Cheapest gaming laptop Philippines 2021

How to Choose a Budget Gaming Laptop - Buying Guide

Reading specification sheets can be quite tedious, but if you want to select the best laptop for you, knowing each one's specifications will surely help you in making the decision. It's best to know, however, which features are most important to you, especially if you're on a tight budget. Here are some points you should consider.

Check the Processing Power

For processors, your usual choices are Intel and AMD. Intel had been dominating the CPU market for years until the release of AMDs latest processors. Competition between the two has never been so heated. Do you go for the market leader or the underdog?Read on if you want to find out which one is more suitable for you.

Intel Is the More Accessible Option

Computers have been using Intel processors for decades. It shouldnt be surprising to see most laptops sport an Intel processor. For budget laptops, the most powerful Intel chip would usually be among i5 chips.

The 11th generation chips were released late last year, but they might be difficult to come by because of the global chip shortage. You can still easily find 8th, 9th, and 10th generation Intel chips in the market. Laptops with Intel chips are easy to come by, so if you absolutely need a laptop right now, you cant go wrong with Intel.

Get Your Moneys Worth With an AMD Processor

Don't count out AMD just yet. Despite being the underdog, benchmark results have shown that the performance gap between the two processors has never been so close. Its also more power-efficient compared to the Intel counterpart, given similar specifications. Best of all, its usuallymore affordable than Intel-based models!

You can choose among Ryzen 3 and 5 models as they are available in a lot of budget gaming laptops. Look for the 3000, 4000, or 5000 series. In this case, the higher the series number, the more updated, and the more expensive.

Decide on the Type of Storage

When choosing a type of storage drive, you are given two options: hard disk drives [HDD] and solid-state drives [SDD]. Both types differ based on their capacity, affordability, and durability.

Go for HDDs if Youre on a Tight Budget

A hard disk drive is an affordable option when it comes to storage. HDDs are commonly found in budget laptops. Most laptops offer HDDs with a high storage capacity in their base models. A 512 GB HDD is not difficult to find, and some laptops even have their storage as high as 1TB. But, the pros of HDDs end here.

In the long run, a laptop may experience slower start-up times and frequent lagging. A possible culprit is the hard disk drive. Its affordable for a reason; it isnt as long-lasting compared to the SSD. Before buying a gaming laptop with a hard disk drive, you should have an idea about how long you intend to keep it before replacing it.

The SSD Is the More Durable Option

Long loading times can be extremely frustrating, to the point that youd want to pull your hair out. Switching from an HDD to an SDD is a huge upgradeit can do wonders for your user experience.

One downside of SSDs is their storage capacity. Most laptop SSDs have lower storage capacitylaptops usually come with 256 GB or 512 GB SSD. If youre the type to store many large files on your laptops, you might want to think twice about purchasing a laptop with an SSD.

However, with an SSD, you can expect faster booting speeds and shorter loading times. These perks come at a higher price compared to the hard disk drive, but you can expect these to last a lot longer than HDDs.

Determine Your RAM Needs

For most games, a minimum of 8 GB of RAM is usually required. A laptop with 4 GB RAM just does not cut it anymore, but it will suffice if youre only interested in playing older titles.

Be sure to check if the RAM is upgradeable, and most importantly, the maximum RAM capacity should you choose to upgrade. An upgrade can only go so far. Of course, if you plan on running multiple applications at a time, the higher, the better.

Look for a Laptop With Upgradeable Parts

Did you know that some laptops allow you to upgrade certain components? The parts in a laptop that can be upgraded are usually the HDD, SDD, or RAM. These can be replaced, or sometimes a laptop has additional RAM or storage slots.

Upgrading a specific part yourself can sometimes be more affordable than buying a laptop that comes with the upgraded parts you need.If youre looking to upgrade your storage drive or RAM, its wise to look for prices for the upgradeable parts. Then, compare these with the prices of the upgraded laptop model.

Not all laptops are offered with upgradeable components, though. If the parts are soldered, youll be stuck with the same components for as long as you will be keeping your laptop. Unless youre contented with your laptop specifications, its best to keep clear from these laptops.

Opt for a Laptop With a Display Suited for Gaming

For a lot of people, the quality of the display is integral to their gaming experience. It's best to know the resolution and the refresh rate of your display to make the most out of your gaming laptop.

Go For High-Resolution Displays

Nothing beats an immersive gaming experience. The screen plays a huge role in providing this, so if youre particular about your display Its recommended to have a screen with 1080p resolution at the minimum. Whether you want to play games or watch a show on Netflix, opting for a high resolution will do you no wrong.

