Gaming laptops have become increasingly popular due to their ability to deliver high-performance gaming in a portable package. However, choosing the right gaming laptop can be daunting, especially with the myriad of specifications and features available. There are a number of underlying facts, such as the TGP of a GPU plays a crucial role. For example, there might be a laptop powered by an RTX 3070 with higher TGP can outperform a laptop with an RTX 3080 having lesser TGP. That was just one example and there are other factors which might not look significant but when put together, can help you in landing a better bang for your buck. You wouldn’t want to spend a lot on a gaming laptop that doesn’t perform as it should, would you?
When selecting a gaming laptop, the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) represents the beating heart of your gaming experience. It is that single-most impactful component when it comes to gaming, specially when you want to play modern AAA-titles at high settings with smooth frame rates. Unlike most mainstream laptops where the integrated graphics might be sufficient for most tasks, gaming demands a dedicated GPU with substantial computational muscle to render the complex 3D environments with oodles of fancy ray–traced lighting effects, and high-resolution textures that game developers have worked so hard to incorporate. You need it all – a powerful GPU, plenty of VRAM, great cooling and enough power (read TGP) to make it all work.
VRAM (or Video RAM or Video Memory) is crucial for storing textures, shaders, and other graphical data that your GPU needs to bring the vibrant worlds within video games. More VRAM is always appreciated since it also allows the GPU to store a lot more frames at the same time. Insufficient VRAM can lead to stuttering, reduced texture quality, and lower frame rates, especially in modern AAA games with high-resolution textures and advanced effects.
We know that not all video games are made in the same manner. Some are graphics heavy such as Cyberpunk 2077 and then there are ones such as Valorant or CS2 which can easily run on the integrated graphics chip. For the sake of generalisation, we’re going to consider that gamers will be playing both types of games on their laptops. And from our extensive testing of gaming laptops, we’ve found that 8 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for 1080p gaming. When in doubt, you can always open any of our existing reviews to see exactly how well each GPU performs.
However, as games become more demanding, 12 GB or even 16 GB is recommended for QHD (1440p) or 4K gaming. For example, 8 GB VRAM is suitable for games like Fortnite or Call of Duty: Warzone at medium-to-high settings in 1080p, while 12 GB VRAM can be considered ideal for QHD gaming in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 with ray-tracing enabled. However, 16 GB VRAM is more of a necessity for 4K gaming or future-proofing for upcoming AAA titles like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. This becomes all the more imperative when you factor in frame generation technologies that NVIDIA and AMD have introduced with their newer GPUs.
Testing has shown that GPUs with higher VRAM perform significantly better at higher resolutions. For instance, an RTX 4070 with 12GB VRAM outperforms its 8GB counterpart in maintaining consistent frame rates at QHD and UHD resolutions.
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When buying a gaming laptop, understanding Total Graphics Power (TGP) is crucial because it directly impacts GPU performance. TGP refers to the total power allocated to the GPU, including its memory and associated components, and is measured in watts. Unlike desktop GPUs, where power consumption is relatively standardised, laptop GPUs vary significantly in TGP due to differences in thermal and power constraints. A higher TGP allows the GPU to operate at higher clock speeds, resulting in better performance for demanding tasks like gaming or content creation.
| Laptop Model | TGP (W) | Boost Clock (MHz) | The Witcher 3 (1080p Ultra) | GTA V (1080p High) | Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Ultra) | Far Cry 5 (1080p Ultra) | Final Fantasy XV (1080p High) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware m15 R5 Ryzen Edition | 125 | 1,680 | 76.9 fps | 154 fps | 55 fps (DLSS On) | 101.6 fps | 79.4 fps |
| Asus TUF Gaming F17 | 95 | 1,567 | 74 fps | 146 fps | Not Tested | 96 fps | 78.1 fps |
| MSI GF65 Thin 10UE | 85 | 1,425 | 68.7 fps | 120 fps | Not Tested | 97 fps | 70.3 fps |
| Acer Nitro 5 AN515-55 | 80 | 1,425 | 72.9 fps | 130 fps | 48.9 fps (DLSS On) | 96 fps | 72.5 fps |
For example, the Alienware m15 R5 Ryzen Edition with an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU operates at a TGP of 125W, enabling it to deliver peak performance in graphically intense games, achieving 76.9 FPS in The Witcher 3 Ultra and 154 FPS in GTA V High settings. In contrast, laptops like the MSI GF65 Thin, with an RTX 3060 running at just 85W TGP, show notably reduced performance with 68.7 FPS in The Witcher 3 and 120 FPS in GTA V due to their limited power allocation and lower 1,425 MHz boost clocks.
