The best laptop CPUs are the engines that drive performance on gaming laptops. They determine the laptop’s response time, how it executes instructions, performs calculations, and manages data. The performance of a laptop's CPU affects how fast it can run applications, games, and multitasks.
The Best Gaming Laptops for 2024
The best gaming laptop for you will come down to budget, expected performance, and workload. Let's dive in and find your new gaming laptop.
Therefore, it helps to pay attention to the laptop CPU when selecting a gaming machine. But interestingly, many people have no idea how to pick a laptop with the best CPU. A user should consider the clock speed, number of cores, the cache size, as well as the power consumption.
Aspects to Consider Before Choosing a Laptop with the Best CPU for 2024
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the top picks, here are a few aspects that gamers should consider when shopping for a laptop with the best CPU for 2024:
- Number of Cores and Thread Count: Most laptop CPUs have at least two physical cores or logical brains. The more cores there are, the better the laptop.
- Speed: A laptop CPU with a higher speed is usually better than a lower speed.
- Processor Power Rating: Processor or thermal design power (TDP) refers to the number of watts a cooler must dissipate for the CPU to function optimally. A laptop with a CPU with a higher wattage performs better.
Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Laptops with The Best CPU for 2024
Razer Blade 16 Gaming Laptop
The Razer Blade 16 is one of the best laptops with the best CPUs. It features a powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX, a 14th-generation processor with 24 cores and a maximum clock speed of 5.8GHz.
In addition to its robust, blazing-fast processor, the laptop has the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card for 30 percent more graphics per cubic inch than other gaming laptops.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- Intel Core i9-14900HX
- GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
- RAM
- 32GB RAM
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Brand
- Razer
- Features a powerful 14th-generation Core i9 CPU
- High-end RTX 4080 GPU to maximize graphical settings
- OLED QHD display with 240Hz refresh rate
- A bit expensive
- High power consumption
The Razer Blade 16 is one of the best laptops with the best CPUs for 2024. It features a powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX, a 14th-generation processor with 24 cores with a maximum clock speed of 5.8GHz. This laptop’s processor leverages desktop-grade silicon to claim the number one slot as the most powerful mobile CPU yet. In addition to its robust, blazing-fast processor, the laptop has the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card for 30 percent more graphics per cubic inch than other gaming laptops. It also has a 1.5 graphics power density, delivering more vivid in-game images. Making helpful decisions becomes much easier for graphic designers, video editors, and creators.
Best Touchscreen Laptops in 2024
Touchscreen laptops are versatile and convenient multi-taskers, and these are the best available right now.
This is the best laptop for gamers looking for a larger display. With that understanding, the team at Razer included a large 16-inch OLED QHD+ 240Hz display. It has an impressive VESA ClearMR 11000 rating and is DisplayHDR 500 certified for near-zero blurring and excitingly vivid colors. Additionally, the laptop has a vapor chamber cooling system with 0.5mm exhaust fins and NASBIS insulating sheets that reduce keyboard temperatures by up to 12 percent. Its body features a single aircraft-grade aluminum block for optimal strength-to-weight ratio.
HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop
This laptop boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor at 4.0GHz to 5.2GHz, 16 threads, eight cores, and a 16MB cache. Coupled with the 16GB DDR5 SODIMM RAM, the laptop is geared for multitasking. Avid gamers appreciate laptops with vivid, colorful in-game graphics. This laptop delivers that on two fronts – the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6 dual graphics card and the 16.1-inch IPS Full-HD 165Hz display. Therefore, it is one of the best gaming laptops in its class.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS 8-Core
- GPU
- GeForce RTX 4070
- Storage
- 512GB SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 165Hz FHD Display
- Brand
- HP
- Great for multi-tasking, thanks to the AMD Ryzen Processor
- Delivers vivid colors using the GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card
- High refresh rate display for good fluidity
- Some users complain that the RGB keyboard backlight is a little weak
While some HP OMEN laptops have Intel Core processors, others feature the latest AMD CPUs. This laptop boasts an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS processor at 4.0GHz to 5.2GHz, 16 threads, eight cores, and 16MB cache. Coupled with the 16GB DDR5 SODIMM RAM, the laptop is geared for multi-tasking. A user can browse the internet on multiple tabs while listening to music. Avid gamers appreciate laptops with vivid, colorful in-game graphics. This laptop delivers that on two fronts – the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6 dual graphics card and the 16.1-inch IPS Full-HD 165Hz display. Therefore, it is one of the best gaming laptops in its class.
