Massive online discounts are upon us, and for many, this is the perfect time to buy a gaming laptop under Rs 60,000. And for most gamers out there, a good deal on any Rs 60,000 gaming laptop always remains high in demand. Usually, the budget most people have is around this price in India. It can stretch a little, by around Rs 1,000 to 2,000 depending on the deal on offer. But after deciding upon a budget, how should one go about selecting a laptop? Because with every budget comes certain features, expectations, and limitations.
So what are the features one should look for before buying a gaming laptop under Rs 60,000? Well, the information below is to help you find exactly that answer. I have explained all the important factors that affect your buying decision, ranging from the choice of the GPU and CPU to how much storage you should look for and what upgradability options are at your disposal. These points are specific to the Rs 60,000 price range, as I will discuss the laptop components that are most commonly found in this price segment.
A graphics card or GPU is the most crucial component you should consider before buying a gaming laptop under Rs 60,000. It’s the component that transforms a regular laptop into a gaming powerhouse. Within the Rs 60,000 price bracket in India, there are several GPU options for gaming laptops. But before diving into them, it’s essential to understand two significant factors – VRAM and TGP.
VRAM or Virtual RAM or Virtual memory is the amount of memory a GPU has. The more it is, the better because the GPU will have the ability to load more textures, pixels, and other graphical data related to video games. For example, you cannot play Doom Eternal at ultra graphics preset on a GPU which has 4GB VRAM but you can play the game at medium graphics preset with the same GPU. That’s because the ultra graphics preset needs to show more textures and sharper pixels that require more VRAM in the GPU for storage. However, most gaming laptop GPUs available in the Rs 60,000 price range are limited to just 4GB GDDR6 VRAM.
On the other hand, TGP stands for Total Graphics Power. In layman’s terms, it represents the maximum power a laptop or desktop GPU can utilize. Generally, higher TGP is preferable unless comparing GPUs from different generations. For instance, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 with 90W TGP might offer fewer FPS in games than an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 with 60W TGP. But when comparing an RTX 4050 with 60W TGP to one with 80W TGP, the latter promises better gaming performance, assuming other laptop components are up to par.
To find out the TGP of a gaming laptop’s GPU, especially one under Rs 60,000, the Nvidia control panel is a handy tool. After updating to the latest Nvidia driver, navigate to “Help” in the Nvidia control panel, followed by “System Information.” This section provides a comprehensive overview of your GPU, including its power limit. Another approach is to access the system information window in the Nvidia control panel, where Ampere laptops’ TGP details are available. However, it’s crucial to remember that the GPU TGP displayed might not always be precise, so cross-checking with other resources or the manufacturer’s specifications is always a good practice.
Considering the factors of VRAM and TGP, the gaming laptop GPUs available in the gaming laptop under Rs 60,000 price range include:
For insights on how these GPUs perform in real-world gaming tests, you can refer to my article where I compare GPUs for gaming laptops under Rs 60,000. As a general rule of thumb, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 stands out as the most powerful GPU, followed by the AMD Radeon RX 6500M. The Nvidia GTX 1650 and Nvidia RTX 2050 are closely matched in performance, but more often than not, the GTX 1650 has a slight edge.
Furthermore, the RTX 3050 features DLSS, which can significantly enhance FPS in specific games. However, it’s worth noting that DLSS is only compatible with certain games, and its implementation depends on the game developers.
Gaming laptops in the Rs 60,000 price range usually come with a 15.6-inch 1080p display with either 120 or 144Hz refresh rate support. While some people, especially those who play eSports, might notice the difference between 120Hz and 144Hz, for most, the difference will likely be marginal. Another factor to consider in a gaming laptop under Rs 60,000 is peak luminance or brightness. As usual, the higher, the better.
Most gaming laptops under Rs 60,000 have 250 to 300 nits of peak brightness. The last thing related to the display you need to consider is the panel type. Gaming laptops in this price range come with either an IPS or a VA panel. It’s recommended to go with the IPS panel for better colour reproduction and viewing angles.
After the GPU, the CPU is the next crucial component you need to select for a gaming laptop under Rs 60,000. When choosing your CPU, two primary factors to consider are the number of cores and clock speed. Additionally, considering the processor generation is vital. For simplicity, if you’re leaning towards an AMD processor, aim for the AMD Ryzen 5000 series or newer. If you’re inclined towards an Intel processor, ensure it’s at least an 11th-generation chip or newer.
For those opting for an AMD chip, the primary choices are the 5600H or 5800H. Occasionally, you might come across the Ryzen 5600HS. The “H” signifies high performance, while “HS” indicates an AMD CPU tailored for slim laptops. The 5800H boasts eight performance cores, supporting up to sixteen threads, and a 4.40GHz boost clock speed. Additionally, it features an 8-core iGPU with a 2000MHz clock speed.
The Ryzen 5800H is the frontrunner, followed by the Ryzen 5600H, which has 6-cores, 12-threads, a marginally lower boost clock speed, and a less potent iGPU. The AMD Ryzen 5600HS rounds out the list. AMD refers to its processors as APUs or Accelerated Processing Units, primarily because these chips combine processing cores and integrated graphics on a single chip. One of the advantages of AMD APUs is their superior multicore performance due to the higher number of performance cores.
