Welcome to the Recommended & Avoid Laptop List for SAL!
Originally posted on our Discord server, the list has been moved to this site to bypass Discord’s character limits and allow more frequent updates and detailed entries. This new format enables us to:Include more laptops and tidbit-style info per entryMake the list easily shareable, even outside of DiscordContinuously update as new units release or more information becomes availableIf you found this document outside Discord, a link to join the server is included below for further help or deal sharing along with an e-mail to contact.Navigation Tips:
Use the tabs to move through the different parts of the site. Basic Info gives you a quick rundown of what to know before buying, while Laptops to Avoid highlights models to skip and SSD Recommendations covers both the good and the bad SSD's for your device. For specific picks, head to the Gaming, Consumer, or Business Laptop sections depending on what you're looking for. *You can access the deal sites by clicking the cart on the bottom, but make sure to reference the deal to the suggested laptop list before purchasingMaintained by:
D2ultima, moderator of r/SuggestALaptop and Discord admin. If you found this list helpful, optional support can be given via Ko-Fi or PayPal.We hope this guide is helpful!
🔰 General Laptop Model GuideanceAll laptops recommended are from the current year unless specifically stated otherwise.Gaming laptops are the exception
because there's minimal difference between Intel 13th and 14th gen, and AMD 7000 and 8000 series CPUs (plus both generations use the same Nvidia 4000-series GPUs), you can usually safely choose the older generation without sacrificing performance. This rule does not apply to mainstream laptops, where designs and performance often change significantly each year.Please allow 1–2 months for SAL to verify whether new laptop releases are good before buying. For example, the new 5000M series just released (March 31, 2025), so most units on the list are still from 2024. Newer models will be added as they're tested.🕒 When to Start Looking
Only search for a laptop when you’re actually ready to buy.Looking for advice 3+ months in advance is not useful because model availability, pricing, and our understanding of the laptops can change significantly during that time.💰 Budget Recommendations($USD)
For a good laptop MSRP:Mainstream (non-gaming) laptops: Start around $600Gaming laptops: Expect to spend $1100 or moreBusiness-class laptops: Usually start at $1500Prices are expected to rise due to 2025 tariffs.Laptops in other countries tend to cost more due to taxes, import fees, or currency conversions.Avoid buying below the suggested minimum budgets, especially for mainstream laptops — quality drops significantly. If your budget is under $600, consider refurbished or second-hand business laptops, which offer better performance and durability.Cheap gaming laptops and low-cost business options are explained in their respective sections.🔋 Battery Life Insights
Battery life is similar across AMD and Intel chips of the same class (i.e. low power vs. high performance).For best battery life, choose low-power CPUs, usually indicated by a “U” in the model name.Avoid high-performance chips like H, HX, or HS if you want long battery life — they consume more power and generate more heat.However, battery life depends on more than just the CPU — screen brightness, battery size, cooling, and efficiency all matter.Always check independent reviews, like those on Notebookcheck, for accurate battery life info.🔴 Battery Warnings for Specific AMD CPUs
AMD HX chips (e.g. 7950HX) have extremely poor battery life (~2 hours), due to high idle power draw from both CCDs being active all the time. This problem does not apply to AMD’s new AI HX chips (e.g. AI HX 370).AMD 7235HS and 7435HS lack integrated graphics, forcing use of the dGPU even when idle — this also results in terrible battery life, often under 2 hours, especially since these chips are often in laptops with small batteries.💻 Intel 200-Series CPU Confusion
Intel’s naming scheme is confusing:"Intel Core Ultra 200" = Arrow Lake → New architecture, more efficient, runs cooler, likely better for laptops."Intel Core 200" (no “Ultra”) = 14th-gen Raptor Lake Refresh → Older, less efficient, just rebranded.Even though Arrow Lake is technically slower at the same clock speeds, its lower power usage and easier thermal management make it better for most laptop uses.Reviews are still coming in, but you should try to get Arrow Lake CPUs if buying a new model soon.🎮 GPU Basics