Powering the laptop is a 6-cell 83 WHr battery that should last for hours before requiring a recharge, even with the RGB backlit trackpad on. The available connectivity options include the RJ-45 Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth 5.3, and 802.11ax Wi-Fi. A 280W power supply keeps all the laptop’s internal parts functioning optimally. This is the best laptop for users who want to store games, files, videos, etc., on the 512GB SSD internal storage or attach peripherals via the two USB 3.2 Type-C ports. Additionally, there is an HDMI port and a Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack. The Windows 11 laptop has a portable Dockztorm Data Hub for extended peripheral connectivity.
ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 Laptop
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 is one of the laptops with the best CPUs in 2024. its AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU is designed with AMD Ryzen AI technology, providing all the power required for gaming and intense workloads.Also, the makers of this laptop combine a 15.6-inch FHD display with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 graphics card for industry-leading display.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS Mobile CPU
- GPU
- NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX™ 4060
- RAM
- 32 GB
- Storage
- 1TB SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6” FHD Display,
- Brand
- Asus
- Packs lots of power via the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU
- Features a Nano Edge 15.6-inch FHD display
- RTX 4060 for gaming at 1080p ultra settings
- Keyboard isn't LED-backlit
- Lackluster color gamut
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 is one of the laptops with the best CPUs in 2024. Even though it was released in 2023, its AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS puts it on the enviable list of the most potent laptops in 2024. The CPU features the AMD Ryzen AI technology, providing all the power required for gaming and intense workloads.
Ryzen 9 7940HS is a powerful 8-core/16-thread CPU based on the Zen 4 architecture that also brings potent integrated graphics. The CPU can reach over 5.0GHz with the boost clock and deliver excellent performance in CPU-oriented tasks while also capable of gaming without any discrete GPU. Still, the laptop is equipped with a better GPU from the Ada family, i.e., the RTX 4060 to deliver 60 fps at 1080p resolution.
The Best Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 TI GPUs
The RTX 4070 TI rules the roost when it comes to mid-to-high-end GPU offerings. Here are some of the best 3rd-party variants users can get.
Other features include a backlit chiclet keyboard, fingerprint reader, and Windows 11 operating system. This is the best laptop for gamers or users looking for ample storage space. It has a 1TB SSD and 32GB LPDDR5X RAM, which ensure fast response times that help win games.
ASUS TUF Gaming F15(2023)
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 offers decent specifications and looks aesthetically pleasing as well. Powered by a potent Core i5 from the Raptor Lake family, it is ready to deliver good performance in CPU-oriented applications. The RTX 4050 takes care of modern games and the latest connectivity features are available to keep users ahead.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- Intel Core i5 13500H
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050 Laptop
- RAM
- 16GB DDR4
- Storage
- 512GB NVMe SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
- Brand
- Asus
- Battery
- 90Whr Battery
- Network
- Wi-Fi 6
- Model
- FX507VU-ES53
- Keyboard
- LED-backlit
- 12 core/16 thread processor for CPU-intensive tasks
- Great battery life
- 144Hz panel with G-Sync compatibility
- Not suitable for high-end gaming or productivity
- Lackluster color gamut
Users looking for something affordable, but who don't want to compromise on their CPU's performance should look no further than the Asus Tuf F15, which features an Intel Core i5 13500F processor. This Raptor Lake CPU uses the hybrid architecture to bring a total of 12 cores as a result of 4 performance and 8 efficient cores, which result in a total of 16 threads. A higher efficient core count means the background tasks will be taken care of effectively while the main load will be on the 4 performance cores. It is sufficient for most day-to-day tasks, which include Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and simple rendering operations.
