When it comes to purchasing a new laptop, it can be difficult to know where to begin. And it’s especially challenging if you’re not knowledgeable enough about what to look for. There’s a whole lot of laptop jargon and terminology that you have yet to learn. And a laptop for gaming or video editing requires more than a laptop for regular tasks.
You always have the option of getting the latest model for a laptop. Apple products have been proven to be the best laptop for gaming and video editing. Their latest MacBook Pro has all the requirements you need for such extensive activities. And it has an exceptional battery life, perfect for rendering videos that take forever to finish.
However, there are always downsides to buying the latest model without understanding its specifications. First and foremost, they may not have the specific features you’re looking for. More importantly, they can be way above your budget. That’s why the first step always includes determining what specs you need for a laptop.
For starters, you need to consider the laptop’s graphics card, storage, processor, memory, and display. This article will discuss each of these features for both gaming and video editing laptops. This way, you’ll be able to pick the right laptop for how you will use it.
Important Laptop Specifications to Consider
Laptops are composed of the same processors, graphics cards, and hard drives as those in other computers. What distinguishes video editing and gaming laptops from others is how these components were configured. Individually, they are powerful, but you’ll find that certain components are more important than others.
The specs to look for when choosing a laptop for video editing and gaming are listed below. The list also discusses how each feature will affect your laptop’s performance.
- Graphics Card (GPU)
The graphics card is the heart of your gaming laptop. It processes the data and sends the signal to the monitor to display the visuals on your screen. This procedure can be quite extensive. That’s why you’ll need a separate GPU with its own dedicated memory (video memory or VRAM).
The Best GPU for Video Editing Laptops
Graphics cards in laptops cannot be updated later. If you want a video editing laptop, you should get a dedicated graphics card. They may be more expensive than integrated graphics cards, but they’re worth the extra cost.
This device is responsible for converting recorded footage into edited video files. For this reason, it requires a lot of computing power to process video effects and higher resolutions. Prioritizing a CPU or fast storage over a graphics card is a good idea. However, you shouldn’t skip or try to save money on a cheap GPU.
The Best GPU for Gaming Laptops
Video games run hundreds of high-resolution pictures every second. While the CPU can handle the task well, a laptop with a high-performing GPU can do much better.
You need to look for graphics card details when buying a gaming laptop. With a powerful video card, you can play your favorite games with high graphic settings.
- Storage
Storage is also an important feature to consider when buying a laptop. Laptops usually have modest amounts of local storage to minimize their form factor. This can also lower the total cost of the laptop, which is enough for some of the most basic tasks. However, when it comes to video editing and gaming, you’ll need bigger storage space.
The speed of your data storage device is more important than the amount of storage it has.
- Mechanical hard drives (HDDs) are good for keeping data. The downside is that they are extremely sluggish and difficult to work with.
- Solid-state drives (SSD) make the editing and gaming processes smoother. However, they cost more than HDDs.
The Best Storage Specs for Video Editing Laptops
While extra storage is ideal, you need to remember that your current laptop’s storage can be upgraded later. You don’t need to waste money on your laptop’s extra storage. Instead, you can use external hard drives to increase capacity and save finished videos.
A good editing laptop will have enough SSD storage for your current project. On top of this, a separate mechanical disk is also essential for long-term storage. It is preferable to use only solid-state storage (SSS), but this can be expensive.
The Best Storage Specs for Gaming Laptops
When it comes to gaming laptops, quicker is usually better. This is why many people choose SSDs. The added performance means faster game load times. It also decreases game stuttering, which happens when your drive can’t keep up with the game.
Since SSDs are expensive, an alternative will be a 1TB hard disk with a 7,200-rpm speed. However, to get you out of choosing between the two, you can go with a setup that has both an SSD and a hard drive. That way, you can store your game data on the SSD while still having enough space for anything else.
- Processor (CPU) and Memory (RAM)
The processor (CPU) on your laptop is in charge of anything that isn’t related to visuals. It also impacts the performance of other software, like your browser, OS, and productivity apps.
The Best RAM and CPU Specs for Video Editing Laptops
Before you look for the right processor, you first need to check the editing software you want to use. By doing so, you can see if your CPU fulfills what the software requires. Much like the GPU, a laptop’s processor cannot be updated later. That’s why it’s best to spend extra on a CPU to extend the life of your new computer.
On the other hand, RAM is similar to your video editing workstation. It saves every piece of data you’re currently working with. Having extra RAM allows you to import and process footage more quickly.
Working with several clips, effects, noises, and animations can quickly consume all of your available RAM. That’s why you should opt for a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM. High-end computers can contain as much as 32 or 64 GB of RAM. Fortunately, you can upgrade your laptop’s RAM later on. This will initially save you money.
The Best RAM and CPU Specs for Gaming Laptops
A gaming laptop with a capable processor and enough RAM is the ideal setup for you. This will give your CPU what it needs to provide the best performance.
Intel CPUs are unbeatable in today’s market. Intel i7 8th-generation CPU series is the best one for gaming laptops. You also need to pay attention to the letters at the end of your processor model number. Not all i7 processors are made equal. For this reason, you need to get one of the K series CPUs for gaming. It has greater power than other i7 processors.
When it comes to RAM, you should never get a laptop with 8GB or lower. If you want better gaming performance, you should get a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM. You won’t be needing more than 16GB of RAM to have a better-performing gaming laptop.
- Display
The display refers to the screen on your laptop. As you can imagine, this is another important spec that you need to consider.
The Best Display Specs for Video Editing Laptops
Let’s say you want to shoot a video in 4K resolution or higher. You’ll need a high-resolution display or an external monitor. This is to ensure that you get the clearest image possible.
On the other hand, if you’re working on a 1080p video, a laptop with a standard display is most suitable.
The Best Display Specs for Gaming Laptops
Gaming laptop screens are available in different configurations. Some displays will only have a 1080p resolution but can generate greater refresh rates. To get the most out of these high-refresh-rate screens, you’ll need a powerful GPU.
You can also go for high-resolution displays with a 60Hz refresh rate, which includes 4K resolutions.
Buy One That Fits Your Budget and Needs
Like in most gadgets, you need to look for a laptop that has all the features you need. A laptop for other basic tasks may not be applicable if you want to play games or edit videos. You need higher-quality specifications for such resource-intensive activities.
Of course, you also have to weigh these specs against your budget. Hopefully, the list above helps you understand how you can choose one that also fits your budget.
