Gaming laptops have gotten actually, actually good. It doesn’t take a lot seeking to discover fashions that promise high-performance components, thin-and-light design, or generally each. It’s not too stunning to see gaming laptops coming at fairly stunning costs. But figuring out what you’re really going to get earlier than you hit that purchase button, and ensuring you could have your priorities sorted earlier than you even begin purchasing can prevent from a complete lot of fuss. 

Here, I’m going to interrupt down a few of the key options you need to be being attentive to while you’re purchasing for a brand new gaming laptop computer in 2024. The market has modified lots, and making the precise calls could make a giant distinction between getting a laptop computer that’s nonetheless kicking years from now and winding up with one which gained’t even meet your calls for right now.

Looking to choose up a brand new gaming laptop computer? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming laptops out there right now.

GPU is vital

Unlike with desktop PC constructing, the place you possibly can pair nearly no matter CPU you need along with your alternative of GPU, the gaming laptop computer producers actually take plenty of the selection out of the matter. Most, if not all, main gaming laptop computer makers are going to place extraordinarily succesful CPUs into their machines, and whether or not that’s a couple-generations-old Core i5 or the newest workstation-grade chip, it’s most likely not going to make the most important distinction in your gaming expertise on the laptop computer. If you’re hellbent on gaming at 1080p with low settings and a give attention to uncooked body charge, then you is likely to be higher served by maxing out the CPU, however in most different circumstances, you need to be in good arms with no matter choices you’ll have out there. 

This means the GPU is by far the extra vital part to contemplate. First, it ought to be a discrete GPU. Integrated graphics have come a good distance, however even an RTX 4050 goes to have the sting. Consider your goal decision, body charges, and the forms of video games you wish to play, after which select a GPU from there. Bear in thoughts that laptop computer GPUs are a lot slower than their desktop counterparts total, so don’t depend on desktop GPU benchmarks. If you possibly can’t discover a evaluate of the laptop computer you’re , verify latest opinions of fashions utilizing the identical GPU to get a tough thought of the efficiency. Also maintain a eager eye out for the “TGP,” or Total Graphics Power, of the GPU a laptop computer is providing. The TGP can range enormously in laptops, and whereas a decrease wattage could imply much less warmth and energy draw, it additionally will imply decrease efficiency. 

Finally, take note of the cooling the laptop computer consists of for that GPU. This is the place opinions will probably be particularly useful. Without correct cooling, a GPU’s efficiency can drop onerous. I examined a poorly cooled RTX 4090 in a single laptop computer that ran slower than a well-cooled RTX 4080 in one other, less expensive laptop computer.

Consider RAM capability

You don’t get a lot alternative in how briskly or what kind of RAM you’re going to get, however you completely ought to be being attentive to how a lot RAM you may get. The preliminary RAM capability is one factor, however how far more you possibly can add is maybe much more vital. You don’t need 8GB. That’s simply not sufficient in 2024. Ideally, you can begin out with 16GB of reminiscence and improve down the road to 32GB or extra as future video games see rising calls for. 

If a laptop computer has solely soldered-on reminiscence, you’ll face a trickier determination. 16GB could also be sufficient for a while, particularly for those who’re enjoying lighter video games. But with many new AAA video games calling for 16GB of their system necessities, I don’t assume it’ll be too lengthy earlier than 32GB turns into the brand new regular. With that in thoughts, it’s possible you’ll wish to go for the additional reminiscence from the get-go so that you simply don’t find yourself with a laptop computer that might in any other case be completely succesful if it weren’t caught at a reminiscence dead-end.

If you discover a laptop computer with upgradeable reminiscence, then there’s no hurt in simply getting 16GB right now, as you possibly can simply improve later (and one other stick of 16GB might be going to be cheaper a yr or two from now than it’s right now, particularly when DDR6 drives down costs of older RAM).

