The Ultimate Gaming Laptops to Unleash Starfield's Epic Gameplay

Starfield, Bethesda's long-awaited original IP in 25 years, is one of the most highly anticipated PC game releases of the year. In order to fully enjoy the game on a PC, players should be aware of the slightly higher system requirements compared to other titles like Baldur's Gate 3. Offering over a thousand planets to explore, Starfield promises to provide endless entertainment for Bethesda fans. As the expected release date of September 6th approaches, with Early Access available even sooner on September 1st, now is the perfect time to obtain a copy of Starfield and ensure a seamless gaming experience.

Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop AN17-41-R7G3

The Best Overall Gaming Laptop For Starfield $1300 at Amazon

MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop (B12VGK-082US)

The Best Alternate Overall Gaming Laptop For Starfield $1160 at Newegg

ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14' WQXGA Gaming Laptop

The Best Compact Gaming Laptop For Starfield $1155 at Best Buy

MSI Thin GF63 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop

The Best Budget Gaming Laptop For Starfield $990 at Amazon

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop

The Best Premium Gaming Laptop For Starfield $3500 at Amazon

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Alienware m16

The Best Alternate Premium Gaming Laptop For Starfield $2700 at Best Buy

Starfield's PC Spec Requirements

Minimum Specs

OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (10.0.19045)

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K

Memory: 16 GB RAM

Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti

DirectX: Version 12

Storage: 125 GB available space

Additional Notes: SSD Required

Recommended Specs

OS: Windows 10/11 with updates

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K

Memory: 16 GB RAM

Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080

DirectX: Version 12

Network: Broadband Internet connection

Storage: 125 GB available space

Additional Notes: SSD Required

Starfield's system requirements (Source: Steam Client)

It is necessary to acknowledge the fact that the Xbox page specifies that up to 140GB of available SSD space is necessary to preload the title, despite Steam's hardware requirements remaining unchanged for now. However, this could potentially hint at future developments.

Playing Starfield On A Gaming Laptop

Gaming laptops have significantly improved in recent years, boasting powerful hardware and compact designs that rival portable gaming consoles. When it comes to playing games like Starfield, the CPU and GPU requirements fall within the mid-range category for optimal performance. It's worth noting that gaming laptops are generally slower than their desktop counterparts, and the specifications provided by Steam do not specifically address laptop compatibility.

To ensure a smooth gaming experience, it is advisable for users to opt for higher-end CPUs and GPUs. Fortunately, the RAM requirement remains at 16GB for both the minimum and maximum hardware specs. Additionally, having a sizable SSD storage is necessary to accommodate Starfield's storage needs. It's always a good idea to have extra storage and more memory, considering that games tend to expand in size and ambition over time. As an example, Starfield already has planned DLC in the pipeline.

Looking for the ultimate gaming laptop to play Starfield? Look no further than the Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop AN17-41-R7G3. Boasting a massive 17-inch screen, this laptop is powered by a highly efficient octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia's impressive mid-range RTX 4060 GPU. The display offers Quad HD resolution and a rapid 165 Hz refresh rate, perfect for immersive and action-packed gaming sessions. With a spacious 1-terabyte SSD drive and 16 GB of DDR5 memory, this laptop is not only a powerhouse but also an excellent alternative to a desktop setup. Don't miss out on the ultimate gaming experience with the Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop.

Operating System: Windows 11

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS 8-Core

GPU: Nvidia RTX 4060 8GB

RAM: 16GB DDR5

Storage: 1TB NVME M.2 SSD

Display: 17-inch 3 QHD/2K 165Hz

Network: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1

Brand: Acer Nitro

Model: AN17-41-R7G3

Card Reader: Yes

Keyboard: Backlit

Webcam: Yes

Pros: Features an excellent and efficient Zen 4-based AMD Ryzen 7 CPU. Also equipped with a decent mid-range RTX 4060 GPU.

Offers a great 2K display with 165Hz to capitalize on its 17' form factor

Has plenty of storage (1TB) for Starfield and other upcoming games

Runs considerably cooler than most of its competition

Cons Can get loud when under sustained load while gaming

At 17", it veers towards a desktop replacement option more than a gaming laptop

$1300 at Amazon

The Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop (AN17-41-R7G3) is highly regarded in the gaming laptop market. Its affordable price tag, superior CPU performance, and effective cooling system make it a top choice for gamers. With its spacious 17" display, it not only provides an impressive QHD 165Hz screen but also ensures efficient cooling. Equipped with an RTX 4060 graphics card, it offers a satisfactory gaming experience, allowing uninterrupted Starfield sessions. The Nitro also boasts 16GB of DDR5 memory, meeting the publisher's recommendations, and a generous 1TB SSD drive, ensuring sufficient storage capacity for future Starfield updates.

