Building a gaming laptop is not child’s play but it saves you a lot of money. This is the prime reason why avid gamers try their hand in building a gaming laptop. But amateur users should pick up the best gaming laptops under $750 to have on-hand experience on how gaming laptop works.
If you are looking for a reliable guide on how to build a gaming laptop, you landed at the right place!
What is a gaming laptop?
While most gaming laptops appear to be the same as any standard laptop, their powerful hardware and upgraded features make them a premium choice among avid gamers. Investing in a competitive gaming laptop fetches you high speed, lots of memory, high-end graphics and fast processing power.
As Gaming laptops are designed solely to keep gamer’s needs, you will be able to play for hours without any lag or overheating issues. But high-end hardware comes at a price. Hence it is also considerably expensive in comparison to standard laptops. While you can grab an entry-level gaming laptop for under $100, most high-end gaming laptops under $2000 are the ideal choice for avid gamers and live gaming streamers.
Is it possible to build your gaming laptop?
Absolutely Yes! Referring to your needs, you can alter the various components to develop your gaming laptop.
It would help decide how much power you require from your system to conclude about the requirements for RAM, a motherboard, uninterrupted power supply, a good GPU, HDD/SDD with high storage, and an optical drive. Each game has its requirements, so the components will differ depending on what type of games you play.
Is it better to build or buy a gaming laptop?
Depending on many factors such as the games you will play, the components you choose, budget, etc., decide whether you should buy a gaming laptop or build it.
Advantages of buying a prebuilt rig include ensured compatibility, warranties, and tech support. The correct skill set is needed to make sure that the customized rig would work properly post customization. Tech support is a call away if there are any malfunctions. You can get a reliable gaming laptop under $1200 that is capable of handling most modern games.
Advantages of building a custom rig include cost savings, easy customization and upgradation. High-end prebuilt rigs are more expensive than customized rigs. It is easy to customize and upgrade the components when new hardware is released.
How much RAM do I need for a gaming laptop?
Gaming requires plenty of RAM. The requirements differ in terms of gameplay. Competitive gamers need anywhere between 8GB-16GB RAM at a minimum. Rigs with GTX 1650 require only 8GB RAM, whereas rigs with GTX 2060 and higher will require 16GB RAM. Memory can be upgraded in customized rigs too. Say: Best Gaming Laptop for World of Warcraft need atleast 8 GB RAM with CPU Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD R7 2700X and GPU NVIDIA GTX 1080 or AMD RX Vega 64
However, if you intend to use the same rig for many years, then definitely invest in 32GB-64GB RAM, which is perfect for high-performance environments.
What are the components of a gaming laptop you can customize?
With custom components, you can decide how much power you require from the system keeping your budget in mind. Here are the parts you can customize:
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): When it comes to Nvidia, the latest graphics cards are the RTX-30 series, with RTX 3080 being the best one. Whereas with AMD, RX 5500M are for budget gaming laptops, and RX 5700 is for advanced gaming laptops.
The RTX 3080 allows for hardcore gaming at maximum capacity but are also the most expensive. If you are looking for something cheaper, the RTX 3060 Max-Q or the AMD RX 5500M will be suitable.
- CPU: Depending on your budget, you can buy a core i7 CPU or the Intel Core i9-9980HK, which can be overclocked. CPU’s are not upgradeable, so this is a one-time choice. Most games benefit more from a quality GPU than a CPU, so a Core i5 processor can also be sufficient.
- RAM: While 8GB RAM cuts it, most new gaming titles recommend 16GB RAM for a rich gaming experience. It is a good idea to note how many memory slots are present in your laptop. Since memory is expandable, you can increase the RAM later.
- Storage: There are two types of storage, HDD and SDD. Both components can be installed in the gaming laptop and run simultaneously. The faster the HDD spins, the better. Hence, it is worth investing in a 7200rpm HDD. A 128GB SDD or higher is recommended for decreased loading times, but it may cost more.
- Optical Drive (ODD): This component uses laser light to read, copy and write data from an optical disk. A faster spin provides a better image render.
- Connectivity: Ensure that the laptop case you choose has enough connectivity ports, especially ports such as the Thunderbolt 3, which can connect to external monitors and storage. It supports data transfers up to 40GPBS.
- Design: A durable, slim chassis design laptop case is recommended. Laptop cases with 17-inch screens take up more space but provide a deeper immersion.
- Keyboard: It is essential to ensure that you buy a laptop case with the right keyboard because, while it is usually overlooked, it makes a difference. A good gaming keyboard has 1.5mm to 2mm of essential travel. Some keyboards even consist of mechanical and macro keys. Good gaming keyboards provide up to 70 grams of actuation force which provides resistance without feeling soft. Features such as backlighting and anti-ghosting should be considered too.
- Audio: Many gaming laptops have innovative ways to provide high-quality audio despite have tiny speakers. Speaker systems would be an added benefit as they offer deeper audio which is crucial for competitive gaming. External audio accessories usually connect via the 3.5mm jack, USB or Bluetooth.
Can I customize my gaming laptop for specific games?
Yes, you definitely can! It is unnecessary to invest in a premium gaming rig unless you play games requiring high settings or competitions.
For example, if you play games such as Apex Legends, then an Nvidia RTX 3060 MAX-Q GPU or AMD RX 5500 with 8GB RAM would be sufficient. If you play high-end competitive games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or DOTA 2, you need to keep lag to a minimum. Then, the Nvidia RTX 3080 would be sufficient.
How to design the specific streaming setup?
Serious gamers seeking to stream professionally will need the following accessories:
- External mic: This assists in providing high-quality audio while reducing background noise and eliminating distortions.
- Webcam: Preferably a 1080p or 4K; it will boost the image and video quality. High-end webcams have a recording rate of over 60FPS and built-in lighting.
- External HDD: Use this to save videos and gameplay without overloading the inbuilt storage space.
Conclusion
It is imperative to build the perfect gaming laptop and future-proof it as many parts cannot be upgraded. It will ensure that you get the maximum out of your rig for many years.