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If you're diving into PC gaming for the first time, you might be wondering what kind of machine you need. Many gamers would say a desktop is the way to go. But what if you want to be able to play games from anywhere?
A budget gaming laptop can provide that portability, and our experts here at DealNews can help you find your ideal device for an affordable price. We'll walk you through the specs you need for your gaming laptop, as well as the kinds of accessories that will take your gaming to new levels. Once you know what to look for, check out the best gaming laptop deals our experts have found below.
Tips for Buying Budget Gaming Laptops and Accessories
Choose the Best Gaming Laptop for You
Best High-End Gaming Laptop: If money is no object, look for a top-tier gaming laptop like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. Look for these specs to get a fast, smooth gaming experience:
- Memory: Go for models that contain between 12GB and 16GB of DDR4 RAM.
- Processor: High-end gaming laptops should have the latest Core i7 CPUs if you're shopping Intel. Expect many to have 10th-generation processors, denoted as either Comet Lake or Ice Lake architecture. However, note that Intel recently announced its 11th-generation processors with Tiger Lake architecture, as well. Gaming laptops made with the latest AMD processors (currently the Ryzen 4000 Series) are an alternative. They can provide a better bang for your buck, as they often cost less and can even outperform their Intel counterparts.
- Display: Aim for at least a 15" display. No matter what kind of gaming you'll be doing, odds are it's going to look better and be more enjoyable on a bigger screen.
- Graphics: Opt for a discrete GPU from NVIDIA, preferably a Quadro RTX model; it'll have more computing power and ray-tracing capabilities.
- Storage: Choose a model with a solid state drive, which will offer high speeds and have a price determined by its storage size. Be sure to take into account everything you'll need to put on your gaming laptop — SSDs may function best when filled to less than 70% capacity.
- Memory: We recommend at least 8GB of RAM. This should be enough to eliminate most bottlenecks without requiring you to pay a premium.
- Processor: Keep an eye out for laptops that feature AMD Ryzen CPUs, such as the 3rd-generation Ryzen 5 4600H, as it'll provide decently high performance at a lower price tag.
- Display: Again, you'll want at least a 15" display if you're planning to engage in any serious gaming.
- Graphics: Since gaming is still the goal, it's best to go for a discrete GPU. Stick with NVIDIA, but look for a laptop with a GeForce GTX to help save some cash.
- Storage: Though SSDs tend to be pricier than traditional hard disk drives, they offer many perks. If you can find a model within your budget that contains an SSD, it's worth it, especially if it has the capacity to handle your operating system, plus additional programs and games.
- Memory: Don't settle for anything less than 8GB of RAM unless you're a super casual gamer. And even then, 8GB will still serve you better.
- Processor: Opt for AMD Ryzen CPUs, even if you have to go with a previous generation. You'll still get a bigger bang for your buck over Intel in most cases.
- Display: However you game, you'll want a 15" screen. Don't skimp on screen size just to cut costs.
- Graphics: If graphics aren't important to you, you can go for an integrated card, especially if you aren't planning to play any super-intensive games. Otherwise, aim for a GeForce GTX discrete card.
- Storage: You might be better off opting for an HDD if you're looking for a budget-friendly model. However, SSDs are absolutely available at lower price ranges. Just note that you might end up sacrificing the amount of storage if you do decide on an SSD. Consider checking out a hybrid drive, which is noted as an SSHD and falls between the two extremes — it's more like an HDD with a little SSD added on.
Consider a separate monitor. If you want an added display, be sure that your GPU has the capability to meet your desired settings. Samsung has a gaming monitor lineup with FreeSync-friendly models, but if you want to look elsewhere, the Dell, HP, and Acer brands also have solid recommendations.
Don't forget the headphones! These can provide better audio fidelity than most built-in laptop speakers. Plus, headphones can help reduce noise complaints, whether they're from neighbors, friends, or family. If you want to splurge, HyperX is an elite brand designed for pro gamers. If you're not concerned about that, Corsair comes highly recommended for budget sets.
You may want an external mouse and keyboard. Casual gamers probably won't need these, though all gamers can benefit from devices that alleviate wrist pain. Look to brands like Razer and Logitech to offer highly reviewed mouse and keyboard models.
Best High-End Deal
Store: eBay
Price: $2849.99
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $150
You can currently save $150 on this high-end MSI laptop at Best Buy via eBay. It's got an Intel Core i9-10980HK 2.4GHz Comet Lake 8-core CPU, 1080p 300Hz 17.3" display, 32GB RAM, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics card. In terms of specs, it pretty much doesn't get any better than this. The super fast SSD, top shelf GPU, and exceptionally high refresh rate display all combine to offer what should be very much a premium gaming experience.
Best Deal Under $1,000
Store: Dell Home
Price: $979.99
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $220
Dell has seen fit to take a nice $220 off this G7 15 Comet Lake i5 15.6" Gaming Laptop. It features a 10th generation Intel Core i5-10300H Comet Lake 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD, 1080p display, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GPU. These are very much mid tier specs and in line with what you'd expect from this price point although you'll still be able to manage most modern games as long as you're not looking to play on the higher graphical settings.
Best Budget Deal
Store: HP
Price: $419.99
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $70
HP has discounted $70 off this low-end 15.6" laptop and it's also $17 less than our previous mention of it in September. It's got an AMD Ryzen 3 3250U 2.6GHz dual-core CPU, 8GB RAM, and a 128GB M.2 SSD. The display has a native resolution of 720p however given that you're working with an integrated AMD Radeon graphics set here, the lower resolution requirements will assist with game performance. You will of course be restricted to older games, such is the nature of the hardware in play at this price point.
Best Accessory Deal
Store: Amazon
Price: $33.98
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $3
You can save $3 on this mouse and keyboard bundle courtesy of Amazon. Of course your laptop already has a keyboard but it may not be ideally suited for gaming so an external keyboard designed more with the task in hand is always an option. This one has RGB lighting, Redragon S101 keycaps, and perhaps most importantly, is built to withstand the average liquid spill. The mouse meanwhile offers some good customization options, with five programmable buttons and an 8-piece weight tuning set.
Top Gaming Chair Deal
Store: Home Depot
Price: $152.49
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $81
Home Depot is the place for gaming furniture right now with this lumbar support gaming chair marked down from $234 to $152, a considerable $81 discount and 35% savings. It's also $41 under our previous mention from August. It features faux leather upholstery, lock tilt and height adjustments, padded armrests, and perhaps most notably, an extendable footrest. Plus, if you happen to be in the market for dual gaming chairs, you can apply coupon code "HDOFFICE10" to take an extra 10% off, dropping the price to $137 per chair.
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