High Refresh Rates Are Preferable

Every frame counts. A general rule when looking for a gaming laptop is to look for a display with a high refresh rate. Refresh rates refer to the number of times a screen can display a new image every second. When you look for a laptop with a refresh rate, you will usually find this number in the units of Hz [hertz].

Most laptops offer their display with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. This may not be the most optimal for gaming, but it will suffice if you are a casual gamer. For gaming laptops, a display with a refresh rate of at least120 or 144 Hz is preferable.

Look for a Laptop With a Powerful Graphics Processing Unit

The graphics processing unit [GPU] is a critical component in determining a games performance. It obtains data from a CPU and converts these into images that can be shown on your monitor. If youre on a budget, some integrated GPUs have become more competitive in the market, allowing you to play casual games.

An Integrated Graphics Card Is More Affordable

In general, an integrated GPU is more affordable than a dedicated GPU. But as GPUs become more powerful, the power of integrated GPUs has become nothing to scoff at. Its a brilliant choice for a casual gamer, especially if youre on a tight budget.

For Intel, the budget option is the Intel UHD Graphics card or Iris Xe Graphics card. Meanwhile, for Ryzen, you have the Vega series and the integrated AMD Radeon graphics card.

A Dedicated GPU Is More Powerful

Of course, a dedicated GPU is better suited for you if you want a better experience in playing games. Though this isnt always available in budget models, some laptops have dedicated graphics cards. Most budget gaming laptops will contain an Nvidia graphics card, which is usually the GTX 10 or 1600 series.

Check for Compatibility With Games You Want to Play

Youre most likely interested in a gaming laptop because there are certain games that you want to play. Because of the varying specifications between laptops, it can be hard to predict the game performance in each laptop. Ensure that your prospective gaming laptops specifications meet the minimum requirements for the games you want to play.

If youre not convinced enough, there can be game performance tests on YouTube specifically for your laptop model.Look into their gameplay settings and see if you will be satisfied with the performance.

Assess Your Portability Needs

Gaming laptops are, without a doubt, extremely powerful. But these juggernauts come at a huge costtheir portability. Its common to see gaming laptops with weights above 2 kg and battery lives of around 5-10 hours.

If youre the type to bring this laptop to school or a coffee shop, its portability might be an issue for you. Be sure to check the weight and battery life before making your purchase. This shouldnt be much of an issue, though, for those who plan to treat this laptop similarly to a desktop.

10 Best Budget Gaming Laptops to Buy Online

Enough beating around the bush. We know this is the part you've been waiting for. You'll find different recommendations for each brand, so you don't feel too limited with your options. Go check out our list of top budget gaming laptops below!

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

The King of Budget Gaming Laptops: Balanced in All Aspects

A Laptop That's as Tough as Nails

Powerful and Portable: More Than You Can Ask For

Get Your Head in the Game With the Help of a Fluid Gaming Experience

A Giga-Powerful and Aesthetic Laptop

An Immersive Gaming Experience With Loud Speakers

The Budget Gaming Laptop That Packs a Punch

Optimize Your Keyboard Experience With an Ergonomic Design

An Acceptable Option for the Solo Gamer

Play Casual Games With Style

Compare the Best Budget Gaming Laptops

How to Quickly Become a Better Gamer

1. Practice, practice, practice. Focus on learning a game mechanic one at a time. With practice, you will experience significant growth in your gaming skills.
2. Play with or against better players. The feeling of playing with beating weaker opponents consistently is fun, but you don't learn as much. Play with better players so you can adapt to their play and learn from them.
3. Watch pro players on streaming platforms. Watching these players' streams in real-time gives you a peek at their minds. Learn their techniques and try to apply some of them in your gameplay. Watch them on Twitch, Mixer, or YouTube.
4. Work on your composure. The best gamers are well-composed. Listening to calm music while gaming or meditating in your free time can help you boost your composure.
5. Always learn the most effective tactic available [aka "meta"]. The meta changes with a new patch or update, so always read the patch notes or be involved in the game's community. Whether it's a nerf or buff to a particular aspect of the game, knowing this information can give you an edge in competitive gaming.

Expand Your Gaming Catalog

Playing the same games over and over again can easily make you bored. How about you go try some newer titles? Check out some of the best modern games that might relieve your boredom!

Summary

There is no perfect laptop out there. Each one has its own shortcomings, and that's one thing you should always remember. By knowing what we want in a budget gaming laptop, we can still be satisfied with our purchase. We hope this article was able to enlighten you on buying a wallet-friendly gaming laptop!

Author: Andrei Merino

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