Gaming Laptops - No Longer the Preserve of the Esports Elite!

To keep up with the unrelenting pace of game development and hyper-realistic graphics processing, gaming laptops have a tough act to follow in pushing the boundaries of what you can box into a portable computer. Looking on from the sidelines, it can feel like a virtual cat and mouse game between game development companies and premium laptop manufacturers. Hey, let them get their tails in a spin, we’re not complaining!

For the end-user, it means getting our hands on gaming laptops that generate some serious horsepower. And then some more. With mind-bending tech-torque packed into increasingly sleek designs, the custom laptop market for gamers has expanded significantly - and rightly so! Higher-end components are also in big demand from graphic designers, video editors, animators and sound engineers. Pretty much, any production whizz worth their weight in artistic gold will strike the jackpot in the performance and shape of an accompanying gaming laptop.

Your Ultimate Gaming Laptop Checklist

Your budget (or lack thereof) will essentially dictate what ridiculously powerful machine you can pick up. If you’re willing to shop around for refurbished or used models though, you can grab a great bargain. We’ve compiled a short checklist of what you should be paying attention to when selecting the ideal gaming laptop to meet your online or artistic needs: (SSD storage is a complete no-brainer, but you know that already!)
 

1. Processor Power

The Intel Core i7 / i9 and the upper levels of the AMD Ryzen series should top your CPU shopping list. Both offer superior gaming and application performance, so it often boils down to personal preference. Whatever CPU you choose, ensure that it is complemented by next-generation components across the entire gaming laptop.

2. Graphics Card

What you see is what you get. And with many game releases developed on a cinematic level of hyper-realism, the onus rests on a sophisticated graphics card to render raw code into live screen action (with zero lag time!) NVIDIA has long since established itself as the graphics card but enjoys stiff and healthy competition from AMD and Radeon. It is all about balancing performance with value. 

3. Bigger and Faster RAM

While you should be aiming at a minimum of 16 Gigs of RAM to keep your gaming experience running smoothly, it certainly pays off to go higher, to perform to the full capacity of what your current gaming title requires. However, it is not always a case of “bigger is better” - particularly when custom building your gaming laptop. Match it to your CPU capabilities and go forth!

4. Display Size and Resolution

In terms of display size, it also boils down to a personal preference of what will satisfy your immersive gaming requirements. For some, a standard 14 inch suffices when gaming on the go. However, for the triple-screen cave-dwellers, gaming laptops max out your visual real estate at about 17 inches. 

For gaming or production purposes, you should be aiming for a screen resolution of at least 1920 x 1080 (HD) or higher. With refresh rate being both a priority for gamers and a competitive edge over screen rivals, it is well worth investing in a 120hz or even a 144Hz screen, if your squeezed budget allows.

Aside from the essential four components detailed above, customers in the market for these dream machines should also pay attention to sound cards, webcam resolution, and a comfortable keyboard and touchpad to get stuck into.

Endless Gaming Laptop Possibilities on Bob Shop

If you’ve mapped out the dream portable gaming machine, the chances are pretty strong that your perfect match is available on bobshop, South Africa’s premier online marketplace for buying and selling almost anything you can imagine.

Whether you’re a gamer, a designer, or simply demand the exceptional, narrow down your checklist and explore our wide range of gaming laptop models on offer. Place a bid, or buy directly today!