7 Best Laptops for Counter-Strike (CS:GO) in 2023

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has been around for almost a decade and will be here for long time to come. It’s hard to find a match for this game’s powerful storyline and the layout of the maps. 

Before fighting off the terrorist, we need to fight against the super annoying lag that some CS:GO players experience. It can be annoying while playing Counter-Strike Global Offensive on a laptop to be killed by a noob just because of your machine’s poor performance. 

Some of the overheating and low ping rate issues might be hard to fix. Ancient processors, low RAM, poor GPU, and even the type of storage can affect the performance of your computer directly. So if you are looking to upgrade to a new laptop that can give this game the resources it deserves we got you covered. 

Finding a good laptop for CS:GO is not as fun as playing it. So to help you out we have prepared a very well-researched list of the 7 best laptops that can run CS:GO as fast as a race car.

Minimum & Recommended System Requirements

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is not a resource-demanding game. To be able to play this game on your laptop, make sure it fulfills the criteria mentioned in the minimum requirements table. 

However, just playing CS:GO on the laptops that meet the minimum requirements or playing it on a laptop that can give you amazing gameplay of over 100FPS, is more than a hairline difference. So for gamers who want the best performance, stick with the recommended requirements table while making a buying decision.

Finally, picking something that packs our recommended specs is ideal if you are also looking for a laptop to play League of Legends and other popular MOBA games without lags.

Top 7 Laptops for Counter-Strike

Now here comes the fun part. Let’s check out our favorite laptops for CS:GO.

1. Best Value: Acer Nitro 5

Acer Nitro 5

• CPU: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5-12500H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 6 Hours

$693.00

Check on Amazon

If you want some serious value in a laptop for CS:GO, Acer Nitro 5 is an evergreen choice. Nitro packs great specs for an affordable price, and is sturdy enough to withstand the rage when bad guys win.

What I like about Acer is that the company looks after performance, especially in their budget laptops.

With a 12th Gen. i5 and a dedicated RTX 3050, Nitro 5 is the definition of a mid-range gaming laptop. The combo feels great, and works amazing with CS:GO, but also the more demanding AAA titles. It can produce high amount of FPS and the gameplay doesn’t stutter.

Plus, if you’re going to be shooting down the terrorists, you’d better get a display with high refresh rate. Nitro’s 144Hz and good colors don’t let any enemy go unnoticed.

I’m a fan of elevated panels, both in Nitro 5 and HP Victus. It’s just easier — and more enjoyable — to focus on the game.

In terms of RAM, 8GB will work great with Counter Strike, but if you’d like to test Nitro with heavy titles, I’d upgrade to 16GB. I’d probably do that anyway to future-proof the laptop.

For a gaming laptop, Nitro comes with a solid battery life of 6 hours. However, this 15.6” laptop does weigh 5.5 lbs, which isn’t the lightest out there.

Overall, for the price, you get an amazing laptop for Counter Strike and many other games. 

Watch our Acer Nitro 5 Review

This YouTube review was created by the Not Just Laptops team. The specs may slightly differ from the laptop in the article.

2. Best for Students: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

• CPU: 3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5 6600H
• RAM: 8GB DDR5
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$658.00

Check on Amazon

Lenovo is another company on a mission to produce great budget gaming machines, and the IdeaPad Gaming 3 happens to be a great laptop for both Counter Strike and studying.

With the same GPU as Nitro 5 and a capable Ryzen processor, IdeaPad Gaming brings in swift, lag-free action and very pleasant gaming experience.

The refresh rate is slightly lower than Nitro’s, but you probably won’t even notice it. The display is crisp, vivid and yes — fast enough to see the enemy the millisecond they show their head.

IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the least gamer design laptops I’ve seen. However, I quite like the sleek, elegant look — especially if you plan on taking it to classrooms.

As for the battery, I guess it could have been a little better. 5 hours on a gaming laptop isn’t unheard of, though you might want to take a powerbank if you’re spending all day at a campus.

