Choosing a gaming laptop: graphics card, screen, cooling and weight

The graphics card decides what you can play

In a laptop the graphics card is fixed to the motherboard. What you choose now is what you play with for the life of the laptop. The name of the graphics card is almost always in the product name.

• RTX 5050 and 5060: the entry point of the current generation, for Full HD and lighter games at QHD. Examples are the MSI Katana 17 HX, the Lenovo LOQ 15 and the MSI Cyborg 15.
• RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti: more power for QHD and higher settings, as in the Acer Nitro V 16S AI, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the Acer Nitro 18 AI with a 5070 Ti.
• RTX 5080: for high resolutions and demanding games, as in the MSI Raider 16 MAX HX and the MSI Vector A16 HX.

Keep in mind that the same graphics card is not equally fast in every laptop. NVIDIA gives each laptop chip a power range, for example 45 to 100 W for the RTX 5060 and 80 to 150 W for the RTX 5080, and where a laptop sits in that range differs per model. Manufacturers usually call this the TGP, in watts. A thin laptop often gives the chip less power than a thick one with the same card. Look for the TGP in the specifications and compare it when you put two laptops with the same graphics card side by side.

The screen: size, resolution and Hz

The screen comes with the laptop and cannot be swapped. Three things matter.

• Size: 14 inches is light and fits in any bag, like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. 15 and 16 inches is the common middle size. 17 and 18 inches gives the biggest picture, but a laptop like that rarely leaves the house, like the ASUS ROG Strix G18.
• Resolution: Full HD is light work for the graphics card. QHD or 3K is sharper but needs more power. Match the resolution to the graphics card, or you will get few frames per second.
• Refresh rate: gaming laptops usually have 144 Hz or more. The MSI Crosshair 16 HX AI lists 240 Hz, the Acer Nitro V 16S AI 180 Hz.

Some laptops have an OLED or Mini LED screen with more contrast. According to its product name the Razer Blade 16 has a 240 Hz OLED screen and the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI a 250 Hz Mini LED screen. Read more about panel types in our guide choosing a gaming monitor.

Cooling and noise

A strong graphics card and processor make a lot of heat in a small case. Manufacturers deal with that through bigger fans, more vents and thicker cases. That is why the laptops with the heaviest graphics cards are often the thickest too.

Most gaming laptops come with software where you choose between a quiet mode and a full power mode. In quiet mode the laptop runs cooler, but you get fewer frames per second. If you often play on your lap or on the sofa, keep the vents free. A laptop that cannot breathe slows itself down.

Size and weight

Ask yourself first how often the laptop has to travel. If it goes to school or work every day, choose a 14 or 16 inch model. A thin 14 inch laptop with an RTX 5060 or 5070 Ti, like the Zephyrus G14 with RTX 5060 or with RTX 5070 Ti, weighs less than an 18 inch model. If the laptop mostly stays on a desk, a big and heavier model is no problem, and you often get a larger screen and more cooling in return.

Count the charger too. Gaming laptops come with a separate power adapter that can be fairly large. For gaming at full power the laptop should be plugged in: on battery most models run in a more economical and slower mode.

Memory and storage

16 GB of memory is common in gaming laptops, more expensive models have 32 GB. For storage 1 TB is a comfortable size, because modern games take a lot of space. Many laptops have a second slot for an SSD or memory you can replace yourself, but not all of them: in some thin models the memory is soldered to the motherboard. Check the manufacturer's manual to see what you can still upgrade later.

Laptop or desktop

Choose a laptop if you want to take it with you or have little space. A desktop usually gives more cooling for the same graphics card, and you can upgrade it part by part later. If you are unsure, read our guide buying a gaming PC.