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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.
What to Look for in a Gaming Laptop
Memory
Go for models that contain between 12GB and 16GB of RAM, with a speed of DDR4. 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
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. For cheaper options, opt for other 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
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. Don't skimp on screen size just to cut costs.
Graphics
Opt for a discrete GPU from NVIDIA, preferably a Quadro RTX model; it'll have more computing power and ray-tracing capabilities. 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
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. 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.
Gaming Accessories to Get You Started
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.
Intensive gamers 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.
Below are the best deals on gaming laptops right now
Best High End Gaming Laptop Deal
Store: Costco
Price: $1149.99
Shipping: $10 shipping
Lowest By: $419
Expiration: May 2
The MSI GE75 Raider 10th-Gen i7 17.3" Laptop gets the nod for our current high end gaming laptop of choice, owing to a nice $250 discount and a price low of $419. It features a 10th-Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 2.60GHz Comet Lake 6-core CPU, 17.3" 1080p 144Hz display, 16GB RAM, 1TB 5400RPM hard drive, 512GB NVMe SSD, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GPU. There are certainly more powerful graphics cards to be found in high end laptops but for a price point of a little over $1,000, this is all very reasonable especially when taking into account the large amount of SSD storage and RAM and the high refresh rate display.
Best Gaming Laptop Deal Under $1,000
Store: eBay
Price: $879.99
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $221
If you want to keep things under $1,000, the Lenovo Legion 5 3rd-Gen. Ryzen 7 15.6" 144Hz 1080p Gaming Laptop should have your interest as a relatively cheap option. It has a 3rd-Generation AMD Ryzen 7 4800H 2.9GHz 8-core CPU, 15.6"1080p 144Hz IPS display, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and Nvidia GeForce GTX1660 Ti 6GB GPU. Crucially, there's 16GB of RAM here (often dropped down to 8GB on lower priced options) which is fast becoming a minimum requirement. The other specs are up to scratch here too, making for what should prove to be a fairly capable 1080p gaming laptop.
Best Budget Laptop Deal
Store: Office Depot and OfficeMax
Price: $559.99
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $110
You can currently save $110 on this HP 15-ef1073od 3rd-Gen. Ryzen 7 15.6" Laptop at Office Depot and OfficeMax. It features an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U 2.0GHz 8-core CPU, 15.6" 720p display, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The resolution is lower than you might expect however an 8-core processor as well as 16GB RAM is not entirely common in budget laptops so there's the trade off. It should prove more than capable as a reliable laptop for everyday computing tasks.
Best Mouse Deal
Store: Amazon
Price: $9.99
Shipping: Free shipping w/ Prime
Lowest By: $20
A cheap mouse is often the right mouse, which brings us to the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 available for $9.99 at Amazon. That's a $20 discount. It has an ambidextrous design, battery indicator, and a laser that's four times larger than your standard laser, promising more precise performance. You may choose between black, grey, and cyan colors.
Best Computer Desk Deal
Store: Amazon
Price: $249.99
Shipping: Free shipping
Lowest By: $50
Standing desks remain popular but sitting is also, objectively speaking, pretty great. And so desks that can do both are king while discounted desks that can do both are double king. The Flexispot 48" Electric Stand Up Desk is currently $50 off via handy clip coupon and so thus takes the royal title for now. It measures 48" x 30" x 28" and can height adjust from 28" to 47.6" at a speed of 1" per second. It also has three programmable memory presents.
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