Updated at: 15-05-2023 - By: Leo Hall
Do you wish you could build your own custom gaming laptop but aren’t sure if it’s even possible? If you need a simple, quick solution, read this article.

Answer:

Though it’s possible to add your own flair to a barebones laptop, doing so is rarely worth the additional time, money, and effort required. Furthermore, customizing such a laptop now offers almost no benefits.

You’ve probably seen those fancy custom PCs with RGB lighting and state-of-the-art liquid cooling if you’re a gamer. The question of whether or not you can assemble your own gaming laptop has probably crossed your mind as well.

In this article, we’ll not only provide an answer to this question but also expand on it and touch on some related topics that you may find interesting.

How to Build Your Own Gaming Laptop

The incredible processing power packed into a portable form factor is a key feature of today’s top-tier gaming laptops. It’s not easy to install a massive GPU and other components in a regular ATX computer case, and it’s not easy to fit a laptop’s components into an ATX case.

How To Make a Laptop Perform Better for Gaming

Is it possible to construct a gaming laptop in the same manner as a desktop gaming PC? In a word, no.

It’s challenging enough to fit all the components inside a laptop chassis without having to worry about them overheating, and that’s before you add in the cooling system. In order to ensure the highest quality, laptops, including gaming laptops, are manufactured in large quantities.

However, barebones laptops are available if you’re determined to create your own custom gaming laptop. These laptops, as the name “barebones” suggests, are stripped down to the bare necessities and lend themselves well to customization.

Should You Build Your Own Gaming Laptop?

You can, in a sense, create your own personal gaming laptop. The more pertinent query is whether or not you really need one.

Unfortunately, we must say no. Don’t do that. This is why:

  1. Sometimes it’s hard and expensive to get the parts you need. Laptops differ from desktop PCs in that their components are not standardized and are often modified to better fit a chassis and/or produce less heat. This means you might have to go to great lengths and spend a lot of money to get the specific GPU or motherboard you want, if it only comes in a mobile form factor.
  2. It can be challenging to bring everything together. Building a laptop is challenging, as has been mentioned. In most cases, all you need is a screwdriver and some free desk space to assemble a desktop PC. On the other hand, even if you managed to track down every last component for your laptop, you’d still have to carefully fit it into the chassis.
  3. It would be even more troublesome to upgrade. Custom PCs’ upgradability is a major selling point. Simply removing the graphics card, selling it, and purchasing a new one allows you to quickly and easily upgrade your GPU. The difficulty in sourcing replacement parts for a custom gaming laptop compounds the issue of long-term upgradeability.
  4. Purchasing a laptop computer that has already been assembled saves time and money. These days, there’s a gaming laptop out there for every imaginable need and price point. A pre-built laptop will not only save you the trouble of assembling one from scratch, but it will also likely save you money and provide you with conveniences you wouldn’t get with a bare-bones model.

That sums up the major issues that we see with the concept of a custom gaming laptop. However, there are a few ways to personalize or upgrade a gaming laptop without opening it up.

External GPUs

What’s the deal with external GPU cases, which have only recently gained popularity?

An external GPU case is exactly what it sounds like: a small case that contains a graphics card and its associated power supply. They use the Thunderbolt 3 port to connect to a laptop or desktop computer, providing a reliable and fast connection.

However, many of them are also portable, and because they use desktop graphics cards, they typically provide better performance than a mobile version of that GPU, despite the fact that a Thunderbolt 3 connection isn’t quite as fast as a PCIe connection. Therefore, it creates a potential bottleneck that some may find troublesome.

In any case, an external GPU is the optimal method for improving your laptop’s graphics performance. In our buying guide, we discuss some of the best external GPUs currently available.

An external GPU has the advantages of being upgradable, portable, and providing better performance than mobile GPUs; however, it is still not the best option. First of all, not all laptops feature a Thunderbolt 3 port. In addition, they are typically quite costly, and as we’ve already established, they still can’t compete with desktop performance due to the connection bottleneck, which brings us to our next point.

What Laptop Type Should I Own For Gaming Customization?

If you already have a high-quality business laptop, there is no need for alarm. However, if you do not already have a computer, the following steps should be taken immediately.

You need only have a basic laptop with some of the more popular features.

