Choosing a laptop can be difficult, especially with the vast array of options available in terms of both price and performance. If you're buying a laptop for the first time or aren't well-versed in the language of CPU core clocks and GPU VRAM types, among other things, it's very easy to make the wrong choice, one that might come with a big price tag.
Your laptop's cost can vary significantly depending on how you plan to use it, your hardware needs, and consequently, the laptop's price. Best feature? It is almost simpler than it first appears.
CPU and GPU Wattage
Most likely, if you're purchasing a high-performance laptop, you've already decided on the CPU and GPU configuration you desire. While CPU clock speeds, core counts, and thread counts are well-known and frequently promoted by manufacturers as key selling points, wattage is another crucial figure that is frequently disregarded.
The term TDP ( Thermal Design Power ) or, for GPUs, TGP ( Total Graphics Power ) is used to indicate CPU wattage, a concept that also applies to GPUs. The maximum power that your CPU and GPU can pull from the system is measured by them.
In general, the power consumption of a CPU or GPU indicates its power level. Dear readers, now a To balance performance with the best possible battery life, laptops often have lower TDP or TGP ratings (compared to their desktop counterparts). In fact, this is because higher power consumption can have a negative impact on battery life.
For example, when you compare two identical laptops with i7-13600K: However, if one has a lower TDP, the second will perform better but battery life will suffer as a result.
I recommend that you take this lifespan into consideration, as it is known that batteries are extremely expensive in these economic conditions, it also applies to GPU batteries; If there is a difference in TGP between two laptops with the same RTX 4060's, they will perform differently.
Memory and Storage
Your RAM and storage come next. As of this writing, DDR5 RAM is the best option available. RAM is more complex than just RAM type, though. Frequency of memory has a significant impact.
Every RAM stick has a specific frequency, or the speed at which the memory operates, regardless of the type of RAM. The RAM will function better and cost more money the higher this number is.
Here, 5200MHz is a reasonable target frequency. For most games and professional workloads, 32GB of 5200 MHz DDR5 RAM is more than enough. However, you may need to upgrade to 64GB if you're doing a lot of heavy lifting ( heavy video editing, 3D design programs, etc. ). However, even if you have to reduce memory speed to fit your budget, you can still get by with 16GB of memory. Just make sure you don't go below that amount.
Here: A 1TB NVMe SSD is the bare minimum of storage that you should strive for. You should not use a 2.5-inch SATA SSD slot on your laptop as your boot drive, but you can use it for backups or mass storage. In 2023, HDDs are strictly prohibited for high-performance laptops.
The Display
It's common to overlook the importance of a strong display in a high-performance laptop. The most important component of a laptop, or any computer for that matter, is the display, which should be of a high caliber, particularly if you use it for work-related tasks like editing photos or videos.
Regardless of brand, high-end laptops typically have good displays. Having said that, there are a few minimum standards you ought to pursue. First off, 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution might not be sufficient in the future. If you have a less powerful GPU, like the RTX 4050, it might work, but we don't advise it unless you have to make compromises to stay within your budget.
A 15-inch laptop with a 4k OLED display isn't absolutely necessary. QHD ( 2560 x 1440 ) is a good compromise since it works well with the majority of modern GPUs, if not all of them.
Refresh rate, which is measured differently than frame rate, is another crucial consideration. The absolute minimum in this case is 120Hz since it will improve your overall user experience and be useful for gaming, video editing, and simulations as well as general web browsing.
Finally, if at all possible, try to locate a display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Even though it might not seem like much on paper, having a little bit more vertical space can make a big difference in productivity when reading lengthy articles or using Premiere Pro's timeline feature.
Thermal Performance
Dear readers, actually: Reviews are your best bet in this situation because it is difficult to generalize the thermal performance of a laptop unless you have the device in your hand. Powerful components can be packed into a lightweight, thin case by manufacturers, but cooling them properly can be difficult.
Dear readers, actually: Reviews are your best bet in this situation because it is difficult to generalize the thermal performance of a laptop unless you have the device in your hand. Powerful components can be packed into a lightweight, thin case by manufacturers, but cooling them properly can be difficult.
Expensive CPUs and GPUs generate a lot of heat; the heat output increases with power consumption. This implies that the majority of high-performance laptops—if not all of them—will occasionally run hot.
The likelihood of experiencing problems such as thermal throttling and discomfort when using your laptop when it's not on a desk increases with the temperature at which it operates. The lifespan of your machine may also be impacted by poor thermal performance. Therefore, it's imperative to find a laptop with a good thermal solution.
As previously stated, evaluating a laptop's thermal performance solely based on its specifications can be challenging. But some thermal solutions—like vapor chambers and liquid metal—perform better than the conventional cooling solutions found in entry- and mid-level laptops.
The Keyboard
Although many professionals and gamers who require a high-performance laptop may have an external keyboard that they enjoy using, your laptop's onboard keyboard must also be of high quality.
Finally, my dear readers: Features and Specs to Consider When Buying a High-Performance Laptop you to check the detailed products
Find out what kind of keyboard the laptop you are considering has by reading the specifications. The best option here is a mechanical low-profile switch, but what matters most is the key travel and feedback you receive.Around 1.2 to 1.5mm of key travel will be more than enough for a comfortable typing experience. Chances are the keyboard will also be backlit, but we recommend not sweating too hard over RGB, as it'll also significantly affect your laptop's battery life.
