Gaming Laptop Help

[AidSau]

Hey,

Complete novice here looking to get ideas for a gaming laptop. It will be living in my front room plugged in but can't be overly noisy or heavy so not sure if a desktop replacement would work???

Looking at price in around 1200 but can go up if it's worth it. My old setup could barely or not at all run 10 year old games so anything would seem like a massive setup.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as it's all a bit overwhelming tbh. Tks

 

[NBrooke]

Something like the Elimina sounds like it would suit your requirements nicely.

A true desktop replacement - with desktop grade processor - is usually outside of this price point. Given your previous machine is older, I imagine a newer laptop would seem like a rocket ship regardless - so I wouldn't worry too much.

I've put an example suggested spec bellow for a 15" Elimina. This spec cost £1203.

There are a few options, including 17" at a similar price point, so I'd suggest using this as a rough starting point rather than anything more. I'd have a look and see if there's anything you fancied.

Chassis & Display
Elimina Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Elimina is a thicker chassis than the Elimina Pro. Thicker = better cooling and likely lower fan noise.
(Edit - the thickness is true for 15" - the 17" are about the same thickness)
1080p screen is probably the best for an RTX 3060. 1440p is pushing it a bit.
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor 10870H (2.2GHz, 5.0GHz Turbo)
8 Core Proc is good, Intel or AMD Ryzen is a good option.
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
16GB ram is the currently generally agreed "sweet spot" for gaming
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3060 - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
The RTX 3060 is a great choice at this price point with plenty of power. The 1660Ti is a step down and the RTX 3070 is a step up.
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
Try and stay away from HDD's and instead go for an M.2 SSD. Check the read/write speeds to see how much faster these are!
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 180W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Elimina Series Detachable Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.2 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.2 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
MULTI COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Probably remove the anti-virus. Windows defender is good.
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Most people usually spend the £5 for the better warranty.
Dead Pixel Guarantee
30 Day Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Dead pixels are unfortunately common, so again most people spend the little bit extra here too.
Chassis
Clevo NH55DPQ (6GB RTX-3060, i7-10870H, 144Hz N7)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
Price: £1,203.00 including VAT and Delivery

 

[AidSau]

Something like the Elimina sounds like it would suit your requirements nicely.

A true desktop replacement - with desktop grade processor - is usually outside of this price point. Given your previous machine is older, I imagine a newer laptop would seem like a rocket ship regardless - so I wouldn't worry too much.

I've put an example suggested spec bellow for a 15" Elimina. This spec cost £1203.

There are a few options, including 17" at a similar price point, so I'd suggest using this as a rough starting point rather than anything more. I'd have a look and see if there's anything you fancied.

Chassis & Display
Elimina Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Elimina is a thicker chassis than the Elimina Pro. Thicker = better cooling and likely lower fan noise.
(Edit - the thickness is true for 15" - the 17" are about the same thickness)
1080p screen is probably the best for an RTX 3060. 1440p is pushing it a bit.
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor 10870H (2.2GHz, 5.0GHz Turbo)
8 Core Proc is good, Intel or AMD Ryzen is a good option.
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
16GB ram is the currently generally agreed "sweet spot" for gaming
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3060 - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
The RTX 3060 is a great choice at this price point with plenty of power. The 1660Ti is a step down and the RTX 3070 is a step up.
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
Try and stay away from HDD's and instead go for an M.2 SSD. Check the read/write speeds to see how much faster these are!
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 180W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Elimina Series Detachable Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.2 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.2 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
MULTI COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Probably remove the anti-virus. Windows defender is good.
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Most people usually spend the £5 for the better warranty.
Dead Pixel Guarantee
30 Day Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Dead pixels are unfortunately common, so again most people spend the little bit extra here too.
Chassis
Clevo NH55DPQ (6GB RTX-3060, i7-10870H, 144Hz N7)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
Price: £1,203.00 including VAT and Delivery

Thanks for this, great help! 👍Would you say that a desktop replacement is better value if I added a bit to my budget or is there much difference? I am worried about the potential noise of one so this spec appeals but also want to try get a few years out of whatever I go for.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thanks for this, great help! 👍Would you say that a desktop replacement is better value if I added a bit to my budget or is there much difference? I am worried about the potential noise of one so this spec appeals but also want to try get a few years out of whatever I go for.

On any laptop or DTR, the first bottleneck will be the graphics card, so you want to get the most powerful that you can. You can't replace the GPU or CPU in most chassis, but CPU is less of a concern than GPU where gaming is concerned.

I wouldn't go less than a 3070 in any laptop if you want it to last more than a couple of years.

Remember, mobile GPU's are a significant step down from a desktop equivalent, so a mobile 3070 is around a desktop 3060 in performance.

