12 Best laptops for playing GTA 5 in 2023: High-end gaming machines and budget-friendly options.

When it comes to gaming, it's hard not to talk about the juggernaut that is Grand Theft Auto V. Whether you're indulging in the rich, storytelling of the single-player mode or getting lost in the immersive online world of GTA Online, there's something for everyone. However, running GTA V on a PC that doesn't meet the system requirements can be a frustrating experience.

But fear not, for I'm here to help you find the best laptops for playing GTA V without breaking the bank. I've done the research and testing, scoured forums and reviews, and even talked to fellow gamers to find out what they recommend. So whether you're a new player, a returning fan, or a seasoned veteran, stick around, and I'll guide you through the process of finding a laptop that'll give you the smoothest and most enjoyable gaming experience possible. Let's dive in!

Processor

I'm sure you've heard this one before, but graphics card is the most important component for gaming. With that said, the second most important component is the processor. Without a capable CPU, your GPU will be left to do all the work.

Requirements

GTA 5 is a demanding game, even on the lowest settings. I'd say it requires at least an Intel Core i5-1135G7. Going any lower and you'll find yourself encountering stuttering and FPS drops. And if you're playing GTA 5 on a laptop with a dedicated GPU, that's when you'll really need a beefy CPU. Another pro – if you're searching for a cheap laptop for GTA 5 – i5-1135G7 comes with an integrated Intel Iris Xe with 80EUs that can run GTA V at 35 FPS on medium settings even without any dedicated GPU!

Recommendations

If you're on a budget and you can't afford to buy a more expensive laptop with the latest-gen processors, then AMD Ryzen 5 4600H is your best bet. It has great value – much better than Intel's offerings.

If you're more of a high-end gamer and looking for top-notch performance at any cost – then I would recommend Intel Core i7-10870H, Core i9-10980HK or Ryzen 9 5900HS.

Graphics card

Minimum graphics (under $1000)

If you're a tight budget, then the best graphics card for GTA 5 is none other than GTX 1650. This entry-level card delivers a stable 40 FPS on the highest settings. It's not much, but it'll have to do if you can't afford a better graphics card. The CPU and the GPU are equally important when it comes to frame rates, so if you're on a tight budget, it's best to buy a faster CPU than a faster GPU.

Recommended graphics ($1000 – $1600)

For those who can afford more, the next tier of GPUs offers a significant boost in performance over GTX 1650. In particular, I find GTX 1660 Ti as an excellent choice for all things GTA 5. A single GTX 1660 Ti can get 75 FPS on highest settings. That's an enormous leap in performance over the previous entry-level GPU!

Best graphics ($1600 and up)

For those with an unlimited budget and an eye for finer details, I recommend RTX 3070 as the best graphics card for GTA 5. It's capable of pumping out 90 FPS on highest settings at 4K resolution.

Graphics card comparison

Oh. you're a charts guy/gal? I've plotted the FPS for most common graphics cards below for an easy reference. This is on Full HD with the highest possible settings (Advanced graphics turned on). Without "Advanced graphics", expect an FPS ~1.5x higher than shown here.

[chart]

Memory

Minimum (8 GB)

First and foremost, 8GB RAM is the lowest you should ever go, that is, if you can't afford anything better. GTA 5 is the perfect example of a game that will feel the pain of a laptop with limited RAM. While yes, if you've closed every other application – 8GB can be OK and sufficient for GTA V – I think you're not here for a "sufficient" laptop for GTA 5. If you have the budget, I would recommend 16GB.

Recommended (16 GB)

16GB is a sweet spot for gaming. You'll have enough memory to keep GTA V open with Chrome, Discord and similar apps in the background. I would say 16GB is a safe bet for people who are looking for a gaming laptop but don't want to spend too much money on one.

Best (32 GB)

For the best experience, I would recommend 32GB of RAM for GTA 5. It's future-proofing at its finest – if you're going to invest in a new laptop, it's worth investing for the long term.

Storage

This one is a lot more straightforward. Your choice of storage should depend on your taste in video games and your personal budget.

If you're playing GTA 5 and some indie games

If you're playing GTA 5, you need at least 256 GB of storage. That's the bare minimum. That's enough for all of the updates and the game itself. But a 256 GB should be an option if you have a <1,000$ budget and that laptop can be upgraded with either M.2 or at least SATA drive.

With that in mind, let's talk about the best SSD size for GTA 5 – it's 512 GB. It should be enough for most people, and it's an easy one to upgrade to 1 TB if you're looking for something more.

If you're playing a lot of AAA titles

If you're also playing games like Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, or similar – 256 GB just won't cut it. I had, just recently, added an additional M.2 drive to my PC just so I could fit Warzone in. And don't get me started on game patch download sizes. Ough.

Display

To make things easier, I'll break down the key display specifications into 3 parts.

Resolution

Even though Full HD is perfectly sufficient to play GTA 5 – that's how I've played it most of the time, but GTA 5 is a great candidate for 4K. High resolutions result in lower framerates so they are not the best for competitive games. But for GTA 5 – crisp visuals might be just a bit more important.

Refresh rate

For competitive games, high refresh rates are becoming a necessity. But for those who play GTA 5 for its visuals – a regular 60Hz (default) refresh rate is just fine. If you're not into competitive first-person shooters – your money should be spend elsewhere.

Panel (TN vs IPS vs OLED)

There are three types of panels in modern laptops – TN, IPS, and OLED.

TN is the default type – manufacturers don't even mention it in a product's description. It's underwhelming, but it helps to keep the price down. I'd recommend it in 2 circumstances:

• you'd rather have higher framerates than prettier visuals;
• you are on a very tight budget.

For nearly everyone else – I recommend an IPS display. It provides better color contrast and a wider viewing angle. And what about OLED, you ask? It comes with a hefty premium, and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone but the enthusiast with money burning a hole in his pocket.

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Table of Best Laptops for {topic}

Laptop	Price (approx)

6 Best Laptops for GTA 5

Table of the Best Laptops for GTA 5

Laptop	Price (approx)
HP Omen 16
MSI WE76 11UK
MSI GL76 Pulse
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4
ASUS ROG Strix Scar
Eluktronics MECH 17 GP2 Liquid Cooled