Are Gaming Laptops Good For Machine Learning and Deep Learning?

The answer is yes if you aim to use your gaming laptop’s in-built GPU for data science work. A solid GPU will allow you to handle complex model training, and you won’t have to spend money on cloud platforms.

Plus, gaming laptops’ strong CPU and RAM make them great for ML/DL tasks.

So if you already own a gaming laptop, you’re good to go. And if you’re into both gaming and ML, investing in such a laptop will cover all your needs.

But if you want to buy a gaming laptop solely for ML/DL, there are some drawbacks, such as weight and battery life. 

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons below so that you can make a more informed decision. But before that, let’s see the differences between gaming laptops and laptops for machine learning. 

What Is the Difference between a Gaming Laptop and a Machine Learning Laptop?

If your goal is to run training models directly on your system, you’ll need a heavy-duty machine. But when using cloud computing for model training, virtually any machine will do.

Good gaming laptops have a lot in common with laptops suitable for Machine Learning & Deep Learning. For example, both have excellent processing power and memory, which makes gaming laptops great for programming in general. 

The primary difference is in pricing. Laptops specifically made for Data Science work include bespoke software and frameworks. In addition, their hardware combo gears toward handling the most advanced ML/DL tasks. As a result, their price tag tends to be higher than gaming laptops. 

The good news is that you can get similar results at a much lower cost with a well-chosen gaming laptop. Sure, it’ll require some software installation and upgrade effort. But the savings you’ll achieve will make that little hassle worth it.

Also, there are differences between regular laptops for Machine Learning tasks (using cloud-computing) vs. gaming laptops. 

These are mainly in design and usability. And they’re worth noting when picking your computer, especially if you aren’t an avid gamer.

To run training models directly on your system, you’ll need a heavy-duty machine.

What Makes a Good Machine Learning Laptop?

For most machine learning use, a good machine learning laptop excels in two components: CPU and memory. When these are high-quality, you can easily check your code and train your models. 

If you plan to train deep learning models for long durations, your GPU comes into play. You’ll have to make the call between using your system’s graphics or cloud-based choices. So be clear about which suits you better.

Let’s Start with You (and your needs)

You have two main options to decide between, depending on your needs. 

1. Using an ML cloud computing platform with GPUs like AWS EC2 or MS Azure. The cost will be a crucial factor. These platforms often charge on demand and by the hour.  If you’re into long spells of model training, your spending may spiral out of control. If that’s the case, your laptop’s in-built GPU may prove less costly.
   
   The good news about the cloud option is you can perform ML tasks on pretty much any laptop, even a Chromebook.
   
2. Utilizing your gaming laptop’s dedicated GPU. In this case, the main concern is the ease of use. When your model training hours pile up, your system will likely become too hot and noisy. Using the machine can get pretty uncomfortable, so make sure your laptop has a high-class cooling system with low fan sound. 

We recommend looking for a laptop with a very high-end GPU (12GB+ VRAM) for optimal performance.

Spend some time thinking over (and researching) these two options and see which one’s the best fit for you.

The Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

With the essential choice between a physical or virtual GPU sorted, it’s time to look at overall features. We aim to pinpoint the best combo to give you a stress-free ML work experience. 

Below are our suggestions.

Processor

For seamless model training, your base processor should be at least an Intel Core i7. We recommend newer processors because of their superior power and heat management.

For example, if I’m running a VM on 13th Gen. i7, I always notice a difference in speed compared to Intel’s previous generation processors.

Memory

Go for a system with at least 16GB RAM, though 32GB+ would be ideal if your budget permits. Higher memory would allow quicker computations.

At the very least, 16GB RAM laptops are the necessary starting point for anyone thinking seriously about Machine Learning & Deep Learning.

Graphics Card

As mentioned earlier, this is where your long-term investment matters. So go with a dedicated GPU with at least 12GB+ VRAM. And opt for an NVIDIA card for compatibility with Tensorflow’s deep learning library. If you are going to use a cloud service, you will be OK with an integrated GPU as well. 

Most gaming laptops I review come with NVIDIA RTX 30-series, which I found perform really well with ML. If you want to future-proof your laptop, more laptops are coming out with the RTX 40-series, which is the latest from NVIDIA.

Storage

Opt for a machine with 1TB+ HDD, so you’re okay when working with larger datasets. Also, ensure you can easily upgrade to SSD as needed. You could also get an external SSD.

Displays, keyboards, and all the trimmings

The foremost aspect to think of here is blue light filtering. You’ll be spending lots of time on your laptop for ML work. So give your eyes relief from flickering. We suggest at least a 15.6-inch monitor — the bigger, the better. And go for a full-size keyboard with a number pad for maximum convenience.

Should You Get A Gaming Laptop for Machine Learning?

It all comes down to your personal preferences. Of course, if you’re into gaming already, you’ll kill two birds with one stone with such a laptop. 

But if gaming isn’t your thing, consider powerful regular laptops such as the Asus Zenbook or the MacBook Pro. 

Train Machine Learning Models Like a Pro on a Compatible Laptop

Gaming laptops can be a great tool for machine learning, though they do come with their pros and cons.

Best gaming laptops come with all the specs you’ll need for ML & Deep Learning, but they are also generally bulkier and flashier than regular laptops.

If you’re not into gaming, there are some equally powerful productivity laptops, although their prices tend to get sky-high really fast.

Do you want to go deeper and view all our top-recommended machine-learning laptops? If so, check out our top overall machine-learning laptop picks.