In the field of gaming notebooks, there are numerous different models, and not all offer a good price-performance ratio. We provide an overview.
GeForce RTX: The strongest notebook graphics currently available
The mobile versions of the RTX series are named like their desktop counterparts: GeForce RTX 2060, RTX 2070, and RTX 2080. Technically, they correspond to the graphics processors for desktop graphics cards but run at lower clock speeds to avoid excessive heat generation.
Additionally, the mobile variants are also available in the so-called “Max-Q” design for particularly slim and quiet gaming notebooks. The “Max-Q” graphics units operate even slower and are usually found only in particularly expensive notebooks.
Notebook versions slower than desktop models
Here’s the performance comparison: According to surveys by Notebookcheck.com, the mobile RTX 2080 is about 15 percent slower in 3DMark benchmarks compared to the desktop model, while the Max-Q version is even 30 percent slower.
Users can at least expect that the mobile RTX 2080 is about as powerful as a desktop GTX 1080 depending on the resolution, or 15 to 35 percent faster than the mobile GTX 1080.
Notebookcheck.com
The mobile RTX 2060 is 36 to 58 percent faster than its direct predecessor depending on the resolution and is roughly as fast as a mobile GTX 1070. Meanwhile, the mobile RTX 2070 is 26 to 29 percent faster than the mobile RTX 2060 and is about on par with the mobile GTX 1080.
GeForce RTX and GTX: Who needs what?
What is the advantage of RTX over GTX? In addition to the increased computing power provided by the new architecture, the hardware support for Raytracing lighting technology and cloud-based anti-aliasing DLSS (“Deep Learning Super Sampling”) are major advancements.
However, both require implementation by game developers and are currently (still) not necessarily seen as a buying argument due to their relatively slow adoption. Additionally, Nvidia has also enabled ray tracing on older Pascal graphics cards, though they do not achieve such good performance.
What graphics processor do I need? Since most gaming notebooks use displays with Full HD resolution (1080p), the computing power of a mobile GTX 1060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB) is often just enough for smooth frame rates at high graphics settings in current games.
6 GB video memory for Full HD: For current and upcoming top titles, a bit more is advisable, especially considering the video memory, with 6 GB generally considered outdated; however, it usually suffices for Full HD at present.
120 Hz and beyond: The same applies especially when pushing fast displays with refresh rates of 120 Hz and above: The more computing power, the better. Accordingly, the absolute high-end models for demanding players in notebooks also have their justification.
Anyone who primarily plays resource-efficient multiplayer shooters like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and similar, or less graphically demanding MMO titles, can also find satisfaction in the lower mid-range.
GTX 1660 (Ti) and GTX 1650 as alternatives
The new GTX 1660 Ti for notebooks is almost as fast as the RTX 2060 and is on average only a few percentage points slower, though some RTX features mentioned at the start may have to be compromised.
The GTX 1660 without “Ti” in the name, meanwhile, is on par with the outgoing GTX 1060.
With the GTX 1650, Nvidia’s current range of gaming graphics units in notebooks is rounded off downwards. This is about 10 percent slower than the GTX 1060 but approximately 25 percent faster than the GTX 1050 Ti.
The best gaming laptops for around 700 euros
For an acceptable performance in less demanding titles, buyers should budget up to 700 euros. The strongest graphics units in this price range are Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and AMD’s Radeon 560X, each with 4 GB VRAM, with the GTX 1050 Ti being, according to Notebookcheck.com, an average of 35 percent faster in games.
A budget entry with the Nitro 5
The most worthwhile laptop model is nevertheless a model with Radeon 560X: The Acer Aspire Nitro 5 (AN515-42-R1GF) is paired with an AMD Ryzen 5 2500U with four cores and eight threads at a clock speed of 2 GHz and up to 3.6 GHz, providing enough power for gaming in this performance class.
Plenty of RAM and an SSD: It also comes with 8 GB of RAM as well as a 128 GB SSD and pre-installed Windows 10 Home alongside a 1 TB hard drive. The matte display has a Full HD resolution and offers a refresh rate of 60 Hz with a screen diagonal of 15.6 inches. The battery lasts up to 5.5 hours.
