Not everyone needs a gaming laptop, but if you are even considering purchasing one, there is a good chance you do. Gaming laptops offer a number of fantastic benefits to gamers and even regular laptop users, but these rigs do come with a higher price tag. In this post we are going to share the four signs that clearly indicate that you need a gaming laptop, and then offer up some tips on what you should be looking for when shopping for one. The first sign that you should invest in a gaming laptop is:

You Hate Lag

Does slow and stuttering gameplay make your blood boil? If you become stressed out because you missed out on a few seconds of action or have virtually perished because of lag, then a gaming laptop is the way to go. These laptops are designed to keep up with fast-paced gameplay, whereas your standard laptop is built to keep up with little more than your word processing software.

You Love Great Graphics

The games of today boast detailed high definition graphics, with some of them now even having 3D gaming capabilities. This is not to say that a standard laptop cannot display great graphics – they can and often now do – but a gaming laptop can take a game’s graphics to the next level. When outfitted with the right graphics card, gamers can fully immerse themselves in the game and feel as if they are right in the centre of the action.

You Play Resource Intensive Games

Not all games will drain your laptop’s resources when you play them. For example, if you like basic games or those that can be played through online applications, a gaming laptop likely is not necessary. But if you enjoy playing games that take up a lot of your computer’s resources, then a gaming laptop is the way to go. When carefully selected, your gaming laptop will have the resources necessary to ensure that you enjoy lengthy and uninterrupted gameplay.

You Have an Extensive Gaming Library

Because almost every game today designed for gamers is so resource-intensive, if you have two or more games which you want to play on your laptop, it is a good idea to invest in a gaming laptop. Your regular laptop will fall short of being able to keep up with and support these games, but the right gaming laptop will be able to continuously provide you with the best gaming experience.

If any one of these signs rings true to you, then it may be time to invest in a solid gaming rig such as a Chillblast gaming laptop. But before you buy a new laptop, it is a good idea to jot down a list of specs you want and need from your laptop. The first item that should be at the top of your list is the system’s video card.

The Video Card

Most gamers will tell you that the video card is the most important component when it comes to performance and gaming experience. The majority of your budget for the laptop should be allocated on the system’s graphics card. Look into things such as:

• The card’s number of shader units

• Memory speed

• GPU memory

There may be other factors to consider as well, such as if you want to get into 3D gaming or if you will be using the video card in SLI configuration. The laptop you choose should be able to keep up with your gaming for the next several years, so be absolutely clear about what you want and will need from the laptop’s video card.

The Memory

The amount of memory you will need from your gaming laptop will depend on how intense of a gamer you are.

• Casual gamers will get by with a 4GB of memory or more

• Intense gamers should have a minimum of 8GB of memory (if not more)

The more memory, the better, as future applications will likely become more memory intensive. But if you need to scale back on your budget a bit to allocate funds to other important specs (such as the memory card), start off with a laptop with less memory.

The Display

When it comes to display, it all boils down to three things:

• Contrast ratio

• Maximum resolution

• Refresh rate

Gamers who are less interested in a great display or who are on a budget will be able to get by with a 1680×1050 resolution. If you can afford it, however, opt for a laptop with a 1920×1080 resolution or 2560×1440 resolution, especially if you are choosing a laptop with a larger display. If you are planning on doing some 3D gaming, then a 120Hz display is necessary.

The Processor

High-end processors are not nearly as important as a great graphics card and memory, but it is still something worth mentioning. Generally speaking, hex-core processors are completely unnecessary in gaming laptops. Quad-core processors are a good consideration because they will allow for future expandability, but most gamers will do just fine with a dual-core processor.

The Storage

Gaming may not have huge storage demands, but you will still want to have enough hard drive space for installs and files. Most gaming laptops will come with a hard drive such as a 7200RPM hard drive with 500GB of disk space freely available. This will help speed up your laptop’s basic functions and make sure that you are able to game without interruption.

The Sound

The final item to consider is the sound quality your laptop produces. Gaming laptops still do not offer the same level of sound quality as a gaming PC, which is why it is a good idea to invest in a solid set of desktop speakers and a good quality sound card. When out and on the go, be sure to have a pair of great headphones so that you can make the most out of your laptop’s sound quality.