It takes all sorts... of notebooks, as the saying goes. We all have different considerations when choosing our laptop computers. If the kids were to decide how much to splash out on a new notebook, no model besides the ROG GX700 would ever sell. Meanwhile, parents evidently prefer cost-efficient solutions, especially with gaming 'distracting children from studying'. And let's admit, there is a grain of truth in that.

But there is a middle way

Hardcore gamer laptops still cost a fortune, and with the technology in rapid motion, new hardware and more powerful solutions are always available and always costly. Consequently, if you regularly want to make the best of the brand new next-gen games, you're better off with a desktop computer. Yet, while the most popular titles are fully playable on higher mid-range notebooks, investing in the right hardware means that you don't have to skip out on the latest best-sellers either.

Following these ground rules will help you find the best value for money:

Besides wider displays, larger notebooks also come with more space for internal parts, which is essential for the video card, the component responsible for graphics performance. Of course, a 17-18” laptop is significantly less portable, so it's your call how much weight you're willing to lug around.

Speaking of displays, make sure to take a look at resolution and make. For games, you should opt for a full HD (1920x1080) screen, which comes with great image quality regardless of the screen size. Touch screens are relatively expensive and often unnecessary, so you shouldn't spend on them unless you absolutely need to. Whether you choose a glossy or a matte LCD is entirely up to your preferences.

The key hardware is the graphics card

Since, unlike in desktop computers, AMD chips are less widespread in portable devices, chances are you're going to encounter dedicated Nvidia GPUs, especially from the 800 and 900 series. Both generations feature the same basic architecture, so there won't be much difference between an 860M and a 960M. The latter has slightly lower consumption and better performance due to the higher clock rate. However, generation is way less important than the card's place within it.

A 920M is an entry level card available in devices with price tags as low as 100,000 HUF. However, don't expect this model to run the latest titles seamlessly. A 940M has more muscle, but it's still more suitable for multimedia devices. The line is drawn at around 950M or 960M, which, at medium settings and full HD resolution, can produce up to 30–40 frames per second even at the most demanding games (GTA V, for example).

Which, of course, doesn't mean weaker cards are unsuitable for gaming. Quite the opposite.

League of Legends, one of the most popular titles today, will run smoothly on a laptop computer with a dedicated 820M chip. You can find such reliable notebooks between 120 and 150 thousand HUF.

As we have mentioned in a previous post, you can't really go wrong with Intel Core i processors. If you want to compromise, this is where you can save a lot: it often turns out that a weaker CPU can carry the workload effortlessly. In ninety percent of the cases, the GPU is the bottleneck, so it's a good idea to spend on that instead.

For example, if you have to make a call between a Core i5 with a 960M graphics card or a Core i7 with a 940M, and the price tag is the same, you're almost always better off with the more powerful video chip. Still, even though you may want to be frugal on the processor, remember not to go below Core i3 if you want a notebook you can enjoy for years to come.

Expandable memory

RAM is one of the parts you can expand later if necessary, offering some leeway even after you've reached your spending cap. Your target should be between 4 and 8 GB – less than 4 may hurt performance, while more than 8 is usually redundant. For normal use, you should be fine with 4, but if you run multiple applications or more graphically taxing software (image and video editors, next-gen games), you may notice some lagging. Expanding your RAM will usually solve the problem.

You can also invest in a Solid State Drive (SSD), which is an absolute game-changer in everyday use. If you are on a budget, it is possible to buy a device with HDD, and later replace the CD-ROM with the SSD.
All in all, if your notebook will run multimedia content and the latest computer games, you shouldn't economize on the graphics unit. And if you'll be using office applications, you should focus on the processor and abundant memory.

Source: Notebookspecialista.hu