The key component when choosing a gaming notebook is the graphics card, because it has the greatest impact on how smoothly your games will run. Replacing it with a more powerful model later is not usually possible, as only a few selected models allow it. What should you keep in mind then?
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NVIDIA - generally, the most sought after brand among customers.
- GeForce GTX - optimised for maximum gaming performance and excells at graphics tasks.
- GeForce GT - lighter models suitable for playing with a smaller amout of detail.
Generally speaking, the higher the graphics card model number, the more powerful it is.
AMD - graphics cards with an excellent price/performance ratio.
- Radeon R9 - the highest range, can run most recent games in full detail.
- Radeon R8 - runs modern games at medium settings.
- Radeon R7 - basic models suitable for playing games that are a few years old.
AMD in no different. Once again, the higher the graphics card model number, the more powerful it is.
Intel HD Graphics - integrated graphics solutions are not recommended for gaming.
Other important features of a gaming laptop:
- Processor - to play at mid- to high-settings AMD or Intel Core i5 will suffice. For best performance you should choose Intel Core i7.
- Memory - the ideal baseline is 8 GB of RAM - can be expanded later with additional modules.
- Display - affects the physical dimensions of the laptop. If you travel often, then you should choose a more compact 14" or 15.6" model. If your new laptop is supposed to replace your desktop PC, then opt for a 17" model. When it comes to screen technology, IPS would be your best bet.
- SSD - very useful for faster booting. Ideal in combination with a large HDD (1 TB or more).
