Gaming devices are not a one size fits all scenario. PCs have notoriously been chosen for gaming; however, the technology available for laptops has levelled out the scales recently. The choice really depends on you as an individual gamer, your objective, and what you want out of a gaming console. Technology has reached a point where either a laptop or a tower will suit your needs; you just have to figure out what those needs are.
The important factors to keep in mind when choosing a gaming machine are the CPU, RAM, memory space and speed, performance, and graphics. Still unsure which one is right for you? These comparisons will help you to make an informed decision.
Is Mobility Important?
First, and foremost: do you want to be mobile with your gaming machine or are you willing to be confined to a physical PC that is awkward to carry around? This is the first advantage that a laptop has over a PC. Unless you go for an all-in-one PC like a Mac device where all the hardware is behind the monitor, a laptop is more portable. Laptops are slim and can easily fit into a bag, whereas with a PC, you need to take the tower, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
A gaming laptop would be ideal if you played away from home often. All of the components are in one handy device, you only need the external battery to power it. If mobility is important to you then opt for a high-end gaming laptop over a staunch PC.
The Operating Temperatures Matter
With a laptop, all of the pieces that make it work are in a limited space. PCs allow for more room for the components to run at optimal temperatures. With all the advancements in graphics cards, CPUs, and memory, laptops still cannot run as hot as a PC. The result is that, with a laptop, you get less gaming power any time the temperature gets too hot.
There is more physical room in a gaming desktop, which means that there are bigger fans. This allows for better heat dissipation and effective cooling when the components start to run a bit high. No matter the power of a gaming laptop, there is not enough room for stronger fans that will keep the system at an ideal 70 degrees Celsius.
High Performance Isn’t Cheap
The only time that you should consider gaming performance is if you actually use it. If you enjoy games with low-end graphics that don’t need a lot of processing power to perform then don’t waste your money on a gaming desktop. Although the overall performance will beat the best gaming laptop by far, you may not need that level of power.
You will find that most gaming laptops are incredibly fast already, so it is only overheating that you need to worry about. You likely don’t play any games that need the performance of a £5000 processing chip. For example, if you play Candy Crush or online casino games like the ones reviewed by onlinecasinos.co.uk, a mid-range laptop will be suitable. With onlinecasinos.co.uk, you can play safely knowing that all the online casinos reviewed are regulated by the proper gambling authorities in the UK. Whether you enjoy the online slots, poker tables, or roulette, Online Casinos can advise which are the best platforms to play on.
Both Are Financial Investments
A gaming device is a financial investment that you should consider carefully. Despite all your needs and wants in a gaming machine, you may only be able to afford a set amount. If you compare entry-level gaming laptops with desktops against the individual components, you will find that only the price differs. When it comes to RAM, storage, and display, all of these are relatively the same in terms of capability; however, you can save money if you go for a desktop instead of a laptop.
The difference is the money that you save is outweighed by the physical size of a desktop, which takes up much more space. In addition, if you don’t already have a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, you are looking at a bigger bill.
Potential Upgrades Are Tricky
Gaming desktops are easy to build by yourself if you have the right parts. Laptops cannot be built this way, and specific upgrades will mean a new laptop. If you only need to upgrade your RAM or CPU, then a laptop will do yet, beyond that, you need to think of buying a gaming desktop. The only problem is that some manufacturers pre-build desktops with cases and motherboards that simply cannot be upgraded.
Any time that the chipset needs to be upgraded in a pre-built gaming PC, you need to upgrade to the RAM, motherboard, GPU, and everything else. Even some laptops nowadays are being produced with the RAM and memory soldered into the device so that upgrades aren’t possible. The basic idea is that gaming desktops can be more easily customised than a laptop, but you need to buy the traditional tower and not the pre-built ones.
Desktop Parts Can Be Hard To Find
If you are looking for the latest Nvidia GeForce 30-series for your desktop, you may be out of luck. People who have components at this level won’t want to sell them, and if they do, expect to pay a hefty price. These parts are so incredibly popular, that any place selling them is usually out of stock within the first day of receiving the parts.
With gaming laptops, you will easily find many places to buy the latest GeForce 30-series but only for laptops. It may be because the rise in sales of laptops increased with the need for business people to be more mobile. Manufacturers produce more components for laptops simply because they are purchased more often than desktops. Students especially need laptops for studying, and more office environments utilise laptops over desktops.
Both laptops and desktops have advantages over each other, but they also have similar disadvantages. You have to weigh each individual aspect of these gaming devices and decide for yourself what you ultimately want out of a gaming machine before you spend any money.