TGP also plays a critical role in determining thermal management and battery life. Higher TGP generates more heat, requiring robust cooling systems to prevent thermal throttling. For instance, the MSI Titan GT77 features advanced vapour chamber cooling to handle its high-TGP RTX 4090 GPU efficiently, ensuring consistent performance during extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, laptops with lower TGPs, such as the Dell G15 (RTX 3050) with a 95W TGP, may not require as sophisticated cooling but still offer decent performance for mid-range gaming. However, low-TGP GPUs often consume less power, leading to longer battery life, a trade-off that might appeal to gamers who prioritise portability over raw performance.
The display is your primary interface with the game world. Its size, resolution, refresh rate, and panel type all influence your gaming experience. Before we dive into specifics of display, let’s talk a bit about the size because it matters!
For gaming, if you are ready to sacrifice the portability and power consumption, you can always go for a bigger display size (as long as the resolution is decent) as the bigger display size will enhance the viewing angles and give you an overall better experience while gaming.
There are three popular display sizes.
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Resolution determines how sharp your visuals appear. While Full HD (1920×1080) remains common for competitive gaming due to its lower hardware demands, QHD (2560×1440) has become popular for its balance between clarity and performance. For instance, Full HD works well for esports titles like Valorant, where high frame rates matter more than resolution, while QHD helps with immersion in story-driven games like Cyberpunk 2077.
However, for gaming laptops, 4K resolution might be an overkill irrespective of its ability to deliver stunning visuals but requires top-tier GPUs like the RTX 4090 to maintain smooth frame rates in demanding titles. Also, 4K projection on an 18-inch display might not benefit from the amount of power your GPU is pushing for the number of pixels
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The refresh rate of a gaming laptop’s display determines how many times the screen updates per second. A higher refresh rate results in smoother motion, making it essential for fast-paced and competitive games. For casual gamers or those playing story-driven titles like The Witcher 3, a 60 Hz or 120 Hz display may suffice. However, for esports enthusiasts playing games like Valorant or CS:GO, a 144 Hz or higher refresh rate is crucial for fluid gameplay and quicker reaction times.
Modern gaming laptops now offer displays with refresh rates of 165 Hz, 240 Hz, or even 360 Hz, catering to competitive players who demand the smoothest experience. For example, the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 features a QHD display with a 240 Hz refresh rate, providing a balance between resolution and performance. Keep in mind that achieving high frame rates also depends on your GPU’s capabilities; pairing a high-refresh-rate display with a mid-range GPU may not fully utilise its potential.
The keyboard is one of the most critical components of a gaming laptop, often overlooked in favour of flashy specs like GPUs and displays. However, a well-designed keyboard can significantly enhance your gaming experience by improving responsiveness, accuracy, and comfort during extended sessions. Modern gaming laptops come with advanced keyboard technologies, such as anti-ghosting, and customisable RGB lighting, to cater to the diverse needs of gamers.
Gaming laptop keyboards primarily fall into two categories: mechanical and membrane. Mechanical keyboards are widely preferred by gamers for their tactile feedback, durability, and faster response times. These keyboards use individual switches for each key, offering a satisfying click and precise actuation point. For example, the Alienware m18 R2 features Cherry MX ultra-low-profile mechanical switches that provide an actuation point of 1.8 mm and a lifespan of millions of keystrokes. Similarly, the GIGABYTE AORUS 17G uses Japanese-made OMRON mechanical switches with a 1.6 mm actuation point and 2.5 mm key travel distance, making it ideal for fast-paced games such as CS:GO or Valorant. These switches ensure every keystroke is registered instantly, giving players a competitive edge.
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On the other hand, membrane keyboards use rubber domes under the keys to register inputs. While they are quieter and more affordable than mechanical keyboards, they lack the tactile feedback and durability needed for competitive gaming. However, some budget gaming laptops like the ASUS TUF A15 (2023) still manage to offer decent performance with membrane keyboards by incorporating features like anti-ghosting and backlit keys.
Key travel is the distance a key moves when pressed, and actuation point is the point at which a keypress is registered. These two are crucial factors that influence typing and gaming comfort. Mechanical keyboards typically offer longer key travel (1.5–2.5 mm) and precise actuation points (1.6–2 mm), making them suitable for games requiring rapid inputs or complex commands. For instance, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro has 1.5 mm key travel with full-sized arrow keys placed in an ergonomic layout, ensuring comfort during long gaming sessions or strategy-heavy titles like World of Warcraft. In contrast, membrane keyboards often have shorter travel distances but can still perform adequately for casual gamers.
