If you're all about PC gaming wherever you are, gaming laptops are for you. Beyond the hardware needed to run your favorite games, there are other things to consider when picking out your gaming laptop.
FullOffice Learning put together this guide to help you pick the option that best fits your gaming needs, including some of the options available for you at FullOffice.com
For a laptop to deliver a solid gaming experience, the hardware needs to be up to the task. While the GPU takes center stage, the processor, the amount and type of RAM, and storage all play an important role too.
Games are among the most demanding applications out there, and a good chunk of the workload falls on the graphics card. That's why the GPU matters so much when choosing a machine for gaming.
The CPU handles physics, AI, and resolution in our games, which is why the processor has a big impact on our gaming experience. That said, it's worth pointing out that most games don't actually make use of every thread or every core a processor has.
Once we've figured out which GPU and CPU we need, the next step is choosing a model with enough RAM and storage for gaming.
The cheapest gaming laptops come with 8GB of RAM, though the recommended minimum is a model with at least 16GB, which lets you game and multitask at the same time. If your budget is tight, you can go with 8GB of RAM, but before buying, make sure you'll be able to upgrade it later with higher-capacity modules.
The screen matters too, though when it comes to laptops we can't be too demanding about size — after all, it's a portable computer, meaning we need to be able to carry it around fairly comfortably.
The most common gaming laptop sizes are 15, 16, and 17 inches, though there are lighter exceptions out there. As for resolution, the minimum you'll find is Full HD at 60 Hz, but aside from the cheapest models, it's pretty common to see refresh rates reach 144 Hz. If your laptop is going to be your only gaming rig and you won't be moving it around much, consider picking up an external gaming monitor to get the most out of your GPU.
With all that in mind, FullOffice Learning recommends the following gaming laptops available for you at FullOffice.com
Dell Inspiron Gaming G5-5510 Laptop 15.6" Intel Core i7 10870H 512GB SSD Hard Drive 8GB RAM Windows 11 Home Black
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core™ i7-10870H (16MB Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 8 cores)
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home, single language
- Hard drive: 512GB CL35 M.2 SSD
- Memory: 8GB DDR4 2933MHz (expandable up to 32GB)
- Display: 15.6” FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits WVA Anti-Glare LED Backlit Narrow Border Display
- Camera: 0.92 MP, 1280 x 720 HD pixels
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3050 4GB GDDR6
- Battery: 3-cell, 56 Wh (built-in)
- Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2x2) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
- Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, Headphone/Mic Jack, 1x USB2.0 Gen1 w/ Power Share, 1x USB2.0, 1x USB3.2 Gen1, 1x USB-C
- Adapter: 240W Adapter
- Dimensions: 35.73 cm x 27.21 cm x 2.12 ~ 2.33 cm
- Weight: 2.65 kg
Dell Gaming G15 5511 Laptop 15.6" Intel Core i7 11800H 512GB SSD Hard Drive 16GB RAM Windows 11 Home Black
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel Core™ i7-11800H (24MB Cache, up to 4.6 GHz, 8 cores)
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home, single language
- Hard drive: 512GB CL35 M.2 SSD
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits WVA Anti-Glare LED Backlit Narrow Border Display
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3060 6GB GDDR6
- Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2x2) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
- Software: 30-day Microsoft Office trial
- Keyboard: Backlit keyboard
- Battery: 6-cell, 86WHr (built-in)
- Power: 240W Adapter
- Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, RJ45, 1x USB2.0 Gen1 w/ Power Share, 1x USB2.0, 1x USB3.2 Gen1, 1x USB-C (Data + DP)
- Audio: 1 combo headphone/microphone jack
- Warranty service: 1-year maintenance service + 1-year complete care
- Dimensions: 35.72 cm x 27.28 cm x 2.49 cm
- Weight: 2.45 kg
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3-15IMH05 Laptop 15.6" Intel Core i7 10750H 1TB+128GB SSD Hard Drive 8GB RAM Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Intel Core i7-10750H (6C / 12T, 2.6 / 5.0GHz, 12MB)
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- Hard drive: 128GB M.2 2242 PCIe 3.0x4 NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD 5400rpm 2.5"
- Memory: 1x 8GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2933
- Memory slots: Two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, dual-channel capable
- Maximum memory: Up to 16GB DDR4-2933
- Display: 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 250 nits anti-glare, 60 Hz
- Camera: 720p with privacy shutter
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
- Chipset: Intel HM470
- Audio chip: High Definition (HD) Audio
- Speakers: Stereo speakers, 1.5 W x 2, Dolby Audio
- Microphone: 2x, array
- Battery: Built-in 45Wh
- Maximum battery life: MobileMark 2014: 9.7 hours
- Power adapter: 135W slim tip (3-pin)
- Connectivity: 100/1000M Ethernet, 802.11ac WLAN, 2x2, Bluetooth 5.0
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (data transfer only), 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x combo headphone/microphone jack (3.5mm), 1x power connector
- Security chip: TPM 2.0 firmware
- Fingerprint reader: No
- Dimensions: 35.9 cm x 24.96 cm x 2.49 cm
- Weight: 2.2 kg
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57-76JJ Laptop 15.6" Intel Core i7 11800H 1TB+256GB SSD Hard Drive 16GB RAM Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Intel Core™ i7-11800H, Octa-Core, 2.30 GHz, up to 4.60 GHz, 24 MB SmartCache, 8GT/s
- Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64-bit Single Language
- Hard drive: 256 GB SSD PCIe NVMe + 1 TB HDD, expandable up to 2 TB SSD PCIe NVMe (2 x 1 TB) + 2 TB HDD 2.5”
- Memory: 16 GB DDR4 Dual Channel 3200 MHz, expandable up to 32 GB across two SODIMM modules
- Display: 15.6" 16:9 aspect ratio; IPS; 144 Hz; Ultra-thin design FHD 1920 x 1080, Acer ComfyView™ LCD LED backlit; mercury-free, environmentally friendly
- Camera: HD webcam with Super High Dynamic Range, 1280 x 720 resolution, 720p HD audio and video recording
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 4 GB GDDR6
- Connectivity: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650i, 2x2 MU-MIMO technology, Bluetooth 5.1, Killer Ethernet E2600
- Power and battery: 3-pin 180 W AC adapter, 4-cell Lithium-Ion battery, 57.5 Wh, up to 8 hours of battery life (based on web browsing tests)
- Audio: DTS:X Ultra Audio with optimized bass, loudness, and speaker protection with up to 6 custom content modes via smart amplifier; compatible with Windows Sonic Spatial Sound for PC gaming with built-in DTS licensing; immersive audio rendering over headphones and internal speakers.
- Ports: HDMI 2.0; 1 USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 4; 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 port with off-power charging; 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports; RJ-45 Ethernet; 3.5 mm combo audio jack for headphones/microphone; red backlit keyboard with numeric keypad; Precision Touch Pad
- Warranty: 1 year at service center
- Dimensions: 36.34 cm x 25.5 cm x 2.39 cm
- Weight: 2.4kg