Are Cheap Gaming Laptops A Lost Cause?

There's one big strike against cheap gaming laptops: they're impossible for you to upgrade. A cheap desktop PC can be taken apart and stuffed with additional memory and high-end graphics cards. A gaming laptop will be destroyed if you try to open it. With that in mind, there are some bargains out there, along with some traps to avoid.

Heat and Size are Concerns
If you're looking for a cheap gaming laptop, you'll have to make sacrifices. Because laptops are compact, it's difficult to engineer components that pack the same punch you find in desktop computers. Cooling is an issue, as many of the traditional gaming components in desktop computers run hot, but there's just not as much room in a laptop for sophisticated cooling systems. Accept that anything you find is likely to be large and unwieldy, and may require cooling pads or lapdesks with fans to help keep your computer from bursting into flames.

Performance Is Sacrificed
Cheap gaming laptops just don't perform as well as high-end gaming laptops, or even cheap gaming desktops.  While a cheap laptop may be adequate for a mobile gamer willing to make some sacrifices, many hardcore gamers are simply not satisfied with the performance loss. If you need lightning speed and crisp, immersive graphics, skip the laptop and go for a desktop PC. Turning off graphics options may help with speed, so if you can live in a low-res gaming world, you're more likely to be happy with a bargain laptop.

Ways to Save
One thing you could consider is getting a refurbished laptop. Refurbished laptops offer better performance than discount laptops, and they typically offer a warranty in case you experience any difficulty.Other options are to buy a used laptop or to look for display models in electronics stores. You'll need to pay careful attention to wear, checking for broken or loose keys and inspecting the screen carefully for any signs of damage.

Features You Need
If you'd rather have a new laptop, consider what's important to you when you're shopping. RAM is arguably the most important feature for gamers, with processor speed a close second. Look for laptops with dedicated video memory; otherwise, you'll need more RAM to offset the shared memory with the video card, which can really drag down the speed of games. When it comes to processor power, now the games you like to play, and stay on top of their system requirements. Dual-core chips are a minimum for most action games and RPGs, and quad-core chips are needed for some of the latest titles.

Great Gaming on the Cheap
Cheap is a relative term, so let's assume that your price range is around $1,000. Laptops under $1,000 may be adequate for productivity and Web browsing, but they don't pack enough power for gaming applications.

Consider laptops from Dell or HP. You can typically customize your laptop with these manufacturers, giving you the option of deciding exactly where you want to scrimp and where you want to spend. Most models give you a choice of video cards and RAM, which will let you tweak performance to make your games run smoother without busting your budget.