A few years back, ‘cheap gaming laptop’ would have sounded an oxymoron: gaming laptop could never be cheap and a cheap laptop could never be fit for gaming.
However, the introduction of affordable processor and graphic units by Intel (and AMD) has proven to be a game-changer. As much as that you can easily find many affordable gaming machines by reputable companies like Asus, Dell, HP, MSI, etc.
It means that half, if not all, of your worries as a fiscally-conscious gamer are gone. And yet, there are things that nobody can sort out for you except yourself.
In a detailed buying guide included in this article, I have chalked out a strategy to help you define your preferences while finding the next affordable gaming laptop. Whereas, one criterion will remain fixed—budget.
To further facilitate you, I have listed 5 laptops that can be easily considered as the best cheap gaming laptops under $600. If you can spend a little higher, you can look into Best Cheap Gaming Laptops Under $1000 to buy in 2023
5 Top-Rated Budget Gaming Laptops
Reviews
Acer Nitro 5 AN515 Laptop: Core i5-8300H, 15.6inch Full HD IPS Display, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, NVidia GTX 1050 4GB Graphics
Screen Size & Resolution: 15.6″ | CPU: Core i5-8300H (Quad-core)| GPU: NVidia GTX 1050 4GB Graphics (dedicated) | Memory: 8GB| Storage: 1TB HDD | Weight: 5.95 pounds | Keyboard: Backlit with numeric keypad | Wireless type: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Bluetooth type: Bluetooth 4.1 | Expected Battery life: 7 hours | Ports: USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 1), Two USB 2.0 Type-A, One USB 3.0 Type-A, SD card slot, HDMI out, headphone/mic combo jack, Gigabit Ethernet | OS: Windows 10 Home | Dimensions: 10.47 x 15.39 x 1.06 inches
With Nitro 5, Acer set the bar for budget gaming. Of all the features given above, NVidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Graphics is exception. You can’t expect dedicated graphics in a budget laptop, and yet, the likes of Nitro 5 are here to surprise you.
What are its major strengths?
One thing is for sure: its strengths far exceed its weaknesses.
Acer Nitro 5 is featuring the most powerful Graphic Card in mid-range laptops, and certainly the most powerful processor too. Dedicated NVidia GTX 1050 4GB GPU; Quad-core, 8th generation Core i5-8300H CPU, and DDR4 8 GB RAM is a deadly combo to smoothly run all high-end games.
You can always upgrade the RAM and storage of this laptop, as it has special slots available for it.
The screen size is ideal and so does the screen resolution for a mid-range laptop. (15.6-inch screen size and FHD resolution)
One of its most striking features is the customizable cooling system. You can turn up the speed of the fan when running the system at high settings to avoid overheating the laptop.
Last but not least, the keyboard is top-of-the-line as it is backlit and has a fairly long key travel. WSAD keys are emboldened in red to help gamers to navigate on the keyboard.
What are its major drawbacks?
There is little to whine about in such a limited budget. And yet, we have a few things that we didn’t like.
1 TB hard drive is spacious storage capacity, the laptop would have been more efficient with an SSD drive.
We simply hate the thick bezel on a screen which makes it look like an outmoded laptop. It overshadow the overall visual appeal of the laptop.
What games can it smoothly run?
It can run all the top tier games including GTA V, Fortnite, Minecraft, DOTA 2, DOOM, PUBG lite at medium setting. However, the laptop might freeze when running a lot of application at one time. One solution is to upgrade the RAM to 16 GB, as you can thus unlock the true potential of this laptop.
[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-check-1″ cons_icon=”icon icon-cancle” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Cooling system
Dedicated Graphics card
Powerful processor
[/i2pros][i2cons]Thick Bezel
[/i2cons][/i2pc]Bottom-line: This inexpensive laptop is a treat for competitive gamers. Aside from gaming, it can also be used as a laptop for high school keeping in mind the needs and interests of teenagers.