dGPU = dedicated graphics (e.g. RTX 4080M)iGPU = integrated graphics built into the CPU — good for light gaming or basic tasksMobile GPUs should be labeled with an "M" (e.g. 4060M) to differentiate them from desktop versions.Nvidia’s naming has regressed to being marketing-focused rather than indicating true performance parity, unlike their 1000 series.🔌 Combined Load – Why It Matters in Gaming Laptops
“Combined load” refers to how much power the CPU gets when the GPU is also under load.Laptops can’t provide unlimited power due to thermal and power supply constraints. High-end GPUs like the 4090M or 5090M can draw up to 175W, leaving less power for the CPU.In some laptops, this results in the CPU being restricted to 60W or less under gaming load, which seriously bottlenecks performance in demanding games or high frame rate situations.This is why SAL prioritizes laptops with strong combined load performance when recommending gaming units.The only exception is for weaker GPUs like 4070M or 5070M, which don’t need as much CPU power — laptops with these can be acceptable even if CPU power under load is lower.🖥️ Brand Notes🔹 HP Laptops
Many good options across categories.However, international support (especially outside the U.S.) can be poor, especially in parts of Europe and Asia.Buying with an external warranty (e.g., from the seller) is strongly advised, especially for mainstream and gaming HP laptops.HP business-class laptops may offer better warranty service.🔹 Intel 13th/14th Gen HX CPUs – Degradation Concerns
There were rumors of degradation issues due to voltage, but no real-world problems have been confirmed by SAL or retailers like XMG.Intel has released microcode updates to address potential problems.If concerned, you can undervolt your CPU, which helps prevent long-term issues.SAL links a Reddit post with more info for those interested.🔹 ASUS Laptops – Proceed with Caution
ASUS laptops often suffer a cooling degradation issue 8–12 months after manufacture.The suspected cause is heatsink failure — the gas inside escapes, reducing thermal performance permanently.RMAs are ineffective, as replacements often exhibit the same problem. Repasting doesn’t fix it.Not all units have this problem, but enough do that SAL no longer recommends ASUS gaming laptops.The issue rarely gets reported by media, as it typically shows up after reviewers have moved on to newer models.Other ASUS Concerns:
Very poor post-sale supportHigh failure rates compared to other brands (typically around 1 month or 1 year after purchase)Poor quality controlASUS warranties are often ineffective, and some units can't be covered by third-party warranties (e.g., Microsoft Store no longer offers coverage)If you must buy an ASUS laptop, do so at your own risk and always get an external warranty to make the seller responsible for repairs or replacements
🎮 SAL Gaming Laptop Overview💡 Purpose of This List
This list ranks common gaming laptop brands by quality, not by value-for-money. It assumes users will find laptops locally within their budget. Specs aren’t always listed because many models have limited configurations—for example:Legion 5 models = typically RTX 4060M or 4070M orLegion 7 Pro models = typically RTX 4080M or 4090MModels with more varied specs may appear multiple times if worth differentiating.⚠️ RTX 5000-Series Driver Issues
There are serious driver problems with mobile RTX 5000-series GPUs:
Public drivers often cause reduced GPU power draw and performance (e.g. 120W instead of the expected 175W). This makes it impossible to accurately review performance, as it's unclear whether OEM design or driver bugs are at fault.Until Nvidia resolves this, SAL cannot reliably judge high-end GPU performance, and recommendations may rely more on CPU quality.This warning will be removed once drivers are confirmed fixed and performance stabilizes.❓ What is a Gaming Laptop?
A gaming laptop is primarily meant to play games effectively, but also serves well for content creation and power-heavy tasks due to strong cooling and higher power limits.
They usually:Lack touchscreens and 2-in-1 functionalityHave lower-resolution, high-refresh screens optimized for gaming (e.g. 1080p 144Hz)Perform better when physically thicker due to better coolingStruggle in 14" form factors due to space and cooling limitations⚠️ Entry-Level Gaming Laptops–
Use With Caution, Budget models like Lenovo LOQ, HP Victus, and Acer Nitro V 16 are not recommended unless absolutely necessary.
