Most people don’t upgrade their tech every year, and I’m one of those people. While I do get to play around with the latest computers thanks to my job, I tend to be rather slow in upgrading my personal hardware. In 2017, I purchased my gaming laptop. From a friend’s recommendation, I opted for the MSI Stealth GS63VR 7RF, which featured an Intel Core i7-770HQ and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. I also upgraded the RAM and storage so I could get the most use out of this pricey, 4K gaming laptop.
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Upgrading my gaming PC isn’t my focus anymore, and I have a lot of reasons for it
3 I already have a laptop and gaming handheld
While not perfect, they can handle just about every game I play
A good laptop isn’t ever going to fully replace a quality gaming laptop, but between my Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M1 Pro) and MSI Claw 7 AI+ (A2VM), there are only a few games I can’t play on the go. And most of those, I don’t end up playing when I’m traveling or having a LAN party with friends. I can play the top live-service game Final Fantasy XIV, the well-loved RPG Baldur’s Gate III, and Android RPG gem Genshin Impact easily enough on the Claw, and both Final Fantasy and Baldur’s Gate are macOS-friendly.
The only game I’m currently playing that is an utter pain with my current hardware is Monster Hunter Wilds. However, there are a few ways around the Monster Hunter optimization pain, including Nvidia GeForce Now.
And when I’m home, I’ve got two gaming desktops. A custom RTX 3080 Falcon Northwest and mid-range desktop build that’s currently still in progress but will be finalized as soon as I can scrape together a few more uninterrupted hours for cable management. So while I do kind of want to upgrade my beleaguered old MSI Stealth, I bought it back in 2017 when my other gaming options were non-existent. Between my desktop options, the Claw, and my MacBook, it’s hard to justify getting another piece of hardware for just occasional use.
2 Good gaming laptops are as expensive as desktops
If I’m spending several grand, I’d rather invest it in a quality tower
Even if I could justify having a dedicated gaming laptop for those once-monthly LAN parties, price is a huge deciding factor. While you can find the occasional gaming laptop for under $1,000, most of the Nvidia RTX 50-series laptops we’ve seen so far have cost upwards of 2 grand.
And if I’m going to be putting down enough money to cover my rent, I’d rather spend it on a desktop that can be upgraded as needed rather than a laptop. More and more laptops are coming with accessible SSD and RAM slots for easier upgrades, but that can only extend your laptop’s life another couple of years. GPU upgrades on laptops are just not a viable option, which makes it difficult to justify getting a gaming laptop if you have the money and space for a desktop.
1 I don’t love any of the RTX 50-series laptops I’ve seen so far
I’m just not feeling them, Mr. Krabs
I’m not saying this generation of gaming laptops is ugly. I’m just saying I haven’t found one I loved this gen. I tend to prefer laptops in the 14-16-inch range, as they’re easier to carry around compared to an 18-inch desktop replacement. And for me, a gaming laptop only makes sense if it’s portable. While I loved last year’s Razer Blade 14, this year’s model lacks the power and battery life to make it a viable choice.
It’s possible that the Intel Lunar Lake and Nvidia RTX 4070 Acer Predator Triton 14 AI will change my mind. I do love just how bonkers that laptop’s build is, which might be enough to persuade me if it has enough battery life and performance to justify its price tag. However, I’ve only seen a demo version of that laptop so far, so I remain unmoved by the RTX 50-series laptop lineup.
So I’m sticking to my current setup.
Obviously, I’m still writing about hardware, and that comes with access to the occasional new review unit. So, if I do want to take a gaming laptop with me, I usually have something in my review queue that I can take out for a spin. After all, you’ve got to game on a gaming laptop to review it, so it’s technically work if I use a review laptop for my monthly game nights.
But even without that, I honestly don’t need more hardware. And I’m not compelled enough by any of the laptops I’ve seen so far to justify dropping a lot of money on a machine that will get used maybe twice a month at most. So, my poor GTX 1060 gaming laptop will be the first gaming laptop I’ve ever bought, and likely the last.