Asus TUF Gaming Laptop, 15.6” IPS Level Full HD, AMD Ryzen 5 3550H Processor, AMD Radeon Rx 560X, 8GB DDR4, 256GB PCIe Nvme SSD, Gigabit WiFi, Windows 10 - FX505DY-ES51
Screen Size & Resolution: 15.6″ FHD IPS display | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3550H (Quad-core)| GPU: AMD Radeon RX 560x 4GB GDDR5 (dedicated) | Memory: 8GB| Storage: 256 GB SSD | Weight: 4.85 pounds | Keyboard: Backlit with 20 million keystroke durability | Wireless type: 802.11ac Wi-Fi | Bluetooth type: Bluetooth 4.2 | Expected Battery life: 3-4 hours | Ports: Two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, an Ethernet jack, a power jack, and a headphone jack. | OS: Windows 10 Home | Dimensions: 14.2 x 10.3 x 1 inches
This Asus TUF laptop has many advantages over the Acer Nitro 5 we have discussed earlier. It seems like ASUS has improved on areas where Acer has disappointed the consumers in Nitro 5: Screen size, Portability and storage.
What are its major strengths?
We would say that the quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 3550H is its selling point. It is powerful, yet energy-efficient, then many latest-gen Intel processors, including the core i5-8300U we discussed earlier.
AMD Radeon RX 560x GPU comes as a surprise in a budget laptop for the fact that it is dedicated and has 4 GB of GDDR5 RAM (VRAM) to render graphic smoothly.
Preinstalled 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 256 GB SSD are barely enough for running high-octane games. These seem like the features which ASUS has skimped on to keep the price within budget. Fortunately, you can upgrade them by spending a little extra anytime you want to.
The 15.6 inch IPS display with thin bezel is the domain where Asus beat its head-to-head competitor Acer Nitro 5.
Another exceptional feature is the sturdy design of this laptop which doesn’t compromise on portability despite being sturdy.
You will definitely love its backlit, tactical keyboard that is specially designed to enhance user experience—your finger will not sour even after long gaming sessions.
Lastly, the feature that is worth mentioning is its Anti-Dust cooling system. What is special about it? Well, it guarantees that your laptop will last long by effectively removing the dust particles and efficiently cooling the internal components.
What are its major drawbacks?
Limited RAM and Storage space should be considered more of cutbacks to keep the price low than flaws in the laptop.
Having said that, the ASUS TUF series, and particularly this model, is truly disappointing in its display. It has a limited color gamut and a low contrast ratio.
Also, a case in point is its short battery life. ASUS could have done better by providing at least 4 to 5 hours of performance in a single charge.
What games can it smoothly run?
Owing to the IPS display, this laptop is unsuitable for competitive gaming that demands a higher refresh rate, and low response time and input lag. This means that despite meeting the installation requirements of games like DOTA 2, Overwatch, and Fortnite and CS: GO, it would not be able to provide smooth gameplay in these games.
[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-check-1″ cons_icon=”icon icon-cancle” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Powerful processor
Dedicated/discrete Graphic card
Efficient cooling system
FHD 15.6 inch display with minimum bezel
[/i2pros][i2cons]Dull display
Battery drains fast
[/i2cons][/i2pc]Bottom line: Unless you are very much into FPS games, and on top of that, are extremely conscious of refresh rates in your gameplay, ASUS TUF FX505DY is the best mid-range gaming laptop, hands down.
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U, 8GB DDR4, 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 802.11ax, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit KB, A515-54-59W2, Silver
Screen Size & Resolution: 15.6″ FHD IPS display | CPU: intel Core i5-10210U (Quad-core)| GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 (integrated) | Memory: 8 GB DDR4| Storage: 256 GB SSD | Weight: 5.75 pounds | Keyboard: Backlit | Wireless type: 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6| Bluetooth type: Bluetooth 4.2 | Expected Battery life: 5-6 hours | Ports: USB 3.1 ports (3) including Type-C, USB 2.0 port(1), Ethernet, Audio jack | OS: Windows 10 Home | Dimensions: 14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71
Acer Aspire 5 is not as good as the Acer Nitro 5 but it is cheaper and slim. Also, Aspire 5 is not considered as a full-fledged gaming laptop due to its low performing processor and integrated graphics.
What are its major strengths?
The first and foremost advantage of this laptop is the sheer number of features it offers in a shoe-string budget.
Intel Core i5-10210U despite being the tenth generation, quad-core processor is inferior to core i5-8300H in performance.
The fast 256 GB SSD and 8 GB DDR4 preinstalled in this laptop will do fine for games that occupy less space and need low RAM. Remember, you can always boost performance by upgrading the RAM and storage.
