5 Best Laptops for World of Warcraft: Shadowlands – Top Gaming Laptops (2022)
Here in this guide, we will answer the question of what are the best laptops for .
, a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game, is a fast-paced, highly competitive game. To provide the greatest possible and remain competitive among the millions of other players, WoW must run at the maximum possible frame rate without any visual stuttering, frame dropping, or other issues. Always, when it comes to video games, the higher the number of frames per second (fps) the PC can output to the display, the better.
It’s crucial in both PvP and PvE to have flawless real-time rendering at the maximum frame rate possible. The more frames per second you see, the more quickly you can respond. In raids, taking down bosses requires quick reactions and timing. Unfortunately, no matter how skillful you are, you’ll never get it perfect as long as terrible visuals and low frame rates interfere with the gameplay.
To help you decide which is the worth your money, we scoured the market and came up with a shortlist of five. Within each price range, we hand-picked a machine that meets the official system requirements and can thus run WoW smoothly with high framerates.
World of Warcraft – Shadowlands System Requirements
From Blizzard Official System Requirements Webpage
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit
- Processor: i5-3450 or AMD FX 8300
- Video: 760 2 GB or AMD Radeon RX 560 2 GB
- Memory:
- Storage: (SSD) 100GB available space
RECOMMENDED REQUIREMENTS
- Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: -6700K or 7 2700X
- Video: 1080 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 or better
- Memory:
- Storage: (SSD) 100GB available space
Note: Keep in mind that CPUs and GPUs are around 20% weaker than the ones in .
What computer parts to consider when searching for the Shadowlands?
The most important computer parts for a decent gaming laptop are undoubtedly the graphics card and processor. However, there is more to take into consideration.
Graphics Card (or GPU)
Even though is very well optimized even for some lower end laptops (with lowering resolution and graphics settings), it’s still an intense 3D game, full of 3d models and effects to render. Especially on higher graphics settings. In the official system recommendations, at least 1080 is needed, which is around the same as the RTX 2060 mobile version performance-wise.
or for WoW? What is the difference?
The key difference between and is that GTX cards employ the shared Turing architecture for high performance. RTX cards, on the other hand, include RT and Tensor cores and real-time Ray Tracing rendering techniques for more realistic gameplay.
As from Shadowlands expansion, supports Ray Tracing, so having an RTX is recommended if you want to enjoy more realistic shadows and reflections.
Can you run WoW on integrated ?
aren’t designed for high-end , so expect to set the graphics settings to the lowest. may sure make conditionally playable. But even then, you may expect a very low framerate in dungeons, raids, and major populated areas, which makes WoW pretty much unplayable.
So the answer to the question is yes, you can run on integrated , but with and sluggish framerate.
Processor (or CPU)
General performance depends a lot on the , but is also very CPU intensive. Especially with maxed settings such as viewing distance. Also, being in crowded cities such as Stormwind or Orgrimmar makes a lot of game state data that your CPU must process.
Everything above the makes a sufficient CPU for WoW. Stay away from low-end processors such as , as these processors are not meant for .
or for WoW?
Whether running WoW on or processor doesn’t really matter, as neither will make much difference if they are within the same processor power range. The most important thing is that the CPU must be within the system requirements.
System Memory or RAM
How much ram is needed for ? Do you need a ?
The minimum system requirements for are 4 GB of RAM, but that’s just to get the game up and running. You’ll need at least of RAM to enjoy a smooth experience and avoid stuttering; however, if you do anything else on your while , is recommended.
DDR4 is faster than DDR3, but don’t worry, as is standard nowadays, and all the laptops listed here have .
Display
Regarding resolution: It’s simple. The more resolution display has, the more you see. For best the recommended resolution is FullHD or 1920 x 1080 pixels. I wouldn’t advise you to go below that. They are still laptops on the market with standard 19:9 with only 1366 x 768 px, but I urge you to avoid them as it would be a shame to have a decent with a crappy display.