  • The laptop you use to create your high-tech gaming laptop device should allow for its components to be swapped out. Your laptop must have a CPU and GPU that can be upgraded.
  • The barebones notebook must be adaptable to new hard drive interface standards.

The maximum amount of RAM that can be used is never infinite. Determine how much RAM a game needs on your device.

Whenever possible, opt for a laptop with at least the minimum amount of memory needed by your preferred game(s).

There are laptops available that can only use HDD drives, while others can use either SSDs or HDDs. Before settling on a laptop for gaming, verify that it can accommodate the hard disk you intend to install.

Screen quality and the maximum resolution a barebones laptop supports are also crucial considerations.

It’s important to make sure the display’s dimensions are reasonable for prolonged use. For the best gaming experience, don’t settle for a laptop that’s too big or too small.

Laptops used for gaming consume disproportionate amounts of both power and processing resources. Therefore, overheating is a common problem with such devices. A good laptop, however, will have an efficient cooling system that will prevent overheating from being an issue.

Connectivity to multiple screens is another strength of today’s laptops. If you want to construct a gaming laptop with support for multiple monitors, you can look for this feature.

What If You Already Have Purchased A Barebone Laptop?

Now that you have the barebones laptop, all you need to do is add the rest of the components that work with it.

For instance, if the gadget you’ve bought doesn’t support solid-state drives, you can’t use an SSD.

How To Group Everything Together?

After purchasing all necessary parts, you are ready to begin assembly.

Step 1

The first thing you’ll need to do is open up the casing of your current laptop so you can install the new parts.

Step 2

Figure out where to insert the graphics processing unit, central processing unit, memory, storage device, and wireless LAN card. If you’re having trouble locating something, the user manual can provide guidance. In the absence of a printed user guide, many online resources are available, such as YouTube and Google.

Step 3

Locating the appropriate sockets on the motherboard is the first step in installing the hardware. The rest of the assembly process hinges on this one action. Therefore, extreme caution and patience are required.

Step 4

After the hardware components have been installed on the motherboard, the operating system can be installed.

Step 5

In the final stage, you will undo what you did in the first.

In this context, it is important to note that assembly is not a difficult task. Anybody can put together the whole thing in a matter of minutes if they just follow these instructions.

However, the trickiest tasks involve picking and analyzing parts that can be swapped out.

That’s why, whenever possible, I tell people to ask themselves “What to replace?” rather than “How to replace.”

Can you build a gaming laptop & Should you do it in 2023?

Pro-advice For Certain Customizable Components

These additional tips can help you create a powerful gaming rig:

GPU

The graphics card in your laptop gamer can make or break the experience. That’s why it’s important to pick a good graphics card that can render high-quality stills and moving pictures. If not properly selected, it can also degrade the quality of the displayed image.

Before you go out and buy a graphics card, there are two things you need to take care of. Checking its compatibility with the display’s native resolution is the first step.

If you’re building a gaming laptop from scratch, there’s no reason to settle for a low-quality graphics card whose native resolution is incompatible with the bare-bones system you’ve chosen.

The refresh rate of the Graphics card should be checked as a final step in the selection process. If the chosen GPU has a refresh rate that is compatible with the display, you should be good to go.

This has an immediate effect on the visuals and visual quality of the game.

Video Memory

To provide a flawless visual experience, the video memory of the graphics card is also crucial. Graphics cards with 4 and 8 GB of video memory (VRAM) are now the norm.

Match the video card’s VRAM capacity to the game’s VRAM requirements, if possible.

Central Processing Unit

Before settling on a central processing unit (CPU) for your gaming laptop, there are a few factors to think about.

Examine the CPU’s cores on a regular basis. The productivity and operational efficiency of an Octa-Core processor surpass that of a Quad-Core processor. The greater the processor’s core count, the more productive it will be. Depending on your requirements and available funds, you can select a processor with anywhere from 4 to 12 cores.

Another essential feature of any CPU is its clock speed or clock rate. You should go for a CPU that can both maintain and increase its base speed very well. Many modern CPUs have a clock speed that ranges from 2.6 GHz to 5 GHz and beyond. Strive for moderation between your spending and the CPU’s required frequency.

Match the available CPU options to the required frequency range of the games you play. Always choose a processor whose clock speed is at least as fast as the minimum required by your favorite games.

