Which laptop is better to buy for games

A laptop is not the best form factor for a gaming computer. This is due to the low performance of the cooling system and limited upgrade options.

Which laptop is better to buy for games: specifications and manufacturers

When choosing a gaming laptop you should pay attention to the following features:

1. Specifications (video card, processor, RAM, resolution and screen diagonal);

2. Gaming features;

3. Manufacturer.

4. In addition, price is important.

Features and specifications of the gaming laptop

Price

Gaming laptops are expensive. Therefore, you should immediately select a device that is in the price range “from 60 thousand rubles” (for 2017). Laptops, which are cheaper, are unlikely to be equipped with a sufficiently productive video card, processor or cooling system.

But the price is not an indicator of "playability." So, Ultrabooks Dell XPS 13 (2017) cost much more than 60 thousand rubles, but they are not suitable for games. It is necessary to pay attention to the technical characteristics.

CPU

Only two processor families are suitable for games - Intel Core i5 and i7. Everything else, including chips from AMD, will not be able to provide sufficient performance.

In this case, it is desirable that the laptop was equipped with a desktop processor. Chips from Intel, designed for use in mobile computers, are labeled with letters Y or U. Such processors are not suitable for games because they have a lower peak performance - in order to reduce power consumption and the degree of heat.

For gaming laptops, suitable processors from Intel, which do not have any letters, or labeled with letters Q, HK, K. Such chips provide sufficient performance in games.

However, if you do not plan to play in modern projects at maximum settings, any processor from the families of Intel Core i5 and i7 will do.

Video card

An integrated video card (Intel HD Graphics series or even Intel Iris) is fundamentally not suitable for modern games. It can still “pull” various “casual games” and old projects, but when it comes to something newer than GTA San Andreas, this graphic accelerator succumbs.

For a comfortable game requires at least a discrete graphics card. And the more productive it is, the better. The optimal configuration for 2017 is a video card with 2 GB of GDDR5 video memory. Better, of course, more, but this will lead to an increase not only in cost, but also in price.

The minimum suitable for modern gaming graphics card - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980. But, of course, it is better to purchase a more productive model. Such as NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060-1080.

RAM size

The more RAM in a laptop, the better. The minimum required volume is 8 GB. True, with so much RAM, the laptop will “pull” unless it is very old or not very demanding of game resources.

The optimal amount of RAM is from 16 to 32 GB. This is enough for most modern games.

Laptops with 64 GB of RAM are extremely rare.For example, such a volume can be found in the top configuration of the Asus ROG GX800 - the flagship gaming laptop, which sells for 5,500 euros (approximately 380,000 rubles for September 2017).

Screen size and resolution

Flagship mobile video cards (including NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080) may well produce an eye-pleasing image with a resolution of 4K and a frequency of about 30-60 frames per second. However, on a 15.6-inch screen you still cannot enjoy all the beauty of HD because of its small size.

The minimum screen size of a gaming laptop is 15.6 inches. Large displays provide the best gaming experience, however, reduce the mobility of the computer. The optimal resolution is as follows:

1. 15.6 inches - Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels);

2. 17.3 inches and more - 4K.

It is also worth remembering that the higher the screen resolution - the stronger its power consumption. 4K displays discharge the battery about two times faster than FHD - and regardless of the diagonal.

Gaming features

Among the specialized gaming features that significantly improve the gaming experience (and in some cases no less significantly increase the cost of a laptop) can be identified:

1. Mechanical keyboard or just an increased key travel. Makes the game of dynamic shooters and similar projects enjoyable, because it allows you to better control the behavior of the character;

2. Support for desktop video cards. Unfortunately, this is only implemented in one gaming notebook model - the Razer Blade - but it provides maximum graphics performance;

3. Reprogrammable keyboard. Many gaming laptops have a special key block or touch pad that you can customize by hanging the necessary hot keys on them;

4. Ultra slim body. Some models of gaming laptops (like the Aorus x5 v6 or Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming) have dimensions that are similar to the size of classic mobile computers. This makes them more portable, but significantly reduces autonomy. So, another ultra-thin laptop, the Razer Blade, has a battery life of less than 4 hours.

Manufacturers

The best laptops for games are produced by the following companies:

1. Razer;

2. Dell;

3. Asus;

4. Gigabyte;

5. HP;

6. Aorus.

Razer

Razer launches flagship gaming laptops. For example, Blade and Blade Pro models presented by her in 2016 were distinguished by a completely gaming "stuffing" like NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 video cards, 32 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD-drive installed in the PCIe slot for maximum speed. And all these premium components somehow fit in a slim case. In addition, Razer came up with a unique system of “upgrade” of laptops - an external video card can be connected to Blade via a special unit. The disadvantage is quite predictable - the price.

Dell

Dell produces two lines of gaming laptops - expensive and not so. The first is the Alienware series, which offers “absolutely gaming” devices with at the same time attractive design and powerful features. But if you just want to play, and not to brag to your friends, you can buy models from the Inspiron Gaming series - they are an order of magnitude (!) Cheaper, but at the same time they offer only marginally inferior features.

Asus

Asus launches gaming laptops in the ROG series - and the devices included in it are really capable of replacing a desktop PC, consistently delivering, for example, all 60 fps at the "maximum speed" in Overwatch. When it costs, they are not that expensive - you can find a relatively “budget” model like the Strix GL502, which sells for about 100 thousand rubles.

Gigabyte

Gigabyte releases everything, and gaming laptops - too. It cannot be said that the models behind her authorship offer something quite unique, rather they are rather “strong middling”, which are distinguished by a good combination of price and technical characteristics.

HP

HP launches gaming laptops in the Omen series.They are characterized by excellent technical characteristics and a host of additional features (for example, Bang & Olufsen speakers), thanks to which they offer a delightful gaming experience. There is only one drawback - the build quality of such laptops is lame on all legs.

Aorus

Aorus - not the most famous company. But, nevertheless, her laptops are notable for the highest performance. For example, the model Aorus x5 v6 provides a stable 120 fps in Overwatch on ultra-settings. Pay for it will have the loudest noise of the cooling system fans and unattractive design. But the laptop is almost cheaper than all the others on the list.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.