Refresh rate: Today’s dedicated graphics cards are capable of real-time rendering way above 60 fps. To see things more fluently (especially for fast camera movement) and to actually benefit from high frames per second, a refresh rate of a display must be as high as possible. For the smoothest gameplay, conventional 60 Hz (which may be interpreted as 60 fps) displays are not enough, and today we can find laptops with displays capable of up to 300 Hz. At least 120 Hz is recommended.
What is a good frame per second for ?
The lowest frame rate at which a game may still be enjoyed is usually set at 30 FPS. However, 60 FPS+ is generally the ideal target since the game feels more fluid and responsive, and you benefit a lot in competitive games.
Storage
From the latest expansion, Shadowlands now demands an SSD drive as a minimum requirement.
However, we ran a test on a to see how well it performs. We found that running the game on an HDD does not affect the gameplay, but WoW can take ages to load on these older drives.
We recommend a drive, especially for those who want some other game installed on your system, and 256GB may be too small.
Will the cooling aspect of the affect your playing ?
Yes, it will. To run WoW smoothly, you want your CPU and GPU, both at maximum clock speed. Suppose reaching critical temperatures, the CPU and GPU dynamically under-clock to protect the system from damage due to excessive heat. And when the CPU has to underclock, it will affect the frame rates of a game.
This is why laptops must have an effective cooling system to prevent the throttling, resulting in fps drop.
What is the best World of Warcraft laptop?
When buying a new , it very much depends also on your budget. We compiled a list of the best laptops for that are the best in each price range. Sorted by the price, all the laptops listed here are very well capable of running – Shadowlands smoothly to enjoy the game to the fullest. They all feature the newest RTX GPUs to support Ray Tracing in Shadowlands as well.
Acer Nitro 5
Key Specifications
CPU: i5-10300H | GRAPHICS CARD: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 VRAM | MEMORY: 8GB DDR4 | DISPLAY: 15.6”, 144Hz, Full HD, IPS | STORAGE: 256GB NVMe SSD | OS:Windows 11 Home
The updated Acer Nitro 5 is a reliable gaming laptop for casual gamers who want middle-tier performance at an entry-level price.
The laptop’s plastic body is a bit chunky, but the hardware more than makes up for the chassis. Although The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 is not the most powerful GPU, it is a new Ampere Graphics card and with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, makes this laptop powerful enough to play the games at Full-HD 1080p at decent framerate.
8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage space may be low for some gamers, but there’s plenty of room for an upgrade. There’s an additional RAM slot to expand it to 16GB (up to a max of 32GB). There’s also an extra empty M.2 slot plus a 2.5-inch drive bay for SATA drives to easily upgrade the storage space.
PROS
- Solid specs for a budget laptop
- Upgradeable
CONS
- Hot and loud under load
- Only 256GB of storage
Playing World of Warcraft – Shadowlands on Acer Predator Helios 300
ASUS TUF Dash F15
Key Specifications
CPU: i7-11370H | GRAPHICS CARD: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6 VRAM | MEMORY: 8GB DDR4 | DISPLAY: 15.6”, 144Hz, Full HD, IPS-Type | STORAGE: 512GB NVMe SSD
The Asus TUF Dash F15 is a great budget gaming laptop with solid hardware, including a Core i7 11th generation CPU and RTX 3050 Ti GPU, making it an excellent laptop for casual gamers and those on a tight budget.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal than the Asus TUF Dash F15 if you want an RTX 30-Series GPU laptop but don’t want to spend a lot. Even in the most demanding games, we found that this low-cost system performed as if it was in a considerably higher price range.
There were no signs of overheating during our tests, and we consistently got 60 frames per second or higher on this RTX 3050 Ti .
PROS
CONS
MSI Stealth 15M
Key Specifications
CPU: i7-11375H | GRAPHICS CARD: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 VRAM | MEMORY: 16GB DDR4 | DISPLAY: 15.6”, 144Hz, Full HD, IPS | STORAGE: 512GB NVMe SSD
The MSI Stealth 15M is the latest in a long series of super-portable best gaming laptop prospects. This machine manages to cram some top-notch hardware into a slim chassis while still delivering excellent gaming performance.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card delivers buttery smooth performance across a wide variety of games on a 144Hz display.
