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General discussionBest Laptop for computer games?(40 posts)(40 posts)
(40 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted July 30, 2018
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BuruBri1: ...
This one

It is able to run all those nice C64 games and weighs a mere 20 pounds!
Post edited July 30, 2018 by Lifthrasil
Posted July 30, 2018
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BuruBri1: ...
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Lifthrasil: This one

It is able to run all those nice C64 games and weighs a mere 20 pounds!
My, even the carpet is from the 1970's ;op
Posted July 30, 2018
Not to knock down everyone's Acer recommendations, but the HP Omen laptop I bought earlier this year runs great, has similar specs to Acer's laptops, and is more affordable. Link below is the one I bought.

https://computers.woot.com/offers/hp-omen-17-intel-i7-rx580-8gb-laptop-22?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_pc_2_11
Posted July 30, 2018
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Crosmando: Just use a desktop. The idea of the mobility of laptops is a joke, when playing games even the best batteries will run out in a flash. You will end up just gaming with the laptop on a desk while leaving it plugged it, and at that stage what's the difference between that and a desktop?
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timppu: A desktop PC and its monitor doesn't fit into my hand baggage when flying abroad, or when I go to the summer cottage.
I managed okay with the box, monitor, and keyboard, but the airline balked when I tried to put my desk in the overhead bin.

----

Anyway, I've had a Sager for about 20 months now (Sager is a Clevo re-brand) that does the duties for me. It's spec'ed on the high end so I'm not going to recommend this particular setup unless budget isn't an issue. Here's what I got:

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/lusting_over_a_laptop/post54

The laptop itself has run fine for me. No hardware issues that weren't driver-related. So far so good on reliability.
Posted July 30, 2018
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BenKii: Not to knock down everyone's Acer recommendations, but the HP Omen laptop I bought earlier this year runs great, has similar specs to Acer's laptops, and is more affordable. Link below is the one I bought.

https://computers.woot.com/offers/hp-omen-17-intel-i7-rx580-8gb-laptop-22?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_pc_2_11
That one you posted is factory reconditioned. The one I posted was a new one, hence price difference. When I was looking, omen were more expensive, but these things fluctuate. Most likely you can get better ones for the same price.
Posted July 30, 2018
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BenKii: Not to knock down everyone's Acer recommendations, but the HP Omen laptop I bought earlier this year runs great, has similar specs to Acer's laptops, and is more affordable. Link below is the one I bought.

https://computers.woot.com/offers/hp-omen-17-intel-i7-rx580-8gb-laptop-22?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_pc_2_11
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nightcraw1er.488: That one you posted is factory reconditioned. The one I posted was a new one, hence price difference. When I was looking, omen were more expensive, but these things fluctuate. Most likely you can get better ones for the same price.
Oh yeah, I forgot it was factory reconditioned. I guess because when I received it, it looked brand new so I didn't think twice about what the condition was listed as on Woot. Regardless, my laptop works great so it's definitely an option if you're on a tighter budget.
Posted July 31, 2018
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BuruBri1: Hi guys, I am new here and pretty new to gaming. I was wondering what laptop is best for computer games? Is it Windows? Any advice/input would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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AgentBJ09: Windows computers are the most widely used, and most programs are set up for the OS, so you've got the most options there.

One caveat however: Buy a copy of Windows 7 to downgrade from Windows 10 if the laptop you want doesn't come with such a disk. Win 7 is the most compatible gaming OS on the market compared to 10, and most of the games on this storefront and others cap at DirectX 11, so there's no need to invest in Win 10.

As for brands, I'd say ASUS, Acer, and LG are the best brands to look into for reliability. My 2011 Acer still runs fine, aside from some memory issues and a weak battery, but I've never had to bring it in to get repairs or upgrades.

CPU and Motherboard? I'd say AMD over Intel. There's not much difference in price and AMD laptops are rarer, but from personal experience, AMD has fewer issues overall.

