Are gaming laptops worth it? It is one of the questions that most people ask themselves every time they want to change their laptop. We had to decide whether to buy a gaming laptop or not. Many people do not realize that normal laptops and gaming laptops are different.
Game technology has been developing for years. Its current level of sophistication leaves no doubt that it will continue to improve in the coming years. Today, almost every teenager and some adults enjoy playing games. There is no doubt about it. Gaming laptops are very powerful for running most new games on superior graphics without any problems.
I wrote this post so that you would have the information you need. So, in this post, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a gaming laptop. Is it worth spending money or investing in a powerful laptop? You also find the buying guide for gaming laptops.
What makes a good gaming laptop?
Every good gaming laptop has a range of high-end features. There are seven keys:
- The CPU is the computer’s brain, responsible for processing all the calculations that the computer needs to do. Therefore, it must be powerful enough to play.
- The GPU is the graphics card and will render all images in games. It must be fast enough to render images with complex effects during a gaming session.
- RAM is the computer memory, ensuring that it can contain data generated in the game. There must be enough RAM available.
- The hard drive is where the data will be stored, and it has to have the necessary space and speed.
- A screen should have a good viewing angle, resolution, size (measured diagonally; for example, 15-inch screens are very common), and color gamut.
- Battery life should last long enough for extended gaming sessions.
- Finally, appearance is essential for aesthetics, especially in gaming tournaments.
Reasons why gaming laptops are worth it
Without a doubt, some of the advantages of a gaming laptop are very varied compared to a desktop. But there are also some other disadvantages, of course. But let’s focus on the advantages of this type of machine.
1. Portability
A gaming laptop will be a good choice if you’re used to gaming on a desktop or console, especially if you travel a lot. However, if portability is your primary concern, you’ll know the answer to “Are budget gaming laptops worth it?” is a resounding yes, because the cheapest gaming laptops are usually smaller.
2. Versatility
Gaming laptops are among the most powerful on the market, but that doesn’t mean they’re just for gaming. Its high-end CPU and GPU features allow you to perform other resource-intensive tasks like video editing and 3D simulation. That means students, artists, and streamers can benefit from them.
3. Great Experiences
Because gaming laptops are designed to be high-quality and power-intensive, they’re often much smoother and more enjoyable to use than office laptops or everyday computers. So if you’re wondering, ‘is it worth playing on a laptop?’, you’ll find that it’s not only worth it, it’s the best way to go.
4. Awesome Components
If you want to know if a gaming laptop is worth buying, it’s also worth considering the components under the outer casing. Not just their features, gaming laptops have high-performance processors, GPU and RAM that can handle any heavy tasks. When you make these comparisons, you’ll typically find that gaming laptops have the best-performing components.
5. Better quality screen
When it comes to gaming laptops, their designers keep in mind that these machines are designed primarily to play video games, making them attractive and visually appealing. With a high-resolution display and powerful graphics capabilities, the display provides a stunningly clear view. While laptop technology is similar in its base operating system, the refresh rate of gaming laptops is usually higher than that of normal laptops.
The refresh rate of a laptop display, measured in hertz (Hz), is the frequency of screen updates. A gaming laptop displays a refresh rate of between 144 and 240 Hz, while a normal laptop is usually limited to a refresh rate between 60 Hz and 120 Hz. Some laptops like Acer Predator Helios 500, Acer Predator Triton 500, Alienware m15 R3, Alienware x15 R1 have more than 240 Hz refresh rates.
6. Top Sound System
Sound quality is a big part of gaming, and it is tough to fully immerse yourself in a game if your audio quality is poor. However, it is true that when we talk about sound for video games, we talk about headphones, mainly thanks to their surround sound. The sound quality of a gaming laptop is much higher.
Gaming laptops have larger, louder speakers that let you hear all the game character conversations, sound effects, and background music that make games more enjoyable and engaging at the same time.
7. Longer Lifespan
Although computers are known to become obsolete quickly, the more powerful they are, the longer they last. A gaming laptop with high-end specs will serve you for at least 4-6 years, rather than 1-2 years for many standard laptops.
It’s expected that you’ll be able to get between six and eight years out of your laptop. But the actual lifespan is dependent on the quality of your hardware, how much you use it, and how well you maintain it.
Now that you know the 7 advantages of gaming laptops, it’s worth summarizing the benefits to see them at a glance. Gaming laptops allow you to play games fast, quickly, and flexibly. They often have features that reduce noise and heat emissions, making them great for quiet spaces.
Reasons Gaming Laptops Aren’t Worth It
But like all machines, gaming laptops also have disadvantages. There are a few reasons why a gaming laptop won’t be for you, even if you like the sound of the benefits we’ve covered above. There are four downsides, and here they are:
1. Battery
Although the battery life of gaming laptops has improved significantly, their short battery life still poses a problem for most users. In gaming laptops, the battery is always the part that fails the most. But for everyday use, it is usually enough.
