How To Find The Right Gaming Laptop
When shopping for a gaming laptop, there’s a lot to consider. To help you choose a system, here are five key points to keep in mind when choosing a system.
Budget: What you get for the money.
You can find good inexpensive gaming laptops for under $1,000. However, more powerful mainstream gaming laptops are often priced between $1,500-$2,000. Premium systems typically cost more than $2,000 and come stacked with a host of high-powered goodies such as high-powered specs and tricked-out software.
Screen Size: 15 inches is the go-to
It’s very rare that you’ll find a 13 or 14-inch gaming laptops nowadays as smaller bezels and lighter frames have paved the way for seriously thin-and-light gaming laptops. That means the days of chunky 15.6-inch laptops putting a strain on your back are over .
From there, you have the 17.3-inch desktop replacements that like their smaller counterparts are becoming super svelte. But there are still the big behemoths that don’t skimp on the specs. However, weighing upwards of 8 pounds, those big boys are made for your home gaming station.
Screen Resolution: 1080p for high refresh rates, 4K for detail
Refresh rate: 120Hz is the sweet spot
Intel or AMD?
Battery Life: At least 4.5 hours
Specs: 1080p / Core i5 / 16GB Are Best Bets
You can spend a lot of time delving into specs, but here are the key components to think about. If you just want really good mainstream performance, go for a Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 1080p screen.
Best Cheap 144hz Gaming Laptop
Display: 14 FHD IPS 144Hz | CPU: Intel Core i7-11375H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD | Weight: 3.75 pounds | Size: 12.7″ x 9″ x 0.70″
Acers Predator Triton 300 SE will get you up to speed. This affordable gaming laptop provides a 144Hz display panel for extra fluid gaming visuals. And, you can take those gaming visuals with you wherever you go. The Predator Triton 300 SE is as portable as it is powerful, coming in at just 3.75 pounds and measuring only 0.7 inches thick. Its design is also understated, giving it more in common with a MacBook Pro than with your usual gaming laptop.
The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE comes running on an Intel Core i7-11375H processor paired with an RTX 3060 graphics processor, making it a potent performer for 1080p gaming. And, with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, youll be able to keep a couple of your favorite games on the system and run them alongside background apps without much fuss.
Best Laptop Games: Strategy
Release: 2021 | Developer: Four Quarters | Link:Steam
This tiny strategy game was one of our early favorites in 2021. “From the moment the 16-color title screen fades in alongside dramatic chiptunes, you feel like you’re playing some forgotten, VGA-era fantasy RPG, a game that still contains some of the mystery and difficulty of 1991, but gently modernized to 2021,” Evan says in our Loop Hero review. Most importantly, all that classically-inspired goodness comes in a tiny installation that shouldn’t challenge your PC nearly as much as your strategy skills.
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Can You Use An Ultrabook As A Gaming Laptop
The term Ultrabook is a tricky one, seeing as it was essentially drawn up by Intel to suggest that any slimline machine running an Intel processor and an SSD should be considered premium. The times have changed since then, and some super cheap machines can technically slide as ultrabooks these days which means the term generally covers expensive laptops running powerful configurations with a small form factor – like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Spectre.
Unfortunately, these machines do often still ship with standard Intel graphics chips, which means they likely won’t be running the Nvidia and AMD GPUs that tend to set gaming laptops apart. An ultrabook gaming laptop can still be built – should you wish to configure an XPS 13 with an RTX graphics card, for example – but it will cost far more than the comparative spec sheet in a purpose built machine.
We’re also rounding up all the best Razer laptops and cheap gaming laptop deals if you’re looking for more savings. Or, check out all the cheap Alienware laptop deals currently on sale for some serious discounts.
You can also get prepped for upcoming Cyber Monday gaming laptop deals and Black Friday laptop deals with our handy guides to the discounts we expect to see.
How Much Should You Spend On A Gaming Laptop

Gaming systems have higher-end components than run-of-the-mill consumer laptops, so their prices consequently will be higher, but the range across the category is huge: from under a grand to $4,000 and up. Budget gaming laptops start at around $750 and can go up to about $1,250. For that, you get a system that can play games at full HD resolution with the settings turned down in most titles, or at maximum quality settings in simpler games. Storage may be a hard drive, or a modest-capacity solid-state drive . An SSD is always preferable.
Want something better? Midrange systems give you smoother gameplay at high or maximum settings on a better-quality 1080p screen , and should add support for VR headsets. These models will range in price from around $1,250 to $2,000.
High-end systems, meanwhile, should guarantee you smooth gameplay at 1080p with graphics details maxed out, often with a high-refresh screen. They even might let you play at 4K resolution, if the screen supports it. A high-end model should also be able to power a VR headset and support additional external monitors. These machines tend to come with speedy storage components such as PCI Express solid-state drives, and they are priced above $2,000, often closer to $3,000.
