by Gaming is about experience. Whether you’re playing Fortnite or Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s imperative that you’re fully immersed, and that means you need a laptop that delivers. Which one exactly depends a lot on the demands of the games you like to play, says expert Elenore Li, event coordinator at Warwick University’s esports center, where players gather to compete and play. But whether you’re at the top of your game or just starting out, there are certain tech requirements that everyone needs to be aware of…
What am I looking for in a gaming laptop?
If there’s one thing that elevates your gaming experience from good to great, it’s the speed of your computer, as this affects how easily you can play and how realistic the graphics are. Performance comes down to three main components: the CPU (central processing unit), which is essentially the “brain” of the computer; RAM (random access memory), which stores data that must be accessed quickly by the computer to run operations, almost like our short-term memory; and the computer’s GPU (graphics processing unit), which produces the images you see on the screen.
What makes a powerful gaming laptop?
There is nothing worse than being at a critical point in a game – halfway through a race or in the middle of a game – when everything stops. It’s a sign that your computer doesn’t have the oomph it needs for the games you play. If the central processor, your RAM or the graphics unit does not have enough power, you will experience sluggish load speeds and frame rates (the frequency at which frames are displayed in a video sequence). The higher the frame rate, the smoother the scene looks, and the faster the load speed, the smoother the transitions between scenes.
When looking to buy a laptop, one of the first things to consider is the processing power. The CPU, the main processor, usually has multiple cores – the processing units that execute instructions. The more cores a CPU has, the more tasks it can handle simultaneously. A “quad core” processor is good enough for some laptops, but eight or more is better for gaming. If you have a great performance, however, what about 16? The just-released Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra comes with a choice of two processors, the new Intel Core Ultra 7 and Intel Ultra 9, both with 16 punchy cores.
The amount of RAM is also important, as your gaming experience will be smoother as it increases. With too little RAM, a game will look slow, choppy – and very annoying. At least 16GB of RAM is recommended in a gaming laptop but more is better, so the Samsung Galaxy Book4 series starting at 16GB but offering a 32GB option in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra version.
The final piece of the power puzzle is the graphics processing unit, which enables higher quality visuals and smoother gameplay. A separate GPU, rather than one integrated into the CPU, is essential to boost performance, especially if you want to play demanding titles like Red Dead Redemption 2. Here, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra delivers with a choice of two NVIDIA RTX graphics they are highly respected. processors.
For Li, the gaming experience depends on the capabilities of all these factors together.
Her advice is to compare your system specs with a game’s hardware requirements and try out your favorite game on the laptop you’re considering buying, or try a game that makes powerful demands, for example Baldur’s Gate 3 .
What screen size is best for gaming?
Li recommends at least 15.6in, which means the Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s 16in screen ticks the box. She recommends buying a laptop with a screen resolution of at least 1080p and a refresh rate, the frequency at which the screen updates every second, of 120 Hz. With a screen resolution of the Galaxy Book4 series coming in at 3K, it provides an enhanced experience for all players but especially for those who enjoy first-person games, where a player sees the world from their character’s point of view.
To create more realistic images, the new laptops use AI in conjunction with high-performance graphics processing units. The vivid colors and the touch screen that is clearly visible in bright conditions add to their appeal.
As well as a great screen, good sound is essential for gamers, hence the inclusion of excellent speakers, as well as studio-quality microphones with AI noise canceling to ensure realistic sound and minimize distractions.
Related: Is it time to break up with your laptop? Take our quiz to find out
How do I make sure my laptop is compatible with gaming hardware?
With a laptop, portability is key, allowing you to carry it with you easily. But that’s not to say you won’t want to use a range of hardware, such as an external screen, controllers, charging dock, headphones and other accessories. That’s why you need a laptop with lots of ports, and the laptops in the Galaxy Book4 series have two Thunderbolt 4 ports as well as USB, HDMI and a headphone and microphone jack.
What is the most important factor when choosing a gaming laptop?
If you have a good central processor and graphics processing unit, a good amount of RAM and a quality screen, you probably have a good gaming laptop. Some may suggest that a 4K display is necessary, but when balancing cost, the more important thing is the graphics processor, so you should prioritize this.
The beauty of laptops is their portability – which is important to Li who wants to take it wherever she goes. Once in a while a great gaming laptop might miss some of the key features. But the latest machines on the market ensure that portability does not mean sacrificing performance.
To find out more about which Samsung Galaxy Book4 laptop might be the right one for your gaming needs, go to samsung.com/uk/galaxy-book
© Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