Common issues:Poor-quality displays (e.g. high refresh but only ~60% sRGB)Weak chassis and structural integrityOverheating or poor thermalsFaulty or underpowered motherboards (e.g. LOQ Gen 9 burnouts)SAL’s stance is:Raise your budget or get a high-quality mainstream laptop instead.
If you must buy one, SAL suggests models that are at least not prone to early failure, and links a video guide for identifying acceptable specs.🧠 About 2×8GB DDR5 RAM Configurations
8GB DDR5 sticks are usually built with only 4 memory ICs instead of 8, halving memory channel interleaving.This results in a 30–50% performance drop in 2×8GB setups compared to 2×16GB, especially in gaming and heavy multitasking.OEMs use these low-cost configurations in budget builds, but they perform poorly.SAL recommends 32GB of RAM as the new minimum for gaming laptops. While budgets under ~$1200 may not allow this, buyers should be aware of the performance impact.FOR 15 TO 18 INCH LAPTOPS:Top of the Line
(As expected of top of the line performance, these units do not overheat at their power draw limits unless you are in a very hot and/or humid environment)Lenovo Legion 7 Pro (2023 & 2024) - decidedly worse build quality than the rest of this list, however its performance is top notch and its price is usually among the lowest, making it excellent value
MSI Titan 18 HX AI (2025)- 4 M.2 slots (3 x gen 4, 1 x gen 5). Only 2 RAM slots this time, unlike its previous generations. Peak performance, peak build quality, peak price. No gsync or advanced optimus
MSI Raider 18 HX AI (2025) - Intel model specifically; AMD model uncertain on performance. This is the Titan with 2 SSD slots and less bells and whistles for less money. No gsync or advanced optimus
MSI Titan 18 HX (2023 & 2024) - 3 M.2 SSD slots. Poor RAM performance due to low speeds as a result of its 4 slots (which is more of an issue with DDR5 than its construction), but cooling, build, etc is all peak. Be aware that despite the lower memory performance, gaming is not terribly affected due to extra memory sticks being present once all 4 slots are filled. Sadly very expensive and usually not worth the money. Doesn’t have Gsync or Advanced Optimus
MSI Raider 18 HX (2024) - this is the Titan, but with less bells and whistles and the same performance for less money. Only 2 SSD slots
MSI Raider GE78 & GE68(2024) - this is the above Raider but in 17” and 16” configurations, with only 2 RAM slots
MSI Vector 17 HX & 16 HX(2024) - this is the Raider, but with even less bells and whistles, and the same performance for even less money. Only 2 RAM slots. The Vector 17 HX can be equipped from 4060M to 4090M; obviously this listing section is for the higher end configurations. Be wary - it may sell with an extremely poor 1200p 144Hz screen with terrible colours; only buy the models with 100% sRGB or 100% DCI-P3 screens
Eluktronics Hydroc 16 - requires watercooling attachment for high performance; on-air performance is not top of the line tier due to CPU being thermally bound at lower power limits during combined load. May require a laptop cooler stand with large amounts of RAM installed (64GB+, 6400MHz+) to keep memory cool enough under stress. Due to Premamod BIOS, this TongFang/Uniwill laptop has higher performance and better memory overclocking support than other rebrands such as XMG Neo 16. Only 115W to CPU under combined load under water unlike the above units which can grant 125W, but due to much lower CPU temperature it ends up functioning similarly anyway
Alienware M18 - Thermals not the best in this line, but still qualifies for top level performance. May be expensiveHigh performance, high qualityMSI Vector 16 HX AI (2025) - this is a 16” version of the Raider 18 with less bells and whistles for less money. Only comes with 5070Ti M and 5080M, so doesn’t land in top of the line category. Still excellent build quality. No gsync or advanced optimus. No bad screens this time according to MSI’s website
HP Omen Max 16 (2025)- I’m thinking about this one… it’s either here or not in the list at all.
