Rigging together a gaming setup is no simple feat, as it requires lengthy research and ample preparation to decide on an expensive investment that can easily add up to thousands of dollars. With the vast selection of laptops, pre-built PCs,or componentson the market, it can be hard to decide on a system that is both powerful and reliable.
The portable nature of gaming laptops ultimately is a key factor that cannot be easily replicated by desktops. Gaming laptops pack much of the power needed to run modern gamesinto a lightweight package. Additionally, laptops come ready with a selection of peripherals, such as a display, keyboard, trackpad, webcam, and speakers. All of these factors combined are what makes laptops so desirable, especially when there’s no power outlet in sight.
As for PCs, what they lack in portability and adaptability, they make up for in overall power and reliability. Due to the larger form factor and the standardized nature of PC components, upgrades and maintenance are beginner-friendly. When starting the search for a gaming PC and learning what to look out for, Game Rant’s curated selection of thebest gaming PCsis a great place to start.
So, just how much does one of these gaming machines cost when placed in direct comparison with the other?
Things To Consider When Comparing Gaming Laptops vs Gaming PCs
Before diving into the overall price comparison, there are some initial features that players should consider when choosing between these two immensely popular configurations:
How Much Are High-End Gaming Laptops vs High-End Gaming PCs?
Razer Blade 18 Gaming Laptop (RTX 4090)
The Razer Blade 18 Gaming Laptop is a laptop that pushes the boundaries of what people can genuinely call a gaming laptop (but in a good way). Razer has no qualms about it, calling it the ultimate desktop replacement with a feature-packed offering that also comes with some of the most premium pricing on the market.
Yeyian Odachi Gaming PC
The Yeyian Odachi Gaming PC is another premium choice, sporting the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. This processor comes with an integrated GPU, 16 cores and 32 threads as well as a clock speed of up to 5.7 GHz. Additionally, this PC comes with its own Geforce RTX 4090 GPU, 32 GB of ultra-fast DDR5 memory, and seven total addressable RGB fans as well as a 360mm AIO for quiet and efficient performance.
When searching for high-end gaming PCs or laptops, you need to first narrow down to the components that cost the most and more or less “define” what the PC is capable of. These include:
There’s also screen size, battery timing, and factors like form factor to consider, but those are all secondary in terms of monetary value.
What’s the Baseline?
In the high-end category, you could easily go for a machine with anRTX 4080 / 4090or an RX7900XT / 7900XTX GPU. A GPU of this class helps aid in a faster rendering time and overall better graphical performance when running games.
However, these cards are never cheap, and depending on the economy and scalping conditions, can easily cost over $2,000 for the GPU alone. Now, if you’re going for the beefiest GPU, you also need other specifications to match it. Otherwise, it’s just an overperforming unit that’s being held back. Sure, processing information fast is good, but what’s there to process if the information is too slow to arrive?
So, to complement the GPU, you’d not only be looking at a premium CPU but also at least 32 GB of RAM and the fastest possible storage. After all, you wouldn’t want the loading times to be your main hold-back in an otherwise powerhouse build.
How Much Are Mid-Range Gaming Laptops vs Mid-Range Gaming PCs?
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is designed for smooth gameplay and efficient multitasking. The computer sports a 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13980HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. These allow high frame rates for a smooth gaming experience even at 2560x1600 resolution. For faster load times and efficient multitasking, the laptop includes 32GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe SSD.The Strix G16 also features ROG Intelligent Cooling, with liquid metal on the CPU. The laptop’s QHD 240Hz panel ensures clear, fast visuals and is DCI-P3 compliant.
CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC GXiVR8680A2
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC is a prebuilt desktop featuring an impressive Intel Core i7-14700KF processor with 20 cores and 28 threads as well as clock speeds up to 5.6 GHz, which is more than enough processing power to handle most modern games with ease. Additionally, this desktop PC comes with an RTX 4070 Ti and 32 GB of DDR5 RAM. This PC also comes with an RGB keyboard and mouse duo, sparing the user an additional purchase.
The mid-range category casts a much wider net in terms of specifications. Although the RTX 4070, 4070 Ti, or4070 SUPERare great and affordable GPUs, they’re by no means a minimum requirement. Even a card as low as an RTX 2060 is enough to match the recommended requirements of most modern games, perfectly capable of running games at medium to high settings.
However, in the case of buying a desktop or laptop entirely new, it is ideal to purchase a recent card to better protect the longevity of a computer’s lifespan. The same logic can be applied to the processor and RAM.
How Much Are Budget Gaming Laptops vs Budget Gaming PCs?
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-525P Gaming Laptop
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-525P is a great start for both gaming and work, thanks to the 12 cores/16 thread i5 processor that makes it easier on the laptop to multitask, and the RTX 3050 for a decent gaming experience. The standard 15" screen with a satisfactory IPS display features a 144Hz refresh rate perfect for smooth gaming and the 8GB RAM with 512GB fast PCI-E 4 SSD will ensure faster OS and app boot.
Skytech Gaming Nebula Gaming PC Desktop
This Skytech Gaming Nebula PC has a mesh and tempered glass case, with RGB addressable fans and light strips. This budget PC features an Intel Core i5-13400F processor with 10 cores and 16 threads and a clock speed of up to 4.60 GHz. This PC also comes with an RTX 3050 and 16 GB of DDR4 RAM all for an affordable price.
Specifications tend to vary wildly when discussing budget computers, as there is no single right answer for the best piece of budget hardware. A gamer shopping on a tight budget should make a list of desired games to play, and then research based on the game’s minimum requirements. Some games may require more RAM or a higher-end GPU, while other casual games aren’t very demanding when it comes to hardware and can run off of almost any system.