Many consumers are also concerned about the CPU’s inefficient thermal design. Before making a final choice, you should study the thermal design thoroughly.

Using this information, you can select a processor with the most effective cooling system.

Storage Drive

For the best gaming experience, you shouldn’t skimp on a high-end storage device. A storage device with at least 512 GB of disk space is recommended if you frequently switch between applications and value a speedy boot time.

If you only play games with low system requirements, though, you can get by with 256 GB of RAM.

You can either get a completely new computer with an SSD, or you can swap out the storage device in your current business laptop. The new device can either replace the existing one or be installed in the spare drive bay supplied by the manufacturer.

The ideal storage drive has 1 terabyte (TB) of SSD space.

What If You Intend To Use The Gaming Laptop For Streaming Too?

Everyone likes multipurpose equipment because it allows them to get more use out of their purchases. Similarly, it’s not unusual for gamers to broadcast from their own devices.

However, the increased workload placed on the CPU and GPU when a gaming laptop is used for streaming, among other things, can be frustrating.

The only option is to invest in a CPU and GPU that are significantly more powerful than what is required by the games you play. This way, the device’s hardware setup can handle the extra work of streaming media as well.

How Much Would It Cost To Build A Perfect Gaming Laptop?

The cost of creating the ideal gaming machine is unbounded. However, if you’re looking for a device that is the best option for high-end gaming professionals, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000.

With that kind of money, you can get yourself the ultimate high-end gaming laptop.

What Specifications To Expect In A Perfect Or Ideal Gaming Laptop?

Ideally, a device costing between $1,500 and $3,000 would have the following features:

CPU

A minimum of an Octa-Core, 11th Generation processor is required for a perfect gaming laptop to provide the speed and operational efficiency expected of a high-end device.

The minimum recommended processor speed should be greater than 3 GHz.

GPU

A perfect gaming laptop wouldn’t skimp on the visuals for its players. For this reason, an NVIDIA RTX GPU with 8 GB of dedicated VRAM is to be expected within the given price range.

RAM

Considering the increasing RAM requirements of today’s games, it’s important that it come equipped with 64 GB of high-end DDR 4 RAM to ensure its longevity.

Disk Space

A 1 TB solid-state drive (SSD) is the bare minimum for a gaming laptop. Multitasking and speedy system boot times are possible with this amount of disk space.

If you’re willing to spend more than $2000, however, you can install a disk space of 2 TB SSD. A 1 terabyte solid-state drive (SSD) appears adequate for typical gaming.

How Much Would It Cost To Build A Cheap Laptop?

The bright side is that you can still make a decent gaming laptop without breaking the bank. The perfect budget for a low-cost gaming laptop is hard to pin down.

However, the cost to construct a cheap laptop without sacrificing performance varies from $400 to $800.

The best gaming laptop of today has cutting-edge components that ensure its longevity in the market. However, there are many games that can be played on a moderately powerful computer. The budget device will not feel or perform like a high-end product, but it will get the job done in most situations.

What Specifications To Expect In A Budget-friendly Gaming Laptop?

The low-priced gaming laptop that can cost as little as $800 should have the following specs.

Processor

Within that price range, you can anticipate a 9th-generation Intel processor. There are potentially two core configurations. Within an $800 budget, you will likely purchase a Quad or Hexa-Core processor to build the gaming laptop.

You can count on a base power of 2.4 GHz and sufficient boost capacity for your clock speed.

GPU

For the best performance at the lowest price, a GTX version of NVIDIA’s graphics card is what you want in a gaming laptop. You can choose a GTX model with 4 GB of VRAM or more if you need such a high amount.

RAM

A 16 GB DDR 4 RAM is recommended for a low-cost gaming laptop, as this is the minimum requirement for playing a wide variety of games online.

Disk Space

A 512 GB hard drive is standard for even the most affordable gaming laptops.

Is It Cheaper To Build Your Own Gaming Laptop?

This is a very complicated question with no simple solution. The answer is yes if you are a professional gamer who is familiar with everything from motherboard sequences to system requirements.

Since they are well-versed in all aspects of gaming laptops and their potential for modification, they can do so quickly and affordably.

You should not rush into building a gaming laptop if you are a complete novice in the field and do not know the basics of the game.

