The desktop and laptop market has shrunk as mobile devices advance. The situation has not only gotten worse because of the PC gaming public. But one point draws attention to this story: many gamers still prefer traditional desktops, but the gaming laptops offer keeps growing. With the question: are gaming laptops worth it?
PC games are reaching new levels of performance, it is conceivable that you are having trouble finding a good computer for cheap gaming. Many people opt for laptops to save money and to have a fun option while traveling. But is a gaming laptop really a better option than a gaming computer, even if it’s cheaper? We will help you understand and choose.
Long life to PC
Traditional manufacturers, such as Dell, HP and Lenovo, had to restructure their operations due to the shrinking PC market. The impact was so great that many people took their PC for dead. Obviously not so. This may happen in the distant future, but until then the PC is still useful: you won’t do your college TCC or develop entire software on your smartphone. At least for now, it’s impractical.
You certainly know that the appeal of mobility is one of the factors that make smartphones and tablets so much in demand. This same aspect has also helped to transform the PC market: today, the supply of laptops is significantly higher than that of desktops.
Until recently it was easy to find computer stores specializing in desktops. You would go there and the vendor would give you some pre-made configurations, but there was always the possibility to customize the hardware. Closed deal, just wait a few days for the store to assemble the machine and deliver it.
Shops of this type still exist, but they are much less numerous. The reason is simple: the average consumer – one who doesn’t want to worry about setting up item by item from a computer – goes to a retailer and chooses a laptop. It’s more practical: In addition to being ready, the laptop takes up much less space and can be taken quickly to any corner of the house. Are you going to travel? No problem just put it in your backpack.
Practicality
There are still those who make a point of having a desktop. This one that writes you is an example. I know I am an endangered species, but I still appreciate the possibility of customizing my entire computer to make it fully fit my needs. If any components are failing or defective, I can change them quickly.
For many players, though, what I see as a convenience or hobby has a need for air. Customizing the PC is essential, especially to set the most appropriate gambling setting within budget.
As a rule, the player should have an identity (in the sense of transmitting an image that identifies him as such) and, at this point, customization also helps, after all, that PC is unique – it’s like a signature. This is why casemods are (or have) been so successful.
Based on this aspect, a gaming laptop (or gaming laptop, if you prefer) doesn’t seem to make much sense. If so, why is the industry increasingly betting on this equipment?
When a gaming laptop makes sense
The gaming industry is gigantic and as such has a wide variety of player types. One is the classic PC gaming, so to speak: It makes a point of a sturdy, properly cooled machine and spares no effort to make it visually presentable.
In the middle of this class are those who take gambling to the professional level. They form eSports teams, are sponsored by hardware manufacturers or stores, attend events, and advise, for example.
While the number of players that fall into this category is not small, there is one that stands out numerically: gaming who take gambling very seriously, but not to the point that they are serious about a profession or business.
This audience is what interests manufacturers the most. Gaming in this category are keen on good hardware – but not necessarily top-of-the-line configuration – but often don’t want to have the work of building a PC or simply don’t have space at home to put up a desktop. For these cases, a gaming laptop becomes an undeniably interesting option.
Here, the appeal of mobility also manifests itself, of course: being able to take the equipment relatively easily anywhere (relative because gaming models are usually heavy) alone is reason for many people to pay attention to a gaming laptop.
For a long time, laptops were seen as bad for games. Uncomfortable keyboard (for game dynamics), small or low refresh rate screen, and generally weak hardware (to save power and reduce costs) are just some of the reasons for this impression.
In laptops designed especially for gaming, however, these problems are not usually present. Manufacturers such as Dell, HP, Acer and Asus offer options with a gaming-specific keyboard (LED backlight, more resistance and hotkeys), quality screen that comes close to TVs (in some cases at least), more advanced hardware. (Especially in terms of graphics) and, of course, bold exterior design – again for the sake of “gaming identity”.
The problems of gaming laptops
Although very welcome, not all the details mentioned above are essential. You can connect your laptop to a keyboard and mouse set if you want more comfort or to your living room’s 4K TV if the order of the day is excellent quality images.
In the end, the basic configuration (processor, RAM, graphics chip and HD / SSD ) ends up being more important. Because laptops are not as easy to replace as a desktop, you need to pay close attention to choosing the best set for your expectations. In my view as a “mic from a young age”, the limitations on upgrading or changing hardware are just the main disadvantages of a laptop gaming.
But not only that: combining sturdy hardware with demanding games often lead to the problem of overheating. On the desktop, it is not difficult to solve this problem. You put in a more powerful cooler, install a sophisticated cooling system, leave the case open if the situation gets tight, and finally, it works.
