What specs should I look for in an affordable used gaming laptop?
Asked by
MellowCedar47
I'm trying to find an affordable used laptop for my mother. She plays games through Steam, especially PowerWash Simulator, and wants to play PowerWash Simulator 2, but her current laptop can't run it. Brand doesn't matter, and I'm not very familiar with computer hardware, so what should I prioritize for the graphics card, processor, RAM, storage, and overall performance?
Answers
Avoid ultra-high-end models since they would defeat the purpose of finding something cheap. A midrange gaming laptop with 16 GB of RAM, an SSD, and a dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics card should be enough. Make sure the listing clearly names the graphics card—integrated graphics alone may struggle because the sequel is more demanding than the original.
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For a used laptop, prioritize a dedicated graphics card instead of relying on integrated graphics. Models with an RTX 3050, RTX 4050, RTX 3060, or RTX 4060 should be good options, with the RTX 4050 or 4060 being especially worthwhile if the price is reasonable. Try to get 16 GB of RAM rather than 8 GB.
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The listed requirements suggest looking for at least a Core i7-8650U-class processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a dedicated GPU around the Radeon RX 6700 level. For a smoother experience, 16 GB of RAM and a stronger modern processor would be better. The game needs roughly 8 GB of storage, but a laptop with a 512 GB SSD would leave plenty of room for Windows and other games.
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