How to choose a gaming laptop in 2023: detailed instructions

1. Determine your laptop requirements

In the process of creating a game, developers usually focus on several levels of performance that the program must meet. Engineers and designers are working to ensure that each frame of the virtual world is processed with a minimum of delay. This indicator is measured in milliseconds (ms).

The most common standard for processing time counts a level of 16.7 ms, which corresponds to the coveted 60 frames per second (fps), which almost every gamer knows about. In especially difficult cases, developers have to compromise and increase the delay for the sake of beautiful graphics. But only in story modes, where reaction speed is not very important. For online games, of course, you need the highest possible processing speed.

It is important to choose a system that can process graphics and all other elements at approximately the same speed that the game developers were guided by. To do this, your graphics card, processor, RAM, and storage must meet the listed recommended application requirements, not the minimum. In addition, you need to consider the characteristics of the screen and sound system - they largely determine the impression of the gameplay. And in competitive games, reliable input devices such as keyboard and mouse play a significant role.

Next, we consider the main elements of gaming laptops and the tasks for them in more detail.

2. Make sure your graphics card is up to the task

The video card is the most important part of the architecture of the gaming system. The visual part is processed by the GPU, so it should be taken as a starting point when choosing a laptop. This element accounts for all the splendor in modern games - from complex materials with textures and shaders to the physics of solids and fluids.

Without a powerful graphics card, new games will look like slideshows or won't launch at all. The performance of this part can be evaluated in detail against the specifications. The list indicates the amount, frequency and type of installed memory, as well as the clock speed of the GPU core. Game developers do not describe the requirements for the video system in the same detail, but offer a couple of reference models that you can focus on.

Most recent games required at least 6 GB of VRAM for medium quality graphics at Full HD resolution. It is advisable to choose from laptops with video memory from 8 to 12 GB, so that the purchased model does not become outdated too quickly. It is unlikely that you will be able to update the video card after purchase in a laptop computer - you will have to take a whole new one.

The current graphics card must support DirectX 12, real-time ray tracing, and optimization technologies like DLSS 3. New features and effects appear almost every year, but not all of them end up taking root. Most likely, your video system will display all the beauty for a couple more years if you choose a model with the parameters mentioned above.

You can check the capabilities of video cards online. On specialized resources, they collect data on performance in specific games. For example, on this site it will be possible to check what results laptop video systems demonstrate in the new products of 2023. The table shows the number of frames per second for different screen resolutions.

3. Check Processor Performance

The central processing unit (CPU) is the second most important element of the gaming system. In a standard computer, it occupies a central position, as it is responsible for processing all the logic of the operating system and the applications running in it. Most current CPUs consist of multiple cores or groups of cores that perform different classes of operations. At the final stage of the closed process, the results of block calculations are combined.

For modern games, it is important that the processor can execute many threads of tasks at the same time and do it quickly. Not all projects have developers fully utilizing the CPU cores available to them at an efficient level, but the situation is slowly changing. The main load is still rightly transferred to the video card.

The game processor may not have dozens of cores operating at an exorbitant frequency. For a comfortable game now will be enough a six-core CPU that does not overheat at a crucial moment. And if you want to get a laptop that will remain relevant for at least a couple of years, then it is better to choose a processor with 10 cores. Otherwise, as new games are released, there is a risk that the device will start to slow down or even freeze.

Laptop manufacturers correctly select bundles of CPUs and video cards. In most cases, it is enough to select the appropriate graphics card - the appropriate processor will be installed for it. In a balanced system, both of these details should be about the same level in terms of class and performance, so that all available resources are used efficiently in games.

For laptops, engineers have to design smaller components than their desktop counterparts and place them close together. Therefore, for portable PCs, a well-planned cooling system for the CPU and video cards with radiators and fans is especially important. Be sure to pay attention to this element: a critical overheating of the system can lead not only to a drop in performance, but also to device failure.

4. Consider the amount of RAM you need

RAM stores the program code being executed at a particular moment and exchanges data with the central processor. If there is not enough RAM, for example, for game requests, then a serious problem will arise - application processing will slow down a lot or even be interrupted.

Choose a computer with the maximum possible amount of RAM for your budget - this indicator will significantly affect the performance in games. For gaming minimum the level at the moment is 16 GB, but it is already worth focusing on 32 GB as the standard for the near future.

