Not everyone likes having a huge gaming desktop taking up space on their desk. Sometimes having a powerful gaming computer in a compact laptop body comes in handy, such as when you need to take it somewhere like a LAN party, if you’re short on space, or if you just want to play some video games while on a plane or at a hotel.
If this sounds appealing then you may want to look into buying a gaming laptop. However, there are a few things you need to look for when you’re shopping for a new gaming laptop.
In this article I’ll give you 4 tips that will help you buy a gaming laptop you’ll be happy with.
Gaming Brands
There are a few laptop brands that are marketed towards gamers specifically, brands such as Alienware and Falcon Northwest.
These brands tend to charge extra for the brand name and for their unique aesthetics. If you’re trying to find a gaming laptop as cheap as possible, it’s best to avoid these brands as you can get a laptop with the same specs for much cheaper from a traditional laptop brand such as ASUS or MSI.
However, if you do decide to go with one of the gaming brands you will find that their build quality is very good and they typically have very pleasing aesthetics. It’s up to you if you think that’s worth the extra $200-$500 on the price tag.
Size
The size of the laptop is something to consider, especially if you want something really portable.
Most gaming laptops will be around 15″ or more, with the most common size being around 17″. Rarely will you find a gaming laptop smaller than 15″, but they do exist.
If you want a gaming laptop that you can carry around with you and use in a car or on an airplane, you’ll want to stick to around the 15″ mark. But if you just want a desktop replacement and will just occasionally move it around from desk to desk, then 17″ is perfectly fine.
Longevity
Because you can’t replace many of the parts in a laptop, you want to make sure the specs are good enough to last you a few years.
The basic rule of thumb is if it can run the current most demanding games at max settings with at least 40FPS then it should last you a few years.
Be sure to read reviews on the laptop you’re looking at to see how well the latest games run on it.
Build Quality
If you’re buying an expensive gaming laptop, obviously you’ll want it to be durable and built to last.
If you’re buying your laptop in-person then you have the advantage of being able to see and feel the laptop for yourself and will be able to gauge whether or not it feels cheaply-made.
However, if you’re buying it online then you’ll want to read as many reviews as you can about its build quality. Make sure you read both professional reviews and user reviews, especially reviews by users that have owned the laptop for a few months.