Lastly, aim for a quad-core CPU of at least 2.2 Ghz. and at least 6 GIGs of memory, DDR3 at least. Those specs will let you run most of what's on this website with little trouble.

Something like this is what you're looking for overall: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4P078C5842
AgentBJ thank you so much for your reply and time! You are awesome. I will def take what you wrote into consideration.
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BuruBri1: Hi guys, I am new here and pretty new to gaming. I was wondering what laptop is best for computer games? Is it Windows? Any advice/input would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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nightcraw1er.488: Well, whatever answers you are going to get are going to be subjective, and dependant on what you want to play and do on the laptop. If it's just really old games then any laptop really. If it includes newer ones then a more powerful machine is needed. I recently brought:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Predator-Helios-GeForce-Keyboard/dp/B06Y4GZS9C
Which is a really good one, I love it, highly recommend it.
As for my opinions:
16gb minimum really nowadays of fastest ram you can afford.
Nvidia graphics cards are what I have gone for, and have done for many years, never had an issue with them.
SSD drive minimum with your OS on, you can have a HDD as wel, but the speed of SSDs can't be ignored.
For OS, it really has to be win10. Whilst I hate the constant updating, it is the only windows system they will support going forward, and when people speak about "comparability", the only game I have yet to find doesn't work is call of Juarez 1/2. Most can be fixed by patches, nocd (as win10 does not support securom), and following some simple good steps like not installing to wi dows directories and keeping your machine clean and minimal (I.e. Don't install all your games!).

Do note though, that weight could also be an issue. What are you using the laptop for again, maybe you need one of the really lightweight ones?

And do bear in mind that whatever non-desktop you buy will be outdated in a few years and far less simple to upgrade.
Nightcraw1er thank you for your post! You did awesome thank you. I would be using the computer for games like Age of Empires and Cossacks rn. Though I notice there are a lot of good games out there! So will prob play newer ones too eventually. My budget is like $500-$600. I am noticing the decent Asus + Acer are atleast that- has that been your experience? I'm still learning the computer tech language haha your opinions were awesome though. God GOG has a really great community here! thx for your time :)
Post edited July 31, 2018 by BuruBri1
Posted July 31, 2018
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mike_cesara: I'd recommend Asus, best quality/price ratio. Personally I'm using their products for ages and never faced any problems. Well, except broken keyboard, twice. On two different laptops. Perhaps I'm typing too much/fast ; )
Depends on your budget, grab something on Intel with Nvidia on board. 128bit card is a bare minimum for gaming. Aim for GTX 1050 at least.

Don't forget about visiting The "Try Linux" Repost/Rewrite (a "beginner's guide") if you're unsure about your future OS : )
Mike Cesara thank you for your post. Asus looks like a really good company and highly thought of! I type a lot/fast on my keyboard too and it is definitely showing some wear haha. Thank you for sharing your opinions they were really helpful and thanks for the try Linux link! I will def give that a look into! :)
Posted July 31, 2018
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blotunga: Buy one with removable battery if you can find. I have an Asus G751JY and am kicking myself for buying it before checking that the batter can't be removed. I have issues with it which I'm sure would be solvable by removing and reinserting the battery once in a while.
Thx I will try to find! thx for your input!
Posted July 31, 2018
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PainOfSalvation: +1 for Acer Predator Helios 300

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-i7-7700HQ-1060-6GB-G3-571-77QK/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/

Can´t beat it for this price. The only thing missing is storage hdd which should be added.
I've had two Acer computers, and I feel very, very confident in saying 'fuck Acer.' Their support is awful, and they drop their driver support incredibly quickly. I had to track down unofficial drivers within a couple years of owning my last. I will never, ever, knowingly buy an Acer computer again. I've got an MSI GL62M, and so far it's been pretty nice. It's got a turbo fan button which is amusing, and while it's not tip-top of the line, it's pretty good. I got it early last year, so there's probably something else better out now for the price I got it (under $950 if I remember). I also recommend avoiding computers with AMD cards, especially if you're playing older games. I imagine the bigger desktop lines work better, but if you do a lot of OpenGL stuff (though I suppose that's slowly being phased out), you want nVidia.