 

[NBrooke]

I'd agree with Spyder that it's worth looking at the GPU if you're looking to upgrade the budget a little. It's generally agreed that CPU performance is ahead of GPU performance currently. This means that in a few years it's likely that your GPU will be the 'weakest link' - and as noted, the GPU will be soldered so there's no option to upgrade.

Spending a little extra on the GPU is probably the best option for future life span, rather than looking for a DTR.

 

[AidSau]

Thanks again. Just taking on all the advice about the GPU would something like below make sense? I know nothing about the chasis and display but need to change from the previous suggestion to get the RTX 3070 or RTX 3080.

Chassis & Display
Defiance Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 240Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor 10870H (2.2GHz, 5.0GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3070 Max-Q - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB CORSAIR MP400 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 3480 MB/R, 1880 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated Micro-SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 180W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Defiance Series Integrated 3 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (73WH)
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x THUNDERBOLT 3 PORT + 3 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
15" DEFIANCE SERIES UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Dead Pixel Guarantee
1 Year Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Chassis
Clevo PC50DR (8GB RTX-3070 Max-Q, i7-10870H, 240Hz N7, Blank KB)
Delivery
2 - 3 DAY DELIVERY TO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 13 to 15 working days
Price: €1,802.00 including VAT and Delivery

Its an extra 400 or so for the RTX 3080 Max-Q. Is that worthwhile in terms of lifespan of the device?

 

[NBrooke]

Ah, it seems you may have fallen into NVIDIA's trap! It's worth doing some google research about laptop GPU's and MAX-Q vs MAX-P if you've not heard about this before.

The short version, is that a MAX-Q GPU is not as powerful as a normal (MAX-P) one. The physical components are the same, but a MAX-Q GPU has less power given to it than normal, meaning it doesn't perform as well. Generally speaking, a MAX-Q GPU will perform about as well as the normal GPU of a lower spec, i.e. 3070 MAX-Q = 3060 MAX-P. You'll see the power listed as a "TGP" often.

The other thing to note is that a MAX-Q unit is likely to be quieter, which might be something to consider.

If you're happy with the MAX-Q then the defiance is a good choice, elsewise, it could be worth looking at the Ionico.

 

[PhilHibbs]

Ah, it seems you may have fallen into NVIDIA's trap!
...
The other thing to note is that a MAX-Q unit is likely to be quieter, which might be something to consider.

Well, that was literally the first thing that they said was a factor in the OP so I don't see how this is "falling into a trap". Want a quiet machine, get a MAX-Q, simples!

 

[PhilHibbs]

On the subject of quiet laptops, does memory speed make a difference? Will fast memory generate measurably more heat?

 

[KriSta]

On the subject of quiet laptops, does memory speed make a difference? Will fast memory generate measurably more heat?

Memory speed itself won`t create more heat , only when you increase the voltages to make the memory run faster will it get warmer. But a memory module rated at 2666 mhz at 1.2v will generate the same heat as one at 3200 rated at same voltage .

 

[PhilHibbs]

Memory speed itself won`t create more heat , only when you increase the voltages to make the memory run faster will it get warmer. But a memory module rated at 2666 mhz at 1.2v will generate the same heat as one at 3200 rated at same voltage .

I don't understand. I guess I'm asking a question at one level, and you're answering at a different level.

Are you saying that in order to actually get better performance out of "faster" RAM then the voltage needs to go up?

Or, are you saying that "faster" RAM will be faster than "slower" RAM at the same voltage, but you can put even more voltage for even more speed?

To simplify it: If I select faster RAM in the configurator, will I:

1. Get better performance, but generate more heat?
2. Get better performance, and no more heat?
3. Not get any better performance unless I overclock it, and therefore more heat like option 1?

 

[Vergaro98]

No, the heat depends on the voltages. If one stick is 2666Mhz at 1.2V and one other stick is 3200Mhz at 1.2V they'll produce the same amount of heat but one is faster then the other one.

 

[KriSta]

I don't understand. I guess I'm asking a question at one level, and you're amswering at a different level.

Are you saying that in order to actually get better performance out of "faster" RAM then the voltage needs to go up?

Or, are you saying that "faster" RAM will be faster than "slower" RAM at the same voltage?

To simplify it: If I select faster RAM in the configurator, will I get better performance, and will it generate more heat?

To put it simple , if both memory modules are working at the same voltage , let`s say 1.2v but at different speed 2666 Mhz vs 3200 Mhz then the temperature will be the same for both . But if you want your existing 2666 Mhz memory to operate at 3200 Mhz then you might need to increase the voltage to 1.3 or even 1.4v , thus making that memory module run hotter . But if just selecting faster RAM in the configuration , it will not run any warmer as they will run at the same voltage as the slower memory ( in most cases, not always )