On the other hand, 5 lbs is quite reasonable for a laptop this size, so carrying it around shouldn’t be an issue.

Similarly to Nitro 5, consider upgrading the RAM. I love that Lenovo decided on DDR5 because it’s a much faster version, but I’d still get 16GB.

With one of the best keyboards on the market, Lenovo’s gaming offspring is an excellent laptop for students who enjoy multiple rounds of Counter Strike GO.

3. Great Option from HP: HP Victus

HP Victus

• CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-12450H
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SDD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$699.00

Check on Amazon

Maybe you want a sleek, elegant laptop for CG:GO and office. Well, look no further than HP’s Victus lineup.

The machine comes with a gorgeous, polished chassis that’s very pleasant to touch and appears more premium that the laptop’s price.

HP’s compact, full-size keyboard and spacious trackpad sit just below the elevated panel, and the whole setting looks very professional.

How will Counter Strike run on it? Glad you asked — with a 12th Gen. i5, a dedicated GPU, and a high refresh rate on display, I’m happy to report that CS glides as good as ever.

Of course, part of the performance is also due to 16GB RAM, which is awesome for both gaming and general tasks.

While Victus performs great with CS:GO, the GTX 1650 GPU will stutter with super-demanding AAA titles. So if those are your jam, I’d go for Nitro 5 or Lenovo.

Plus, if you do go to the office, make sure you bring a charger, since I got around 5 hours of juice on a single charge.

I like that this laptop has loads of ports — these come in handy both for gaming and office work.

And this Counter Strike laptop is quite affordable. For a very reasonable price, you get one of the most elegant machines on the market.

4. Best Mid-Range 17-inch: ASUS TUF Gaming F17

ASUS TUF Gaming F17

• CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i5-11400H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Battery: Up to 8 hours

$697.99

Check on Amazon

Mayday, mayday — a large laptop for Counter Strike has arrived. ASUS’ special forces bring in a precious cargo with great GPU, beautiful display, and sick looks.

Let’s start with the star of the show: TUF Gaming sports a great, 17” display with 144Hz. So get prepared to enjoy the tiniest details in a crazy-good, fast-action visuals.

Under the hood, a powerful RTX 3050 is powering up this bad boy, coupled with an 11th Gen. i5 H-processor. Mission-ready with great fps? You betcha.

And I mean, I love the gamer vibe of this laptop. It’s clean, sturdy, sleek, thin-bezel, with some of the best keyboard backlight I’ve seen.

Of course, if you really want to draw the maximum from this ninja, I’d upgrade the existing RAM to 16GB. 8GB is fine for CS, but 16GB will open new horizons.

And get ready for long missions — I was able to get 7-8 hours of juice, which is awesome for a gaming laptop.

Granted, the 5.7 lbs of weight is no stealthy machine, but I mean, this is a 17” laptop, after all.

Overall, for this price, ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is a sweet deal, and a great laptop for CS:GO that will keep you glued to its gorgeous screen.

5. Best for Gaming & Streaming: ASUS ROG Strix G16

ASUS ROG Strix G16

• CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-13650HX
• RAM: 16GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB SDD
• Display: 16-inch FHD (1920 x 1200)
• GPU: 8GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
• Battery: Up to 8 Hours

$1,247.64

Check on Amazon

So you’re all in — gaming AND streaming? Then there’s really only one best CS:GO laptop for you, the ROG Strix G16.

This beast packs some of the best specs on the market today. A 13th Gen. i7 and RTX 4060 reign over other laptops on this list, and will easily handle Counter Strike, gameplay streaming, and even video editing, if that’s your thing. Not only that — this laptop can run some of the toughest AAA titles today, with a smile on its proverbial face.

16GB of DDR5 RAM is a nice addition that zaps through games and multitasking. If you’re into more challenging tasks — say, 3D modeling, heavy video editing, CAD — maybe consider 32GB instead. Otherwise, you’re good.

