The age-old quandary of picking between a gaming laptop and a gaming PC has left countless PC gamers pondering for years. While the distinctions between the two are evident, they each possess enticing advantages, and budget constraints often force individuals to select just one. This guide aims to assist you in arriving at an informed choice in the ongoing gaming laptop versus desktop dilemma, especially in anticipation of forthcoming Black Friday gaming PC deals.
Our comparison of gaming laptops and desktops takes into account the following factors:
- Features and Daily Usability
- Gaming Performance
- Portability
- Noise, Heat, Power Efficiency
- Value for Money
- Final Recommendation
Gaming Laptop vs Desktop: Features and Day-to-day Function
Gaming laptops and gaming desktops may serve similar purposes, but the disparities between them are stark.
Common Features of a Gaming Laptop:
- Built-in display, keyboard, touchpad
- Integrated battery
- Limited wired connectivity
- Limited upgrade options or, in some cases, none at all
Laptops are all-in-one devices that come equipped with essential features such as a built-in display, keyboard, touchpad, and a battery, along with both wired and wireless connectivity. These built-in features offer convenience and immediate usability right out of the box, a stark contrast to gaming desktops, which require additional peripherals like a gaming keyboard and mouse to be fully functional.
However, this convenience comes at the expense of user customization and upgradability. Most components in a gaming laptop are not easily replaceable or upgradeable. While some gaming laptops allow for limited upgrades like swapping out the hard drive or RAM, the options are generally quite restricted.
Gaming Desktop Common Features
On the flip side, a gaming desktop operates with a different set of principles. It doesn’t come bundled with essential peripherals like a display, keyboard, or touchpad. Users must independently research and purchase these peripherals, which can add to the overall cost. Unlike gaming laptops, gaming desktops do not have a built-in battery, making them less suitable for portability or quick trips to places like coffee shops.
However, gaming desktops excel in customization and upgradability. They provide users with the flexibility to tailor the system to their preferences and needs. Whether delving into the realm of mechanical gaming keyboards or investing in a more powerful video card in the future to keep up with evolving gaming demands, desktop users have the freedom to make extensive customizations and upgrades to their systems.
Gaming Laptop vs Desktop: Performance
At first glance, gaming laptops and desktops may appear to offer similar performance characteristics. They often feature comparable processors, discrete graphics, and come equipped with similar amounts of RAM and storage. It’s not uncommon for gamers to assume that a PC housing an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics, for instance, will deliver roughly equivalent performance whether it’s in laptop or desktop form.
However, the reality is that desktops typically outperform laptops in all demanding scenarios, not limited to gaming but also extending to tasks such as video editing and AI image processing. So, why, if gaming laptops and desktops can be configured with the same hardware, do they not exhibit identical performance?
The answer to this lies in the fundamental differences in the hardware used, particularly when it comes to the processor and discrete graphics components.
When examining previous-generation graphics cards, such as the Nvidia RTX 3080, a notable discrepancy becomes evident. The desktop variant of the Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card typically boasts more CUDA cores, more Tensor units, more RT cores, and greater memory bandwidth compared to the mobile version of the RTX 3080. This pattern is consistent across a wide range of CPU and GPU options.
The higher performance of a PC is often palpable in practice. Games tend to run more smoothly on a desktop compared to a laptop, even at identical settings. As the budget for a system increases, the performance gap between desktops and laptops becomes more pronounced. The most powerful gaming desktops employ advanced cooling solutions like water cooling to overclock their already superior hardware, pushing performance to levels beyond what a laptop can achieve.
However, the choice between a gaming desktop and a gaming laptop should align with your specific gaming needs. If you aspire to play demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K resolution with maximum detail and Ray Tracing enabled, a gaming desktop is the optimal choice. On the other hand, if your gaming preferences lean towards titles like Path of Exile or Final Fantasy XIV, even a budget-friendly gaming laptop can handle these games admirably.
Gaming Laptop vs Desktop: Portability
The primary advantage of gaming laptops is their portability, a feature that traditional desktops lack.
While there are some minor exceptions like mini PCs such as Intel’s NUC Extreme, the Falcon Northwest Fragbox, and Origin Chronos, which manage to offer considerable power in a compact form factor, these systems still necessitate external power sources and peripherals.
When it comes to on-the-go computing or the need for a PC that can accompany you to various locations, gaming laptops have no substitutes. Whether it’s for travel, attending classes, or working in an office, gaming laptops provide the convenience and flexibility of portable computing.