Laptop vs. Desktop – Which Is Better For Your Needs?

It should be made clear that the convenience of portability is the sole advantage of a gaming laptop over a gaming PC for the desktop. A gaming laptop is a good choice if you do a lot of traveling or if you want a device that can serve as a gaming machine and a laptop that you’d also use for work or school.

However, if this is not the case, a desktop computer is always preferable to a laptop.

To what end, then? It’s elementary:

  1. They’re more affordable and provide greater value. A gaming laptop with the same specifications as a pre-built gaming PC will cost you a lot more, but it won’t perform as well as the desktop.
  2. They function more effectively. We’ve established that keeping a gaming laptop cool isn’t always easy. Extremely potent CPUs and graphics cards emit a great deal of thermal waste. Most laptops resort to thermal throttling to prevent overheating due to the limited airflow provided by their compact chassis. Even with a cooling pad, a laptop’s performance won’t noticeably benefit from playing games for an extended period of time.
  3. You can improve on them more quickly. The topic of potential upgrades arises once more. Compared to upgrading a laptop, upgrading a desktop computer is much simpler for the many reasons we’ve already discussed here. When upgrading a part, you can simply buy a new one and swap out the old one without worrying too much about incompatibilities.

Check out this article or the video down below if you’d rather build a custom desktop than a custom laptop. We’ve also assembled gaming PCs in a range of prices, from $300 to $1500 to accommodate a variety of budgets.

The Best Gaming Laptops for 2022

1. ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G15

For a long time, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 was our favorite gaming laptop. It was flawless in almost every way, and its success left us wondering if Asus could top themselves. However, the company made the G14 slightly larger and significantly better. This resulted in the development of the ROG Zephyrus G15, which is currently the best 15-inch rig on the market.

The Zephyrus G15 is one of the lightest 15-inch gaming laptops available at just over four pounds. However, its portability does not come at the expense of performance, as it is driven by the best mobile chips AMD and Nvidia have to offer and features a quick 165Hz QHD (1440p) display. When combined, those parts can handle even the most taxing AAA games in full QHD detail. Your games will look fantastic on the panel because of its accurate color reproduction.

The gaming is excellent, but the G15 excels in almost every other respect as well. The battery can last for up to eight and a half hours, the audio (pumped from a six-speaker array) has powerful percussion and bass, the keyboard and touchpad have a satisfying click, and the port selection leaves little to be desired.

Not everyone will find their ideal laptop in the G15. The lack of a webcam is a major shortcoming, and some users may opt for a different product due to its lower price or flashier design. In terms of overall value, however, the G15 cannot be matched. Not only is it one of the best laptops money can buy, but it’s also the best gaming laptop.

2. RAZER BLADE 17

The Blade 17 has excellent gaming performance, but that’s not even its main strength. The incredible power of the Razer 17 is only matched by its sleek and stylish design. You can easily pack it into a briefcase or backpack without sacrificing power, as it is less than 0.8 inches thick and needs only one charging brick.

The newest model has a 240Hz QHD display. It also includes a per-key RGB keyboard that can be customized to add a splash of color without being distracting in the workplace.

The Blade 17 is not a budget laptop, but if you want the best of the best, it’s the one to get.

3. LENOVO LEGION 5 PRO

Lenovo’s Legion 5 Pro is the finest portable gaming rig the company has ever produced. Outstanding performance from AMD’s Ryzen 5000 processors in a stylish 16-inch chassis costs significantly less than $2,000. Even at its native resolution of 2560 x 1600, it performed admirably in every game we tested. And the 165Hz screen will let you make the most of the Legion 5 Pro’s performance.

The Legion 5 Pro’s 16:10 display is the real show stopper, performance-wise. You won’t find many gaming laptops with displays this large, and the extra vertical space will come in handy if you plan to use the Legion 5 Pro as your primary machine. The 1.5mm of travel and four-zone programmable backlighting of the keyboard make it a pleasure to use as well.

One major drawback of the Legion is its short battery life. In our testing, we were only able to get 4.5 hours of nonstop use out of it. That’s not the worst result we’ve seen from a gaming laptop, but it certainly isn’t on par with what the G15 can deliver. The included 300W power brick, however, allows for lightning-fast charging. The G15 is the better choice for people who need to work while on the go, but the Legion is still a good laptop overall, and Lenovo deserves credit for including a 16:10 display.