Combined is the RTX 4050 laptop GPU that is sufficient to play games at 1080p high settings. It may not be the best-performing GPU out there, but it gets the job done on a budget and brings 6GB of VRAM. A 144Hz refresh rate display is provided for smooth gameplay and an LED-backlit keyboard to enhance its aesthetics. Battery life is highly impressive and can last for several hours on a single charge.
Acer Predator Helios 16 PH16-71-72YG
Acer Predator Helios 16 provides high-end specifications for under $1500 and an outstanding display for enthusiasts. The 240Hz screen makes sure users are getting those fluid movements on the screen while the i7 13700HX and RTX 4070 combo ensures the games can reach a high framerate consistently.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- Intel Core i7 13700HX
- GPU
- Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070
- Storage
- 1TB PCI-E SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 16", 2560x1600
- Brand
- Acer
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5
- Model
- Predator Helios 16 PH16-71-72YG
- Display type
- IPS
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 or above
- Powerful 16 core/24 thread CPU to take on any CPU-intensive task
- RTX 4070 for great 1440p gaming performance
- Incredibly high refresh rate display
- Unimpressive battery life
In the mid-range category, the Predator Helios 16 is currently the most popular laptop that excels in both gaming and productivity. The reason behind its potential is a powerful configuration that incorporates the Core i7 13700HX processor, RTX 4070, and 16GB DDR5 memory. Talking about the processor, the i7 13700HX needs no introduction in the field of crunching numbers. It boasts an 8+8 core configuration and 24 threads in total to execute any heavy load without breaking a sweat. The clock speeds are highly impressive and can reach 5.0GHz with a Turbo boost.
The Fastest Gaming Laptops in 2024
Gaming laptops are no longer the same as a decade ago. These insanely fast gaming laptops give a tough fight to desktops with powerful configurations.
When the 13700HX is combined with the RTX 4070 laptop GPU with 8GB of VRAM, it creates some serious horsepower to power the pixels. With this balanced configuration, neither the CPU nor GPU need to catch each other in rendering complex 3D images. This makes it a wonderful gaming laptop below $1500. No wonder why it is so popular, as it also boasts an excellent IPS panel that runs at 240Hz and is G-Sync compatible for tear-free gaming. On top of that, users will also get an RGB-backlit keyboard that can be customized according to their needs.
ASUS ROG Strix G17 (2023) Gaming Laptop
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
- GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Storage
- 1TB PCI-E SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 17.3-inch, WQHD/2K IPS 240Hz
- Brand
- ASUS ROG
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5 4800MHz
- Battery
- 4 Cell, 90WHr
- Camera
- 720P HD camera
- Speakers
- 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology
- Colors
- Eclipse Gray
- Network
- Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2
- Dimensions
- 15.55" x 11.10" x 0.92"-1.21"
- Weight
- 6.17 lbs
- Flagship AMD CPU to crunch huge numbers
- RTX 4070 for excellent gaming performance
- 240Hz refresh rate QHD display
- Battery depletes quickly
On the high-end side of the spectrum, the Asus ROG Strix G17 is unmatched when it comes to raw CPU power. It's powered by the flagship AMD high-performance CPU, the Ryzen 9 7945HX, which is unbeaten in multicore performance and can destroy any processor when it comes to crunching big numbers. Rendering, compiling, compression/decompression, encoding, and gaming, everything feels like a child's play with this processor. Ryzen 7945HX provides 16 cores and 32 threads that can come close to 5.4GHz without any overclocking but can be overclocked further.
The laptop uses the RTX 4070 for gaming requirements, which is pretty much sufficient for any modern triple-A titles on ultra settings. This makes it an ideal choice for enthusiast professionals and gamers who do both kinds of tasks. Users will get 16GB DDR5 memory, 1TB of NVMe SSD, and modern connectivity features to keep up with the trend. Another noteworthy feature that makes it ideal for color grading is its IPS display, which boasts a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut to provide accurate color reproduction and runs at 240Hz for high fluidity. All in all, this is an insanely fast laptop with an outstanding configuration for heavy work.