Starting storage and improve choices

After GPU and reminiscence, storage ought to be your subsequent consideration. Thankfully, the stakes are rather less dire. For essentially the most half, storage is upgradeable. Even for those who land on a system with room for just one drive, that may nearly all the time be upgraded, even when it’s a trouble to take action. 

With that in thoughts, take into account what video games you play typically, how a lot room you need for others, and simply how a lot greater fashionable video games are getting. A 128GB drive will hardly maintain a full system, and 256GB gained’t provide up a lot additional room for even a single greater sport. If you could have one important sport you play, a 512GB drive may do the trick. If the laptop computer has an additional M.2 slot (you’re not prone to discover 2.5-inch slots on laptops in 2024), you possibly can actually accept a smaller boot drive and simply pop in an even bigger SSD to function a file and sport repository. That empty M.2 slot additionally means you don’t should accept no matter drive the producer offers you and might as a substitute go for one one of many best SSDs out there everytime you improve.

A show to suit your wants

If you intend to simply hook up with a high quality gaming monitor at residence for many of your play and solely depend on the laptop computer’s show while you’re on the go, then this may not matter. But for those who plan to sport on the built-in show, it’s price ensuring you’re getting a very good one. 

Given that even the most important laptops have, at most, 18-inch shows, you may get by with a 1080p show with out an excessive amount of ache. You can as a substitute give attention to coloration, panel kind, and refresh charge. 

For a colourful monitor, you need to be seeking to see near 90 to100 p.c sRGB marketed, or go for one hundred pc DCI-P3 for a beautiful improve. If you see a laptop computer’s coloration solely marketed as some share of NTSC (such because the widespread 45 p.c NTSC), you’re going to finish up with a really drab show that doesn’t deliver your video games to life.

If you don’t see a panel kind listed with a product, it’s seemingly a primary LCD show with pretty low high quality. IPS and UWVA show panels are roughly equal, and so they can provide respectable readability. You’ll discover loads of laptops utilizing these two panel applied sciences. OLED has an enormous benefit for distinction and pixel response time, making for punchy and responsive gaming, nevertheless it normally comes with extra battery life drain.

You can discover 120- to 144Hz shows fairly generally amongst gaming laptops, whereas 165Hz and 240Hz are additionally turning into extra widespread. The sooner the refresh charge, the smoother your gameplay can look, although slower OLED shows can generally seem as easy as sooner LCDs.

Finally, a fast observe on MUX switches in 2024. While you may discover them and be capable to see some profit whereas gaming on the laptop computer’s inside show, the introduction of CASO means they’re far much less important for maximizing efficiency.

Ports are a giant deal nonetheless

Regardless of whether or not you’re utilizing your gaming laptop computer as a desktop substitute or gaming on the go along with it, you’ll wish to make sure you’ve bought the precise ports to assist with the job. 

For exterior show connections, be looking out for HDMI 2.1 in addition to USB-C ports that point out DisplayPort assist (typically listed as “DP Alt Mode”). USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 can be extraordinarily helpful, as they not solely allow you to join out to hubs that multiply your port choices, however they will additionally deal with the show output on the similar time. 

In 2024, USB-A ports aren’t all the time a given, however it may be very useful to have a pair on deck for connecting mice and headphones. If you possibly can keep away from it, don’t depend on Bluetooth for connections to your gaming peripherals — the latency is simply too excessive.

Battery life doesn’t should be terrible

A laptop computer ought to be moveable, even for those who solely plan to make use of it flippantly while you’re away from energy shops. Ultrabooks have made leaps and bounds in battery life, however gaming laptops nonetheless have a penchant for burning by way of their batteries in document time. That is, if the discrete GPU is enabled. Many gaming laptops provide the choice to disable the discrete GPU, and that may be a boon to battery life. I’ve seen some laptops which may go two hours usually stretch nearer to eight hours with the GPU turned off. Unfortunately, not all laptops deal with battery financial savings equally, even when they’ve related parts and battery capacities, so you should definitely verify opinions for battery life measurements. 

Further studying: The best gaming laptops under $1,000