50 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019GAMING SPECIALfor improved performance along with features such
as ray tracing. The GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti are found in
slightly cheaper gaming laptops. We were expecting to
see much lower prices (around £600 to £700), but as of
yet such laptops are still closer to the £1,000 mark.Display
Laptop screens have improved in recent years, with
resolutions now settling at Full-HD (1,920x1,080), and
using better technology than the basic TN type found
on cheap portables. Look out for IPS panels, which
offer wide and consistent viewing from all angles, better
contrast ratio and wider colour gamuts.
Don’t be misled by claims about screen brightness- contrast ratio, especially at lower brightness settings,
is far more important than dazzling your eyes with
300cd/m^2 figures. It’s also easier to find screens now
with more practical anti-glare finishes, reversing the
trend of high-gloss reflective panels that were once
unavoidable from most brands.
You can usually ignore the trend for greater-
than-HD resolution, since many graphics processors
struggle with UHD (4K) screens. For most gamers,
FHD (1,920x1,080) or QHD (2,560x1,440) is a happy
compromise between glorious on-screen detail and
playable frame rates. If you want a smoother experience
at 1080p or 1440p, opt for a display with a higher
refresh rate (120- or 144Hz) such as the Razer Blade 15.
Storage
For storage, a solid-state drive will greatly improve
the user experience when it comes to booting a PC,50 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019
GAMING SPECIAL
forimprovedperformancealongwithfeaturessuch
asray tracing. The GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti are found in
slightly cheaper gaming laptops. We were expecting to
seemuchlowerprices(around£600to£700),butasof
yetsuch laptops are still closer to the £1,000 mark.Display
Laptop screens have improved in recent years, with
resolutions now settling at Full-HD (1,920x1,080), and
using better technology than the basic TN type found
oncheapportables.LookoutforIPSpanels,which
offerwide and consistent viewing from all angles, better
contrast ratio and wider colour gamuts.
Don’tbemisledbyclaimsaboutscreenbrightness- contrast ratio, especially at lower brightness settings,
is far more important than dazzling your eyes with
300cd/m^2 figures. It’s also easier to find screens now
with more practical anti-glare finishes, reversing the
trend of high-gloss reflective panels that were once
unavoidable from most brands.
You can usually ignore the trend for greater-
than-HD resolution, since many graphics processors
struggle with UHD (4K) screens. For most gamers,
FHD (1,920x1,080) or QHD (2,560x1,440) is a happy
compromise between glorious on-screen detail and
playable frame rates. If you want a smoother experience
at1080por1440p,optfora displaywitha higher
refreshrate(120-or 144Hz) such as the Razer Blade 15.
Storage
For storage, a solid-state drive will greatly improve
the user experience when it comes to booting a PC,