Edit: that is a nice looking computer though, you could definitely do worse than that.
Post edited July 31, 2018 by doccarnby
Posted July 31, 2018
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KingofGnG: I can vouch for Asus gaming (ROG series) laptops as well. Though I would suggest to get one with a GeForce 1060 to get you a bit more of "future-proof" gaming...
Very much seconded. While I could very much do without the pretentious glowy lights in the shape of a big, frowny eye on the back of the lid, it really is a fantastic machine.
Posted July 31, 2018
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mike_cesara: I'd recommend Asus, best quality/price ratio. Personally I'm using their products for ages and never faced any problems. Well, except broken keyboard, twice. On two different laptops. Perhaps I'm typing too much/fast ; )
Depends on your budget, grab something on Intel with Nvidia on board. 128bit card is a bare minimum for gaming. Aim for GTX 1050 at least.

Don't forget about visiting The "Try Linux" Repost/Rewrite (a "beginner's guide") if you're unsure about your future OS : )
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BuruBri1: Mike Cesara thank you for your post. Asus looks like a really good company and highly thought of! I type a lot/fast on my keyboard too and it is definitely showing some wear haha. Thank you for sharing your opinions they were really helpful and thanks for the try Linux link! I will def give that a look into! :)
You're very welcome my friend!
I used to work as a technician in the past and had some hardware in my hands. The only laptops from Asus I had to deal with had a software issues made by user. As for faulty keyboards, replacing takes around one minute, perhaps even less : )
Good luck and think about Linux : D Mint distribution is very user friendly, even more than Windows.

edit:
Now I remember, I had to replace LCD on Asus laptop once. Broken by user of course ; ) As long as you aren't going to throw your laptop you should be safe.
Post edited July 31, 2018 by mike_cesara
Posted July 31, 2018
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AgentBJ09: Windows computers are the most widely used, and most programs are set up for the OS, so you've got the most options there.

One caveat however: Buy a copy of Windows 7 to downgrade from Windows 10 if the laptop you want doesn't come with such a disk. Win 7 is the most compatible gaming OS on the market compared to 10, and most of the games on this storefront and others cap at DirectX 11, so there's no need to invest in Win 10.

As for brands, I'd say ASUS, Acer, and LG are the best brands to look into for reliability. My 2011 Acer still runs fine, aside from some memory issues and a weak battery, but I've never had to bring it in to get repairs or upgrades.

CPU and Motherboard? I'd say AMD over Intel. There's not much difference in price and AMD laptops are rarer, but from personal experience, AMD has fewer issues overall.

Lastly, aim for a quad-core CPU of at least 2.2 Ghz. and at least 6 GIGs of memory, DDR3 at least. Those specs will let you run most of what's on this website with little trouble.

Something like this is what you're looking for overall: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4P078C5842
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BuruBri1: AgentBJ thank you so much for your reply and time! You are awesome. I will def take what you wrote into consideration.
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nightcraw1er.488: Well, whatever answers you are going to get are going to be subjective, and dependant on what you want to play and do on the laptop. If it's just really old games then any laptop really. If it includes newer ones then a more powerful machine is needed. I recently brought:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Predator-Helios-GeForce-Keyboard/dp/B06Y4GZS9C
Which is a really good one, I love it, highly recommend it.
As for my opinions:
16gb minimum really nowadays of fastest ram you can afford.
Nvidia graphics cards are what I have gone for, and have done for many years, never had an issue with them.
SSD drive minimum with your OS on, you can have a HDD as wel, but the speed of SSDs can't be ignored.
For OS, it really has to be win10. Whilst I hate the constant updating, it is the only windows system they will support going forward, and when people speak about "comparability", the only game I have yet to find doesn't work is call of Juarez 1/2. Most can be fixed by patches, nocd (as win10 does not support securom), and following some simple good steps like not installing to wi dows directories and keeping your machine clean and minimal (I.e. Don't install all your games!).