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Minimum Requirements For A Gaming Laptop: Vr
If you plan on immersing yourself into VR games like Skyrim VR, Superhot VR, and Star Trek: Bridge Crew then the last thing you want is a laptop that holds you back. VR gaming is both GPU and CPU intensive.
While 60 FPS is the target frame rate for monitor gaming, VR gaming is designed to display at 90 FPS for the best gaming experience. Below 90 FPS you may experience undesirable effects such as motion sickness.
The frame rate is highly dependent on the CPU and GPU/video card. Popular VR headset brands, for example, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality, and Oculus Rift all demand a capable CPU, GPU, and the right USB and HDMI ports.
For VR gaming, your gaming laptop should have at least the following minimum requirements:
Component |
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2 x USB 3.0 |
Best Rts For Pc: Starcraft Ii
Blizzard Entertainment
Why it made the cut: The Starcraft II didnt crave out the same cultural legacy as the original, but its still an epic standout among real-time strategy games.
Pros
Cons
- Deep esports roots may make it hard for new players to learn
I cant think of a game more emblematic of real-time strategy than Starcraft II. The sweeping, three-part successor to one of the original esports, Starcraft II still offers the best balance between classic RTS gameplay and modern visuals. After more than years since the first part, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, launched, the series shows its age. Still, after all this time, I cant think of a better introduction to the genre. .
More than any genre on this list, RTS needs a mouse and keyboard. From scrolling around the map to wrangling specific groups of units and setting hotkeys to swap among squads, there is a tremendously high ceiling for increasing your abilities as a player through shortcuts and macros. I cant imagine even trying to play Starcraft II with a control.
- Very complex, bordering on unapproachable
- Very long
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Q: Whats The Best Pc Co
Best is in the eye of the beholder. Portal 2 and Deep Rock Galactic are two of our recommendations, though itd probably be best to consult with your co-op pals and figure out what genre game youre interested in playing before you go out and snag a title. Other favorites include the Borderland series or Monster Hunter World. And theres always, you know, Minecraft.
Are Gaming Laptops Inferior To Desktop Gaming Computers
Gaming laptops are sometimes criticised as being inferior to traditional desktop gaming PCs, but gaming laptops are advancing at a fast rate. So theres a growing number of gamers who are moving on to laptops.
As gaming laptops are smaller, the internal components of a gaming laptop are usually slightly less advanced and more expensive than similar parts for a desktop PC. Laptops are definitely more difficult to upgrade compared to desktop PCs due to a combination of lack of component variety and limitations with space. On the plus side, gaming laptops are portable, which is a huge benefit.
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Top 10 The Best Pc To Play Games On In 2022
as of February 14, 2022 7:18 pm
Features
- Available in capacities up to 5TB that can hold up to 125 games, so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles. As used for storage capacity, one gigabyte = one billion bytes and one terabyte = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.
- Comes with an 18-inch USB Type-A to Micro-B cable with SuperSpeed interface up to 5Gbps.
- Compatible with Xbox Series XS and PlayStation 5 consoles.
- Portable form factor with sleek metal top covering that provides fast access to your growing game library
- Premium HDD with 3-year limited warranty, purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability.
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
Minimum | |
---|---|
40 GB | 40 GB |
The latest chapter in Lara Croft’s story is more visually stunning and diverse than ever. The previous game was no piece of cake when it comes to system requirements, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider continues the tradition.
Even at mediocre refresh rates, you won’t be able to enjoy this game with anything less than a GTX 1060 graphics card combined with the brainpower of something like an i7 4770K processor. Its performance does scale quite well when pushed to higher resolutions, but you’ll still want a 20 or 30 series RTX card from Nvidia to squeeze out as many frames as possible. This game is benchmarked frequently for a reason.
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Dirt To Space Travel: Factorio
You’re stuck on a planet with nothing but a power tool, and it’s your job to launch a rocket into space. Along the way, you’re going to create an ever-expanding factory that ruins the native flora and fauna and drains the planet of resources. You can play this game for years on end and not see all it has to offer, and at $30, that’s a great deal.
Best Gaming Laptop With An Egpu

Display: 13.4 4K IPS 120Hz Touchscreen | CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Internal Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 External | RAM: 32GB LPDDR4X | Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Size: 11.8″ x 8.7″ x 0.6″
In most cases, powerful laptops are going to be stuck hovering near a desk and a power outlet because of the juice it takes to run them. So, even when they’re lightweight, their portable use can be hampered. The Asus ROG Flow X13 cracks that by using an eGPU, so you can have a high-performance gaming experience while you’re docked to the eGPU or you can enjoy its portability without an ultra-powerful graphics processor gulping down the battery. In fact, it got over nine hours in our battery test no small feat for a gaming laptop.