4. MSI GE76 RAIDER

The GE76 Raider may be expensive, but its power is worth it. Configurable up to Nvidia’s and Intel’s maximum mobile GPU and processor, respectively, with sufficient cooling to maintain stable operation. (You can get it now with 11th-generation processors, but in a few weeks, you should be able to get it with 12th-generation processors.) Both a 1080p 360Hz display and a QHD screen are available for purchase; the latter is the one we’d recommend to the vast majority of consumers.

Don’t forget that the sole purpose of this laptop is gaming. If you need a device that can double as a portable work driver, you should look elsewhere due to its poor battery life and bulky, heavy chassis. The brick is enormous, too. But if you’re searching for a portable desktop replacement, the GE76 Raider is your best bet.

5. ASUS ROG STRIX G15 ADVANTAGE EDITION

There aren’t many gaming laptops out there, but the ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition is one of them. You need not worry; its gaming performance is on par with that of laptops equipped with the latest and greatest Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs). Red Dead Redemption 2 could be played at a smooth framerate for well over an hour without needing to be plugged into a power source, making this one of the best battery experiences we’ve ever had while gaming.

We found that the Strix G15’s battery lasted an average of nine hours and sixteen minutes between charges, making it one of the longest-lasting gaming laptops available. That’s especially remarkable given that it’s powering a rainbow of colorful LEDs—everything from a per-key RGB keyboard to a snaking strip along the deck’s front. The Strix G15 Advantage edition is a fantastic gaming laptop if you’re looking for a flashy, eye-catching design and are committed to AMD.

6. RAZER BLADE 14

You won’t find anything more powerful than the Razer Blade 14 on the market, and it can compete with the best 15-inch gaming laptops. This lightweight machine features an eight-core AMD processor and Nvidia’s high-end mobile GPUs, the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080. It’s a gorgeous piece of hardware, with the option of a QHD 165Hz display and a sleek RGB keyboard. Moreover, there are a sufficient number of ports, including HDMI 2.1 and two USB-C ports.

7. MSI GS76 STEALTH

If the high price and bulky chassis of RGB workhorses like the GE76 Raider are putting you off from making a purchase, the GS76 Stealth could be a better option. The per-key lighting is a lot of fun, and it’s totally modifiable. While the GS76’s lack of a lightstrip will likely disappoint some gamers, it does make it more stealthy and appropriate for use in public settings.

Even though the GS76 Stealth isn’t as powerful as the best devices on the market and won’t be able to make the most of its QHD display on every game, it should still be able to run them at very respectable frame rates. Also, it’s one of the most portable large-screen laptops because of its thin profile and low weight among 17-inch models.

8. ALIENWARE X17

Finally, a laptop exists that can provide a playable 4K gaming experience, albeit at a high price. The Alienware X17 (currently starting at $2,199) is capable of running the vast majority of current video games at their native 3840 x 2160 resolution with playable frame rates. With ray tracing turned on, it might even maintain frame rates near 60fps.

The X17 has more going for it than just its impressive firepower. In addition to all that power, Dell has managed to pack the whole thing into a remarkably slim and stylish body. It’s only 0.84 inches thick and features an RGB keyboard and touchpad with ambient lighting. And it stays quiet and cool even during marathon gaming sessions.

Although the X17 performed well in our Premiere Pro tests, it is not a practical choice for use as a daily driver. The webcam is below average, and the touchpad is on the small side for a 17-inch laptop. In our tests, we found that the battery lasted an average of only four hours. Even though it’s small, the chassis still weighs over six pounds. But if running games at 4K resolution is your primary concern, this laptop should be at the top of your list.

Asus TUF Gaming A15 laptop review: Making things 'TUF' for rivals | Laptops-pc Reviews

Conclusion

Finally, barebones laptops do allow for the possibility of creating a customized laptop. Nonetheless, we discourage you from doing so for the reasons stated here.

In all likelihood, a desktop computer would serve you better. A pre-built gaming laptop can save you time, money, and energy while providing you with a machine that looks good and, in some cases, comes with cool extra features, should you find yourself in need of a portable gaming solution.