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Better graphics but no SSD
GTX 1050 Ti and i5: The ASUS TUF Gaming FX504GE-DM479 uses the faster GTX 1050 Ti as well as a more powerful Intel Core i5-8300H with four cores and eight threads at 2.3 GHz (turbo up to 4 GHz), paired with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM.
Neither Windows nor SSD: The matte display has a resolution of 15.3 inches with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 60 Hz. Unfortunately, the TUF has neither pre-installed Windows 10 nor a fast SSD. Instead, there is a 1 TB HDD. The battery is said to last up to 5 hours.
ASUS TUF Gaming FX504GE at CasekingThe best laptops for around 1,000 euros
In this price range, the GTX 1060, which is currently being sold off, still reigns as the most powerful graphics unit, with the best-equipped laptop model being the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-52NX for just over 1,000 euros.
In the price range of just under 1,000 euros, interested buyers must weigh whether they want to choose SSD or hard drive and usually also have to do without a bundled Windows installation. The Acer model offers all three.
Best price-performance winner: Predator Helios 300
What’s inside: This gaming notebook features the GTX 1060 alongside the quad-core Intel Core i5-8300H (8 threads) with up to 4 GHz turbo clock and 8 GB of RAM.
Fast display and SSD: The matte IPS display offers Full HD and a refresh rate of 144 Hz and measures 17.3 inches. For storage, there is a 128 GB SSD and a pre-installed Windows 10 Home (64-bit) along with a 1 TB hard drive. The battery is said to last up to 7 hours.
Predator Helios 300 for 1,032€ at CyberportStronger processor, weaker screen
For multitaskers: The MSI GL63 8RE-643 also relies on the GTX 1060 and features an SSD and HDD at a comparable price, but comes with the more powerful six-core Intel Core i7-8750H with 12 threads at 2.2 GHz and up to 4.1 GHz turbo clock.
Only 60 Hz: However, it lacks a pre-installed Windows from the start, while the display is smaller at 15.6 inches and has a slower refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Other alternatives: There could be gaming notebooks with the GTX 1650 in this price segment in the future, but so far no models with appealing prices are available. However, it must be noted that somewhat lower computing power and limitations due to smaller VRAM will have to be accepted.
Also, the GTX 1660, which competes at par with the GTX 1060, could still appear in this price range but is currently only available in a HP notebook for 1,349 euros.
All-rounders up to 1,500 euros
In the price range between 1,200 euros and 1,500 euros, there are numerous models with the potent RTX 2060, although one must again consider the rest of the specifications.
The complete package: The Dell G5
One of the most worthwhile complete packages currently offers the Dell G5 15 5590 (650GJ) for around 1,250 euros. Here, the RTX 2060 is complemented by a powerful hexacore processor in the form of the Intel Core i7-8750H at 12 threads with a clock speed of 2.2 GHz and up to 4.1 GHz turbo, along with 8 GB of RAM.
IPS display with 60 Hz: The SSD with pre-installed Windows 10 Home (64 bit) offers a capacity of 128 GB, and the usual hard drive has 1 TB. The matte IPS display features Full HD resolution at 15.6 inches with a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
In testing: Notebookcheck.com rated the model 85 percent with a test rating of “Good”:
The hardware of the Dell G5 handles all current computer games fluidly on the matte 15.6-inch screen (FHD, IPS). The specifications are also impressive: SSD+HDD, 8 GB of RAM (dual-channel mode active), and Thunderbolt 3. The excellent battery life is a surprise. However, the price level of the notebook does require some compromises.
Compromises must therefore be accepted with respect to the somewhat dark and unresponsive screen and the comparatively slow SSD, as well as the limited 12-month warranty.
Dell G5 15 5590 for 1,249 euros at CyberportThe king of the last generation: the GTX 1070 in the MSI GP73
8 GB VRAM: With the MSI GP73 Leopard (8RF-473), there is also a powerful gaming notebook available in the price range up to 1,500 euros featuring the slightly older GTX 1070, which is performance-wise on par with the RTX 2060 in the mobile sector but offers 8 GB more VRAM.
