How Good of a Computer Does a Game Designer Use

If you are a video game developer in the market for a new laptop, keep reading, as we'll reveal which ones can suit your needs in terms of processing power, graphics, memory, and more.

How to Shop for a Game Development Laptop

Unlike the old days, video game developers now like to take their work with them. That's where a laptop comes in handy, as it can provide the portability and power necessary to develop on the go. Here are some factors to consider when shopping for a game development laptop.

Display

Your laptop's display can dictate its portability since the larger the screen, the larger the device. Despite taking more effort to lug around town, you may want a larger display that's easier on the eyes, especially if you plan on working for several hours at a time.

As for quality, a 1080p display should suffice, although 4K would be ideal to truly see what the game you're developing has to offer in terms of graphics.

Weight

The lighter the laptop, the easier it is to take with you, which may be a point of emphasis if you're always traveling or moving from place to place. Luckily, many of today's laptops are quite powerful while remaining portable, so you should run into too many behemoths when shopping around.

Battery Life

A gaming laptop with 10 hours of battery life is the sweet spot since you'll probably have to take your device wherever you go. At a minimum, aim for eight hours of power, as gaming software can quickly drain a computer, and you don't want to always be searching for an outlet if you're away from home.

CPU

A laggy processor can hamper your productivity, especially if you plan on having multiple tabs and windows open while you work. To ensure your laptop can handle large applications easily, aim for something with quad-core technology, such as the Intel Core i7 processor. If you prefer AMD, aim for a Ryzen 7 series processor at the very least. As for clock speed, 1.6GHz should be your base.

RAM

16GB of RAM is the base, with 32GB being your best bet for handling tons of game development and graphic design software.

GPU

An integrated GPU should be the bare minimum. Even better, go for a dedicated GPU, as it can better suit your game development needs. Your GPU should have at least 2GB of VRAM, with 6-8GB being ideal. And as you shop around, keep an eye on the newest generation of GPUs from AMD and Nvidia.

Storage

SSD is a better option for video game development than HDD. Not only is it quicker, but it's also not as noisy and is less likely to crash, helping to ensure data integrity.

Read: Game programming fundamentals.

The Best Laptops for Game Development

Taking into consideration all of the above, here are the top picks for video game developer laptops.

Acer Predator Helios 300

While this is a "gaming" laptop, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is perfectly suitable for game development, thanks to its power, great graphics, and sufficient storage that can help while writing code, 3D rendering, and more.

Pros for Game Developers:

• Fast Intel i7 processor with six cores.
• Superb graphics from the dedicated RTX 2060 GPU and 1080 x 1920 display.
• 16GB of RAM lets you run loads of game development software without slowing down.
• Plenty of SSD storage.
• Decent portability at around five pounds.

Cons:

• Travelers won't like its battery life that clocks in at just 6 hours.
• Keyboard tends to get laggy with multiple applications open.

Asus ZenBook Pro Duo

If you're seeking a game development laptop that's portable and powerful, you can't go wrong with the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo. Add in fantastic graphics, and you may be buying this Asus soon.

Pros for Video Game Developers:

• A powerhouse with an 8-core Intel i9 processor and 32GB of RAM.
• Loads of storage with a 1TB SSD.
• Touchscreen/dual screen adds convenience.
• Beautiful graphics from the 4K UHD OLED display.
• Portable at 5 pounds.

Cons:

• The dual-screen can lack responsiveness at times.
• Lags when playing audio.

MSI GL65 Leopard

Gaming laptops aren't just for fun, as they also work well for developers looking to see how their projects will appear and perform for their audience. The GL65 Leopard is a gaming laptop loaded with a powerful CPU and a top-of-the-line GPU for ultimate gaming performance.

Pros for Video Game Programmers:

• Intel i7 processor can handle anything you throw at it.
• Dedicated Nvidia RTX 2070 GPU and 1080 x 1920 display are great for graphics.
• Solid SSD storage (512GB).
• Quick response time with 16GB of RAM.

Cons:

• Battery life below 6 hours.

HP Spectre x360

Video game developers looking for a highly-portable laptop will be pleased with this selection. The Spectre x360 is a 2-in-1 laptop that features a foldable touchscreen for tons of functionality.

Pros for Game Developers:

• Very portable and easy to tote wherever you go.
• Decent power with a 10th generation Intel Core i7, integrated GPU
• Fast 512GB SSD.
• Excellent audio.

Cons:

• Some may seek more power from the CPU and GPU.
• Tends to overheat.

Razer Blade 15 Base

If you put a premium on displays, you can't go wrong with the Razer Blade 15 Base gaming laptop, as it specializes in vivid visuals. And when it comes to performance, it's not too shabby either.

Pros for Video Game Developers:

• Gorgeous visuals via a 4K screen resolution, HDR 400 True Black technology, and an
• Nvidia RTX 2070 GPU.
• Tons of processing power with a 6-core Intel i7 CPU.

Cons:

• Weighs 8 pounds, which could be a negative if you're seeking ultimate portability.

How Good of a Computer Does a Game Designer Use

Source: https://www.developer.com/guides/laptops-video-game-developers/

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