In the laptop the situation is more complicated: the compact body of the equipment alone is enough to bring the heating to hellish heights. The good news is that, at least in most current models, this problem has been well remedied.
Acer, for example, has a technology in the Predator line that prevents excessive dust accumulation in the air vents. In addition, the company offers an additional cooler module that can be placed in place of the DVD drive. In Alienware models, the temperature is also well controlled.
Anyway, researching the risk of heating is mandatory before purchase, especially if you live in a developing country: in the country, technical assistance services are often deficient. Because of this, it is also a good idea to hope that your laptop will not fail.
The major problem: price
For those who don’t care about setting up a gaming PC or believe they won’t need an upgrade anytime soon, a gaming laptop doesn’t sound like a bad idea. The impediment is really the price.
Not that anyone expects to pay little for such equipment. A gaming laptop needs good hardware and obviously more powerful components lead to increased costs. Putting these items in a compact device as well: Excellent engineering work is required for a GeForce GTX 980M GPU, for example, to work at full speed inside a laptop without throwing in the towel.
But in addition to the costs associated with design, components, materials and design, manufacturers charge admission: you have to pay for the air of exclusivity surrounding laptops bearing brands such as Alienware, Predator and Razer (desktops too, but this phenomenon is more intense with the laptops).
Difficult not only because the bag can not stand, but also because the perception of value of these brands does not correspond to what is charged. The prevailing thought turns out to be this: “These machines are pretty cool, but you better leave them on the shelf yourself.”
At least this situation indicates that we are facing a niche with much to be explored. It may just be the optimism that speaks louder, but perhaps the segment matures from this finding, making the offer of more cost-focused options increase. It doesn’t cost to cheer.
Are gaming laptops upgradable
A gaming laptop cannot be upgraded, except perhaps by adding more RAM or replacing the hard drive. But these updates do not make much difference in the gaming computer’s performance.
Many people have the misconception that they can simply change the graphics card of a laptop and have improved performance. It’s just not like that. What people do not remember is that the configuration of a laptop is all soldered on the motherboard of the device.
Despite this, devices have recently been introduced that make it possible to connect a motherboard to a laptop, improving gaming graphics performance. Even so, you’ll be stuck with the same processor and the same amount of memory, limiting the performance of your gaming device, which we call performance bottleneck. And because it’s a new technology, these video cards that connect to laptops are still expensive.
Is gaming laptop really portable?
Anyone looking for a gaming laptop because of its portability will probably be disappointed.
In addition to the large gaming laptop, you’ll probably still have a gaming headset and gaming mouse, plus an extra battery for extra charge to the laptop when you’re away from a power outlet. Remember that the battery of a gaming computer lasts very short, because it consumes a lot of energy. So your portability will only be as good as your battery and any extra batteries you have with you.
Now think about this: How many times in a car, train, plane, or bus do you actually stop to play a game on your computer? How often do you travel elsewhere, needing to take your computer to games with you? How many of these trips do you have time for games in? Not to mention that you will be carrying a pretty expensive device in your backpack, and our country is not that safe there.
If it’s a work computer, a gaming laptop, because of its great graphics performance, can be a great portability option, so you can keep your work on one device only.
How long do gaming laptops last
When manufacturing a laptop, the company tries to make a well ventilated device, and also has to make sure that it is compact. A gaming laptop can be used with difficulty for extended periods due to the amount of heat generated. After a while, the laptop begins to deteriorate in performance. A desktop, however, with basic care, will have no performance issues due to overheating.
In addition, a gaming laptop will need to be replaced before you can run the latest games with the best settings. Generally, the gaming laptop needs to be replaced in half the lifetime of a gaming desktop. Explaining better: If your gaming laptop lasts up to 2 years, a desktop gaming lasts up to 4 years.
Is it worth buying a gaming laptop?
If you don’t travel often, it will be a waste of resources to buy a gaming laptop. Instead, it is worth buying a mid-spec laptop, keeping your expectations in check and more money in your wallet. In fact, if you build an average gaming computer and buy a basic laptop, you’ll spend the same money you would spend buying just a gaming laptop. This includes the purchase of a gaming monitor.
Now, if portability is a big issue for you, or you want a gaming gaming laptop and graphic work, go deep into the purchase but knowing it’s a high value for the device.
Have you ever bought a gaming laptop? What did you think of your purchase? Was it worth the investment?
Marziano is a seasoned tech expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications, including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Cisco’s CCNA, he has a well-rounded and robust understanding of various aspects of technology.