15.6 FHD IPS display is a stunner. It covers a wide color gamut than the ASUS TUFF laptop we discussed above and also has a high contrast ratio. In layman terms, you will get a sharp and crisp image with great color depths.
It offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity—the fastest wireless connectivity you get only in premium laptops. In addition to this, it offers Ethernet USB 3.1 and USB 2.0 ports including a type C port.
Last but least, it has a solid battery life to offer. On a single recharge, you can use it all day with average usage.
What are its major drawbacks?
One has little room for criticism at such a low budget. Still, we have pointed one or two glaring flaws on these laptops.
The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 can never stand next to discrete chips. We are not optimistic about its performance while rendering games with demanding Video Graphics.
Moreover, its keyboard is not adapted to intensive gaming so you might get your fingers sour.
What games can it smoothly run?
You might play GTA V, and the likes of it, in low settings. However, it is not going to give the performance you need for competitive games like Fortnite, Dota 2, etc.
[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-check-1″ cons_icon=”icon icon-cancle” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Dirt cheap
Long battery life
Solid Display
[/i2pros][i2cons]Keyboard not well-adapted to gaming
[/i2cons][/i2pc]Bottom-line: This laptop is not meant for gaming. Its only selling point is its low price tag. The reason it is in our list is that it has nearly all the necessary specs needed for entry-level gaming.
2018 Dell Inspiron 15 5000 15.6 inch Full HD Touchscreen Backlit Keyboard Laptop PC, Intel Core i5-8250U Quad-Core, 8GB DDR4, 1TB HDD, Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi, Windows 10 dell i5570-4364slv-pus
5 used from $399.00
Screen Size & Resolution: 15.6″ | CPU: Core i5-8250U (Quad-core)| GPU: Intel 620 Graphics (Integrated) | Memory: 8GB| Storage: 1TB HDD | Weight: 4.8 pounds | Keyboard: Backlit with numeric keypad | Wireless type: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Bluetooth type: Bluetooth 4.2 | Expected Battery life: 3.5 hours | Ports: Two USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 1), Two USB 2.0 Type-A, HDMI out, headphone/mic combo jack| OS: Windows 10 Home | Dimensions: 14.96 x 10.15 x 0.89 inches
Dell Inspiron is a business laptop that that is suitable for entry-level gaming and not the other way around. Again, like Acer Aspire 5, the only reason it is our list is that it fits the budget constraint we have set for ourselves.
What are its major strengths?
Dell Inspiron 5000 and Acer Aspire 5 have many features in common including their major selling point: budget. Dell Inspiron is a bit on the expensive side but in return, it offers massive storage capacity and high durability.
In a head-to-head comparison, Dell Inspiron falls behind all other laptops we have discussed above. It has neither the computing power (core i5-8250U) not the graphic processing power (Intel 620 integrated Graphics) to take on other budget laptops in our list.
One advantage it offers is the massive storage capacity of 1000 GB HDD. Plus, 8 GB RAM is consistent with the requirement we have set for ourselves.
Fast Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection have a number of different advantages, but the reason you are going to love it is the convenience it adds to life: you can connect many wireless devices without lag in performance.
Lastly, the 15.6-inch FHD touch screen display is worth mentioning. Dell has not disappointed in the display of this laptop, if in anything, as you will get a clear and crisp picture quality.
What are its major drawbacks?
Given the low specs this laptop offers, one can easily predict the drawbacks in this laptop.
Freezing is a major flaw is of the laptop which occurs when running too many applications at a time. The computing power is just not enough to handle the scores of application simultaneously.
Its keyboard is highly unsuitable for gaming as you have to apply more force to register a key. The short key travel further exacerbates the situation.
What games can it smoothly run?
You should not have unrealistic expectation from this laptop as, in that case, it is going to heavily disappoint you with its integrated Intel 620 Graphics chip.
[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-check-1″ cons_icon=”icon icon-cancle” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Dirt Cheap
Massive storage
Impressive display
[/i2pros][i2cons]Low battery performance
Shallow key travel
[/i2cons][/i2pc]Bottom-line: Business professionals who have an interest in gaming will find an ideal match for requirements in this laptop.
