23/09/2022
WHAT IS A GAMING LAPTOP?
A gaming laptop is a small and mobile personal computer, which has its own built-in screen and is specifically designed to enable gaming on the move and in spaces where you don’t have access to a desk.
At their core, they’re the same as standard or business laptops, but with plenty of upgraded features – it’s these upgraded features which make all the difference and allow users to game.
In a nutshell, a gaming laptop gives you get high-performance speeds, substantial memory capacity, triple-A graphics, and fast processing power.
These laptops are designed and manufactured specifically with advanced gaming needs in mind, so that you can go into battle armed with the power you need to smash the competition, no matter if they’re human or AI.
With high-end hardware included, gaming laptops are generally much more expensive than entry-level laptops, but they offer a substantial upgrade for even basic laptop functions.
WHAT ARE THE KEY PARTS IN A GAMING LAPTOP?
There are four primary aspects of a gaming laptop. The operating system, screen size, processor, and graphics card, but there are plenty of other features you’ll want to consider as well if you’re thinking of buying one.
Modern computer games generally require additional processing power for them to run smoothly, and one of the most significant differences between a standard laptop and a specialist laptop for gamers is video processing.
Gaming computers have a video card, which is a PC component used to enhance the quality of images shown on a screen. They also have their own dedicated RAM, a GPU, and a cooling system, whereas a typical PC generally uses an onboard graphics controller and fans instead.
So, in simple terms, a laptop that’s designed for gaming contains additional power and has all the attributes needed to play games in high quality and at high speeds.
Below are all the parts you’ll need to consider in a laptop for gaming, and what their function is.
THE OPERATING SYSTEM
The operating system (OS) is one of the most important aspects of any laptop. Not only does it allow you to run your computer, but it determines what games you can actually play.
This means that certain games you want to play might not be playable on your system, so it’s worth checking out which games you can play on which laptop before you spend any of your money.
There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a gaming computer and not being able to play the game you’ve actually bought it for!
THE GRAPHICS CARD
The graphics card, or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), is perhaps the most important component in your gaming laptop after the operating system, as it allows games to be played with higher graphics settings and with more visual effects enabled.
It delivers the images on your screen by processing the data and transmitting the signal to the monitor. Due to how stressful this process can be when running games, you’ll likely need a GPU with its own dedicated memory, called VRAM (video memory).
A 9th or 10th generation Nvidia graphics card will do everything you need to ensure you can game at the level you want to.
As for memory, most people will tell you that when it comes to memory, “the more the better” but the truth is that the average gaming enthusiast should be able to do everything they want with 4GB of VRAM. But 6GB would be even better.
Of course, there’s no need for you to get bogged down with tons of technical detail. When your laptop arrives it’s all ready to turn on and play.
THE SCREEN
It’s common sense, if you’re playing some earth-shattering game with brilliant graphics and sound effects, that you’ll want to experience the action on the biggest screen size available in whichever format you decide to go for.
While a gaming laptop screen will be more than adequate for most gaming experiences, if you’re so inclined, you can link a bigger screen to your laptop via an HDMI cable.
The only downside to this is that performance might be affected, and if you were going to do that, you might as well just buy a desktop PC instead.
PERIPHERALS AND EXTRAS
Any gaming laptop is expected to support additional options which a standard laptop may not. Your laptop should be able to accept peripherals, such as a headset and a wireless mouse, often connected via USB ports and Bluetooth cards.
A gaming laptop should also be able to connect to the internet and to LANs (local area networks), usually through Wi-Fi and Ethernet, so you can game wherever you need to.
INTERNAL COOLING
Unlike standard laptops, gaming laptops have improved cooling options, such as better venting or more powerful fans. Since hardware pushed to its limits for long periods of time will generate significant heat, especially when playing high-end games, laptops need to be equipped with the means to keep themselves cool.
WHAT IS IPS IN A GAMING LAPTOP?
IPS stands for ‘in-plane switching’, screen technology that enables you to see a wider range of colours and display graphics in greater detail. Having an IPS panel in your laptop is recommended for the best gaming experience.
WHAT IS G-SYNC?
No, it’s not the name of a boyband. G-Sync is a piece of NVIDIA tech housed in certain high-performance laptops to increase their performance, with a focus on reducing input lag and eliminating screen tearing.
AMD’s FreeSync also does the same job and both G-Sync and FreeSync offer even faster rendering without introducing stuttering into the mix.