Large SSD and 120 Hz: Additionally, the 17.3-inch display is noticeably larger and also offers a faster refresh rate of 120 Hz. Another plus is the SSD, which at 256 GB is twice the size.
MSI GP73 for 1,489€ at NotebooksbilligerPowerful hexacore processor in the new Acer Nitro 5
Strong Full HD card with the latest processor: The Acer Aspire Nitro 5 (AN517-51-75RY) also hits similar targets with a larger display (although 60 Hz) and a larger SSD (512 GB). It features the slightly weaker GTX 1660 Ti, while a more powerful hexacore processor, the Intel Core i7-9750H (6 x 2.60GHz, up to 4.5 GHz), is installed.
Mobile gaming up to 2,000 euros
In this price range, the Gigabyte Aorus 15 X9 (7DE0252W) is currently the most attractive model at around 1,816 euros. It features the powerful RTX 2070 with 8 GB of VRAM paired with the Intel Core i7-8750H with 12 threads at 2.2 GHz and up to 4.1 GHz turbo, supported by 16 GB of RAM.
The matte IPS display with a diagonal size of 15.6 inches offers Full HD resolution and a fast refresh rate of 144 Hz. For storage, there is a 512 GB SSD with pre-installed Windows 10 Home (64-bit) and a 2 TB hard drive.
In testing: Notebookcheck.com rated the model 86 percent with a test rating of “Good”.
This is the most balanced Aorus laptop to date, both internally and externally. To make the Aorus 15 more appealing for the high-end gaming sector, we would like future iterations to include features such as customizable RGB keyboard lighting, G-Sync, and Thunderbolt 3.
Overall, the consistent running fans and poor battery life have been primarily criticized.
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High-end gaming for 2000 euros and more
In the absolute high-end segment, there are hardly any limits, but of course, you want to get as much as possible for your money here as well. Many of the listed models are currently unavailable or simply overpriced.
Price-performance tip from Omen
The most worthwhile offer: From a price-performance standpoint, the HP Omen 17-cb0007ng for 2,399 euros is particularly worth it, which is currently expected to be ready for shipment in eight days at Alternate.de.
RTX 2080 and i7 power: Here, you get the current strongest notebook graphics chip, the RTX 2080, along with the six-core Intel Core i7-8750H with 12 threads at 2.2 GHz and up to 4.1 GHz turbo clock, supported by 16 GB of RAM.
Large 144 Hz display: The matte IPS display with a diagonal size of 17.3 inches offers Full HD resolution and a refresh rate of 144 Hz. For storage, a 512 GB SSD and a 1 TB hard drive are available.
View HP Omen 17-cb0007ng at AlternateMore than just a desktop replacement: The titan among laptops
Alternative of superlatives: If money is no object and you want the best of the best, MSI currently has the GT75 Titan (9SG-268), which is probably the best-equipped gaming notebook on the market, already leaning towards a workstation. Price tag: around 5,000 euros.
All the best: The high-end notebook also relies on the RTX 2080, but pairs it with the eight-core Intel Core i9-9980HK with 16 threads and a clock speed of 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz, along with 64 GB of RAM.
No compromises on display and storage: The matte 17.3-inch display with IPS panel only features 60 Hz but offers 4K resolution. A particularly good performance is ensured by two SSDs with 512 GB in a RAID configuration alongside a 1 TB hard drive. The Pro version of Windows 10 (64 bit) is pre-installed here.
In testing: The website Laptopmag.com gave the model 4 out of 5 stars and stated the following:
MSI has thrown pretty much everything under the sun into the GT75 Titan, and it works wonderfully. From its impressive and imposing figure to its impressive display, overwhelming sound, and powerful Core i9 processor with Nvidia RTX 2080, this Titan is simply a collection of greatness.
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Popular RTX notebooks with “Max-Q” design
Despite the higher price for slightly lower graphics performance, more and more gaming notebooks in ultra-light designs that primarily use the “Max-Q” versions of the graphics processors are gaining popularity.
