PC Gaming has come a really long way, to an extent that now it’s achievable even on Compact Gaming Machines.
And if you also have been a gamer for the past decade, you have definitely witnessed the Generation Change since Laptops started featuring Desktop Grade Specs.
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These compact devices could be a really good alternative for creators/gamers on the move. But the wide availability of new devices has made it even harder to choose from.
Here’s What You Must Consider
1) Make sure you always go for an H series processor, and not the U or G series. What actually matters here is TDP.
Thermal Design Power or TDP basically means how much power your processor needs to run. But, do note that higher TDP also means better cooling in higher temperatures.
Generally, a Gaming processor has a much higher TDP of 35W and above than that of a U or G series processor, which has a 15W max TDP.
While gaming/creating the processor is used at its maximum capacity for a longer duration of time. Now Because of Higher TDP, your processor can deliver you high performance for as long as you want, without overheating, ever!
While a U or G series processor would do the same, but for a shorter period of time, say a couple of minutes.
As these processors only have 15W TDP, they can’t provide better cooling at high usage, and eventually, it overheats and your system lags or stutters.
2) Make sure the processor has a Turbo clock speed of 3.7 GHz or higher, anything below that is not future-proof.
Processors generally have a base clock speed, which could be different for different processors. While on high usage it switches to Turbo and unlocks Turbo clock speed.
Higher clock speeds mean that processes would take much less time to be completed or say faster processing.
If we talk about the present time, a Turbo clock speed of 3.5 GHz minimum is considered decent for gaming, anything below that might not actually be the proper fit for Gaming/Creating.
3) Go for processors with larger cache sizes, and higher thread counts. These contribute to a smoother overall experience.
A larger L1, L2, and L3 cache mean more data can be stored, which ultimately results in a more responsive system performance overall.
If your budget allows you to buy the latest generation H chips, I’d say go for it. Investing in a better system can assure you desktop-grade performance, even in the longest run.
4) Make sure your processor supports high-frequency RAM, as it can hugely impact performance and runtime. A RAM with a maximum frequency of 2400Mhz or above is considered decent for Gaming.
Use dual-channel RAM to get the most out of your memory, as well as your system.
5) Make sure the device doesn’t have any thermal complaints. Some Compact gaming machines often overheat, which could be due to bad thermals. Make sure you check the reviews of the particular device, especially the thermal management.
Here’s How You Can Compare
For best results, you can compare two or more processors, along with entire specifications. Just visit Versus, or any third-party site to do so!