Do note though, that weight could also be an issue. What are you using the laptop for again, maybe you need one of the really lightweight ones?

And do bear in mind that whatever non-desktop you buy will be outdated in a few years and far less simple to upgrade.
avatar
BuruBri1: Nightcraw1er thank you for your post! You did awesome thank you. I would be using the computer for games like Age of Empires and Cossacks rn. Though I notice there are a lot of good games out there! So will prob play newer ones too eventually. My budget is like $500-$600. I am noticing the decent Asus + Acer are atleast that- has that been your experience? I'm still learning the computer tech language haha your opinions were awesome though. God GOG has a really great community here! thx for your time :)
Well, aoe and Cossacks are pretty old so most computers will run them. I don't know myself how much $600 actually is as not US, but it sounds more like the budget for a standard laptop rather than a gaming one. The key part of gaming laptops is the graphic card. Speed of processor and ram and ssd all are great, but if you graphics card is not up to it then you won't be running things. One of the earlier nvidia cards maybe in your range there (980 is it, perhaps someone can confirm that as can't check right now). The 10x series will cost you more although the next generation will be coming out soon which will likely knock the price down. I have a 1060 in the laptop and a 1080 ftw in the main box, I have yet to find any game which doesn't run at max settings (main box is also a widescreen 4K!).
One other note, people seem to be of the opinion of adding a hdd. Me I wouldn't. Keep a minimum install, it is far easier to maintain a minimum system at optimal power and with a 500gb ssd that should be plenty for os, few applications, and three or four games no problem. Have an external drive (4tb mine) which you plug in if needs be, less weight, less power consumption.
Posted July 31, 2018
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doccarnby: I've had two Acer computers, and I feel very, very confident in saying 'fuck Acer.' Their support is awful, and they drop their driver support incredibly quickly.
Isn't that normal for pretty much all laptop vendors? I've seen both with e.g. Acer, HP and ASUS that their "official" drivers, especially GPU drivers, lack severely behind, so I always install the original vanilla drivers over them anyway. With GPU drivers, at least Intel HD drivers, you may have to uninstall the "vendor drivers" first because otherwise the vanilla drivers from Intel will not install, as they consider the preloaded vendor drivers to be incompatible somehow.

The only updates I take from the vendor are BIOS/UEFI updates, as flashing wrong ones could brick your laptop, while with driver conflicts you can always somehow fix it.

Is there something specific with some Acer laptops that prevent using the newer vanilla drivers straight from the chipset makers?

A relative of mine got an Acer laptop sometime ago and I clean installed Windows 10 on it, and then ran Slimdrivers Free in order to update all drivers on it. I guess I nuked all the "Acer-drivers" while clean-installing Windows so I didn't have to separately uninstall the vendor drivers.

I generally think that with laptops the vendor drivers are just a bad idea, and I have no idea why they insist on making them when they seem to be unwilling to keep them up to date, regardless of which laptop vendor we are talking about.
Post edited July 31, 2018 by timppu
Posted July 31, 2018
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doccarnby: I've got an MSI GL62M, and so far it's been pretty nice. It's got a turbo fan button which is amusing, and while it's not tip-top of the line, it's pretty good. I got it early last year, so there's probably something else better out now for the price I got it (under $950 if I remember). I also recommend avoiding computers with AMD cards, especially if you're playing older games. I imagine the bigger desktop lines work better, but if you do a lot of OpenGL stuff (though I suppose that's slowly being phased out), you want nVidia.
I´ve bought MSI GL62MVR (i7-7700HQ, GTX1060 6GB, 1TB HDD + 256GB SSD, 16GB RAM, Win10) for my wife last year on Black Friday, costed me 990 euros. So far she seems satisfied with it, no problems whatsoever.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionBest Laptop for computer games?(40 posts)(40 posts)
(40 posts)