, and gaming mice. The laptop should also feature 3.5 mm jacks or aux ports to connect the gaming headphones, soundbar or home theatre system.
When choosing a laptop for gaming, it is not only about comparing components. You also need to consider the features and laptop gaming accessories you value the most. This will help you find a gaming machine that you were looking for.