Among the bestsellers on Notebooksbilliger.de, there are two models from MSI that frequently rank at the top:
| MSI GS75 | MSI GS65 |
| Display: 17.3″, 1920×1080, 127dpi, non-glare, 144Hz display, 100% sRGB, 3ms | Display: 15.6″, 1920×1080, 141dpi, non-glare, IPS, 144Hz display, 100% sRGB, 7ms |
| CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H, 6x 2.20GHz | CPU: Intel Core i7-8750H, 6x 2.20GHz |
| RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666 (2x 8GB modules, 2 slots, max. 32GB) | RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666 (2x 8GB modules, 2 slots, max. 32GB) |
| HDD: N/A | HDD: N/A |
| SSD: 512GB M.2 PCIe | SSD: 512GB M.2 PCIe |
| Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 8GB, HDMI | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 8GB, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort 1.2 |
| Ports: 1x USB-C 3.1, 3x USB-A 3.1, 1x Thunderbolt 3, 1x Gb LAN (Killer E2500) | Ports: 3x USB-A 3.1, 1x Thunderbolt 3, 1x Gb LAN (Killer E2500) |
| Wireless: WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Killer Doubleshot Pro), Bluetooth 5.0 | Wireless: WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Killer Doubleshot Pro), Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery: Li-Polymer, 4 cells, 82Wh, non-removable | Battery: Li-Polymer, 4 cells, 82Wh, non-removable |
| Weight: 2.25kg | Weight: 1.90kg |
| Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64bit | Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64bit |
| Input: Keyboard with DE layout (RGB illuminated, numeric pad, rubber dome), touchpad | Input: Keyboard with DE layout (RGB illuminated, rubber dome), touchpad |
| Webcam: 0.9 Megapixels | Webcam: 0.9 Megapixels |
| Optical Drive: N/A | Optical Drive: N/A |
| Card reader: microSD | Card reader: N/A |
| Dimensions: 396x259x18.9mm | Dimensions: 358x248x17.9mm |
| Price: 2,599€ at Notebooksbilliger | Price: 2,399€ at Notebooksbilliger |
Benchmark comparison
Using Battlefield V as an example, the following fps values at WQHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) were determined by Notebookcheck.com, while the frame rate on the tested gaming notebooks with their various main processors often also runs significantly into CPU limits. In Full HD, the percentage differences are similar.
| Model | Frame rates | Percentage |
| RTX 2080 | 115 (min: 90) fps | 118 % |
| RTX 2070 | 91.7 (min: 74) fps | 74 % |
| RTX 2080 Max-Q | 91.6 (min: 72) fps | 73 % |
| GTX 1080 | 85.5 (min: 64) fps | 62 % |
| GTX 1080 Max-Q | 81.7 (min: 65) fps | 55 % |
| RTX 2070 Max-Q | 75.3 (min: 59) fps | 43 % |
| GTX 1070 | 75.2 (min: 60) fps | 42 % |
| RTX 2060 | 75 (min: 60) fps | 42 % |
| GTX 1660 Ti | 68.7 (min: 54) fps | 30 % |
| GTX 1060 | 52.8 (min: 41) fps | 0 % |
| GTX 1650 | 47.3 (min: 37) fps | – 10% |
And what about AMD?
In the price comparison at Geizhals.de, there are currently hardly any gaming-capable notebooks with AMD graphics processors for ambitious gaming demands, aside from the initially mentioned model in the price range of 700 euros.
Otherwise, only one model from Acer (Predator Helios 500) with the high-end graphics unit Radeon RX Vega 56 and the eight-core processor Ryzen 7 2700 from the upper class is listed. It is only available starting from around 1,900 euros.
From around 1,440 euros, there is also a price-unattractive mid-range model with Radeon RX 580 and the six-core CPU Ryzen 5 1600, but it only has 4 GB of video memory.
Below that, in the price range under 1,000 euros, there are only configuration variants with graphics processors that tend to be too weak and too little video memory for ambitious gamers.
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