# Can some Dopers recommend a decent gaming laptop? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 11, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415 "2014-03-11T06:26:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/1 "2014-03-11T06:26:59Z")
So my 6 year old Dell workhorse is starting to wheeze a lot and it’s time to start thinking of an upgrade. And since my creaky back finds the couch more pleasant than my computer chair these days, I was thinking I’d get a rig that can play a few games on. I’m not looking for anything too outrageous – [Witcher 2](http://www.gog.com/game/the_witcher_2) is the most graphics intensive game in my library, but I do play the LOTR MMO on occasion. So far as budget, I’m trying not to go too far north of $500. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/2 "2014-03-11T08:10:48Z")
> [@Anduinel](#): > > So my 6 year old Dell workhorse is starting to wheeze a lot and it’s time to start thinking of an upgrade. And since my creaky back finds the couch more pleasant than my computer chair these days, I was thinking I’d get a rig that can play a few games on. I’m not looking for anything too outrageous – [Witcher 2](http://www.gog.com/game/the_witcher_2) is the most graphics intensive game in my library, but I do play the LOTR MMO on occasion. So far as budget, I’m trying not to go too far north of $500. > > Suggestions? When buying a gaming laptop the most important feature you are looking for is GPU. [Here a ranked list](http://www.notebookcheck.net/Comparison-of-Laptop-Graphics-Cards.130.0.html) of all the laptop GPUs on the market. Simply put, don’t choose any laptop that has a GPU that is ranked lower than the [Intel HD Graphics 4000](http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-4000.69168.0.html). That should be your base GPU, although you might get away with a slower one (but I wouldnt risk it). These sites can also help you: [Gaming Laptops under 500 Dollars](http://gaminglaptopsunder800dollars.com/gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/) [Gaming Laptops under 600 Dollars](http://gaminglaptopsunder800dollars.com/gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/) ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/3 "2014-03-11T08:37:03Z")
I would personally recommend the ASUS K55N-DS81 (or any k55n series) 1. It is mind-bogglingly cheap ([under](http://www.ebay.com/bhp/asus-k55n) [$400](http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-K55N-DS81-15-6-Inch-Laptop-Black/dp/B00B7K11MI) new-ish) 2. The [AMD Radeon HD 7640G](http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-7640G.69836.0.html) is a hair faster than the intel 4000 GPU. So, it should play all your games (and let you play newer titles on low). 3. Asus is a good brand and people have given this computer [good performance reviews](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ibYG3k4OmA). ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/4 "2014-03-11T08:53:23Z")
**Moderator Action** Moving thread from General Questions to The Game Room. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/5 "2014-03-11T13:09:52Z")
Personally - I would use a good desktop, and invest in a quality chair. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/6 "2014-03-11T14:09:26Z")
I’d be aiming for something higher than an intel 4000. An intel 4000 barely runs the Witcher 2 - it’s definitely not an enjoyable experience. Why not keep your current laptop for whatever computing you need to do and invest the same money on a little, small form factor PC for your living room? $500 worth of desktop is going to give you a lot more bang for your buck in terms of gaming performance. Here are some cases you might want to look into if you go this way: > **[Five Best Small Form Factor PC Cases](https://lifehacker.com/five-best-small-form-factor-pc-cases-5994570)** > > If you're building an HTPC, a small workstation, or you just don't want your rig to take up tons of space under or on top of your desk, you need a smaller PC case. Something that fits the important stuff, but doesn't waste a lot of space on expansion... Even going ultra thin (smaller than a next gen console even) is a possibility with something like a nice APU from AMD - which will give you really great gaming performance at 720p. There are also micro PC gaming towers that are smaller than your average cable box and still pack a lot of gaming punch from the likes of Alienware, Falcon Northwest, ibuypower and others. They can be pricey, but many have acceptable base models for around $600. Along with something like XBMC and Steam big picture you can have a nice little gaming/media center setup. You can also hold out a bit longer - Steam machines are coming out later this year and many promise to be inexpensive, yet powerful little machines meant for TV use. ---