Gaming Laptop vs. Desktop: Noise, Heat, and Power Consumption
Gaming laptops are far from subtle when it comes to noise levels. The issue isn’t just the number of cooling fans, but their size and speed. Due to the compact and slim nature of laptop design, their fans need to spin rapidly to efficiently move air, resulting in a considerable amount of noise. In 2023, it’s challenging to find a quiet gaming laptop—they tend to be consistently noisy.
Heat management can also pose challenges for gaming laptops, although desktops and laptops trade blows in this department. Gaming laptops tend to run hotter than desktops because their smaller form factor concentrates heat into a smaller space. However, desktops usually generate more overall heat. A typical gaming desktop can raise the temperature of a room more significantly than a gaming laptop.
In terms of power consumption, most gaming laptops typically consume around 200 to 300 watts at load, significantly less at idle. In contrast, a gaming desktop can easily draw 100 watts or more at idle and surpass 500 watts at full load, with high-end configurations even approaching or exceeding 1,000 watts. It’s worth noting that the increased power draw of gaming desktops translates into higher gaming performance.
There’s a trade-off to consider here. Gamers who prioritize a quiet gaming setup tend to lean towards desktops, but this choice may lead to a higher monthly power bill. Over the lifespan of a gaming desktop, the increased power consumption can add a few hundred dollars to the total cost.
Gaming Laptop vs. Desktop: Value
Gamers prioritize value when choosing between a laptop or desktop, seeking excellent performance relative to the price and a long-lasting device before needing replacement.
Both gaming laptops and desktops offer good initial value. Desktops provide superior speed, but laptops are no slouch and can often be surprisingly close in price, especially during sales. Laptops also bring the added value of portability.
You can find gaming laptops starting at just under $1,000, like the MSI Sword, which delivers sufficient performance for competitive online games like CS:GO and Overwatch 2. However, budget gaming laptops in this price range typically feature lower-tier specifications, including an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU paired with Nvidia’s entry-level RTX 3050 Ti mobile graphics. If you desire a gaming laptop with more power, be prepared to spend closer to $1,700 to $2,000 for a machine equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3080 or better.
Gaming PCs are similarly priced, with the most affordable models available for under or close to $1,000. For instance, the HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop, one of our recommended budget gaming PCs, comes well-equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics. With such a powerful machine, you can comfortably play AAA titles like Elden Ring and Sniper Elite 5 at 1080p and 60 fps with most graphical settings set to medium or higher.
When considering long-term value, gaming laptops tend to lag behind as they age. Their lack of upgradability poses a significant challenge. In contrast, a new graphics card can extend the life of an aging gaming desktop by several years. This level of upgradeability is simply not possible with laptops, often necessitating the purchase of a new gaming laptop after just three to five years of use.
Repairability is another concern. Most gaming laptops and desktops come with one year of warranty coverage. However, after the warranty period, desktops are typically less expensive to repair because parts are readily available from third-party sources. Furthermore, desktop owners can often save on repair costs by performing the repairs themselves, a task that is often extremely difficult or impossible with laptops.
That said, gaming laptops have their advantages. They consume less power, which can translate into lower hidden costs over time. Laptops also include a built-in keyboard and trackpad, whereas desktop owners need to purchase a gaming keyboard and gaming headset separately.
Nevertheless, in terms of overall value, gaming desktops come out on top. They offer superior performance for the price and are more cost-effective to upgrade or repair.
Gaming Laptop vs Desktop: The Verdict
In the gaming laptop vs. gaming desktop showdown, the winner in most cases is the gaming desktop. Gaming desktops typically offer better value for your money, are more cost-effective to upgrade and repair, and have a longer lifespan before becoming obsolete.
However, the wildcard in this decision is portability. Gaming laptops have the advantage of being portable, while gaming desktops are not. This portability can be a significant factor that sways many gamers towards choosing a laptop.
It’s important to keep in mind that while gaming laptops provide mobility, opting for a gaming desktop often results in smoother gameplay with more impressive visuals. So, if you prioritize performance and visual quality, a gaming desktop is the preferred choice.
However, if you’re contemplating the choice between a gaming PC and a console, that’s an entirely different discussion and depends on your specific gaming preferences and needs.
What About PC Gaming Handhelds?
With the introduction of handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, gaming laptops are no longer the sole portable gaming option for enthusiasts. For a comprehensive exploration of the advantages and disadvantages of each option for PC gaming, be sure to take a look at our detailed comparison guide on whether to choose a Steam Deck or a gaming laptop. This guide will help you make an informed decision based on your specific gaming preferences and needs.
Join Pedro Souza on a journey through gaming’s vast realms at howtoplay.blog. A seasoned gamer and insightful author and redactor, Pedro crafts each post as an intimate odyssey into the game’s core, not just teaching how to play, but revealing the artistry and narratives that define our beloved games.
