There are a lot of factors to consider when shopping for a gaming computer laptop cheap. You need a powerful CPU and GPU to push high frame rates in demanding games, a good cooling system to prevent overheating, a comfortable keyboard for long gaming sessions, and a fast SSD to minimize loading times. Those factors add up, which is why gaming laptops are often more expensive than thin, light ultraportables. But there are still affordable options that offer competitive gaming performance. For example, the Origin EON16-X packs a powerful RTX 4090 GPU into an affordable package.
The first step in selecting the right gaming laptop for you is to determine your budget and the types of games you want to play. You can then narrow your search by evaluating the performance of various systems and their build quality, display, port selections, battery life, and other features.
Gaming laptops come in a variety of sizes, with 14-inch models being the most portable. These are perfect for students and professionals who need a mobile gaming machine but don’t have the space for a larger 17- or 18-inch device. However, there are also options for gamers who want a bigger screen and more power. The MSI Katana A15 AI (2024) is a great example. It has a 16-inch 144Hz FHD display that offers superior response times to avoid ghosting when playing games with fast-moving graphics. It also supports HDR and covers 114% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is more than you’ll get in most laptops at this price range.
You should also take note of the type of GPU that’s installed in a gaming laptop, as this can have a big impact on your gaming experience. Dedicated GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce RTX line deliver outstanding performance in modern AAA games, while AMD’s Ryzen processors are power efficient without sacrificing gaming performance. You’ll also need to balance graphics performance with resolution, refresh rate, and the panel type you choose.
A dual-drive setup is common in gaming laptops, with a faster SSD holding the operating system and a slower drive for game installations. This allows for quicker boot times and reduced load times in gaming. But this configuration isn’t as common anymore, and the trend has been toward a single, faster drive for both operating system and games.
In addition to evaluating the performance of gaming laptops, you’ll need to pay attention to how much bloatware is installed and what kind of ports are included in the system. Some manufacturers include useful programs that manage the fans and other hardware, while others cram their machines with extra software you’ll never use. To make sure you’re not paying for unnecessary features, it’s best to remove unwanted programs one by one or use a utility such as Microsoft’s reset tool before purchasing a new gaming laptop. You’ll also want to check the storage capacity, as some of the more resource-intensive games can quickly fill up a 512 GB solid-state drive.