Laptop vs Desktop: Which Is Best for Gaming?
Did you know that one of the first computers is the Electronic Numerical Integrator Analyzer and Computer at the University of Pennsylvania? It was 2,000 square feet!
Are you a streamer who isn’t sure which system is best for you? In this article, you’ll get to explore a comparison between a laptop vs desktop. Read on to discover the similarities, differences, and what makes them unique to find the best option for you.
Gaming Laptop vs Desktop
Now that gaming laptops are starting to come with all of the bells and whistles, you’re starting to second-guess whether you need a big and bulky desktop or not. There’s been an increase in gaming laptops recently, and you might wonder why.
First, gaming laptops come with great features such as GPUs, cutting-edge innovations, high-speed processors, and display resolutions. They’re now offering a similar experience to desktops with their features, except of course in size.
Portability
Laptops win for portability since you can easily move them from place to place. Some laptops are slim enough that they can fit into your backpack. Desktops are harder to carry about since you have the monitor, keyboard, etc.
Upgrade Features
If you’re someone who is looking to build your own gaming computer, then a desktop might be the better option. This is due to being unable to build a laptop.
Whether you want a faster RAM, GPU, etc. you have options with a desktop. The features of laptops aren’t as replaceable. If you have a prebuilt desktop though it is hard to upgrade.
For example, if it’s not a standard size, it might be limited what you can upgrade. You might still have the option to upgrade the CPU, RAM, and GPU though. For laptops, you can normally change the storage and RAM.
Performance
The good news is that laptops have caught up to desktops when it comes to performance. Gone are the days of subpar laptops. You can easily find great Black Friday deals for laptops and PCS online such as at www.lenovo.com.
Keep in mind that PC’s tend to have more space than laptops for adding storage, components, and better airflow. There’s a difference in GPU’s. For example, laptops can slow down faster than a desktop. This is due to overheating.
Overheating is a bigger problem with laptops than desktops. This is due to the amount of power that games consume. They can’t handle use over a long period of time as desktops can.
Sound
While laptops of the past have a weaker sound, those of today are more advanced and have better sound output. Keep in mind that with a laptop speaker, you won’t be able to have the sound quite as loud as a desktop. Laptops of today can still have a good sound, and some will let you place a 2.1 bass speaker underneath, it’ll sound like a tractor but you won’t need a tractor trailor accident attorney.
Gaming desktops allow you to have a variety of options for sound. You can turn it into the sound environment of your dreams.
For laptops, if your laptop fan is going, it can have an impact on the sound quality. Laptop fans can become loud when they’re focusing on quality which can impact the sound.
Price
If you decide to build your own gaming desktop, you can do it for less than $1,000. For laptops, it’ll be hard to find a good gaming laptop for $1,000. It’ll normally cost twice as much to have a gaming laptop compared to creating your own gaming desktop.
Should I Buy a Gaming Laptop?
Before you decide between a gaming laptop and desktop, it’s a good idea to think about some factors such as your budget. If you have $2,000 laying around, a gaming laptop might be just right for you. Choosing a gaming laptop for under $1,000 will give you an option that’s not optimal.
Should I Build My Own Gaming Desktop?
Even if you’re nervous building your own gaming desktop, there are plenty of videos out there walking you through step-by-step and going over what parts you’ll need. You’ll get to decide what parts go into your desktop for optimal speed and design.
Laptop Pros and Cons
Laptops can be budget-friendly, portable, and powerful. Some cons are that laptops don’t have a great battery life, and all hardware is downsized. While it’s portable which allows you to bring your laptop anywhere, it has limitations when it comes to power and design.
Desktop Pros and Cons
With desktops, you have the option of upgradability, customization, performance, and a better gaming experience. The cons include the fact that it’s not portable, and it can add up quick price-wise.
Top Gaming Laptops
If you’re ready to have a gaming laptop that you can carry around with you to the local coffee shop or workspace, there are plenty of different gaming options out there. For example, the Legion 7i 15″ gaming laptop.
Legion 7i 15″
It has a precision-crafted chassis, lightning-fast panels, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, and a TrueStrike keyword. You can score this laptop for under $2,000 when it’s on sale!
IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15″ laptop
When it’s on sale, you can get the IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15″ laptop for under $1,000. It comes with a 15.6″ FHD IPS display that’s up to 12Hz. You can obtain an Xbox Game Pass for the PC with it from certain retailers.
It has a strong vent and fan system, and you can control the fan’s speed. You can also enjoy up 2x performance with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics.
Lenovo Legion 5, 15″ AMD
Another option under $1500 when it’s on sale is the Lenovo Legion 5, 15″ AMD. You can get up to Windows 10 Pro with it. It comes with an SSD hard drive for a faster boot time and quicker response.
Gaming Desktops
You can score a gaming desktop for under $1000 when it’s on sale. For example, the Legion Tower 5i Gaming PC you can get for $799.99. It has Windows Pro options, it’s focused on performance, 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, a minimalist design, and NVIDIA GeForce graphics.
You’ll have access to 100’s of PC games on your Windows 10. You can join for $4.99 a month during the beta stage.
From games such as Age of Empires II to Gears 5. Games are being added often.
IdeaCentre T540 Gaming Desktop
This option is powered by Intel Core processors. It has the Microsoft Office 2019 trial installed. You can score this on sale for $699.99.
The wired mouse and USB keyboard are included. It has NVIDIA GeForce graphics for gaming needs. The thermal sensors regulate the temperature and detect heat.
How To Save Money for a Gaming PC
Whether you’re considering a desktop or laptop, you might need to save money for either option. Some great ways to save money are to have a magic the gathering Saturday, stream on Youtube, or create a podcast. Podcasts can make money since you can have ads, same with Youtube.
If you host an event such as magic the gathering or dungeons and dragons, you can charge an admission fee. Just make sure that you have enough space for everyone who signs up. You can even sell food and drinks at the event.
Help the Elderly
Seniors might not understand technology too well since they spent most of their lives without it. Consider helping them with setting up technology and charging a rate for it.
Program
Do you enjoy programming? You can create different software, apps, or games for others to make extra money.
Learn different coding languages and you can build plenty of different software. Look online for different coding books to learn different coding languages.
Rent Games
Do you have video games that you don’t play much/anymore? You can rent them out for others to play. It’s a great way to make extra money just by renting games you don’t play much.
Side Jobs
Consider taking a part-time job or a side income such as food delivery or grocery shopping. They’re easy ways to earn extra money that you didn’t have before.
You can also consider taking online surveys and playing online games to earn money. Another option is to drive others around for different taxi services in your area.
Deciding Between a Gaming Laptop vs Desktop
Now that you’ve explored a comparison between a gaming laptop vs desktop, you should have a better idea which is the right option for you. Are you looking for more tech content? For everything from tech to gadgets and apps, check out our other articles today. You can also check out different how-tos right on our site.