The noise level does increase slightly during heavy usage. In addition, the 17" screen size on a laptop may not be suitable for everyone, especially when considering portability. This makes it a somewhat mixed choice for gamers who are frequently on the move. However, it should be noted that this gaming laptop from MSI, the Katana 15 (B12VGK-082US), is truly exceptional. It effortlessly meets or even exceeds all the hardware requirements of Starfield, making it perfectly equipped for gaming without any compromises.

The Best Overall Gaming Laptop for Starfield - Save $340

The MSI Katana 15 gaming laptop is the top choice when it comes to gaming on Starfield. Priced at $1160 to $1500, this laptop offers incredible savings of $340. Equipped with a 12th generation Intel Core i7 CPU and an impressive RTX 4070 GPU, it delivers exceptional performance. The laptop also features ample memory and storage, along with a high-quality 144Hz IPS panel.

With a wide range of networking options and an unbeatable price, the Katana 15 stands out as the most affordable RTX 4070 gaming laptop available for purchase at the moment.

Specifications:

- Operating System: Windows 11

- CPU: Intel Core i7-12650H

- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (105W)

- RAM: 16GB DDR5 Memory

- Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD

- Display: 15.6" 144 Hz FHD IPS

- Speakers: 2x Speakers (2W)

- Network: Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.2

- Weight: 4.96 lb

- Brand: MSI Katana

- Model: B12VGK-082US

- Power: 200W AC Adapter

Highlights:

- Comes with a powerful 105W RTX 4070 offering significant gaming performance.

Meets Starfield's memory and storage requirements

Excellent value for money

Runs relatively cool when gaming thanks to its aggressive cooling system

Cons Uses a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU

Has a somewhat underwhelming webcam

Can get loud fast in gaming sessions

The MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop (B12VGK-082US) at Newegg is the most affordable gaming laptop featuring a powerful RTX 4070 graphics card. It impressively avoids significant thermal throttling, offers outstanding specifications, and all this comes at a budget-friendly price below $1200. It is undoubtedly the top choice for a cost-effective gaming laptop.

The Katana excels in meeting the requirements for Starfield with its impressive 16GB DDR5 memory and 1TB SSD storage. Although its 12th-generation Core i7 CPU may be slightly outdated, it still holds its ground for gaming. Its well-designed cooling system prevents thermal throttling, allowing optimal performance in most games.

The 15.6" FHD 144Hz screen may not be particularly impressive, but it gets the job done. Users tend to complain about the Katana's tendency to get loud quickly and its underwhelming webcam. However, these drawbacks are overshadowed by its powerful GPU and superior performance, making it a highly recommended option for gaming laptops in its price range, according to the Game Rant team.

Experience Starfield like never before with the incredible ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14' WQXGA Gaming Laptop. This compact powerhouse is packed with the latest and greatest technology, ensuring an unbeatable gaming experience. Equipped with the powerful 8-Core AMD 6000 series Laptop CPU and the impressive RX 6700S, this laptop can handle even the most demanding modern games and complex productivity tasks. All of this power is packed into a sleek and beautiful 14' form factor, guaranteeing both portability and speed. Prepare yourself for an immersive gaming journey with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14' WQXGA Gaming Laptop, the best choice for Starfield enthusiasts.