Strix also comes with an amazing 16” display. It’s both color-accurate and fast — 165Hz is the highest on the list — which is super rare in gaming laptops.

Oh, did I mention that this warrior doesn’t give up easily? With 8 hours of battery life, you can go on long missions with no worries.

Similarly to ASUS TUF and Nitro 5, Strix G16 is on the heavier side. But I can’t really blame ASUS for this, seeing the internals Strix packs.

But the power is unprecedented among CS:GO laptops. Although it is pricier than the rest, you get an amazing laptop for gaming and pretty much any task you can think of.

6. Best Budget Option from MSI: MSI GV15

MSI GV15

• CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-11400H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
• Battery: Up to 5 hours

$610.00

Check on Amazon

If you’re interested in a portable, very affordable, and capable laptop for Counter Strike, check out MSI. Previously known for expensive machines, MSI has been pumping out some great budget options recently — and GV15 happens to be awesome for CS:GO.

To start with, GV15 houses an 11th Gen. i5 and a GTX 1650. This pairing works beautifully with games like CS:GO, Overwatch, Minecraft and LoL. You’ll get great settings, lag-free gameplay, and overall smooth ride as you smoke out the bad guys.

However, if you plan on running modern AAA titles, the GPU might be a bit of a bottleneck — so I’d either check Acer Nitro 5 or slightly more expensive MSI Thin.

When it comes to portability, GV15 is the lightest laptop on this list. At 4 lbs, it’s super easy to carry around and perfect for students and commuters.

The battery life is very similar to HP Victus and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3. 5 hours is considered ok-ish for a gaming laptop, but you’ll need a charger.

I found the audio and visuals to be quite good. GV15 comes with a high refresh rate and Nahimic audio settings, so I was sucked into the world of Counter Strike quite easily.

Like few other budget laptops on this list, consider upgrading the existing 8GB RAM to 16GB to future-proof this machine.

Overall, for this price, you get a fierce, gorgeous laptop for CS:GO, with a red dragon logo to accompany it.

7. Cheapest Option: Lenovo Ideapad 5i Pro

Lenovo Ideapad 5i Pro

• CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i5-11300H
• RAM: 8GB DDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• GPU: 2GB NVIDIA GeForce MX 450
• Battery: Up to 8 hours

$598.00

Check on Amazon

Somewhat cheaper than MSI GV15, Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro does make some compromises, but it’s still a pretty good CS:GO laptop.

Powered by an 11th Gen. i5 and an MX450 GPU, this laptop brings solid performance for Counter Strike. You can expect a good gameplay, with fast reactions.

Bear in mind though that MX450 is an entry-level GPU so it will limit what you can do with other, more demanding games.

On the other hand, Lenovo’s display just kills it. A 16” QHD panel with a 2.5K resolution feels amazing to look at — the colors look great, the sharpness is awesome, so you just need to get on and game on.

To be fair though, the panel comes with a regular refresh rate, so if you play CS professionally, maybe consider MSI instead.

As for portability, this laptop is clearly a champ. I got around 7-8 hours out of it, so this puts it at the top of this list — especially if you take into account the machine weighs only 4.2 lbs.

You’ll surely play CS:GO with a mouse, but it’s worth mentioning that Lenovo has some of the best keyboards and trackpads on the market, and IdeaPad 5i is no exception.

To sum up, if you play games recreationally, and carry your laptop around a lot, Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro is a no-brainer. It’s an excellent, versatile laptop for CS:GO, office tasks, and school.

Buying Guide for Laptops for Counter-Strike

Before we jump over to the laptop reviews, let’s debrief and talk about a few key considerations you need to keep in mind before selecting the right laptop for you. 

1. Get a High-Performance Processor

CS:GO does not require the most high-end hardware to run smoothly, but you still need to be careful about your choices. For a smooth gaming experience, going for a mid-range processor will get the job done. 

