So you’ve been saving for months but still can’t decide which type of gaming computer is best for you? Do you need something that can go with you wherever you go, or do you just want something that can give you the best performance regardless of cost or portability?
If this dilemma has had you scratching your head for a long time, check out our guide to the top 3 options currently available on the market and select the best one for you.
Different gaming computer options
Building a customized PC: The option that gives you the most bang for your buck
First, custom computers are built from parts you choose yourself. It is indisputable that self-built PCs offer more value, better performance, and the ability to be upgraded over the years as new components come on the market.
However, putting a computer together can be a tedious process. Figuring out which component fits in which slot, whether this motherboard is compatible with that processor, or whether you need a graphics card or two.
At the end of the day all of these different factors will depend on how you plan to use your computer on a day-to-day basis. If you’re just looking for something that can handle a game of League of Legends, a sub-$600 machine will be enough to get the job done. But if you want to play Crysis 3 at 4K resolution and ultra graphics settings, the price of your computer will skyrocket considerably.
Not only that, but there are also different types of processors and graphics cards that are divided between computers for high-performance work and machines designed for gaming. If you are going to work on 3D design in the medical field, you will be better off investing in a Titan Z than a GTX 980, as one is made to handle a lot of data processing, while the other was designed strictly for the best graphics quality in a war field for example.
Luckily, there are resources available for people who want to build their own PC, but don’t even know where to start. Communities like r/BuildMeaPC on Reddit are a place where anyone can post their budget and what they plan to use their computer for, and the forum will respond with all the parts you’ll need listed and at the best price available on the market.
Special gaming laptops and the portability argument
Another category of machines are laptops designed for gaming and these can offer an all-in-one experience that consumers are looking for today.
Other than an external mouse, everything you need to start your game and begin exterminating enemies is included in the laptop and that no-frills approach is appreciated by anyone who doesn’t want to bother putting together a gaming computer on their own.
Also, if you’re always on the go and need to get your gaming fix, a dedicated gaming laptop is perfect for a little gaming while you make your monthly visit to grandma’s house. It might get a little warm (gaming laptops are notorious for their problems with proper heat dissipation), but ultimately, it will get the job done.
The caveat with this choice is that when compared to desktop computers built for the purpose of gaming, you will never get the same amount of power for the price. Often the graphics cards in these types of laptops will have an identifier with the letter “M” at the end of their name (the GTX 980M, for example), denoting that although the basic architecture is from the same family as the original size version, many chips inside have been trimmed down so that it can fit into the space of a laptop.
Additionally, it is very difficult to find a laptop that has enough battery life to sustain an intense gaming session for more than a couple of hours. This means that even though you may enjoy portability for a while, if you plan on marathon gaming, you must stay close to a power outlet before you run out of power and lose progress.
So perhaps the decision between building your own gaming computer or getting a laptop is less about price and more about portability. Gaming laptops can still run today’s most popular gaming titles (except maybe something like Battlefield 4 in ultra 4K), but that capability will come at a significantly higher cost in comparison.
Pre-assembled custom desktop computers: the middle ground
One of the main reasons people prefer the experience of a gaming laptop over a custom-built desktop computer is not only for portability but also for convenience. When you buy a gaming laptop, you know that everything is going to work as it should from the moment you take it out of the box.
No hassle installing Windows, configuring this option or changing that menu – it’s all there and ready to use. Well, now there are companies that are willing to do the heavy lifting for you and not charge you much for the effort. Leading the pack is CyberPower PC, a custom computer manufacturer with the widest range of options when it comes to choosing the parts and processor that best fits your budget.
CyberPower is not the only company in the market providing computers designed for high quality gaming. There are others such as Digital Storm, iBuyPower and Velocity Micro, which offer desktop computers in all price ranges. Even the cheapest of each of the lines can have enough power to run current popular games, except for the most demanding ones like Crysis 3 and The Witcher III.
Similarly, if you’re looking for the perfect package of portability, power and reliability, options like Northwest Falcon’s Tiki and Orgin’s Chronos are good, compact computers that can accomplish everything you’d expect from a gaming computer. They may not have the level of portability that a laptop can offer, but these cases work as the middle ground between monster gaming machines and limited laptops,
These machines may be on the expensive side, but when you consider that you are paying for a custom computer as well as its guaranteed reliability, then the price is worth it.
Regardless of which route you choose, the fact that cannot be denied is that PCs that are self-built are the most bang for your buck. That said, they are also the least portable of the 3 options listed.
Laptops can give traveling gamers everything they need to play the hottest new games no matter where they are in the world, but their compact nature comes at the cost of a cruder graphics output. And finally, custom PC manufacturers like CyberPower PC offer cases that are a bit more expensive, but are powerful alternatives that are not bulky while still managing to offer all the benefits of a desktop gaming machine.
PC gaming is in its second heyday and the options available to consumers have never been as numerous as they are today. Whatever machine you decide to spend your precious money on, you can now make sure it’s the best choice for you with these pointers to the different types of gaming computers.