Generally speaking, laptops tend to be more rigid in pricing and hardware available due to the manufacturing process. It’s not practical to pick and choose components at will, unlike with a desktop PC. Furthermore, when shopping for a gaming laptop, even when on a tight budget, it is imperative to find a laptop with a dedicated GPU rather than one running off of an integrated graphics chip to maintain the most efficiency while gaming.
With these specifications in mind:
Why Are Laptops Pricier Compared to PCs?
Gaming laptops vs gaming PCs are fundamentally different in pricing, power, and usage. Ultimately, when purchasing either system, the decision requires ample research to discern the player’s needs in terms of performance and functionality.
For example, a player interested in aVR gaming rigwill not have the same needs as a player only interested in comfy, casual games and this will be evident in the final cost. But at the same time, there’s an inherent trend where laptops will always be pricier than PCs.
Sure, the most basic argument is that you’re using fewer materials, and thus should be charged less. But in this line of thought, one often forgets to factor in the design & engineering costs, the fact that every laptop has a unique design, meaning different kinds of parts to build, which lowers the economies of scale.
Whereas, in comparison, a PC component (a GPU in this case) can be plugged into almost every motherboard out there. Yes, there are engineering requirements for the motherboard as well, but compared to a laptop, there’s an ocean’s worth of leeway.
Since the laptop market is competing on a non-upgradeable, non-modular end-product, the cost of engineering and production rises. In comparison, the PC market is competing to perfect individual components instead of an end-product, which essentially gives you the freedom to pick your own configuration.
Where Do The Differences Lie?
So, while PCs and laptops have different production goals dictating their prices, there’s also a lot more to consider before making a purchasing decision. Is the portability of a laptop worth it, or are PCs an inherently cheaper (and in certain cases, better) option to go for? Here’s the breakdown.
Power & Performance
The deciding factor on how much a gaming laptop vs gaming PC costs rests entirely on the included hardware. A gamer’s power requirements will be reflected in the overall cost.
However, when comparing gaming laptops to gaming PCs, it is crucial to remember that even when two systems are listed with the same specs, the overall performance tends not to transfer laterally. This is because of the shape and function of laptops. A laptop’s included CPU and GPU chip will almost always prioritize battery life and efficiency over performance. For some, this may not be an issue, but for others, this can make or break a purchase.
Aside from the nature of a laptop’s chipset and hardware, performance can also be negatively impacted due to temperature. Computer components like to stay cool and tend to have optimal performance when kept below a certain temperature. Keeping components chilled is much easier on a standard desktop, due to the space for larger coolers, heat sinks, and multiple case fans. This, however, is harder to achieve on laptops due to the need for a lightweight and thin form factor. Overall, the temperatures on laptops tend to be much higher than on desktop PCs, which negatively affects performance as well as system health.
Longevity & Lifespan
When tallying the cost of either form factor, life span should be kept in the forefront. A gaming machine is a large purchase, and players should get the most out of this purchase without the need for constant fixes or replacements.
When comparing the two, desktop PCs tend to have a much longer lifespan. This is largely due to components regularly being kept cool, as well as the size allowing for easier maintenance. Oftentimes, dust will collect and become trapped in the tiny fins of a laptop’s fans and go months, if not years, before being fully cleaned. This dust piles up for much longer because users don’t often see a need to fully dismantle and check the state and health of a laptop unless there are consistent issues.
With gaming PCs, upgrades are made simple and can be done gradually throughout a computer’s life cycle to further improve performance and keep up with the ever-evolving standards of gaming. This is unfortunately impossible with gaming laptops, as they are made to be modular and manufactured in a specific way. Sometimes RAM and storage can be upgraded in a laptop, but not much else can be.
Additional Costs
In most cases, a gaming desktop is the cheaper option for gamers when it comes to getting the most bang for their buck. A gaming PC tends to have greater stability, performance, and longevity. The trade-off for this style of machine is the complete lack of portability. Additionally, more costs need to be accounted for when purchasing a gaming PC, which is not an issue with laptops. A gaming PC will need a display, a keyboard and mouse, a mouse pad, speakers or a headset,and a deskand chair at the very least.
Aside from this, a PC will always have a higher TDP and power requirement compared to a laptop with identical specifications, and with the laptop system gradually shifting to RISC ARM architecture with Snapdragon X Elite and Apple M Silicon, this gap will continue to widen. So, even in terms of costs over an extended period, laptops can, in an ideal scenario, beat PCs in price points.
For first-time PC gamers, this may be a difficult demand to fulfill, as it adds a few hundred dollars that aren’t accounted for in the initial purchase. However, not everyfirst-time setupneeds to be picture worthy and gamers have proven their creativity time and time again when building gaming setups in less-than-ideal situations. Also, choosing a system for gaming may be a bit of an upfront challenge that requires plenty of planning and research, but the hours of gameplay will always make it worth it in the end.
The Caveat
So, in the end, a gaming PC can be considered a long-term investment, which, while being the cheapest, can drive costs due to the non-portable nature and size of its components. Whereas a laptop charges more of an upfront price, it includes almost everything a normal user needs (such as a built-in screen, keyboard, etc.).
However, when it comes to gaming quality, a PC can be hard to beat. In this domain, the KPIs tend to shift towards higher frame rates and stability, which a laptop often fails to provide. Add upgradability to the mix, and a laptop seems nothing more than a novelty unless portability is a serious concern for you.