Anti-ghosting ensures that every keystroke is registered accurately, even when multiple keys are pressed simultaneously—a feature crucial for fast-paced games like Fortnite or Call of Duty: Warzone. Most high-end gaming laptops include N-key rollover, which allows unlimited simultaneous key presses without input errors. For example, the MSI Titan GT77 integrates anti-ghosting across all keys to ensure flawless execution of commands during high-intensity gameplay.
Last but not the least, customisation is another feature of modern gaming laptop keyboards. Many models feature per-key RGB lighting that can be synchronised with in-game events or customised to match your setup’s aesthetics. The Razer Blade 16, for example, uses Razer’s Synapse software to allow users to create intricate lighting patterns or assign specific colours to individual keys for better visibility during gameplay. Additionally, programmable macro keys are increasingly common in high-end laptops like the Alienware x17, enabling gamers to execute complex commands with a single press.
Gaming laptops are built to handle demanding tasks like rendering detailed game worlds, running resource-heavy applications, or multitasking with multiple programs open. These activities generate significant heat, especially in high-performance CPUs and GPUs.
If this heat isn’t managed effectively, it can lead to several issues. One of the biggest issues one would encounter due to poor cooling solution is thermal throttling, where temperatures exceed safe limits and the system reduces the performance of the CPU or GPU to prevent damage. This results in lower frame rates and stuttering during gameplay.
Apart from thermal throttling, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can degrade internal components over time, reducing their lifespan.
For instance, games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla push both the CPU and GPU to their limits. Without an adequate cooling system, these games can cause performance dips after just 15–20 minutes of gameplay as the laptop struggles to manage heat.
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One of the best ways to understand a laptop’s cooling system is by looking for teardown videos and stress-test reviews on platforms like YouTube. Teardown videos reveal the internal design of the cooling system, including the number of fans, heat pipes, and materials used (e.g., liquid metal or traditional thermal paste). Meanwhile, stress-test reviews show how well the laptop performs under sustained loads.
There are multiple types of cooling solutions available in gaming laptops.
One of the most significant advancements is liquid metal thermal paste, which conducts heat 17 times more efficiently than traditional thermal compounds. ASUS ROG laptops, such as the Strix SCAR 18 and Zephyrus G14, use Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU, reducing temperatures by up to 15°C. This ensures stable performance during intensive tasks like playing Cyberpunk 2077 or rendering videos. Another effective solution is the vapour chamber cooling system, which spreads heat across a larger surface area for faster dissipation. The MSI Titan GT77 and ASUS Zephyrus G14 integrate vapour chambers to handle high TDP components like Intel Core i9 processors and NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPUs, ensuring consistent performance under sustained loads.
In addition to these technologies, many laptops now feature multi-fan setups for improved airflow. The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 uses a tri-fan design with Arc Flow Fans that move up to 13% more air while reducing noise and turbulence.
AI-driven cooling systems are also becoming standard, with models like the Alienware X17 R2 leveraging Cryo-Tech cooling to dynamically adjust fan speeds based on workload intensity.
When it comes to gaming laptops, the CPU and RAM work together as the backbone of the system, ensuring smooth gameplay, multitasking, and responsiveness. While the GPU handles the graphical rendering, the CPU is responsible for game logic, physics calculations, and managing background tasks like streaming or running other applications. RAM, on the other hand, acts as the short-term memory that stores data required for running games and applications in real-time. Both components are critical for delivering an optimal gaming experience, especially in modern AAA-titles.
The CPU is responsible for executing game logic, AI, physics simulations, and managing system-level tasks. A powerful CPU ensures smooth gameplay by preventing bottlenecks that can occur when the GPU processes frames faster than the CPU can handle game instructions. For example, open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077 rely heavily on the CPU for managing NPC behaviour, environmental interactions, and physics calculations.
In 2025, high-performance CPUs like Intel’s Core i9-13900HX and AMD’s Ryzen 9 9955HX3D dominate the gaming laptop market. The Intel Core i9-13900HX features 24 cores (8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores) with a boost clock speed of up to 5.4 GHz, making it ideal for multitasking and CPU-intensive games. Similarly, AMD’s Ryzen 9 9955HX3D leverages 3D V-Cache technology, offering 128 MB of L3 cache, which significantly improves performance in cache-sensitive games like Total War: Warhammer III. These processors also excel in streaming or content creation tasks, ensuring that gamers who stream on platforms like Twitch can maintain smooth gameplay while encoding video streams.