So look for something featuring the later generations of Intel Core i5 processors or an AMD Ryzen equivalent. However, if you want your laptop to handle the modern AAA titles without performance issues, stepping up to the higher-tier core i7 from Intel or Ryzen 7 from AMD is your best choice. 

Check out this article if you you want to know whether Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 is better for gaming?

2. Pick a Dedicated GPU 

Even though you can play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with an integrated graphics card, it works best with a dedicated GPU. A powerful integrated graphics card like the Intel Iris Xe can run this game at about 60FPS, but a dedicated GPU is bound to push this beyond the 100FPS mark. And trust me, for competitive shooter games, every millisecond counts, so a higher FPS is essential.  

On that note, for the best and smoothest CS:GO experience, we recommend going for a dedicated GPU from the NVIDIA RTX 30-series or higher. Moreover, these GPUs are great if you are also looking for a laptop that can handle Fortnite and other battle royale games.  

3. Look for a High-Quality Display 

Picking the best CPU/GPU combo you can afford is not the end of the story. Choosing the right display is also a vital piece of the puzzle.

You won’t need a 4K gaming laptop. An FHD resolution is enough, and even entry-level gaming laptops have it. As for the size, there is plenty of variety to choose from (14 to 18 inches), and it should be more of a personal preference. 

But the most important thing for a competitive edge with CS:GO and other fast-paced games is the refresh rate. A refresh rate of 120Hz, or higher results in smoother motion, visual clarity, and reduced lag. 

4. Get Enough RAM

8GB of RAM is enough to run most games, including CS:GO. But that doesn’t mean you should settle with as little as 8 gigs on a new laptop. A computer needs more RAM to run other software like the background services and the OS.

So as modern computing is becoming more RAM-intensive, we recommend picking a laptop with 16GB RAM or at least something with an extra slot for upgrades. 

5. Choose a Properly Cooled Laptop 

As a result of the powerful hardware components, gaming laptops tend to get hot during extensive gaming sessions. So to avoid performance throttling or overheating, look for a device with an efficient cooling system. 

Gaming laptops from popular brands usually have decent cooling systems, but I’d check the user comments before making a purchase. 

6. Set Your Budget 

Unfortunately, prices on new gaming laptops can get a bit crazy. But luckily, CS:GO does not require the most high-end gaming machines. And there are great budget options for just under $800 that can run the game smoothly. 

So to avoid overspending on a new laptop, it’s a good idea to set your price range and try to find something that strikes a balance between budget, performance, and your preferences. 

7. Consider Portability and Battery Life 

Last but not least, if you are a student or a young professional, chances are you’ll need to take your laptop on the go. For that, considering a more portable device with enough battery juice is essential. 

For a gaming laptop, anything around 4-5 lbs with a battery life of over 5 hours is considered ok. Keeping this in mind, we handpicked our recommendations to fall within this ballpark. 

FAQs about Laptops for Counter-Strike

Verdict

So what’s the best laptop for CS:GO? The answer to that question is not as simple as picking sides between terrorists and counter-terrorists. 

Luckily, our favorite childhood game does not require the most elite gaming machines to run smoothly. As you can see from our list, there are some great budget and mid-range options to choose from. Consider the things we discussed in our buying guide, and the choice should come naturally. 

If you’re still having trouble deciding, here is a quick recap: 

• If you’re looking for the best value for money, the Acer Nitro 5 is our all-time favorite. 
• For serious gamers who also like to stream their gameplay, we recommend the ASUS ROG Strix G16.
• If you want something sleek and stylish that blends perfectly into an office, check out the HP Victus. 

But the show doesn’t stop here. We also made a list of the best laptops for gaming and school to cater to the needs of students. 

Finally, if you need more information before making your choice, perhaps you’ll find more answers in our in-depth laptop buying guide. 

Now over to you — which laptop would you pick for one of the all-time favorite games like CS:GO? Let us know in the comments below.