Normal laptops last longer on a battery charge than gaming laptops because they have chips that use less power and integrated graphics than a dedicated graphics card. Passive cooling mechanisms, such as a simple heat sink, are generally used in normal laptops, while active cooling mechanisms, such as fans, are utilized in high-performance gaming laptops.
Gaming laptops have a higher-performance processor and dedicated graphics card than standard laptops, making them capable of running the latest 3D games. They also feature an RGB backlit keyboard for enhanced gaming and a light-up body panel.
2. Lack of upgradeability
Even though they last longer, gaming laptops are often difficult to upgrade, mainly because they’re just not as affordable as desktops. If you want to replace the motherboard, you should also get a new GPU and CPU because they are soldered.
3. Weight
Weight is another disadvantage in gaming laptops. But I’m back to before and sorry for being heavy. A gaming laptop can be a bulky and awkward device to carry. Besides the extra effort required to carry the laptop in a backpack or bag, it can cause minor aches and pains in your shoulders or back if you are ill-equipped or unaware of proper posture.
The primary reason why gaming laptops are bigger than regular laptops is the additional cooling mechanisms used in a gaming laptop to cope with the increased performance requirements of today’s demanding games.
4. Price
Although you may be wondering if a $500 gaming laptop is worth it, you won’t find many for that price. You can find some gaming laptops in the $1000-2000 range, but many cost more. Not only that, peripherals and replacement parts for gaming laptops also add to the cost.
5. Poor Peripherals
You can buy a specialized mouse and keyboard when you have a desktop computer. But with a gaming laptop, you’ll only have its built-in keyboard and mousepad. These are often unsuitable or lack certain features. But if you buy a separate keyboard, you have to push the screen further away to make room for it.
Here is a summary of the drawbacks. Components are challenging to replace, and peripherals are usually not suitable. If you only want to use your laptop for smaller tasks, it won’t be practical to spend the extra money. Gaming laptops are also quite expensive.
Before buying a gaming laptop
Now we’re going to do a little buyer’s guide to educate you on how you should pick a gaming laptop. Before purchasing your laptop, keep in mind:
1. Keyboard
It is the first step for purchasing any laptop, but do not be confused. In a gaming laptop, these will come (in some cases) with good keyboards to play or work for long periods.
- Key travel: Key travel refers to the distance a key must be pressed before it actuates and sends a signal to the computer. The acceptable range currently is 1.5mm–2mm. Some keyboards have a mechanism that prevents you from pressing too hard on the keys. Even more expensive models may have an even better mechanical key action.
- Anti-ghosting and n-key rollover: These are two features that will help you perform at your best in any game. Anti-ghosting technology allows you to press multiple keys simultaneously to perform combos or execute several actions at once. An N-key rollover means that each key is registered independently; this means that you can use any key combination without the keyboard losing track of any of your other keystrokes.
- Backlighting: Budget gaming laptops often feature red or white backlighting on their keyboards, but RGB backlighting is typically found on more expensive models. Some keyboards offer per-key lighting customization, while others allow users to program specific game profiles. Many also allow you to select zones of the keyboard to set customizable backlights.
2. Cooling System
Usually, these computers have the best cooling systems because they have hardware that is generally quite powerful, so at a certain limit, they will demand much more from the power source. This will reflect all this rhythm through the increase in temperature. , which in such a case can cause overheating and seriously affect our equipment.
3. Screen
- Panel: The technology that our screen panel has is critical. We recommend that your laptop is equipped with an IPS panel as well as if you plan to change the screen of your computer, you already know which is the best. This type of panel will allow us to have a more versatile vision and have a better viewing angle.
- Refresh rate: Another aspect when buying your laptop is knowing the refresh rate it has, which is essential in selecting a gaming laptop. Choosing a display with at least a 120 Hz refresh rate is preferable because higher refresh rates correspond to the frequency of updates of the displayed image.
- Resolution: The resolution of the screen also plays an important role as technology has allowed us to have more and more updates (which is a perfect thing). When buying a gaming laptop, it is important to consider how many pixels the screen can show, which affects image quality. The recommended resolution for a display is 1920×1080 (known as 1080p or Full HD).
- Size: Most gaming laptops have a 15-inch or 17-inch screen, though there are a few systems with an 18-inch screen and a few others with a 14-inch screen. The size you choose depends on your preference, but keep in mind that a gaming laptop with a larger screen can be heavier.
- Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync: High-end gaming notebooks often have one or both of AMD’s FreeSync and Nvidia’s G-Sync display technologies as built-in features. These technologies eliminate screen tearing and ghosting.
4. Processor
To be able to play your video games or to be able to run editing programs that are usually quite demanding. We recommend you to have powerful processors; both its i5 core and the i7 can handle games and any heavy tasks. You can also count on a processor that will come in handy for future games or editing software updates, etc.