How To Choose a Laptop With The Best CPU
Before choosing a laptop with the best CPU, it’s critical to check the specifications. While some laptops could have a CPU of a similar rating, they could differ in other features. The following are some of the factors to consider before choosing the laptops with the best CPUs:
CPU Architecture
A CPU’s instruction-set architecture determines how efficiently a processor will understand computer code. Most laptop CPUs use the x86 or ARM architecture. Intel created the x86 architecture in 1978. It’s used in Intel and ARM CPUs. Several firms make ARM chips under license from ARM Limited, a British firm. Most Windows laptops use x86, while Apple laptops use ARM processors. Ultimately, the choice largely depends on the brand.
Also, note that laptop CPUs feature different ratings. Those from the latest generation are usually the most powerful when choosing a laptop CPU. For example, among the Intel Core CPUs, those from the 14th generation are the best. For AMD, the Ryzen 7000 series processors are the best. Users should purchase laptops with Intel Core i9 or Core i7 14th-generation processors in that case.
Number of Cores and Thread Count
Most laptop CPUs have at least two physical cores or logical brains. The more cores there are, the better the CPU. A laptop CPU should have at least two cores for word processing, internet surfing, video streaming, and social media. Multitasking requires six or more cores. A good gaming laptop processor should have eight cores or more.
The thread count refers to the number of tasks a laptop can perform simultaneously. Computers juggle thousands of threads. The number of threads a CPU can handle at a go is called the thread count. Pick a laptop CPU that can take at least four threads simultaneously.
Speed
The laptop's CPU speed is expressed in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). It measures the chip’s operating speed or the number of instructions the processor can handle in one second. A CPU with a higher speed is usually better than a lower speed.
Processor Power Rating
Processor or thermal design power (TDP) refers to the number of watts a cooler must dissipate for the CPU to function optimally. It is also called base power. On laptops, it can be as high as 65 watts. A CPU with a higher wattage performs better.
CPU Cache
The CPU cache is a tiny memory pool operating separately from the main RAM. It helps the CU manage functions and retrieve data more efficiently. The cache could be level-1 (L1), level-2 (L2), or level-3 (L3). At L3, the cache performs more efficiently.
The GPU
In a gaming laptop, the CPU works together with the GPU for a more complete unit. While the CPU provides power to the computer, the GPU drives the graphics, making them as vivid as can be. Therefore, users must consider the GPU when choosing a laptop with the best CPU. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series contains some of the most reliable GPUs for gaming laptops. If we break it down, the RTX 4080 would be more powerful than the RTX 4060. Therefore, knowing the kind of GPU required for gaming or other tasks is critical.
The laptop with the best CPU in 2024 is the Razer Blade 16. It features a powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX, a 14th-generation CPU that is also the most powerful in its range. The Razer Blade 16 stands out with an NVIDIA Ge-Force RTX 4080 graphics card, which is better than all the other laptops featured here.
Following closely after the Razer Blade 16 is the MSI Raider GE68HX, which also has an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU. The only difference is that the MSI Raider has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. But its 16-inch UHD display makes it one of the best in this category.
Best Mice for Laptops in 2024
From ergonomics to performance, discover the ideal mouse for your laptop in our latest guide.
FAQ
Q: What is the fastest laptop CPU speed?
The fastest laptop CPU speed is 5.4GHz. Modern laptops have base speeds of at least 2.3GHz. So, a modest notebook should have a speed between 2.3GHz and 5.4GHz. The speed depends on what one intends to use the laptop for.
Q: What’s the most powerful laptop CPU?
The most potent laptop CPU is the Intel Core i9-13950. It’s a 13th-generation processor that delivers blazing power in gaming laptops. It accommodates multitasking without any signs of balking.
Q: Which is the fastest processor for laptops?
The AMD Ryzen 9 7945 is one of the fastest processors for gaming laptops today. Others include the Intel Core i7 and Core i9 14th-generation processors. A computer with any of these CPUs should provide brazing power through gaming, video editing, and graphic design.
Q: What is better, Intel or AMD?
There is a close match between Intel Core and AMD processors. However, AMD processors provide the best response times for gaming. One with an AMD processor would be best when choosing a high-end laptop.
Q: Why is AMD cheaper than Intel Core processors?
Due to differences in manufacturing processes and market competition, AMD processors are more affordable than their Intel Core counterparts. AMD also has a consumer-friendly pricing strategy.