**Author:** ![TechChode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@TechChode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TechChode)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/7 "2014-05-23T23:07:31Z")
I’d strongly recommend an Acer they’ve, nailed down the mid-range laptop market hard. Give this a look the first one looks like a winner [https://www.laptopninja.org/finding-the-best-gaming-laptops-under-1000-dollars/](https://www.laptopninja.org/finding-the-best-gaming-laptops-under-1000-dollars/) Bought a budget $500 Acer very similiar - thin, lightweight, smooth performance. The ones there will have aluminum casings to for a better look and feel, mine was bit plasticy ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/8 "2014-05-25T20:46:37Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Personally - I would use a good desktop, and invest in a quality chair. This. I know it’s not the answer the OP is looking for, and it’s generally considered a bit rude to quibble with the setup rather than answer the question, but… you’re paying a lot more than you would for a comparable desktop; “gaming” laptops have horrible heating issues, etc. ---
**Author:** ![TechChode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@TechChode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TechChode)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/9 "2014-05-27T16:03:49Z")
> [@magnusblitz](#): > > This. I know it’s not the answer the OP is looking for, and it’s generally considered a bit rude to quibble with the setup rather than answer the question, but… you’re paying a lot more than you would for a comparable desktop; “gaming” laptops have horrible heating issues, etc. If he was looking for a desktop he wouldn’t have asked about LAPTOPS. I’ve found only Nvidia based chips and badly designed laptops ‘tend to have serious overheating problems’ . At the end of the day depends on what framerates you want. Desktop you will squeeze more obviously, but if you can deal with framerates like these [http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-8650G.87916.0.html](http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-8650G.87916.0.html) then a laptop is by far the better option, and that’s for under $500 [https://www.laptopninja.org/finding-the-best-gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/](https://www.laptopninja.org/finding-the-best-gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/) ---
**Author:** ![JessicaLogan816](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JessicaLogan816](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessicaLogan816)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/10 "2014-08-30T11:45:35Z")
there are some awesome list of gaming laptops [http://www.laptopsamurai.org/gaming-laptops-under-600.html](http://www.laptopsamurai.org/gaming-laptops-under-600.html) ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/11 "2014-08-30T13:17:26Z")
> [@TechChode](#): > > \*\*If he was looking for a desktop he wouldn’t have asked about LAPTOPS. \*\* > > I’ve found only Nvidia based chips and badly designed laptops ‘tend to have serious overheating problems’ . > > At the end of the day depends on what framerates you want. Desktop you will squeeze more obviously, but if you can deal with framerates like these [http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-8650G.87916.0.html](http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-8650G.87916.0.html) then a laptop is by far the better option, and that’s for under $500 [https://www.laptopninja.org/finding-the-best-gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/](https://www.laptopninja.org/finding-the-best-gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/) Agreed, but often times people assume that laptops perform similarly to desktops in both performance and other factors (heat, etc.) without realizing that they really don’t in most cases. They also might not realize that the price-to-performance ratio is sky high compared to a comparable desktop. I’m not going to preach to him that desktops are master race, but it’s always good to throw out some information and let him decide. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/12 "2014-08-30T13:41:47Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Agreed, but often times people assume that laptops perform similarly to desktops in both performance and other factors (heat, etc.) without realizing that they really don’t in most cases. They also might not realize that the price-to-performance ratio is sky high compared to a comparable desktop. I’m not going to preach to him that desktops are master race, but it’s always good to throw out some information and let him decide. I hear this all the time and I was shopping for a gaming computer a while back and found it to be untrue. Maybe I got an amazing deal on my laptop, or maybe I wasn’t looking in the right places, but I have been unable to find a comparable desktop+monitor for less than what I paid: Sager NP7378 (Clevo W370SS) 4th Generation Intel® Haswell Core™ i7-4810MQ NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 860M (2.0GB) GDDR5 PCI-Express DX11 w/ Optimus™ Technology 8GB DDR3 1600MHz [2x4GB] Dual Channel RAM 17.3" FHD 16:9 “Matte Type” Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Screen (1920x1080) 1TB 7200RPM SATA II HDD Sound Blaster 3D Audio I paid exactly $1109.01, with free delivery, from xoticpc. Now, **I’ll grant you, were I to purchase the components separately and build it myself, I could probably get close to or under that price point** , but I have yet to find a custom desktop vendor that can deliver the same performance for the same price or lower. If you know of one, please direct me there (I checked Alienware, Falcon Northwest, and ibuypower already). ETA: Not being snarky, I’d really like to know. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/13 "2014-08-30T18:00:09Z")
