Can You Use the Same Laptop for Studying & Gaming?
Finding the most suitable laptop to fulfill your school journey is an important investment. If you’re always on the move, you want something that can take on school projects easily and be as portable as possible. Getting a machine that is also affordable is important. Gaming PCs usually come at a premium price and may not fit your budget.
School work requires you to run productivity software like Microsoft Office or G suite. This is unless you are studying a tech-based course or engineering, which may require you to run heavier software. Gaming would come in as entertainment, so we will focus on the aspects required to run a productive school life while being a gamer. Avoid late hand-ins and be current with your coursework.
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You may also be concerned about specs. Most current computers come installed with sufficient RAM and sizable internal storage capacity. On top of that, they come in sleek and stylish designs.
With the current leaps in technology, you can now be able to find a personal computer that can handle school work and gaming at the same time. Getting a laptop primarily for gaming may be a disadvantage, and here’s why.
Complex keyboards
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Gaming laptops have a specific purpose. Gamers often use pads and extra controllers. When studying, on the other hand, you need an ergonomic and easy-to-use keyboard. One that you can work on for prolonged periods of time.
Using a video game PC to complete an assignment or take notes in class can be very tasking. Some work may be due soon, and you need to work on it quickly. This may not be possible because gaming keyboards are designed to immerse you in the game easier, not type out assignments.
It is not advisable to pick up a gaming laptop to engage in intense school work. It does help if you are running large software for rendering or developing an application. Editing videos too, but for school work, You will have doubts about why you opted for a gaming laptop.
Power requirements
Gaming PCs require a lot of power to run. Even when not running a game, a high-spec PC can constantly drain power to run the processors. These components take up more energy due to their processing ability.
With these technological leaps, most gaming PC companies have failed to increase their battery capacity. This takes away from the practicality of having a laptop. Battery power and portability on the go are the biggest requirements for a personal computer at school.
You may need to take notes, but your battery may run low. This can be an issue if there are not enough power outlets where you are studying from.
Overheating
You will also realize with all that processing power, your PC may tend to overheat. Running the processor creates heat. This, in turn, gets the fans to work on max capacity and causes a major distraction to you and the people around you.
You do not want to walk around with a cooling unit for your computer. It is an extra weight above the already heavy laptop. The MacBook Air M1 is a prime example of the best PC computer for college. It’s cooled entirely through the body, so you don’t have to deal with a noisy fan, and it has one of the best QWERTY keyboards on the market.
You want a device that can hold a charge for prolonged periods and not affect people working around you with fan noise.
Pricepoint
As you know, video game PCs aren’t cheap. You should have a good amount of money. Usually, gaming PCs start from $800 to $3000. The more you spend, the better the PC you’ll get. But the thing is, students rarely have such a budget. As you are already spending a lot on your education, affording an expensive laptop isn’t easy.
The price covers the build for the graphics card and processors that give a gamer the best experience. These components come together to offer an immersive playtime. This does not apply to the student joining or going through school. Playing games can be a huge distraction when it comes to studying.
A good laptop for school needs to be affordable and easy to use.
Weight
Video game PCs come in much heavier compared to non-gaming laptops. They are bulky, and moving around with them is a challenge. The reason lies in the processor and batteries. This can be especially challenging when commuting or moving long distances. In school, you want something lightweight.
Many normal PCs will advertise how lightweight and small they are, making them way better for students who have to carry them around. If you don’t need all the high-end gaming laptop specs, you’ll definitely find it easier to go with a regular one.
Short Lifespan
Being a student, you plan to have things that last long, and gaming laptops are not one of them. They usually last for around 3-4 years, and your college lasts almost the same. This may be a quick reason to buy a gaming machine, but in retrospect, the cost you will incur while maintaining it may not be worth the trouble.
Video game laptops are constantly being tweaked and improved. A four-year-old laptop may become outdated, while a non-gaming laptop remains relevant throughout its lifespan.
Difficult to upgrade
If you want to upgrade your desktop PC, it’s not too challenging. Open the back, remove the component, and slot in your upgrade. Replacing something like your motherboard is harder, but switching out your RAM or GPU is not hard.
You will have a harder time on a gaming laptop. That’s because these machines are designed within an inch of their life to maximize the space, with components layered on each other. That means replacing a part and upgrading the laptop can be incredibly cumbersome. The worst-case scenario is that you damage something. This may lead to replacing more than you bargained for.
Final Thoughts
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While in school, it is important to weigh these issues when choosing a laptop. Depending on what you will be engaged in, it is important to assess your needs.
Intense schoolwork requires an easy-to-use and portable laptop. These range at a lower price. Most boast a few good features, including:
- Good battery capacity
- Lightweight frame.
- Clear screen resolution
- Readily available technical support
For more complex work like tech-related coursework, you may need to look further at investing in a machine that offers better performance.
This might not necessarily be a video game PC but may need to be a mid to high-end spec range computer. If you love playing games much, you do not need a gaming laptop to get the best of both worlds. Cloud gaming is constantly improving, offering you access to the latest video games and fantasy-oriented applications, without the computing cost, allowing you to run basic games at lower resolutions and settings.
There are a few situations where a computer for playing games might be a better choice. If you can access creative apps like Blender and Adobe Premiere Pro, a gaming laptop can help speed up those apps. Still, it’s best to pick up a solid non-gaming PC and use it for school.