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Best Gaming Laptop Under 1000 For Football Manager 2022
Screen Size:Operating System:CPU:RAM:Hardrive:Graphics:
As featured in our list of the best laptops for Fortnite, this high-end gaming laptop appears to be an excellent choice that shouldn’t break the bank.
The Gigabyte G5 MD comes with a 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM which should allow you to load up multiple leagues and run them all quickly and effectively.
Moreover, it features an impressive 11th Gen i5 processor, plus a top-of-the-range NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card that should be more than capable of showcasing FM22’s graphics in the highest possible settings.
On the whole, this Gigabyte G5 MD appears to be an excellent laptop for gaming, thus making it well worth considering for Football Manager 2022.
Best Strategy Game: Civilization Vi
Why it made the cut: The Civilization series has long been one of the most fun and infinitely exciting game franchises. The most recent entry, Civilization VI, is the pinnacle of the series to date.
Pros
- Tons of special scenarios and content
- History is fun!
Cons
- Addictive gameplay may keep you up all night
The Civilization series has been the apex of the empire-building 4X genre for more than 20 years. Though the most recent entry in the series, Civilization VI, is already more than five years old, it remains a rare revelation. You control the resources of an entire civilization, from the first humans to the near future. Over the span of human history, you must grow your Civ and become the most successful empire in the world, whether by conquest, cultural influence, or technological supremacy, to name just a few.
Though there are console versions of Civilization VIthat work surprisingly well, the text-heavy menus and wide world that you must scan each turn makes the PC, and a mouse, absolutely essential. It also features plenty of hotkeys for assigning and automating the many tasks your settlers, workers, and warriors carry out. Civilization is among the most accessible 4X games, but its a genre defined by complexity. The more complex the game, the more important it is to have a mouse and keyboard.
Pros
- Among the most popular esports in the world
- Tons of characters, each with their own unique abilities and tactics to learn
Cons
Pros
Cons
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Q: Are There Other Games I Should Play With A Mouse And Keyboard
Absolutely. There are tons of games that are designed to work specifically with a mouse and keyboard. All PC games will default to using mouse and keyboard controls until you plug in a controller, so if youre having trouble deciding between a gamepad or M+K, just start playing and see how it feels! In some cases, PC games will go out of their way to tell you that they feel better with a controller, but the decision is ultimately up to you.
Where To Get The Best Cheap Gaming Laptops In The Uk
It is definitely possible to game on a budget, and these magnificent laptops will certainly help you get there. Thankfully the vast majority of laptops on this list are also available to purchase in the UK, with just the one exception. Otherwise, take your pick, as there are plenty of great options to choose from. Don’t see the laptops below? Click here.
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Why Choosing Of Screen Resolution For Gaming Is So Important
Before you decide which components you will use to build your Gaming PC, you have to decide what screen resolution you will use to play games.
Screen resolution is directly related to:
- The type and required performance of the GPU , which is directly transferred to its price.
- The amount of Video Memory on the graphics card – higher resolutions require more VRAM.
- CPU type and speed so that your Central Processing Unit does not slow down the fast graphics card
- Motherboard type to match the CPU.
- The type and parameters of the monitor to work in native resolution matched to the screen resolution you plan.
The result of a poor selection of the planned resolution in relation to the performance of Gaming PC may be the lack of smooth gameplay , which is what every player wants to avoid.
So, let’s try to think about what resolution you should use when playing games.
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Multi Monitor Setup For Gaming
Having more than one monitor in a Gaming PC does not necessarily mean that the game screen must be stretched simultaneously over the entire available area of ââboth screens.
With the UHD + FHD set you can use the monitors interchangeably, on UHD you can play games in which you want to get the best graphics quality and use FHD for games requiring high FPS.
A second monitor can be used during the game to run other applications, voice communication, chat, internet browsing and more.
Of course, having two FHD monitors tempts you to use the 3840×1080 resolution extended to both monitors, although the edges of the screen located exactly in the middle of the field of view are a bit daunting.
This problem disappears with a 3 x FHD system and a resolution of 5760×1080, where the central monitor is our main monitor and the two side ones widen the field of view considerably.
However, you must remember that the resolutions used for multi-monitor systems add up and the computer’s performance requirements are the same as if you had one large monitor, i.e. these are high requirements.
Although I have been using multi-monitor systems for both work and play for a long time, I suggest that you at least at the beginning give up this solution.
Choose the highest resolution that your Gaming PC will be able to comfortably generate and choose the largest size monitor that matches it with native resolution. You can buy more monitors in the future if you feel the need to own them.
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