Buying a gaming PC used to be for people who were into video games only. Times, however, have changed. As the pandemic raged through the lands, everybody was forced to stay at home. While stuck indoors, many turned to video games to maintain social connections and entertain themselves, including you. This started a whole new interest in the industry.
Video game creators and publishers received huge earnings throughout the year in 2020. A year later today, experts are not seeing any sign of dwindling sales from the industry even though many restrictions have been lifted and many people are getting vaccinated. In fact, there is even an 18% increase in video game software and 81% in hardware sales this year.
The billions that the video game industry earned represent one good thing — video games have been a lifeline for millions during the pandemic. What makes video games a popular entertainment and social connection tool is their inclusiveness. It welcomes people of all ages, from all walks of life, and with different gaming levels. Even novice players like you can play and enjoy a game.
It’s no wonder then that you’re excited about the video games that will be released in the last two months of the year. You’ll need to get your hardware ready. One question remains, though, before you set out to upgrade your gaming weapon: should you get a new gaming laptop or desktop?
Answering the Question
November saw the release of blockbusters such as Call of Duty: Vanguard, Forza Horizon 5, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, and Battlefield 2042. For December, everybody’s waiting for Final Fantasy XIV Online: Endwalker and the much anticipated, Halo Infinite. All of these games support high-demand visual effects, requiring a high-performing gaming PC. If you’re going to stick to single-player games though, a gaming laptop is a better investment.
Gaming laptops have gained popularity recently because of their portability. In general, though, players often go for a gaming desktop. If you’re unsure which gaming platform to choose still, let this article guide you.
How to Choose Between a Gaming Laptop and Desktop
Intel recommends considering four factors to help you decide when choosing between a gaming laptop and a desktop. You need to look at the customization capabilities, available hardware upgrades, portability, and to put everything together, the performance of a gaming platform.
Customization Capabilities
If you choose to get a laptop, you’ll get to pick from a diverse selection of units with preexisting form elements. This means you should consider a unit’s core components such as CPU, GPU, storage, and RAM. The same goes for the physical appearance of your laptop. You can pick from a wide variety of colors, sizes, and keyboard lighting options. You should also look at the number of its ports for USB, HDMI, and sound options.
However, you’ll be stuck with all of these elements for the rest of your laptop’s operating life. You may be able to fine-tune its performance or change its color, but you’ll still be using the same hardware until you replace your unit.
With desktops, you have a lot of customization options. It’s one of the main reasons why hardcore players stick to bulky gaming desktops. Because of the physical size of gaming PCs, you’ll be able to add more hardware to them and take out what you don’t need.
Hardware Upgrades
The compact design of laptops makes it difficult to provide them with hardware upgrades. Processors and graphics cards are often difficult to access. In laptops where they’re easy to get to, they are soldered onto the motherboard.
Considering this, desktops again, offer better options. Because of their modular layout, you can easily access internal components and upgrade them. This makes it easier to replace outdated parts without the need to change the whole unit.
Portability
Portability meanwhile, is one of the main reasons why some players prefer to use gaming laptops. You can, in fact, purchase a laptop with the same power as a high-end gaming desktop, without the bulky element.
If you don’t want to be tethered to a desktop when playing, or you want to play more LAN games with other players, a laptop is your best choice.
Performance
Performance is the last factor that can affect your choice. Both laptops and desktops can offer you the same power, although in different sizes.
Intel, however, suggests getting a custom pre-built gaming PC. It will offer you a high degree of customization that will allow you to create a more powerful system.
Laptops are not better than desktops, and vice versa. It all depends on what you need and your current situation. If you want a customized unit and you have the space, go with a desktop. If you want a portable platform and don’t want to constantly switch hardware from work to gaming, choose a laptop.