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700S 8GB GDDR6

Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD

Battery: 76WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion

Display Size and Resolution: 14-inch, 2560x1600, 120Hz

Speaker: 4-speaker system, 3-Mic Array

Color: White

Memory: 16GB DDR5

Ports: USB A, USB C, HDMI 2.1, Card Reader

Network: WiFi 6E (802.11AX)

Dimension: 12.28" x 8.94" x 0.73"

Weight: 3.64 lbs

Form: 14-inch

Brand: ASUS ROG

Model: GA402RJ-G14.R96700

Power: 240W Power Adapter, Upto 100W via USB-C

Pros: Excellent, powerful, and efficient Ryzen 9 CPU

Bright 500-nit display with sharp 2K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate

Excellent audio for a laptop in this form factor

Compact while packing serious hardware under the hood for gaming

Cons Runs hot thanks to the high-end CPU and mid-range GPU offerings it has when under load

14-inch screen is great for gaming but can be a bit too small for gamers used to larger displays

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 14" WQXGA Gaming Laptop is available at a discounted price of $1155 at Best Buy and $1280 at Amazon. This laptop boasts impressive technology, including a powerful Ryzen 9 CPU and a mid-range Radeon 6700S GPU. With its capabilities, it can easily handle running Starfield and takes advantage of the game's FSR support for enhanced performance.

The G14 effortlessly meets the RAM and storage requirements with its 16GB DDR5 memory and 1TB SSD. The 14-inch display, although sharp for gaming, may not be preferred by everyone, especially those transitioning from larger gaming laptops or desktop setups.

Although the G14 performs admirably during gaming, it tends to heat up significantly, which can make gaming on the go uncomfortable, particularly in tight spaces. This tradeoff may deter some gamers, despite its reputation as the top choice for a compact gaming laptop for Starfield.

Introducing the MSI Thin GF63 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop - The Ultimate Choice for Starfield Gamers! Equipped with the latest 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor, an upgraded RTX 4050 GPU that outperforms the previous RTX 3060, and a speedy 512GB NVME SSD, this gaming laptop offers an exceptional gaming experience without breaking the bank. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Starfield like never before!

Operating System: Windows 11 Home

CPU: Intel Core i7-12650H 10 Core Processor

GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6GB GDDR6

Storage: 512GB PCI-E 4.0 NVMe SSD

Battery: 3-cell, 51Whr Li-Polymer

Display: FHD (1920 x 1080)

Camera: 720p HD Webcam

Speakers: 2 x 2W speakers

Color: Black

Memory: 16GB DDR4 (8GB x 2)

Ports: LAN, USB, HDMI, Audio

Network: Gigabit Ethernet

Dimensions: 14.13" x 9.99" x 0.85"

Weight: 4.10 lbs

Form: 15.6'

Brand: MSI

Model: 12VE-066US

Power: 120W AC Power Adapter

Pros: Excellent 12th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU for its price point, new RTX 4050 GPU that allows it to benefit from significant DLSS 3 improvements on supported titles.

Premium feel thanks to its focus on a simple, functional design

Cons The RTX 4050 may prove to be a limiting factor for gamers looking for more graphics fidelity in Starfield

Runs hot when gaming

$990 at Amazon $1134 at Newegg

The MSI Thin GF63 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop features a powerful 12th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and an entry-level RTX 4050 GPU, providing smooth gameplay experience for Starfield. Although it falls short in terms of GPU capabilities, it offers great value compared to its competitors and boasts an impressive CPU performance.

While it meets the required RAM and SSD specifications, it comes with a relatively smaller 512GB SSD, which may seem peculiar considering the cheaper availability of SSDs in 2023. Nevertheless, this is a decent yet somewhat unnecessary compromise from the Taiwanese company.

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop does have some thermal issues and average battery life, which can be a downside. This might affect the overall experience, especially for gamers who want to fully immerse themselves in Starfield with maximum visual fidelity, as the RTX 4050 could be a limiting factor.

However, despite not being the fastest laptop out there, it still holds its ground and offers great value for gamers on a budget.

The Best Premium Gaming Laptop For Starfield - $3600 $3700, Save $100. Get the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop, equipped with a Mini-LED 2K display, the top-notch Intel Core i9 processor, and ample storage and RAM in a sleek 16-inch design that rivals 17-inch laptops.

Specifications:

- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

- CPU: Intel Core i9-13980HX

- GPU: RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

- Storage: 2TB (1+1TB in RAID 0 config)

- Battery: 4-cell 90WHr Battery

- Display: 2K (2560 x 1600), Mini-LED, 240Hz

- Camera: 720P Camera

- Speakers: 4 Speakers

- Memory: 32GB DDR5

- Ports: USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt, Ethernet, Headphone Jack, HDMI 2.1

- Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5G Ethernet

- Dimension: 13.94" x 10.39" x 0.89"

- Weight: 5.73 lbs

- Form: 16''

- Brand: ASUS ROG

- Power: 330W AC Adapter

Pros: Features the latest high-end Intel Core i9 13th generation CPU.