Latest_Dell_G3 High Performance Gaming 15.6-inch FHD IPS Laptop with i5-8300H CPU, 8GB RAM, 1TB Hybrid HD with 8GB Cache, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB Graphics, Windows 10
Screen Size & Resolution: 15.6″ FHD display| CPU: Core i5-8300H (Quad-core)| GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (dedicated) | Memory: 8GB| Storage: 1TB HDD | Weight: 7 pounds | Keyboard: WASD blue backlit| Wireless type: 802.11 ac | Bluetooth type: Bluetooth 5.0| Expected Battery life: 6 hours and 37 minutes| Ports: 1x 2-in-1 SD / MicroMedia card 2x SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Type-A 1x USB 2.0 1x Power/DC-in Jack 1x HDMI 2.0 1x Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 1x Headphone/Mic| OS: Windows 10 | Dimensions: 21 x 9 x 3 inches
Unlike Dell Inspiron 5000, G3 15 is made essentially for gaming and nothing else but gaming. You can’t take it to places for it is bulky and heavy. You can’t watch movies on it for it has a quite unimpressive display. But if you are a passionate gamer, these drawbacks are not deal-breakers.
What are its major strengths?
Two of its formidable advantages over other laptops in our list is its quad-core, 8th generation core i5-8300H processor, and dedicated GeForce GTX 1050 graphics. They work side by side to ensure that you get a competitive edge every time you step into a battlefield.
8 GB RAM is just enough memory to meet the installation requirements of a great majority of games. But remember, you also get 4GB of extra VRAM with GPU to fall back on when running these games at high settings.
An SSD, HHD combination is a lot better than any of them alone. Dell G3 15 comes with a spacious 1 TB hard drive, but you can add additional SSD storage if you want to. Money invested in SSD will be returned in boosted laptop performance.
Though Dell G3 is not featuring a backlit keyboard, the WASD keys are differentiated and are backlit to facilitate gamers. The keyboard is full-sized, has a key with fair key travel. Also, it takes less force to register keys on it.
This laptop is featuring one of the most powerful wireless connectivity technology. With Bluetooth 5, and 802.11 ac you can connect all wireless external devices like a mouse and headset without experiencing any lag.
What are its major drawbacks?
As mentioned earlier, this gaming laptop like many of its cousins is not built to be easily portable. It is 3 inches thick and weighs 7 pounds. You will definitely hate carrying it around.
Another major drawback is its dull display. It covers an extremely low percentage of RGB color gamut low, 63 percent, so you won’t be able to get a vibrant display out of it. Put another way, it doesn’t offer huge entertainment value.
What games can it smoothly run?
It meet the installation requirements of all the top-notch competitive games. Given the dedicated NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1050 graphics and a powerful quad-core processor, it can easily handle GTA V, PUBG, Fortnite, DOTA 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Hitman at medium settings.
There is a room for improvement in RAM as preinstalled 8 GB will not be enough when you have multiple games installed. You can upgrade it to 12 GB as there are slots available for additional RAM.
[i2pc pros_icon=”icon icon-check-1″ cons_icon=”icon icon-cancle” show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Powerful dedicated graphics
High Storage capacity
Ultra-fast wireless connectivity
[/i2pros][i2cons]It is a bit heavy
Dull Display
[/i2cons][/i2pc]Bottom line: This laptop is beefed up with the most powerful specs one can find in a budget gaming laptop: be it dedicated graphics, a fast CPU, or huge storage.
Final Verdict
We cast our vote in the favor of Acer Nitro 5, and we have some solid reasons to back it up.
First and foremost, it has the most powerful CPU (Core i5-8300H) in all the laptops on our list. To further add to its brilliance, it comes equipped with a dedicated Graphic Card (NVidia GTX 1050). And in storage (1 TB HDD) and memory (8 GB), you have the option to upgrade this rig by adding RAM and SSD storage into it.
One of its distinguishing features is the patented anti-dust cooling system. You can adjust the speed of the fan to expel hot air and dust particles through tactfully designed vents at the sides. You won’t find it on many laptops in a tight budget.
And last but not least, it fulfills the screen size and resolution requirements for the best gaming experience.
Buying guide—what to look for in a cheap gaming rig?
Buying guide—what to look for in a cheap gaming rig?
By this guide, I aim to help you steer clear of wrong choices. Unfortunately, I may have to lower down your expectations a bit, for it is always hard to get the best of both worlds in an affordable laptop for gaming.
To save you the pain of scouring the internet for details, I have tried to make it comprehensive.
So without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
CPU—four cores is the bare minimum.
