Looking for a new gaming laptop? Here’s what you need to know about the minimum specs to ensure a smooth gaming experience.
For any modern gaming laptop running Windows 10 or 11, we recommend a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU. If you want to do anything more demanding than basic tasks, we strongly advise getting more than the bare minimum.
When it comes to gaming, a discrete GPU is essential. Whether it’s from Nvidia’s GeForce line or AMD’s Radeon series, larger numbers in the name of the GPU usually mean better performance. For a good gaming experience at 1080p resolution, we consider the Nvidia RTX 4050 or RTX 3060 as the minimum, but more powerful GPUs like the higher RTX 3000-series and 4000-series will provide better performance.
To play the latest games, you’ll want at least 8GB of RAM, ideally 16GB, along with an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor. A Core i7 or Ryzen 7 is also good, but anything more powerful is likely overkill for gaming.
If you need a gaming laptop for demanding, resource-intensive tasks such as editing 4K videos or running 3D animation rendering software, then splurging on a super-powered system with tons of RAM, a high-end GPU, or an Intel Core i9/AMD Ryzen 9 CPU might be necessary. Be sure to research in advance the recommended system requirements for the programs you’ll be running.
When it comes to the age of the components, it’s best to avoid anything more than two generations old. This means going back as far as an 11th-generation Intel or a 5000-series AMD CPU. Deals on older components may seem appealing, but they won’t hold up in the long run.
If you’re considering a MacBook, the variation of components is much smaller than that found in Windows-powered gaming laptops. We recommend opting for one with Apple’s M2 or M3 chips rather than the older Intel-powered models.
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