How to choose a budget gaming laptop

What to expect from a budget gaming laptop

Budget laptop for gamers is located within 50 000-80 000. If you see in the store "game" model for 30 thousand, do not believe advertising. For the money you can count on a relatively powerful components that will run modern games at minimum graphics settings, in low resolution and with the braking of.

In addition to performing routine tasks such as Internet surfing, music and video playback on low-end models can be mounted rollers or work with complex graphics in a bulky programs. However, this requires at least 16 GB of memory, and ideally - 32 GB.

Budget gaming laptop will be able to run modern games for 2-3 years without any problems. Further such a model would have to replace or reduce the personal requirements to the level of graphics. For example, the game will not go high and at medium or low settings. If it suits you, then count up to five years of use.

What to look for when choosing a

Screen

Standard screen size in this segment - 15.6 inches. Very rarely - 17 inches.

The low-cost gaming models is often worth TN-matrix. Compared with other types of displays, in her small viewing angles and relatively faded colors. Hardly the best solution is SVA-screen, and the ideal - IPS. However, the average user the difference between them is noticeable only when compared to other gaming models. Try to find a laptop exactly with IPS-screen - get great viewing angles and more vivid colors. But be prepared to pay more money.

Minimum resolution gaming notebook display - 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD), less rare. It is also possible to find the model with QHD-screen (2560 × 1440 pixels). About 4K display in the budget segment out of the question.

CPU

As a rule, low-cost gaming laptops use processors series Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 eighth or ninth generations. Popular model - Core i5-8250U. Not the most powerful version, but cheap and at the same time productive.

There is a gaming laptop with AMD chips, but they are fewer. After selecting a model, you can save, because the components of the company is cheaper, but just as powerful. The main line of this manufacturer for budget laptops - Ryzen 3 and 5.

Video card and the amount of video memory

The gaming laptop has discrete video card. It is necessary to start games and heavy graphics applications. In the budget segment put Nvidia GeForce GTX models 1050, 1050 and 1060 Ti.

The minimum amount of video memory that is needed to adequately run modern games - 3 GB (for example, the GTX 1060). There are also variants with 4GB (Radeon RX560X, GTX 1050 or 1050 Ti). You can find models with 6 GB, but it is uncommon for a designated price.

Amount of RAM and the possibility of its replacement

optimal amount of RAM - 8 GB, then it can be expanded up to 32 GB, and sometimes even up to 64 GB. Note the number of available slots for RAM (usually two) and its maximum limit.

The type and amount of main memory, the possibility of its replacement

The most cheap laptops no SSD-drive. Usually the manufacturer puts 1TB slower and budgetary HDD-Memory. True, in these models, there is a place for the SSD-drive self-installation, so it can be purchased later.

Optimal configuration - 1-2 TB HDD-memory and 256-512 GB SSD format. In this case, the game can be put on a solid-state SSD-drive them to quickly launch and files and media stored in HDD.

What is not worth paying attention to

Case Thickness

All gaming laptops have a thick body because of the great graphics and bulky cooling system. Therefore, do not look thin gaming models: they simply do not.

Design

Most gadgets have multi-colored backlighting and sudden massive design elements, so fans of minimalism to choose something suitable will not be easy. If you are one of them, pay attention to Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop and almost all game HP low-end models. These two manufacturers make a deliberately simple design, but the keyboard has color even in their notebooks.

Frame around the display

Find a budget gaming laptop with a thin frame around the housing is almost impossible. Usually they are 1-2 cm. Exceptions to the rules are, but they are few. For example, Lenovo Legion Y530 or Asus TUF Gaming FX505GE.

Battery

Work Offline gaming model is rarely more than 2 hours per game mode and 6 hours while surfing the Internet and watching multimedia. Blame is the most powerful stuffing, which is needed to run the games. It requires a tremendous amount of energy, so do not count on a long game away from an outlet.

Heating noise and housing at maximum load

If the laptop starts making noise productive start games. At this point, the system operates at maximum load and It generates much heat. Therefore, the built-in fans are switched on full to cool iron, do not give it to overheat.

Many users quickly become accustomed to the noise and cease to notice it after a week, but the environment of the player may not like it. However, there is a model that is no exaggeration to roar like planes, bringing inconvenience to everyone, including the owner. To put up with this disadvantage - everyone decides for himself. For example, the above-mentioned Xiaomi Mi Gaming Laptop It stands minimalist design and powerful filling, but very noisy when operating. However, many users turn a blind eye to the lack of, and the model is popular.

Buyer's checklist

• Consider the cost of the gadget 50 000-80 000.
• Prefer models with IPS-matrix, if you want to get rich colors and a large viewing angle. But this laptop will cost more.
• Make sure that the video card was 3-4 GB of video memory.
• Choose notebooks with at least 8 GB of RAM. Increase the RAM can be later, if now you have limited budget.
• Pay attention to the internal memory. The optimal solution - HDD-drives and a 1 TB SSD-drive with 256 GB. If the SSD-drive is not initially see that it was a place for it in the laptop. Buy in addition, when it will be possible.