Four parameters decide the overall performance of a CPU, and indirectly, the laptop itself.
- Generation—With higher generations, you will experience improved performance level
- Number of cores—With a higher number of cores, a CPU can tackle multiple tasks at once
- Clock speed—higher clock speed indicates the CPU can handle more tasks in a second
- Threading—Treads act as a virtual core; it adds to multitasking efficiency of CPU
As we are on a tight budget here, we surely will have to make some compromises. The best we are going to get is ‘H’ and ‘U’ series (Core i5/i7) processor by Intel of probably 6th, 7th, or 8th generation. If you are a fan of AMD, you will likely have to settle for Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 series.
Next to generation, no of cores shall be your key concern. If you can fork out extra money for it, an 8th core processor is a sweet spot between price and performance. But even if you are on a budget, you can’t go for less than 4 cores.
Multi-threading is preferable and so does the higher clock speed of the speed.
The most common processor type you will come across while buying a cheap gaming laptop includes:
- Intel Core i5-8250u (8th generation)
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500H
GPU—you should not expect a dedicated/discrete GPU.
As you might know, having the latest most powerful processor in your laptop isn’t enough. To run AAA games, it must always be complemented by an equally powerful GPU.
In layman terms, GPU is responsible for rendering video and 3D graphics on your machine. It comes in two types: dedicated/discrete and integrated GPUs. An integrated GPU can never be a match of its discrete cousin, but it is cost-effective.
The budget laptops we are going to review are most likely to have integrated GPUs in them, but remember, we have found a few exceptions for you. Most of them can easily run games like Fortnite, GTA V, and CS: Global Offensive at optimal settings, however, they will struggle to run more graphic-taxing games like PUBG PC.
The most common integrated/dedicated GPU’s that give a solid performance on a modest budget will be:
- NVIDIA GeForce 1050
- Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory—8 GB RAM is the best you are going to get.
The best thing about a RAM is that, in most laptops, it can be upgraded. You are more likely to get 8 GB RAM in an affordable laptop than 16GB. Expecting 32 GB RAM in a budget laptop is like living in a fool’s paradise while getting just 4GB is simply not acceptable.
However, one feature that is often overlooked is the RAM type.
While looking for laptops, you will most likely come around terms like SDRAM, DDR3, and DDR4 RAM type. Each RAM type in the order given above has improved over its previous model. DDR4 RAM type is the more power efficient and also the fastest of them.
Remember, the greater the size of the RAM, and the latest the type, the more efficient your laptop performance will be while running high-graphic games and multiple applications simultaneously.
Storage—SSD is preferable for its superior reading/writing speed.
Many downplay the significance of a hard drive despite the fact that it contributes to the overall efficiency of a laptop. In storage, we are usually stuck with two choices: an HDD and an SSD drive.
One (HDD) is cheaper but slower. The other (SSD) costs an arm and leg, but you will get the fastest reading/writing speed (Above 200 MB/s). Also, the SSD drive is power efficient. With low power consumption, it takes nearly half the time to boot up as compared to HDD.
I know you would love your laptop to have an SSD drive, but given their low capacity in a budget laptop (256 GB), you should reconsider. Your fat gaming files will need space and 256 GB is just not enough for them.
The ideal choice will be to have a combination of both (SSD and HDD) in a budget gaming laptop.
Screen—15.6-inch screen with FHD resolution.
Gamers tend to enjoy large screens, and that is why many PC gamers have large-sized monitors attached to their beast rigs.
In laptops, however, one cannot have a screen size greater than 17-in. And that is true for premium laptops. In budget laptops, the most you should expect is 15.6-in screen size; whereas, the least is 14-in to not ruin your gaming experience.
If you are willing to put a serious dent in your wallet, you can buy a laptop that can offer a 4k display just like a high-end TV. However, we won’t be getting this on any of our budget laptops.
An FHD display (1080p) with a 16:9 aspect ratio is the most optimal option in such a tight budget: 600$.
You should avoid the bezel which in some gaming laptops can be as wide as 1 inch, thus ruining the aesthetics of screen and gaming experience.
A few other things to consider in screen size:
Brightness:
the brightness of a laptop is measured in nits. For outdoor usage, a good brightness level lies between 200-250 nits.
Panel Technology:
the most popular panel technologies are IPS and TN. IPS is superior when it comes to viewing angle, color depth, and covering a color gamut. TN panels offer a better refresh rate.
