You’re here because you want a brand-new gaming rig, whether you’re upgrading or getting one for the first time. There are tons of machines available in the market but before picking one, you should first decide which route you want to go with: a gaming laptop or building your own gaming PC.
There are tons of reasons why you might prefer building your own machine over buying a laptop or vice-versa as they have their respective pros and cons.
To make the decisions easier for you, we have detailed the difference between the two and their key advantages and disadvantages, to help you make the right choice.
We’ll also show you some great options available in the new SM Malls Online app where you can get laptops and computer components as well as other gizmos and products from trusted brands and shops and have them delivered straight to your home or pick up at your nearest SM malls.
So, without further ado, let’s start.
Portability
Having a machine that’s portable and easy to carry can be really important for some people, and maybe also for you. This will allow you to game outside your home, say at a coffee shop, at school, or at work during break time hours.
Since it’s a real computer, you can also use such machine for work. From doing word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Since these are gaming computers, they are also powerful enough for creative work like photo and video editing, 3D rendering, and more.
Obviously, this is where laptops shine. Over the years, gaming laptops have become really powerful to do everything while also losing a lot of weight and size, so they can be easily carried.
Some great options include the Acer Predator Helio 300, which is a Php64,999 machine that’s powered by an Intel Core i5-11400H CPU, a 15.6-inch IPS screen, and an RTX 3050Ti GPU.
If you want something cooler-looking, there’s the ASUS ROG Flow Z13, which has a detachable keyboard and a kickstand if you like to use it as a laptop or a viewing display for movies and TV shows. This one is powered by the latest Intel Core i5-12500H CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. All for a price of Php79,488.
These machines are available at the SM Malls Online app, where you can get laptops at the lowest price guaranteed and buyers can get up to 25% off.
Winner: Gaming Laptops
Upgradeability
A lot of gamers are looking for a machine that’s upgradeable. This is great if you plan on owning a computer for a very long time.
This is where desktop computers shine. Such machines are really flexible as you can upgrade parts one at a time along the way. This will help your gaming rig stay up-to-date for years to come.
What’s more, you can easily swap broken parts without having to replace the whole thing.
Unlike laptops, all peripherals are separated. This means that you can choose your preferred or favorite monitor, keyboard, mouse, speaker, and more. You can decide how fast or colorful your display would be, the backlight colors or type of mechanical keys for your keyboard, audio quality, and more.
Gamers could either go with a pre-built desktop machine and upgrade parts over time or build their own from scratch. For one, there’s the Acer Nitro N50-640 that retails for Php44,988. This one already has an Intel Core i5-12400 CPU, GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of M.2 SSD storage.
You can also check the Acer Predator Orion 5000 for Php61,988, which has an Intel Core i7-8700K CPU, RTX 2060 GPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB of storage.
But if you plan on building your own, SM Malls Online has a slew of computer peripherals for your gaming rig. For one, you can get the Palit RTX 3060 12GB for Php35,000, an MSI MEG Z690 motherboard for Php32,800, and a whole lot more.
If you’re on a budget, the online store also has cheaper alternatives like an ASUS H110M-E motherboard for Php3,450, A Team Delta TUF 500GB SSD for Php4,400, and tons more.
Winner: Gaming Desktop
Performance and Practicality
Cars, smartphones, gaming rigs, and other products share one key characteristic: the higher the pay, the more powerful you get. That said, it’s clear that performance and price are very related to each other.
However, between gaming laptops and desktops, it’s quite clear that you can get the most value out of your money by going with a desktop machine.
Desktop computers, especially if you build one on your own, can be really cost-effective. As stated earlier, you can purchase each part at a time, depending on your current budget. That way, you can purchase parts one by one until you can finally assemble them. As an added benefit, your rig will only have parts you specifically prefer.
We’ve tried building our own PC before and it’s quite an awesome experience. All those sleepless nights of anticipation and researching for the right parts until you can finally build it and play with it. It’s quite satisfying.
The process is even more convenient today with apps like SM Mall Online. Here, you can check for the actual local prices and prepare your budget. In addition, you can order the product itself right within the app.
Winner: Gaming Desktop
Verdict
Gaming laptops are the top option if you really want a portable machine. If you really love playing anywhere or also want a machine that you can take and use for work or school, a gaming laptop is a way to go.
However, if you don’t mind leaving your gaming rig at home, you’d get more benefits by going with a desktop computer especially if you build one yourself.
As stated earlier, they are flexible so you can purchase parts one by one until you can build a complete machine, choose your preferred peripherals, and easily swap parts that are broken or need upgrading without replacing the whole thing.
But whatever you chose, you can get them at the new SM Mall Online app.
The SM Mall Online App allows you to purchase gaming laptops, desktops, computer parts and peripherals, and other gizmos through SM Cyberzone in the comfort of your home.
These items offered at the SM Mall Online app are branded and come directly from the computer stores right within your favorite SM Malls. This translates to good product availability, and lower prices compared to some e-commerce counterparts, plus, you have the peace of mind that the products are legitimate and come from trusted brands.
What’s more, the SM Mall Online app gives you the flexibility to have the items delivered directly to your home, or pick it up at your nearest SM Supermall.
To start, download the SM Malls Online app on your Android or iOS device. Once done, create an account, choose your preferred SM Malls branch, and shop, and choose your preferred delivery method.
The items can be coming and be picked up at these locations: SM City Fairview, SM North EDSA, SM San Lazaro, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, SM City Sucat, SM City Bacoor, SM Southmall, and SM Dasmariñas.
If you want to enjoy these benefits and get a Php200 discount when you use the code “SMGOESONLINE” on your first delivery, download the SM Malls Online app now on Google Play Store for Android devices and Apple App Store for iOS.
This article was created by NoypiGeeks in partnership with SM Malls Online.
You’ve been diligently saving for your next gaming rig, and the time has come to go shopping. Little do you realize that you were oblivious to the difference between a gaming laptop and a gaming desktop. You begin weighing them against one another but are unable to determine which is best for you. That is where we come in to help you narrow down which one to spend your money on. Anyway, you are not alone; this is a conundrum that many gamers have faced for years.