If you ever see a PC gamer outside of his or her house, consider yourself lucky. All jokes aside, gaming laptops have only recently been able to keep up with some of today’s modern games. The question is- are laptops ready for the gaming scene, or are manufacturers marketing to gamers for extra cash flow?

Laptops Get Gaming Upgrades

The gaming laptop has finally dropped in value so that the average consumer can buy one without breaking the bank. Advances in technology have allowed laptops to be more powerful, yet also be smaller in size.

First up, we have the processor. Processors are the heart of all laptops- and likewise, they need to be powerful to get the most speed out of a computer. Recent technologies such as Quad-Core technology have even let manufacturers split a processor into four separate entities- creating the ultimate solution for multitasking.

Just like processors, hard drives are famous for creating excessive heat levels. Gamers need high RPM speeds on hard drives, so that information can be accessed quicker for more demanding technology. It is uncommon to see a 7,200 RPM hard drive in laptops today, simply because they produce too much heat and can often be bulky. There are, however, exceptions- but be prepared to shell out a good deal of money for the upgrade.

Next we have the graphics card. The graphics card is what renders all the guns, ammo, enemies, and graphics that you will interact with on your laptop. Obviously this is a rather important component, and thus, it should be of good quality. Sadly, the latest and greatest in graphics cards aren’t available in mini formats yet- although good mobile graphics cards can still be had.

Flaws of Gaming Laptops

Battery life is the most controversial flaw for any laptop user. If a laptop uses more performance, it will thus have less battery life. This is sad for laptop gamers, who will sometimes see only an hour or two of laptop life before having to recharge. This is compared to the 10 or more hours that normal laptop users can enjoy.

Next, gaming laptops are rather small and provide poor mouse support. A laptop gamer will find that playing games on a touchpad just isn’t worth the effort. Carrying a USB mouse around can work in most situations, but it’s a hassle and finding a good place to put the mouse may pose as a problem.

Closing Arguements

As mobile gaming becomes ever more popular, we can only hope that the hardware increases in both performance and heat dissipation. But as current trends go, you’ll be shelling out more money for a laptop that is statistically less productive and has a lesser life longevity. Remember that if you do indeed opt for a gaming laptop, you should buy a cooling fan to help protect your investment.