Suppose you are considering a laptop in the Intel 10th generation Core family or one with less computational power. In that case, you should consider saving by purchasing slightly older ones than the newest offerings. CPUs are not upgradeable, so they are permanent once you choose.
5. Graphics Card
The graphics card is a factor to take into account to be able to play video games, edit videos or make graphics that require quite precise lines as needed for the architecture. The function of this component is to take care of solving the calculations, which would be the graphics, and send the data correctly to give the best projection. We recommend powerful cards such as those offered by AMD or Nvidia.
6. RAM
Gamers need more RAM to run games smoothly, and 8GB is the bare minimum for smooth gameplay. 16GB will give you enough room to run resource-intensive programs. Most laptops with a GTX 1650 or 1660 Ti series graphics card come with 8GB RAM. Most gaming laptops with GTX 2060 and above have 16GB of RAM, though the least-expensive models have 8GB. Those with 8GB will probably need to upgrade soon. Many gaming laptops have a memory that can be upgraded later, so this is an area where you could start with a basic amount of RAM and add more later if you want to.
7. Storage
Most gaming notebooks come with a hard drive and an SSD, so you can have all the space you need for games and other software, alongside some extra space for installing applications. A 128GB SSD and a 1TB HDD are not uncommon. It’s also possible to get a larger SSD, but that will cost more money. Faster hard drives equipped with 7,200-rpm rotations per minute (RPMs) spin faster and load programs more quickly than slower 5,400-rpm hard drives.
Some gaming laptops do you recommend?
So if, after the analysis, you are still thinking about buying a gaming laptop and you don’t know which one to choose, we will show you some fascinating examples. The best gaming laptops you can buy at a reasonable price. Where to buy a gaming laptop?
Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
Best Gaming Laptops
If we think of a more expensive laptop, we can choose some of these options. My recommendation is the MSI, basically due to its weight and components.
FAQs
Is it worth buying a gaming laptop for college?
Even if you’re a gamer, a gaming laptop isn’t necessarily the best choice for college. Because of their power needs and size, gaming laptops tend to be expensive and bulky. Since you’ll mostly be using your laptop for word processing and Internet surfing, you don’t need to spend extra money on a powerful machine, especially if you can use your desktop PC instead.
However, investing in a gaming laptop can be worth it. Laptops with powerful processors and graphics cards are necessary tools for some college majors, including computer programming and engineering. These machines are also useful for working in numerous fields that utilize 3-D simulations or video editing.
If you buy a normal laptop, it will not suit your activities. Also, if you like gaming and want a fun activity while you are not studying, a gaming laptop allows you to play games in your spare time.
If you are a student on a budget, you will not be able to afford a brand-new gaming laptop. However, laptop manufacturers often sell their older models at reduced prices or offer affordable entry-level gaming laptops.
Is a gaming laptop worth it?
Of course, it is worth it, as long as we will use said laptop elsewhere. But if we are only going to have it in our room and only play video games, it is not the most recommended machine. I think it is one of the most important reasons to choose or not to choose a gaming laptop. If not, we cannot ask; gaming laptop or desktop?
Is a $500 Gaming Laptop Worth It?
While budget gaming laptops are available for just $500 or less, these units often do not have the features necessary to run graphically intensive games such as first-person shooters with ease. Therefore, they are not worth it.
Is a gaming laptop suitable for everyday use?
If you purchase a gaming laptop, it should have all the necessary features to perform tasks requiring less computing power. You can use a gaming laptop to perform everyday tasks like browsing the internet, writing reports and checking emails.
Do Gaming Laptops Overheat?
Yes, gaming laptops do overheat. That’s because they produce more heat when used intensively. Your graphics cards and CPU are more powerful and require additional cooling to keep running optimally. But proper cooling systems will ensure that overheating does not occur.
How can I cool down my laptop while gaming?
To make sure your laptop stays cool while gaming, you can take a few steps. These include choosing a suitable surface, using a cooling pad under your laptop, and cleaning the fans inside your laptop. If convenient, you can also take a break from the game.
Conclusion
As you can see, we have identified many advantages and disadvantages to gaming laptops.
The short and sweet of it is that if you are a gamer who uses their computer for a lot more than gaming, buying a gaming laptop will likely be worth the higher price tag.
Gaming laptops are fantastic because of their high processing power and incredible gaming capabilities. Gamers can enjoy the most spectacular games, whether FPS, RPG or manager simulator.
While we recommend a gaming laptop for anyone who wants to make the most of their games and multitask, it is not without its downsides.
So should you get a gaming laptop? It all depends on your budget, performance expectations and the games you tend to play.
If you opt for a standard-tier laptop, I suggest keeping an eye out for sales and deals, as the price difference between gaming laptops and regular ones can be considerable.