XMG Neo 16 (2024) - this is the same laptop as the Eluktronics Hydroc 16 under a different brand, and all written about it above applies here, except for a lack of Premamod BIOS reducing the maximum performance this machine is capable of. Still excellently built otherwise, just not top of the line performance
Razer Blade 16/18 (2024) - while these can be potentially good units, Razer’s TERRIBLE post-sale service makes them difficult to recommend without buying external warranties through the vendor you purchase fromMidranged performance, high qualityMSI Vector 17 HX (2023 & 2024) - this unit can be equipped from the 4060M to the 4090M. This entry is concerning the 4070M and 4060M versions. While usually expensive, it’s possible to find them on a good enough sale where they might be worth it. They would be the best units in this category if you do, even though they lack Gsync and Advanced Optimus. Please be wary - it may sell with an extremely poor 1200p 144Hz screen with terrible colours; only buy the models with 100% sRGB or 100% DCI-P3 screens
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (2023 & 2024) - one of the best midranged laptops in the market, with an unnaturally high 80W allowance to the CPU during combined load, almost ensuring no CPU bottlenecks for any game its GPU can run
Lenovo Legion 7/7i (2023 & 2024) - the “i” simply signifies an Intel CPU is present. Lighter than the 5s and 5 Pro, full metal build, larger battery, but still a bit less performance than the 5 Pro under combined load. Also comes in white if you like it)
Lenovo Legion 5/5i/Slim 5 (2023 & 2024) - the “i” simply signifies an Intel CPU is present. Worse build quality than the 7s and 5 Pro, but still pretty good. Less performance than the 5 Pro as well during combined load, but should still be good enough
Eluktronics RP-15 G2/XMG Core- often expensive, but well designed unit overall. If on a sale, excellent option
Eluktronics Max 15 - similar to the RP-15, often a bit expensive but a well designed unit. Pick up on sale and enjoy
MSI Pulse 16 - good unit with good cooling, should be comparable to Legion 5 Pro; sadly often pricey
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 - worse thermals and build quality than the legions, but it gets the job done and doesn’t have many problems. May be cheap enough to warrant a buy over other offerings without going into the garbage tier
HP Omen 16/17 - very good options for midranged units, usually more expensive than others. Please be aware that while the Omen 16 sells with a 4080M, HP states that it is limited to 145W only and as such this isn’t recommended to be purchased due to unnecessarily low performance; stick to 4070M and 4060M models insteadMidranged performance, mid qualityAcer Nitro 16/Nitro 5 - budget units, but still of passable quality. Try to find a Helios Neo 16 for a similar price before buying
MSI Stealth - while this unit isn’t high quality, its price is often high. Usually an avoid for most
Gigabyte Aorus 16x/17H - they exist I guessEntry level performance & qualityLenovo LOQ Gen 8 ONLY - models 16APH8, 15APH8, 16IRH8, 15IRH8 are the ones which are safe to buy. Only passable build quality and ok cooling, but still the best of this tier
HP Victus - similar criticism to the LOQ; you likely are limited to this model if you cannot find a Gen 8 LOQ available
Acer Nitro V 16 - it probably won’t spontaneously die on you
Dell G15 & G16 - worse laptops exist, I suppose. The Dell G16 has a GPU performance problem which can be fixed via the instructions in our notice board entry about the model. Alternately, see this discord screenshot for the fix
Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 - this is the lowest point anyone should goFOR 14 INCH LAPTOPSPLEASE BE AWARE that unless otherwise specified, ALL units in this section have soldered RAM!Top of the line
(please note that even though we are adding top of the line as a section, high performance like from 15"-18" laptops should not be expected from 14" units due to cooling, size, and power delivery constraints)Nothing - ODMs need to do better.High performance, high qualityLenovo Legion 14 - has PWM flicker, but otherwise excellent performance and build quality… for a 14” unit
Acer Nitro 14 - has only one M.2 slot. Better battery life than Helios 14Acer Helios 14 - has only one M.2 slot. Better build quality than the Nitro 14High performance, mid qualityAlienware X14 - somewhat poor thermals, and difficult to maintain or work withMidranged performance, high qualityHP Omen 14 - lower GPU TDP, so some reduced performanceMidranged performance, mid qualityMSI Stealth 14 - lower GPU TDP, very expensive. Has SOCKETED RAMEntry level performance and qualityNothing worth mentioning - this is good
💻 SAL Mainstream (Non-Gaming) Laptop Overview🔹 Purpose of This List
This list ranks mainstream (non-gaming) laptops by overall quality, not by value. Buyers should look for options within their budget and region.❓ What Is a Mainstream Laptop?
