If you have ever looked at the cost of a gaming rig, then you will have probably walked away feeling pretty discouraged. After all, most recommendations have some pretty price tags attached to them. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for you to buy yourself a laptop without breaking the bank. 

It is important to realize that with gaming laptops you can’t simply pounce on the least expensive machine. This is because you also need to factor in specs, performance, and speed into your decision. Otherwise, you are going to end up with a device that you can’t enjoy. 

To make sure that you get the best of both worlds, follow the guidelines below. These will show you how to save money while also snagging yourself a quality rig: 

Do Your Research 

These days, there are more laptops on the market than ever before. Many of them have even been designed for gaming – or so they say. As you can imagine, though, a number of these rigs don’t actually live up to all of their claims.

So, if you want to avoid making a mistake, make sure to do your research about what the best and most affordable gaming laptops actually are. This is actually pretty simple to do. Just go through expert and customer reviews to discover how each rig functions during gaming. 

Find out what the advantages and disadvantages of the machines are. Then, it is a matter of deciding whether the drawbacks are severe or if they won’t really impact your gaming laptop. The more research you do, the more pleased you will be with your final decision. 

Opt for a Dedicated Graphics Card 

There is no need to state that a graphics card is pretty important when it comes to gaming. However, when it comes to the cheaper versions, you need to pay attention to the type of cards as well. This is because in the lower price ranges you will have to select between dedicated and integrated graphics card.

Whenever possible, always get a dedicated graphics card. This means that it is separate from the system memory and thus will not have to share any of the memory. As a whole, dedicated graphics cards offer up better graphics – this, of course, is precisely what you want from a gaming laptop! 

So, when looking through all of the budget choices, keep your eyes out for a dedicated graphics card. While this shouldn’t be the only element to focus on, it is certainly a good starting point. 

Look for Modern Specs 

The gaming industry improves its games at a rapid rate. As a result, you get to enjoy better visuals and gameplay. At the same time, these games have higher depends. Ergo, your laptop needs to have top-of-the-line specs to be able to support these titles. 

Of course, there’s no need to have an overly advancing gaming laptop, particularly if it is more of a hobby for you. Still, you should have some idea of what is required in terms of specs. The best way to do this is to check out the minimum requirements on the titles that you most commonly play. 

Nonetheless, make sure that your gaming laptop has relatively modern specs. This will ensure that you will be able to use it for at least several years after your purchase. There is no use in getting a device whose specs are going to be irrelevant in a short period of time. 

Aim for a Mid-Range Processor At Least 

As you can imagine, your gaming laptop also needs a good processor. Typically, it is the more expensive rigs that have the superfast quad-core CPUs. Even if you can’t get your hands on one of these, there are still some cheap but powerful options. 

It is best to not go any lower than an Intel Core i5 – anything less and you mind find that certain aspects of your gaming suffer. If you look around, you may find that a dual-core i7 is well within your budget range. This will certainly be a step up. 

Don’t Skimp or Go Overboard on the Resolution 

When it comes to resolution, it is all about hitting that sweet spot. Most gamers can become so invested in high resolution that they forget that it has a significant impact on the fps. So, if you go ahead and buy a laptop with a 4K screen, you may find that your frame rate suffers. Not to mention, these computers are unnecessarily expensive. 

At the same time, you can’t really be satisfied with an overly low resolution level, either. Since gaming is largely composed of graphics, your screen should be visually appealing. To get the best of both worlds, look for resolution that is either 720p or 1080p. Anything more than that any you may have to contend with stuttering. 

Go For a 15-Inch Screen 

Since you are aiming for a lower price point, you will find that laptops with 15-inch screens are most common. This is actually a good thing because this will be the perfect size for you. It is at this point that you will be able to get a machine that is equal parts portable and powerful. 

If you don’t mind splurging a little, then you may be able to get a 17-inch laptop. Nevertheless, you should make sure that the display is high-quality otherwise the additional real-estate will be of little use to it. 

Beware of Unnecessary Features 

Laptop manufacturers are constantly trying to peddle various features. In the end, though, you will find that many of these features aren’t useful to you at all, especially if you are a gamer. This is why it is best to steer clear of additions such as touchscreen displays. 

Sure, they may sound appealing but when you think about it, there is no purpose for this feature in gaming. Such an element largely exists to drive up the price of regular gaming laptops. 

If you are looking to save significant money on your gaming laptop, then these are the tips to follow. With these in hand, you will be able to get a rig that is affordable but also boasts excellent performance.