Most recent models have fast DDR5 RAM installed. Also in its characteristics indicate the frequency and timings (internal delays in data processing). In the first case, large numbers are better, in the second - vice versa. For laptops, compact RAM dies are used in the SO-DIMM form factor.

5. Make sure that the speed and capacity of the SSD drive is sufficient

The permanent memory determines how many programs you can install in the system, how much personal documents and media files will fit in the rest of the storage, and also at what speed it will all be run.

Developers very often focus on the characteristics of the current generation of game consoles. Today it's the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, which have very fast SSDs.

But you don’t have to worry too much about the full characteristics of the drive in a gaming laptop. Most current builds have fast SSDs installed, from which the operating system and applications are loaded in seconds. When choosing the right laptop, consider how many games and programs you want to store in permanent memory. The base disk space must be at least 512 GB. Most likely, it will be made in a compact M.2 form factor and connected via a PCI‑E interface. This option is preferred over the older SATA 2.5" or mSATA, which use a slower protocol.

6. Evaluate screen capabilities

The impressive capabilities of the graphics card and other elements of the laptop are of little use if the device does not have a display of the appropriate level. Most models support a 60Hz refresh rate, which should be enough for smooth gaming at 60fps. But this is the level of a single story campaign, where everything that happens is verified and adapted precisely for such a speed.

In online games with competitive modes, the situation is different. During chaotic battles with experienced live players, every fraction of a second counts. That's why optimal the frame processing delay is 7 ms (for 144 Hz), and at the amateur level, 8.3 ms is enough (for 120 Hz). Professional esports players prefer even smoother 4ms gaming at 240Hz refresh rate.

It is worth paying attention to the type of display matrix. Most modern gaming laptops have an IPS variant that combines good color reproduction with adequate brightness levels. Other types (OLED, VA, TN) are now less common and lose in price, picture quality or response speed.

The most common screen sizes for gaming laptops are 15.6 and 17.3 inches. 1080p, or Full HD, remains the most popular resolution. optimal option. The benefits of higher 2K and 4K are hard to see on displays of this size.

If you want to play at the highest quality levels in the scene mode, you can connect your laptop to a large monitor or TV, where all the nuances will be more noticeable. And in competitive online mode, a smaller screen is more useful in order to fully cover it with your eyes and react faster.

7. Don't forget the audio system

Sound plays a huge role in the overall gaming experience. Based on the exact positioning of noise sources, you can navigate in virtual space and calculate where you are being attacked from or from which side you are being overtaken.

In modern game engines, much attention is paid to the auditory component. Various surround sound effects, filtering, modulation and other such things are used to create a suitable atmosphere. On the hardware side, even an average CPU can handle sound processing. But it depends on the output device whether the player hears all the important details or gets lost in a hodgepodge of noise and music.

To get detailed sound, it is advisable to connect high-quality headphones or a system of several speakers to a laptop. But the built-in set of speakers should not let the user down - gaming laptops have quite often there are integrated solutions of good quality, capable of producing the effect of three-dimensional sound.

Almost all modern models have a Bluetooth 5 module, which is useful for connecting wireless headphones. Recent versions of codecs allow you to transmit audio with low latency, which is quite suitable even for online games. If you are not going to connect an external sound card to your laptop, then make sure that in the built-in the motherboard chip has support for all current effects that can be configured and adapted according to your taste.

8. Take a closer look at the keyboard and ports for peripherals

The keyboard of a gaming laptop should have a fast response when pressed. After you have pressed down on a key and moved it down, there is a short delay. This is the time in milliseconds spent on signal transmission and registration of a specific command in the system. During everyday tasks, the response speed has almost no effect on the user experience. But in dynamic games, even such a slight delay can lead to defeat.

The backlight is optional - for example, for a beginner, several areas highlighted in different colors will help you quickly remember the location of all the necessary keys. And those who like to play on the couch in front of the big screen will need USB ports for connecting an external wireless keyboard and mouse or gamepad from the set-top box.

Check for an HDMI 2.1 output - you need it to connect an external screen and output an image in 4K resolution. An RJ‑45 network connector with a LAN module will not be superfluous. You'll likely be using fast Wi‑Fi 6 most of the time, but it's worth making sure you don't have to find an extra LAN to USB‑C adapter in an emergency. For example, if the router breaks down, there are problems with the transmission of a wireless signal, or there is simply no Wi-Fi point in the room.