If you’re thinking of your couch, why not consider a box to fit your TV? There are plenty of small cases. Add on a wireless peripherals, and you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/14 "2014-09-03T20:00:36Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I hear this all the time and I was shopping for a gaming computer a while back and found it to be untrue. Maybe I got an amazing deal on my laptop, or maybe I wasn’t looking in the right places, but I have been unable to find a comparable desktop+monitor for less than what I paid: > > Sager NP7378 (Clevo W370SS) > 4th Generation Intel® Haswell Core™ i7-4810MQ > NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 860M (2.0GB) GDDR5 PCI-Express DX11 w/ Optimus™ Technology > 8GB DDR3 1600MHz [2x4GB] Dual Channel RAM > 17.3" FHD 16:9 “Matte Type” Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Screen (1920x1080) > 1TB 7200RPM SATA II HDD > Sound Blaster 3D Audio > > I paid exactly $1109.01, with free delivery, from xoticpc. > > Now, **I’ll grant you, were I to purchase the components separately and build it myself, I could probably get close to or under that price point** , but I have yet to find a custom desktop vendor that can deliver the same performance for the same price or lower. If you know of one, please direct me there (I checked Alienware, Falcon Northwest, and ibuypower already). > > ETA: Not being snarky, I’d really like to know. Laptops = stock cooling most of the time. You probably won’t be able to overclock that processor very much from stock where I would be able to get massive boosts from a similar chip in my desktop Also, that GPU is an 860m which is equivalent to like a 660, maybe…in a desktop. Not a bad card, but you won’t be anywhere near the cutting edge. Furthermore, no OC on this either, so free performance gains lost. HDD, no SSD. RAM is fine. I could put the same system together for less AND higher actual performance (massively jacked up CPU, much better GPU, SSD for OS and decently large HDD for storage) without ever having heat issues. My job here is not to soapbox desktops as that’s not what the OP wants, but to say that laptops achieve the same performance per dollar is just not accurate. This might be true in lower-end systems, but if you want a rig for 1080p gaming (or higher), for example… I will agree that pre-built might not offer similar results, but at least you have the OPTION and building a desktop is not very hard these days. Laptops have no such option. You’re forced to pay the huge labor / brand mark-ups. /hijack. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/15 "2014-11-20T16:18:23Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > I’d be aiming for something higher than an intel 4000. An intel 4000 barely runs the Witcher 2 - it’s definitely not an enjoyable experience. > > Why not keep your current laptop for whatever computing you need to do and invest the same money on a little, small form factor PC for your living room? $500 worth of desktop is going to give you a lot more bang for your buck in terms of gaming performance. > > Here are some cases you might want to look into if you go this way: > > [Five Best Small Form Factor PC Cases | Lifehacker](http://lifehacker.com/5994570/five-best-small-form-factor-pc-cases) > > Even going ultra thin (smaller than a next gen console even) is a possibility with something like a nice APU from AMD - which will give you really great gaming performance at 720p. > > There are also micro PC gaming towers that are smaller than your average cable box and still pack a lot of gaming punch from the likes of Alienware, Falcon Northwest, ibuypower and others. They can be pricey, but many have acceptable base models for around $600. > > Along with something like XBMC and Steam big picture you can have a nice little gaming/media center setup. > > You can also hold out a bit longer - Steam machines are coming out later this year and many promise to be inexpensive, yet powerful little machines meant for TV use. Ok, this is really intriguing. I have been considering getting a laptop to replace my monstrous, loud, and probably borderline failing PC. I guess I’d call it a ‘gaming’ laptop, but honestly the games I would play are a few years old at least, so it doesn’t need to be top-of-the-line. I haven’t shopped for computers for a while and had no idea that there were well-performing PCs in such a small form factor. With the micro aspect, though, do they still end up being cheaper than an equivalently performing laptop? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-dopers-recommend-a-decent-gaming-laptop/683415/16 "2014-11-20T16:56:22Z")
Created a new thread on small form factor PCs: > **[Small form factor light gaming PCs](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741370)** > > I posted a question about the small form factor PCs in a laptop recommendation thread, but figure that it probably won’t get too many clicks. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=718012) Chose to open a new thread on these types of...