Before the introduction of gaming laptop, no one has ever thought that it is possible to play 3D intensive game on this small mobile device. Now, everything has changed. With the maturity of gaming laptop, more and more gamers are switching from the conventional desktop to the small laptop to satisfy their gaming needs.
As technology advances, you can see new model of laptops appearing in the market every few months. To prevent falling into the technology trap, it is necessary to understand about the laptop parts and what you should look out for when choosing the best gaming laptop.
CPU
Regardless whether it is a desktop or a laptop, you will need a fast machine to play the latest 3D games. A CPU speed of 1.73MH0z (or equivalent) should be the minimum you need to play the most demanding game in the market. If possible, get a laptop with a dual core processor. Though it will be more expensive, it is surely more advantageous in the long run.
RAM
The bigger the RAM size, the better the performance. This is a universal rule that never changes. In today technology, a laptop with 512MB is the minimum, 1GB is the norm and 2GB is great. A very important pointer: never compromise with your RAM.
Video card
This is what makes the gaming laptop different from the normal laptop. If you have the intention to play a 3D intensive game, a laptop with good video card must be your top priority. Most laptop comes with onboard graphics. You must be prepared to dish out extra cash to get the one with great graphics processing capability. ATI's Mobility Radeon X1600 offers high quality graphics.
Screen size
This affects your gaming experience. A 12' screen is too small for comfortable game play. A good screen size is 15' - 17'. If you are getting a wide screen LCD panel, you might experience image stretching or elongation which might affect the gaming quality. Check the image quality before you make your purchase.
Battery life
The dedicated graphics card drains out plenty of battery power. If you are always on the move, consider investing on a 6 cells lithium-ion battery that can last at least 5 hours.
Price
A gaming laptop is generally more expensive than a normal laptop. You can't really find a cheap gaming laptop with all the high end parts. If you are willing to compromise on the CPU speed, you could be able to get one that is more affordable. As a gauge, a gaming laptop generally cost at least $300 - $500 more than a normal laptop.
Laptop accessories
Cooling pad
A down side for a gaming laptop is the huge amount of heat it generated. If left without control, it can shorten the laptop lifespan. A good solution is to use a cooling pad to dissipate the heat away. A cooling pad is a pad with three inbuilt 60mm cooling fans placed at the base of the laptop.
External speaker
The quality of the sound and audio contribute to the gaming experience. The sad part is that most laptops are not able to provide great quality audio system (due to space constrain and size limitation). As such, you might want to get an external speaker.
Getting a gaming laptop can be a great choice if you are always on the move. For in-house gaming, it is always better to get a gaming computer desktop. It is cheaper and has more upgradability. As compared to desktop, laptop is not as versatile and you can not upgrade any parts as and when you want. When making your purchase, it is advisable to spend a bit more to get a high-end laptop that can last for a few years.
Hope this article is useful in helping you to make the right choice of gaming laptop.
Check out Gaming Computer Tips for more articles and tips.