Refresh Rate:
The refresh rate is the number of times per second pixels are updated on a screen. Response. It is measure in hertz. Higher refresh rates are desirable in fast competitive games to counter screen tearing and ghosting.
In a budget gaming laptop, the brightness would always be lower than 250 nits; the screen panel is likely to be TN, and 60Hz is the limit of Refresh Rate.
Keyboard—tactical with backlit technology.
If you are not an active gamer, the laptop keyboard would suffice to meet your needs as you will not put it through a lot of abuse.
However, for active gamers, it is usually recommended to buy a separate mechanical RGB keyboard for two obvious reasons.
- Laptop keyboards are expensive to replace.
- Most laptop keyboards are not meant to meet gaming needs.
Given that to still prefer a laptop keyboard, it should meet the following criteria.
- Backlit.
- Full-sized.
- Long key travel (distance covered by keys when they are fully pressed)
Ports—the number should not be a priority
You might want your laptop to connect to a monitor or a TV and, therefore, you will need connectivity ports like HDMI and Display port.
For data transfer, the best option is to have a USB thunderbolt port. Unfortunately, you won’t be getting it in a budget laptop.
USB 2.0, USB 3.1 ports, an SD card reader slot, Audio jack, are not too much to expect in a budget laptop. However, the number of ports is less critical of a factor than those we discussed above.
Wireless Connectivity—powerful Bluetooth connectivity is as important as the Wi-Fi.
As gamers are tempted to use a wireless mouse and headset with their gaming rigs to avoid the mess created by tangling of wires, a gaming laptop must have the latest and fastest Bluetooth technology.
Moreover, it must support the latest Wi-Fi connectivity technology to allow for a blazing-fast transfer rate.
To make things simple, please look following features in a gaming laptop
- Bluetooth 4 or 5
- Wireless Type 11a/b/g/n/ac (ac has the transfer rate of roughly 1300 MBS/sec, the highest of all)
Cooling—efficient cooling in a gaming laptop is a necessity
A gaming laptop is highly susceptible to failure when it is running on high settings and its cooling system is not up to par.
Ideally, the design of a gaming laptop allows for the incorporation of a powerful fan, proper vents for exhaust, and customization of fan speed.
So even in a budget laptop, you should seek out an efficient cooling system if you are going to use it for gaming.
Battery—3-5 hours is ideal.
Gaming laptops are not meant to provide a long battery life. Anything more than 3 hours shall be welcomed; whereas, battery life more than 5 hours in a gaming laptop is an extraordinary feature.
Long battery life comes with a compromise of the portability of the laptop.
FAQs
What games can I play on a laptop under 600$?
With 8GB RAM, integrated Intel UHD 620 integrated GPU and core i5-8250U (most likely specs you are going to get in a budget laptop), you meet the system requirements of all the top-notch games like GTA V, Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, PUBG lite, DOTA 2, etc.
A budget laptop can seamlessly run these games, and a great many others, at optimal settings.
I know I have to compromise on a budget laptop. Is it really worth it?
Yes, it is. The fact that you are going for a budget laptop makes you an entry-level gamer or an occasional one. (Pro gamers do not compromise on their gaming rigs.) You will save a lot of money to spend on other gadgets like high-tech headphones or a gaming mouse.
Can I run GTA V in a laptop under 600$?
Most budget laptops meet the minimum requirement of running GTA V. But meeting the installation -requirements is one thing, to run the game flawlessly is another.
Budget laptops, especially under 600$, can smoothly run GTA V at optimal graphic settings. However, things get a little messier as you move towards high settings.
Do budget gaming laptops last long?
Well, it really depends upon the personalized usage.
The most obvious cause of laptop failure is overheating which leads to the failure of one of several critical components. So an efficient cooling system in a budget laptop is highly desirable.
The most vulnerable part of a gaming laptop is the keyboard. Hard-core Gamers put the keyboards to extreme abuse and therefore have to replace it at least once in the life-span of laptops. It is preferable to buy a mechanical keyboard separately.
Can gaming laptops be used as normal laptops?
Yes, they could definitely be given that they don’t weigh so high that their portability is compromised. Budget gaming laptops, more than any gaming laptops, are most appropriate for normal usage as they have low specs and, therefore, low weight.