When choosing a CPU for gaming laptops, consider both single-core and multi-core performance. Single-core performance is crucial for most games that rely on high clock speeds to process individual tasks quickly. Multi-core performance becomes essential for multitasking or running modern games optimised for parallel processing. For instance, strategy games like Civilization VI benefit from multi-core CPUs as they process complex AI routines simultaneously.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is critical for storing temporary data that your system needs to access quickly while running games or applications. Insufficient RAM can lead to stuttering, slow load times, or even crashes in resource-intensive games. In 2025, 16 GB of DDR5 RAM is considered the minimum standard for gaming laptops to handle modern titles smoothly. For example:
The speed of RAM also plays a role in performance. DDR5 memory offers higher bandwidth and lower latency compared to DDR4, enabling faster data transfer between the CPU and storage devices. For instance, laptops like the MSI Titan GT77 come with DDR5 memory running at 5600 MHz memory configurations that ensure quick responsiveness during gameplay and multitasking.
Another important factor is dual-channel memory configurations. Dual-channel setups allow two RAM modules to work simultaneously, effectively doubling bandwidth compared to single-channel configurations. This results in smoother frame rates and faster load times in games like Elden Ring. Most modern gaming laptops such as the ASUS ROG Strix G16 feature dual-channel configurations by default but also offer upgradeable slots for expanding memory capacity.
Achieving a balance between CPU and RAM is crucial to avoid bottlenecks in your gaming laptop. A high-end CPU paired with insufficient RAM will struggle to keep up with demanding games or multitasking workloads. Similarly, having ample RAM without a capable CPU will limit your system’s ability to process data efficiently. For instance:
Ultimately, understanding your use case, whether it’s competitive esports gaming or AAA games, will help you determine the right combination of CPU power and RAM capacity for your needs.
Audio is a fundamental aspect of gaming that often goes unnoticed until it’s done exceptionally well or poorly. High-quality sound enhances immersion, improves situational awareness, and deepens emotional engagement in both competitive and story-driven games. Modern gaming laptops integrate advanced audio technologies, such as virtual surround sound, spatial audio, and high-fidelity speakers, to deliver a rich auditory experience.
Whether you’re tracking enemy footsteps in Call of Duty: Warzone or getting lost in the atmospheric soundtrack of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, a laptop’s audio system can make or break your gaming experience.
One of the most prominent advancements in gaming laptop audio is Dolby Atmos, which creates a multidimensional soundstage by simulating height and depth. This technology allows players to hear sounds as if they are coming from specific directions, such as footsteps behind or rain falling from above. For example, laptops like the Alienware M17 R5 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 come equipped with Dolby Atmos support, providing an immersive experience during games like DOOM Eternal.
Another standout feature is Nahimic Audio, a software-based solution that optimises sound for gaming, music, and movies. Found in laptops like the MSI Stealth Series, Nahimic Audio offers customisable equaliser settings, 3D surround sound, and noise cancellation for clear voice communication during multiplayer sessions. This is particularly useful for competitive gamers who rely on crystal-clear audio to detect enemy movements or coordinate strategies with teammates. The inclusion of Hi-Res Audio support in models like the MSI Stealth 17 ensures superior sound clarity when paired with compatible headphones.
Spatial audio technologies are also making waves in gaming laptops. For instance, DTS:X Ultra, featured in the Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition, transforms any pair of headphones into a 360-degree surround sound system. This is ideal for games with dynamic environments, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, where ambient sounds like rustling leaves or distant gunfire add layers of realism to the experience.
Upgradability is a key consideration for future-proofing your investment. Most gaming laptops feature two RAM slots and support up to 64 GB of RAM. Before purchasing, check your laptop’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to find the maximum RAM capacity supported by your specific model, the type of RAM modules required (such as DDR4 or DDR5), and the number of available RAM slots.
When upgrading RAM, it’s important to purchase new modules that match the type and speed of your existing RAM based on your laptop’s specifications. For gaming, 16 GB has become the sweet spot for most players, though some high-performance systems now offer 32 GB for the most demanding applications.
By carefully considering these factors, you’ll be well-equipped to choose a gaming laptop that meets your performance needs and provides an enjoyable gaming experience for years to come.