Sports the highest-end RTX 4090 GPU under the hood

Excellent 2K 240Hz mini-LED display and the GPU to push those limits

Falls on the cheaper end of the spectrum for a fully decked-out RTX 4090-based gaming laptop

Cons Overkill as a purchase for primarily playing Starfield

Prohibitively expensive as an upgrade for most end-users

$3600 at Newegg $3500 at Amazon

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop is a highly capable portable gaming PC. It features the fastest Core i9 laptop processor and Nvidia's top-of-the-line mobile gaming chip, the RTX 4090. This laptop boasts of the best gaming components available in 2023.

Equipped with the onboard RTX 4090, it offers up to 175W of TGP and is designed with effective cooling mechanisms to handle its thermal requirements. The laptop includes a sizable 330W power brick to ensure optimal performance when plugged in, and it also supports Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. This allows for easy connection of multiple monitors, making it a suitable replacement for a desktop computer. Remarkably, despite its powerful internals, the laptop remains impressively lightweight.

While simply playing Starfield alone may come with a prohibitively expensive price tag, the cost becomes quite reasonable when considering the exceptional specifications of an RTX 4090-based gaming laptop. This impressive laptop boasts a massive 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD storage configured in Raid 0. As if that wasn't enough, it also features a stunning 2K 240Hz mini-LED display. All of this can be experienced while playing Starfield for a cool $3500. In short, the Alienware m16 (

) offers a hard-to-justify but undeniably superior option compared to other gaming laptops on Game Rant's recommendation list.

The Best Alternate Premium Gaming Laptop for Starfield:

Introducing the competitively priced Alienware m16, the perfect gaming laptop with top-notch performance. Thanks to Intel's 13th generation CPUs and the low demand for the RTX 4080 chipset, you can enjoy an unparalleled gaming experience.

Key Features:

- Operating System: Windows 11 Home or Pro

- CPU: Intel Core i9-13900HX

- GPU: RTX 4080

- Storage: 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

- Battery: 86 WHr

- Display: 16" QHD+ monitor with a stunning 240 Hz refresh rate

- Camera: 1080p

- Color: Dark Metallic Moon

- Memory: 16 GB DDR5 4800 MHz

- Ports: 2 USB Type-C, 2 USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, SD Card Reader, Mini Displayport 1.4

- Weight: 7.17 lbs

- Brand: Alienware

Pros: The laptop boast an incredible 240Hz 2K display, offering a visually stunning and smooth gaming experience.

Comes with a high-end Intel 13900HX CPU onboard

Has plenty of dedicated VRAM and GPU horsepower under the hood thanks to its discrete RTX 4080 GPU

Cons Considerably hefty for a modern gaming laptop compared to most of its new competitors

16GB of RAM in a gaming laptop that costs over $2500 seems a bit underwhelming

The Alienware M16 presents an intriguing option for those who find the price tag of the SCAR 16 excessive for their Starfield gaming needs. Priced $800-900 less, it still boasts a comparable 2K 240Hz display, a slightly less powerful Core i9 processor, and an RTX 4080 graphics card. Additionally, it offers excellent cooling, a satisfactory SSD, and dedicated audio buttons, making it a noteworthy contender in the premium gaming laptop category for Starfield.

The M16 has excellent build quality, although it is heavier compared to other 16-inch laptops from Alienware's competitors. It is slightly disappointing that the sub-$2700 gaming laptop only offers 16GB of DDR5 memory, but this can be easily fixed at an affordable price.

Although it is unlikely to outperform the ASUS offering mentioned earlier, the M16 provides better value overall and can easily handle demanding games like Starfield with its powerful CPU and GPU combination. However, the M16 could benefit from more storage and memory considering its current price point.

FAQ

Q: When does Starfield launch on PC?

Starfield launches on PC on the 6th of September 2023. Players who have purchased Premium Edition copies can play earlier. Early access starts on the 1st of September.

Q: Does Starfield require an SSD?

Starfield explicitly states that an SSD is necessary. Although the developer has specified a minimum requirement of 125GB of free space for the game, preload copies currently occupy 140GB. This indicates that investing in a larger SSD is a more practical and future-proof solution to the growing storage issue posed by increasingly large file sizes.