There is no denying that buying a laptop for gaming is a tricky business. For one thing, there are so many different factors that you need to focus on. For another, there is a lot of misinformation to battle through as well.
This is why quite a few gamers make major mistakes when buying a laptop. They then end up stuck with a rig that they can barely use and can’t get rid of either. If you want to make certain that this a problem that you never face, here are the missteps to avoid at all costs:
Buying Without Research
It can be tempting to rush through the process of buying a gaming laptop. After all, when you need one, you need it now! However, simply popping over to the store or going online and making a purchase can be dangerous. Unless you are well-versed in how each of these computers performs, you may end up picking the wrong one.
This is because quite a number of brands and models will boast about being the best. However, few of them actually live up to the hype. So, if you don’t want to end up with a dud, you need to sit down and do your homework on the top options on the market.
Much of the information that you need can be gleaned from customer reviews – gamers, in particular. See, if there are specific issues that are mentioned often and you should be able to identify what the biggest strengths and weakness for any machine are.
Not Calculating Value
Most gamers are willing to spend quite a bit on their rig. However, if you simply select the most expensive model available, then you are making a big mistake. Remember, price is not always indicative of quality.
There are actually a number of cheaper laptops that boast all of the features that you need. These are featured on sites such as BudgetReport.com and are a great balance between price and quality.
So, before you go ahead and splurge, make sure that you know what you are paying for. Otherwise, you might end up discovering that your big, fancy rig can’t do all that much for you.
Overlooking the Processor
When it comes to gaming laptops, GPUs get most of the attention. This, of course, makes sense. In these kinds of devices, the GPU does quite a bit of the heavy lifting. However, it is important to keep in mind that it isn’t in charge of all aspects of gaming. A computer’s CPU has quite a few responsibilities as well.
So, don’t imagine that getting the most powerful graphics card on the market is enough. No, it is only half the battle. You must also make sure that you have a good processor at the helm too. In most instances, a quad-core processor will offer unparalleled processing power.
Still, this may be out of some people’s price range. If so, the next option would be a dual-core option, much like the Intel i7. In case you are looking at budget laptops, an Intel Core i5 will hold up its own weight. Nonetheless, it is best not to go any lower than that.
Looking for 4K Displays
Let’s face it, every gamer is already dreaming of 4K gaming and it’s hard to blame them. For a group that’s so focused on resolution, 4K can seem like the ultimate goal. And now that 4K laptops are cropping up, it is a dream come true.
Well, it may be time to wake up when it comes to this particular feature. The truth is that when it comes to gaming laptops, there really isn’t much sense in splurging for a 4K display. For one thing, it is because the screen is so small.
In most gaming laptops, the display screen is between 15 and 17 inches. At this size point, there is a good chance that you will not be able to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K. Therefore, there is no reason for you to spend additional money on this luxury that you can’t even enjoy.
Then there is also the fact that this additional resolution quality may actually compromise your gaming performance. When too much power deviates to the graphics aspect of the game, there is less for the frame rate. The result of this is staggering.
Spending on RAM
Another area that gamers tend to get caught up in is with RAM. Now, this can be a logical concern since gaming can require quite a bit of memory. Nonetheless, this is a lot less than people imagine. In this sense, there isn’t a reason to really spend too much on RAM.
So, how much do you need? Well, most gaming laptops will have a minimum of 8GB. You will find that this is a perfect amount for most of the titles today. However, if you want to keep your laptop running smoothly with future titles as well, then you can upgrade to around 16GB of RAM. It is unnecessary to get more than this.
Not Testing the Keyboard
It is easy to get caught up in the software and virtual features of a gaming laptop. However, the physical components can often be rather important as well. This is especially true in the case of keyboards. In many PC games, you are going to have to maneuver your keyboard.
This is why it can pay to put the keyboard through a test run. It is something that you should get into the habit of doing even if you are planning on buying a computer online. See if there is a local store that carries the one that you would like to purchase. Then, check how easy it is to move around the keyboard.
These are the main mistakes that you need to avoid when buying a laptop for gaming. Steer clear of these and you will be able to truly enjoy your new purchase. So, keep all of these pitfalls in mind when making your purchase. They could end up being the difference between a good and a bad purchase!
