Getting a good gaming laptop for under $500 isn’t easy. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best notebooks in this price range. While you can’t expect to run 1080p at 60 frames per second on a 500-dollar laptop, you’ll still have plenty of power for casual gaming. Choosing the right processor is key in making a gaming laptop for under $500 a worthwhile purchase.
While we’re on the topic of performance, the Dell Precision M4300 is one of the better gaming laptops for under 500 dollars. Its Intel Core i7 processor offers up to 15-25% more performance than the previous model. With this, you’ll be able to play games at low settings for thirty to forty frames per second. The Dell Precision M4300 has a whopping 256GB of SSD storage, and its screen isn’t bad either. Although it doesn’t have a high-resolution display, the screen isn’t very responsive and color reproduction is disappointing.
If you’re looking for a gaming laptop under 500 dollars, keep in mind that the price will go up due to limited supply. If you’re not comfortable with removing the bottom of the laptop, you can always take it to a computer repair shop for a professional RAM upgrade. Generally, it’ll cost less than $500 if you do it yourself. Aside from the cost, a gaming laptop for under $500 usually has eight USB ports and will run EU4 okay early on, but it will grind in the later game.
If you want a powerful gaming laptop without breaking the bank, you’ll have to look past the Lenovo Ideapad. This model has a fantastic CPU and dedicated graphics. It also offers a solid battery life, and is affordable. But if you’re not into gaming, this machine isn’t the best option for you. If you’re looking for a budget gaming laptop, you might want to opt for an older model.
Among the best gaming laptops under $500, the Acer Aspire 5 is the best option. It has a strong processor, a dedicated graphics card, and a decent screen. It also offers a backlit keyboard. The Lenovo Ideapad 3 14 is another excellent option. If you’re looking for a laptop for business use, you can’t beat the Acer Aspire 5 Slim. Acer’s inspiron 15 series comes with a solid screen and an excellent graphics card. This laptop comes pre-installed with Windows 8.
If money is a constraint, an Asus VivoBook is another option. It’s the first gaming laptop under $500 to include an SSD drive, which can greatly improve the overall performance of a computer. The graphics card, which is powered by AMD Radeon R5, delivers excellent gaming output and can run up to 3.6Ghz. Acer’s Aspire 5 Amd processor is another option that’s worth considering.
The downside of a gaming laptop is that its battery life isn’t as long as a desktop PC’s. Unlike a desktop PC, a gaming laptop requires a power supply of at least 850W. This is necessary to feed a powerful processor, a large screen, and powerful graphics. While these are major disadvantages, true gamers will be happy to live with these drawbacks for the ultimate gaming experience.