With that much power under the tiny hood, cooling and battery life are sure to suffer a bit, and the chassis of this machine may get quite hot while gaming.
MSI Stealth 15M is a good option for a gaming laptop that can fit in a bag and carry around easily. Please note that it doesn’t have an ethernet port. However, featuring WiFi 6, you won’t suffer any unwanted latency. Or you can always use USB->Ethernet dongle.
PROS
CONS
Acer Predator Helios 300
Key Specifications
CPU: i7-11800H | GRAPHICS CARD: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 VRAM | MEMORY: 16GB DDR4 | DISPLAY: 15.6”, 144Hz, Full HD, IPS | STORAGE: 512GB NVMe SSD
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is unquestionably one of the most popular and best-selling gaming laptops for the past few years for two straightforward facts. It’s affordable, and it’s powerful.
Of course, to maintain a relatively low price, there are a few signs where Acer kind of cut corners, the speakers, for example. They are pretty unimpressive. Also, the dual-fan cooling system must be tuned to the max to dispose of the heat effectively.
However, the main thing to focus on here is that this gaming laptop is very powerful for the price. With a powerful 11th Gen. Intel Core i7 and Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 under the hood, it’s powerful enough to run the most demanding games even at the highest graphic settings. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate screen with very accurate color reproduction, which you only see in higher-price range machines.
If you’re on a limited budget with the Acer Predator Helios 300, you can’t ask for a better deal.
PROS
CONS
Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model
Key Specifications
CPU: i7-11800H | GRAPHICS CARD: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 | MEMORY: 16GB DDR4 | DISPLAY: 15.6″, 165Hz, QHD, IPS-grade | STORAGE: 1TB NVMe SSD
One of the world’s best gaming laptops, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model, has been revised again. As with its predecessor, it features a stunning CNC-milled aluminum chassis and holds an Nvidia RTX 30-series GPU and an Intel Core i7-11th generation CPU.
When it comes to performance and portability, the Blade 15 may be just what you’re searching for. Despite its top-of-the-line processor, GPU, and 165Hz QHD display, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model weighs in at just 4.4 pounds and is only 0.62 inches thick, making it an excellent portable 15-inch workstation.
The Blade 15 is not only a great gaming laptop but an excellent productivity machine. Because of its large touchpad and spacious keyboard with per-key RGB illumination, this laptop earns high marks. However, during our playtesting, this Blade became quite hot.
PROS
CONS
– Q&A
Why do you need a good for playing WoW?
The best laptops are speedy, have a lot of RAM, and have superior graphics. Video processing power is one of the most notable distinctions between a conventional and a in modern high-resolution video games, such as .
Can you play WoW on a regular ?
Although there is a know matra “WoW can run on a potato”, it’s not true for the modern . Sure, in 2005, when vanilla WoW was first released, the requirements were much lower. But throughout the years, Blizzard significantly updated the graphics, and today you need quite a good to enjoy the game and not be annoyed by low unplayable framerates.
Do Shadowlands require a better ?
While the previous expansion Battle for Azeroth recommended an 960 or 280, Shadowlands GPU requirement has raised to 1080 8GB or AMD Radeon™ RX Vega 64 8GB. And since there’s a Ray Tracing implemented in Shadowlands, it’s recommended to have a from 20 or 30 series. So yes, Shadowlands require a better .
Verdict: What are the best laptops for ?
So to answer question, what is the best laptops for . It pretty much all depends on the budget you are willing to spend on a new to run – Shadowlands . A good starting point would be meeting at least the recommended system requirements. However, minimum requirements are based on what developers define as playable at the lowest graphic settings values. In contrast, the recommended requirements are what is needed to run a game with decent or highest graphical settings with a high enough frame rate for the best .
If your budget is limited, stick to our recommended for WoW. Otherwise, you may aim for higher-tiered pricier laptops, so you can crank up graphics settings to the max and still enjoy smooth gameplay with the highest frames per second possible.
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Biaggio ValenteFounder / CEO email: [email protected] |