When it comes to gaming laptops. The first thing many of us consider is brute performance. But what if you are looking for value? Well, you don’t have to worry about that either as Intel’s 13th Gen Core™ processor lineup caters to all gamers, streamers and content creators, even those with limited budgets. In this piece, we will be looking at some of the best buys gaming laptops powered by the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processor.
For starters, note that pretty much any laptop powered by a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ ‘Raptor Lake’ processor is a great buy nonetheless. Especially when you compare it to the 12th Gen ‘Alder Lake’ processors. With up to a staggering 49 percent improvement in multitasking performance compared to the 12th Gen processors, the 13th Gen processors truly elevate the gaming experience to new heights.1
This tremendous leap in performance is made possible by a fusion of various advancements. Firstly, the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors boast up to 24 cores and 32 threads, capable of reaching a maximum clock speed of 5.6GHz. The sheer power and speed provided by these processors set a new standard for gaming performance.
But this performance is not limited to just the top-of-the-line processors. A standout feature of the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors is the Performance Hybrid Architecture. This unique architecture combines high-performance P-cores (Performance Cores) with power-efficient E-cores (Efficiency Cores). P-cores excel in handling resource-intensive tasks, making them ideal for gaming, while E-cores efficiently manage multi-threaded workloads and background tasks, optimizing overall efficiency. The Intel® Thread Director intelligently assigns workloads to the most suitable cores, ensuring a seamless balance between performance and energy efficiency.
Now, let’s explore the lineup of 13th Gen Intel® Core™ mobile processors. To simplify the decision-making process, it’s important to understand the key distinctions. The Intel® Core™ i5 series, offers exceptional value, delivering impressive performance at an affordable price point. Moving up the ladder, the Core™ i7 lineup provides high-performance computing, excelling not only in gaming but also in handling demanding tasks. Finally, the Intel® Core™ i9 lineup represents the epitome of peak performance, designed for those who demand nothing but the absolute best.
With a solid understanding of the processor lineup, let’s shift our focus to the remarkable gaming laptops that harness the power of 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, while still offering excellent value.
Table of Contents
HP Victus 15
HP’s Victus series is pretty well equipped for its asking price. It boasts a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13700H processor, offering 14 cores (six P-cores and eight E-cores) and clock speeds of up to 5.0GHz.
The display is a 15.6-inch FHD panel, which should satisfy most gamers. With a refresh rate of 144Hz, it’s particularly beneficial for competitive gaming. Additionally, the laptop features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, delivering more than enough performance for your gaming requirements.
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (2023)
The TUF Gaming Series from ASUS is known for offering great value and this particular laptop is no different. The key reason for this is the processor that is powering the laptop. At the heart of the device is a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13700H processor that offers 14 cores and 20 threads of performance with a max clock speed of 5.0GHz. This includes the pairing of six P-cores with eight E-cores.
But that’s not all. You also get a very reasonable 5.6-inch FHD display that offers support for a refresh rate of 144Hz. In terms of memory, you get 16GB DDR4 RAM with 512GB of storage. Meanwhile, graphics are taken care of via an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. All in, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 (2023) packs enough performance to play the latest AAA titles.
Dell G15-5530
The Dell G15 is powerful, especially for its asking price. At the heart of the laptop is a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13650HX. This processor offers 14 cores and 20 threads of performance. It includes six P-cores paired with eight E-cores along with a max clock speed of 4.9GHz. Graphical duties are handled via an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, which should be more than ready to take on the latest AAA games.
The laptop sports a very respectable 15.6-inch FHD display. A panel of this size helps straddle the balance between big-screen immersion and small-screen portability. It also offers a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. In terms of memory, the laptop offers 16GB DDR5 RAM paired with 512GB of storage.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5i
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i sports a very respectable 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-13500H processor. This packs four P-cores with eight E-cores to offer a title of 12 cores and 16 threads of performance. The processor offers a maximum clock speed of 4.7GHz. Helping this out is an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and this combination should be more than enough to take on the current crop of AAA titles.
The laptop also comes with a reasonably large 16-inch WQXGA display which should offer an immersive experience. The display also offers a refresh rate of 165Hz, which should definitely be of help when it comes to competitive gaming. The laptop also offers 8GB DDR5 RAM and 512GB of storage.
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) is a great laptop for those looking for the quintessential ‘gamer aesthetics’. However, beneath its flashy exterior, you’ll discover some truly impressive specifications. Powering this machine is the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-13450HX processor, boasting an impressive 10 cores and 16 threads of performance. With six P-cores, four E-cores, and a clock speed of up to 4.5GHz, the laptop is quite powerful. Of course, as an HX-Series processor, you also get support for overclocking.
The laptop features a large 16-inch WUXGA panel with a resolution of 1920x1200p, ensuring vivid and sharp visuals during gaming sessions. Esports players will appreciate the 165Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth and responsive experience when gaming. In terms of memory, the laptop offers 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a generous 1TB of storage. Handling the graphical demands is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, delivering exceptional performance and allowing for seamless gameplay, even with the latest AAA titles.
MSI Katana 17
With its lid shut, the MSI Katana 17 doesn’t immediately seem like a gaming powerhouse. But open it up and the RGB lighting should give you a hint at what’s inside. You get a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13620H processor that offers 10 cores and 16 threads of performance with clock speeds of up to 4.9GHz. This processor consists of six P-cores and four E-cores, which should ensure plenty of performance without sacrificing efficiency. In terms of graphics, you get an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU which is expected at this price range.
A key highlight of the laptop has to be the display. You get a large 17.3-inch FHD display that offers a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. You also get 16GB DDR5 RAM, which should ensure things remain smooth. For storage, you get a 1TB NVMe SSD which should ensure more than enough space for your games.
Acer Predator Neo (2023)
The Acer Predator Neo (2023) is another well-priced laptop in this list that offers impressive levels of firepower! It packs a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13700HX processor that packs 16 cores and 24 threads. This includes eight P-cores and E-cores each and offers a max clock speed of 5.0GHz. Meanwhile, graphics are handled by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. This should be enough to handle AAA gaming with ease.
The laptop has you covered in terms of memory as well. It offers 16GB DDR5 RAM with a 512GB NVMe SSD which should ensure things remain smooth and games load quickly. For the display, you get a 16-inch WUXGA display with a refresh rate of 165Hz, which is pretty impressive considering the asking price of the laptop.
Disclaimers
1. Compared to 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900HK. As measured by SPECrate*2017_int_base (n copy).
