When to upgrade a gaming laptop If you’re asking yourself this question, then you are on the right track to being an informed buyer. But it can be tricky to know when it’s time to upgrade your gaming laptop, as it all depends on the hardware of your laptop and its configuration. Here are some factors that will help you figure out when to upgrade your gaming laptop. You will realize that these rules of thumb are not one-size-fits-all, and there are exceptions, which I will explain later in this article.
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Can You Upgrade Gaming Laptops?
It’s true that gamers need gaming laptops that are powerful enough to run their games smoothly, and such gaming laptops tend to have limited upgradeability. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t upgrade a gaming laptop in terms of CPU, memory, hard drive, and graphics card. There are a few ways to upgrade a gaming laptop, like installing a discrete video card, overclocking the CPU, or adding more RAM or hard drive. It would be better to check with the manufacturer about the upgradeability before buying it.
When Should You Upgrade Your Gaming Laptop?
Gaming laptops are one of the great inventions to come out of the 21st century, but they do come with their drawbacks. The processing power of these machines can mean the difference between victory and defeat in your favorite online game, so it’s worth investing in quality equipment. But when should you decide to upgrade your gaming laptop? Find some signs here!
When Should You Upgrade Your Gaming Laptop?
Sign # 1: Your Laptop Can’t Meet The Game’s Minimum Requirements
Gamers know that the newest releases often come with a list of minimum requirements for your PC. These include things like a certain amount of RAM memory, a graphics card that meets a specific standard, or a processor with a certain speed. In addition to being unable to run the game, you might experience lag, choppiness, or other problems that cause you to miss out on the full gaming experience.
While you can sometimes update your graphics card or portion of RAM memory to meet the new game’s requirements, if it doesn’t reach the minimum required specs even after upgrading those parts of your system, it might be time to buy a new laptop.
Sign #2: Your Laptop Breaks Down Frequently
If your laptop is breaking down often, this is definitely a sign that it’s time to go ahead and upgrade. You shouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of having your laptop break down on you all the time. It’s a complete waste of your time and money to constantly have to take it in to get fixed.
Plus, if you’re trying to use your laptop for gaming purposes, then you want something that works well and doesn’t glitch out all the time. If your laptop can’t handle the latest games without overheating or crashing, it may be time to look into getting a new one.
Sign #3: You Need a Faster Processing Speed
One of the easiest ways to gauge when you need an upgrade for your gaming laptop is simply to listen to what it’s telling you. If you’re noticing that your laptop is starting to lag when it comes to things like game loading and running, or if it seems like your computer keeps crashing abruptly, then this is a clear sign that you need more processing speed. In fact, if you’re experiencing any kind of slow-down, crashes, or freezes while playing video games, this is a sign that you need more processing power.
Sign #4: You Want More Storage Space
Do you have a lot of games you’d like to install? Do you want them installed at the highest possible resolution? If so, then you will definitely need more storage space. The most common laptop storage devices are hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs). Hard drives are cheaper, but they are also slower and less reliable than SSDs. Most modern laptops have both hard drives and SSDs, using the hard drive for storing data files and the SSD for running the operating system.
You should consider upgrading your laptop if it only has a hard drive and you want an SSD. The bottom line is that if you’re not sure how much storage space your laptop has or how much it can hold, then it’s probably time to upgrade.
Sign #5: Your Computer Is Over 4 Years Old
Is your computer an older model? If it’s over four years old, it might be time to upgrade. In the tech world, computers are considered “legacy” after just a few years. That means the manufacturer no longer supports the machine and there are no more updates or security patches available for that type of computer. Plus, if you’ve had your system for a while, its specs may be smaller than what you’ll find in newer models. And that can affect its speed and performance as well as your ability to play modern games.
Sign #6: CPU Starts Bottlenecking Your GPU
Your CPU starts bottlenecking your GPU. The whole point of a gaming laptop is that it’s a portable powerhouse you can take anywhere and play any game on, right? Well, in order for that to be possible, it’s important your system has a strong enough processor to keep up with the most advanced graphics card you’ve got.
To give you an idea, even if your video card has the capacity to run games at 4K resolution (or higher) without breaking a sweat, that can’t happen unless your CPU is able to process the enormous amount of data being sent from the GPU to the screen. So, if your laptop isn’t able to handle the graphics anymore, it might be time to consider whether or not it’s still worth upgrading your gaming laptop.
Sign #7: Your Laptop Is Too Old To Run The Game You Want To Play
The most obvious sign that your gaming laptop is due for an upgrade is when you can’t run the latest games. If you’ve been having a hard time getting games to run properly, and it seems like it’s getting worse with each new title you try, chances are it’s time for a new laptop.
To be fair, some of this is up to your own standards. If you usually play indie titles or older games, you may not need a new laptop until much later than someone who plays modern AAA titles.
That said, even if you only play older games, there will always come a point where they, too, become too difficult to run on older hardware. Sooner or later, your laptop won’t be able to run any games at all.
