Which is the best platform to playStarfield? For the uninitiated, Starfield is a highly anticipated space RPG from Bethesda Game Studios, the creators of iconic series like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. It’s a game that promises to take players on an expansive journey across the galaxy, offering a blend of structured quests and emergent gameplay that Bethesda is known for. The game sets players in the year 2330, where they begin as a miner who stumbles upon a mysterious artifact, setting off a chain of events that lead to space exploration and adventure.
Starfield has been reviewed to have a slow start, with the initial hours of gameplay described as straightforward and lacking the “wow” moments typically associated with Bethesda’s RPGs. However, as players delve deeper, the game begins to shine through its sandbox nature, allowing for unique and personal experiences.
Currently, the game is available either on Microsoft Xbox Series X/S consoles or on Windows PC. Performance-wise, Starfield seems to demand a lot from the hardware to run smoothly, especially on high settings. The game has tight integration with AMD’s FSR 2 technology for upscaling, indicating that achieving high frame rates at native resolutions can be challenging even on high-end PCs.
On Microsoft’s most powerful gaming console, i.e. the Xbox Series X, Starfield outputs a 4k image. However, in the background, the console is rendering the image at 1440p only. Similarly, the less powerful Xbox Series S outputs a 1440p image, upscaling it from the original 900p resolution.
While low resolution is something people can easily live with, it is actually a low frame rate that makes or breaks the gaming experience for most players. Unfortunately, Starfield has a 30FPS limit on both Microsoft consoles, making it less than an ideal choice of platform for people who want to play at higher FPS.
This is where the PC version comes in, which offers a variety of graphical settings to choose from and therefore is objectively the best way to play the game. Since I travel a lot a gaming laptop is the best choice for me. So, I chose the HP Omen 16 mainly for two reasons – it has an RTX 4060 GPU which should be enough to handle a game like Starfield and the laptop’s cooling is excellent. I know this because I tested the same in my HP Omen 16 in-depth review.
Before I begin here are the HP Omen 16 specs to give you a cohesive idea of what my gaming setup is capable of.
If the specs are any indication, the HP Omen 16 looks like a fairly capable machine on paper, and here’s how well it runs Starfield. I tested the game by changing the universal graphics setting toggle to keep the results simple and replicable. As is visible from the chart below, Starfield ran best at medium graphics settings. Delivering a steady 60FPS in most action sequences and going as high as 70FPS in several indoor places.
I also have a breakdown of the average CPU and GPU power consumption of the gaming laptop. It is clear that the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU is easily able to maintain between 50-55W of power draw for over an hour of gaming session. It is also an indication that the laptop’s cooling is functioning well. More importantly, the RTX 4060 GPU can also maintain between 60-70W while gaming at 1080p setting at medium.
The ultimate saving grace is the 53db fan noise of HP Omen 16. A sound level of 53 decibels (dB) for a gaming laptop fan is generally considered to be on the moderate side. For comparison, here are some common noise levels:
While 53 dB is not extremely loud, it is noticeable, especially in a quiet room. It is not uncommon for gaming laptops to produce this level of noise under heavy loads, such as while playing demanding games or performing intensive tasks, due to the need for increased cooling to handle the heat generated by the powerful components.
The optimal platform for playing Starfield is a powerful PC, and the HP Omen 16 laptop stands out as an excellent choice. The game’s high-performance demands are met by the laptop’s AMD Ryzen 7 and RTX 4060 GPU, ensuring smooth gameplay at 60 FPS or higher on medium settings, surpassing the Xbox Series X/S’s limited 30 FPS. Despite the fan noise reaching 53 dB under load, it’s a minor inconvenience compared to the laptop’s efficient cooling system and portability benefits. Thus, for those valuing performance, graphical quality, and the ability to game on the go, the HP Omen 16 provides an awesome Starfield experience.