On the other hand, if you’re considering an Intel CPU, you have the 11th and 12th gen to choose from. Intel’s 11th Gen processors predominantly feature high-performance cores, while the 12th Gen divides physical CPU cores between performance and efficiency, functioning as their names suggest. Both the 11th and 12th Gen chips come with Intel Iris Xe iGPU, which is somewhat inferior to the Radeon iGPU in AMD Ryzen chips.
In the gaming laptop under the Rs 60,000 category in India, Intel’s Core i5-11320H Processor, with an 8M Cache, can boost up to 4.50 GHz. Intel’s Core i5-11400H and i5-11320H both offer a boost clock speed of up to 4.50 GHz, with the former having a 12M Cache and the latter an 8M Cache. Conversely, the Intel Core i5-11260H and i5-12450H can achieve up to 4.40 GHz, each equipped with a 12M Cache. Given their diverse core and thread counts, these processors are engineered for robust performance, making them popular choices among consumers.
Figuring out how much your budget gaming laptop should have is pretty easy. You need to choose a laptop with at least 16GB RAM. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, make sure that the RAM type is DDR4 and not LPDDR4. The latter type of RAM is soldered to the motherboard and hence not upgradable.
Secondly, always check if the gaming laptop’s RAM configuration is running in dual-channel. In other words, it means the laptop has two identical RAM sticks instead of one. Also, RAM speed is also something you should take into account. 3200MHz is the standard RAM speed found in most laptops.
When selecting the storage option for a laptop, it’s crucial to prioritize speed and performance. Traditional hard drives (HDDs) are becoming less common in modern laptops, with solid-state drives (SSDs) taking the lead. SSDs are significantly faster than HDDs, ensuring quicker boot times, faster application launches, and overall improved system responsiveness. If budget allows, opt for a laptop with an SSD over an HDD. Among SSDs, PCIe, or Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, has been the gold standard for connecting high-speed components to computer motherboards for over a decade. The introduction of PCIe 4.0 in 2017 marked a significant leap in this technology.
At a glance, both M.2 PCIe 3 and 4 drives appear identical. However, the distinction lies in their connection standards to the motherboard, influencing their data transfer speeds. Gen 4 drives, on paper, boast speeds nearly double that of Gen 3 drives, offering a significant boost, especially during tasks that heavily rely on read and write speeds.
Yet, the real-world implications of this speed difference might not be as pronounced for the average user. Everyday tasks like web browsing, gaming, and document management might not showcase the prowess of Gen 4 drives. And most laptops in the Rs 60,000 price come equipped with a PCIe 3 SSD. Lastly, you just need to make sure that your budget gaming laptop has at least 512GB SSD space or more.
When assessing the cooling performance of a gaming laptop under Rs 60,000, while various synthetic benchmarks exist, a gaming test is the most relevant. The most straightforward method involves checking the sustained FPS during prolonged gaming sessions. This can be done by playing any game on the laptop for more than 25 minutes and observing any FPS drops.
Another approach is to execute gaming benchmarks repeatedly and check if the average FPS remains consistent after each run. For example, based on my observations, if the FPS decreases by over 5 when running the “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” benchmark more than three times, it indicates the laptop’s cooling system might be inadequate.
Stress tests like FurMark can also be beneficial in evaluating your laptop’s cooling efficiency. Running FurMark pushes your GPU to its peak performance, producing substantial heat. By tracking your GPU’s temperature during this test, you can determine the effectiveness of the laptop’s cooling mechanism.
If the GPU’s temperature escalates excessively without stabilizing, or if the laptop powers off due to overheating, it’s a sign that the cooling system might not be performing at its best. On the other hand, if the temperature stays within a safe range and stabilizes, it indicates the cooling system is working efficiently.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to be cautious when utilizing stress tests like FurMark. Extended or continuous testing can overburden the hardware. Hence, it’s advisable to vigilantly monitor temperatures and halt the test if they approach dangerous levels.
For those considering budget gaming laptops in the Rs 60,000 price range, many of these devices offer the possibility of upgrading either RAM or SSD. If you’re curious about whether your laptop has an available SSD slot without physically inspecting it, the user manual that accompanies your laptop might provide this detail. If the manual is unavailable, an online search for your laptop’s specifications might yield results, as most manufacturers list such details on their official websites. If online searches prove fruitless, reaching out directly to the laptop’s manufacturer is another option. Additionally, YouTube can be a valuable resource, with numerous tech enthusiasts showcasing laptop internals, potentially revealing the presence of an SSD slot.
To ascertain if your laptop supports RAM upgrades without opening it, a simple method involves right-clicking the Start button, selecting Task Manager, navigating to the Performance tab, and then choosing the Memory section. This section displays the number of RAM slots and other pertinent memory information.
In conclusion, when aiming to purchase the ideal gaming laptop under the Rs 60,000 budget during forthcoming sales, it’s imperative to combine thorough research with a comprehensive understanding of essential components. Elements such as GPU performance, VRAM, storage type, and RAM configuration are all crucial in guaranteeing an uninterrupted gaming experience. Furthermore, aspects like the efficiency of the cooling system and upgrade potential can greatly influence the laptop’s durability and its ability to meet future gaming requirements. With the knowledge gleaned from this guide, you are now more prepared to make a well-informed choice and secure the most value during the sale. Here’s to enjoyable gaming sessions ahead!