Sign #8: Your Laptop Is Too Loud And Hot
One of the biggest reasons for upgrading your gaming laptop is that it has become too loud and hot. If you notice that the fans on your laptop are constantly running, even when you’re not gaming, there’s a good chance that your system is overheating. Constant fan noise can also be a sign that it’s time to upgrade.
Overheating can shorten the life of a laptop significantly, especially if it’s not gotten a thorough cleaning in a while. While you could simply clean out your laptop’s fans and heat sink, this may not solve the problem in the long run. It might just be time to trade up for something newer and more powerful. A newer machine will have better temperature control and should last longer than your current laptop.
Sign # 9: You’re Suffering From Serious Performance Issues
One of the most common reasons for upgrading your laptop is performance issues. If your machine is slow, has pop-ups and viruses, or just can’t keep up with what you’re doing on it, it’s time to start looking for a new one. When you need to upgrade, you’ll want to be sure that you get the right laptop for your needs—and right now, that means focusing on gaming laptops. But which one should you choose? And how do you know when it’s time to make the leap and upgrade? Here are a few telltale signs.
If your computer runs slowly even as you’re doing simple things like emailing or browsing the internet, that’s a clue that you need an upgrade. You may have downloaded too much junk software or apps, leaving your computer overloaded and unable to function properly. This could also be a sign that your hard drive is too full and needs extra space in order to run well. If this is the case, it’s advisable to either clean out some of your hard drive or get an external storage device.
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Common Questions: When To Upgrade Gaming Laptop?
How To Upgrade Your Laptop’s Ram?
Upgrading your laptop’s RAM is one of the easiest ways to make your computer run faster. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Determine the type of RAM you require.Most laptops use DDR3 or DDR4, so check your manufacturer’s product page for more info. You’ll also need to find out how much RAM your laptop can take.
Step 2: Purchase some RAM.Look for a brand that specializes in laptop memory.
Step 3: Take apart your laptop.This part varies depending on the manufacturer, but it usually means removing a series of screws and then prying open the case. Consult an online manual if necessary.
Step 4: Install the new memory in an empty slot, making sure it locks into place properly. If you have multiple slots, check with your manufacturer to see which ones they recommend using.
Step 5: Reassemble everything and restart your computer!
How to Upgrade a Gaming Laptop?
Update drivers and software.
Free up disk space.
Upgrade RAM.
Switch to a Solid State Drive.
Add a cooling pad.
Consider re-applying the thermal paste.
Install a graphics card.
How to Improve Gaming Laptop Performance?
Gaming laptops are amazing. You can take them anywhere and play your favorite games without worrying about having a high-performance desktop or a powerful gaming computer.
However, many people don’t know that there are ways to improve their gaming laptop performance even further.
If you’re one of these people, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.
We’re going to show you how to improve your gaming laptop’s performance here.
- Get an SSD for Your Laptop
- Install Additional RAM
- Install the latest GPU drivers.
- Clean Up Your System with CleanMyPC
- Overclock your CPU and GPU.
Are Gaming Laptops More Durable?
In my personal experience, gaming laptops are definitely durable, as long as you’re not taking them to a war or something. I’d say that they’re just as fragile as normal laptops, but with more powerful hardware. It all depends on what you do with it. If you’re just using it for school, movies, and surfing the web, it probably won’t break, but if you’re using it for heavy gaming, then it will probably break sooner or later.
How Often Do You Need to Upgrade Your Gaming PC?
You should always upgrade your computer if the hardware you have is outdated. For example, if you have an outdated graphics card, then it is advisable to upgrade it to a newer one because graphics cards affect the FPS rate of a game. If you are a hardcore gamer who plays many games on a daily basis, then you should upgrade your graphics card every six months so you can play games smoothly. If your old graphics card is not good enough to play games without lagging, then it is time to upgrade your graphics card. However, if you are a casual gamer, you can wait a little bit longer, but upgrading your graphics card at least once a year is recommended.
When to Upgrade Your Gaming Laptop To A New Gaming Laptop?
- When the battery dies too quickly,
- When the screen doesn’t display as it should,
- When the fans are making noises, they shouldn’t.
- When you’re having a hard time finding certain games,
- When you find yourself needing to upgrade your laptop’s hardware,
Should You Upgrade Or Buy A Better Desktop For Gaming If You Already Have A Laptop?
It’s an upgrade, for sure.
The only reason to buy a new laptop is if you want a new one.
The benefits of upgrading your laptop are far more than just higher frame rates.
You don’t need to upgrade anything on your desktop to enjoy higher performance, better visuals, and reduced noise levels.
You can buy a much better desktop than the iMac Pro and save up to 50%.
If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, then you should definitely consider an upgrade or buying a better desktop.
The Verdict: When to Upgrade a Gaming Laptop?
So, in the end, you may be asking yourself the same question as we did: when exactly should I upgrade my gaming laptop? The answer is simple: when your laptop begins to slow down on you. You will know this because it will be laggy and or have trouble running games. At that point, you shouldn’t push forward, you should migrate to a faster or better laptop..