For gamers, the graphics processing unit (GPU) is the heart of the system, dictating visual fidelity and frame rates. With gaming laptops becoming increasingly popular, a crucial question arises: how do notebook GPUs stack up against their desktop counterparts? This article delves into a comprehensive benchmark comparison, analyzing the performance of 34 GPUs from both laptops and desktops across 25 demanding games at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions. We provide a detailed look at how these GPUs perform, offering valuable insights for gamers deciding between a gaming laptop and a desktop PC.
Comprehensive GPU Benchmarking: Desktop vs. Notebook
This extensive test suite rigorously compares a wide range of notebook and desktop GPUs, pushing them to their limits in a diverse selection of 25 modern games. The benchmarks were conducted at three key resolutions – 1080p, 1440p, and 4K – to simulate various gaming scenarios and display setups. Importantly, upscaling techniques were deliberately avoided to present raw performance data. Ray tracing, a graphically intensive feature, was selectively enabled in games like The Witcher 3 and Metro Exodus Enhanced to assess GPU capabilities under demanding conditions.
The data presented reflects average frame rates from over 20 games, providing a holistic view of performance. It’s worth noting that fewer games are included in the lower resolution benchmarks due to VRAM limitations on some lower-end GPUs, which prevented them from running certain titles. Let’s examine the overall performance trends across different resolutions.
Overall Performance Across Resolutions
Analyzing the aggregate results across all tested games reveals clear performance tiers for both notebook and desktop GPUs at different resolutions. Desktop GPUs generally exhibit a performance advantage, particularly as resolution and graphical demands increase. However, high-end notebook GPUs are closing the gap, delivering impressive frame rates capable of providing excellent gaming experiences.
At 1080p, most modern GPUs, whether in laptops or desktops, are capable of delivering high frame rates in many titles. Moving to 1440p, the performance gap between desktop and notebook GPUs becomes more apparent, with desktops maintaining higher average frame rates. At demanding 4K resolution, the distinction is even more pronounced, showcasing the significant graphical horsepower of high-end desktop cards.
Game-Specific Benchmarks: Deep Dive
While overall averages provide a general picture, game-specific benchmarks offer granular insights into GPU performance under varying game engine demands and graphical settings. Let’s explore performance in specific titles to further understand the nuances of notebook GPU and desktop GPU comparisons.
In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, we observe the performance scaling across resolutions for both desktop and notebook GPUs. This title is graphically intensive and showcases the capabilities of higher-end cards, particularly at 4K.
Borderlands 3 presents a different scenario, with its stylized visuals and less demanding engine compared to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Here, even mid-range GPUs can achieve high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 exhibits a frame rate cap of 240 FPS. This cap can lead to lower 1% lows on high-end GPUs at 1080p, as they are hitting the limit, affecting frame time consistency metrics.
Control is known for its demanding ray tracing implementation. The benchmarks highlight the performance impact of ray tracing and the capabilities of different GPUs in handling these advanced visual effects.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a notoriously demanding game, especially at higher settings and resolutions. The benchmarks reveal a significant difference in 1% low frame rates between laptops and desktops, indicating potential thermal throttling or power limitations affecting laptop GPUs in this title.
Dead Space demonstrates consistent performance scaling across resolutions, with both laptop and desktop GPUs showing expected performance tiers.
Doom Eternal on “ultra nightmare” settings highlights VRAM limitations. GPUs with 6GB of VRAM or less struggle to run this preset, resulting in no benchmark data for those cards. Again, laptops show worse 1% lows compared to desktops.
Further game benchmarks including Dying Light 2, F1 2021, Far Cry 6, Forza Horizon 5, God of War, Halo Infinite, Hogwarts Legacy, Metro Exodus Enhanced, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Plague Tale Requiem, Rainbow Six Extraction, Red Dead Redemption 2, Spiderman, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War Warhammer 3, Watchdogs Legion, and Witcher 3 (Ray Tracing) follow a similar pattern, providing detailed performance comparisons across the tested GPUs and resolutions. These game-specific results are available in the image format as provided.
Factors Affecting Notebook GPU Performance
While notebook GPUs have made significant strides, several factors can influence their performance compared to desktop counterparts. Thermal constraints within the compact laptop chassis are a primary consideration. Notebook GPUs often operate at lower clock speeds and power limits to manage heat, impacting peak performance. Power delivery limitations in laptops can also restrict the sustained performance of high-end GPUs. Variations in laptop cooling solutions and overall system design further contribute to performance differences between various notebook models equipped with the same GPU. Although water cooling solutions exist for laptops, their impact on top-tier GPUs like RTX 4070, 4080, and 4090 is marginal in these tests.
Accuracy and Testing Methodology Disclaimer
It’s crucial to acknowledge that this data serves as a performance guideline rather than a perfectly definitive comparison. The extensive nature of testing 34 GPUs across 25 games and multiple resolutions, totaling over 400 hours, introduces inherent limitations. Game updates and driver releases during the four-month testing period could subtly influence results. While efforts were made to retest GPUs when significant performance-altering updates were identified, logistical constraints, particularly with temporary laptop access, limited comprehensive retesting. Driver variations, especially with newly released GPUs like the RTX 4060 requiring updated drivers mid-testing, are another factor. Despite these challenges, the overall averages across a broad range of games provide a robust understanding of relative notebook and desktop GPU performance. Specific game results, particularly in newer titles still undergoing performance optimizations, may exhibit minor variations.
Conclusion
This comprehensive benchmark analysis provides a detailed comparison of notebook and desktop GPU gaming performance. While desktop GPUs generally maintain a performance lead, especially at higher resolutions, high-end gaming laptops offer impressive capabilities, closing the performance gap significantly. The choice between a notebook and desktop GPU ultimately depends on individual needs and priorities, balancing portability with raw graphical power. Gamers prioritizing ultimate performance and upgradability may still lean towards desktops, while those valuing mobility and all-in-one convenience will find modern gaming laptops a compelling alternative. This data should serve as a valuable resource in making informed decisions based on expected gaming performance across a wide spectrum of notebook and desktop GPUs.