Mainstream laptops are the everyday, general-purpose devices most people use. They are:Typically non-gaming machines Often have
high-resolution screens and touchscreen optionsUsually limited by:Soldered or restricted RAMOnly one SSD slotSmall batteriesSmaller screens (rarely 17")Most rely on integrated graphics (iGPU). Some have dedicated GPUs (dGPUs), but:These dGPUs are rarely useful for gamingThe laptops usually lack the power delivery, cooling, and motherboard robustness needed for high-performance tasks⚠️ Don’t Expect Gaming-Level Performance
Even if a mainstream laptop has a dGPU, it:Likely won’t be cooled or powered well enoughCan’t handle sustained heavy loads like gaming laptops can✅ Best Use Cases
Mainstream laptops are best for:School and office workMedia consumptionLight or older games, emulationBasic photo/video editing or programmingThey are not recommended for:Heavy gamingFrequent rendering3D modeling tools like Blender or MayaSTANDARD/CLAMSHELL-TYPE LAPTOPSTop of the line/Premium
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9 (2024) -
HP Omnibook (2024) -
XMG Evo (2024) -High quality
Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 & Aura (2024) -
HP Envy 14/16 (2024) -
Acer Swift Edge (2024) -
Dell XPS series (2024) -
Lenovo Ideapad 5 Pro (2024) -Midranged quality
HP Pavillion Plus (2024) -
HP Pavillion Aero (2024) -
Acer Swift Go (2024) -Entry level
MSI Prestige (2024) -
Acer Aspire 5/7/Vero/Swift (2024) -
Lenovo Ideapad Slim 5 (2024) -2-in-1 LAPTOPSTop of the line/Premium
Lenovo Yoga 9 (2024) -High quality
Nothing yetMidranged quality
Lenovo Yoga 5/Slim 6/7 (2024) -Entry level
Nothing yet
🧳 SAL Business Laptop Overview🔹 Purpose of This List
This list features high-quality business laptops, both new and second-hand, ranked by build quality and reliability—not value for money. Availability varies by country, so users should check local retailers.⚠️ Note: This section is still under construction. While the listed models are worth buying, headers and structure may change based on user feedback.❓ What Are Business Laptops?
Business-class laptops are built for maximum uptime, durability, repairability, and professional support. Key features:Excellent warranty support, including “next business day on-site repair” options (e.g. Dell offers this worldwide)Very long lifespan, built to run reliably for 5–10 yearsEasy to repair and widely supported due to bulk corporate salesTrade-offs include:High price for lower specsOften mediocre screens unless you spend moreLower performance than gaming laptops💼 Ideal Use Cases
Business laptops are perfect for users who value:Uptime and reliabilityLong-term useService and warranty supportThey are not ideal for gaming or heavy-duty performance tasks like rendering or 3D modeling.🔁 Used & Refurbished Market
Due to regular corporate refresh cycles, used business laptops are widely available and often very affordable for their quality.Tips for buying:Check seller ratings on platforms like eBay or AmazonPrefer units sold/shipped by Amazon, or top-rated sellersIf buying locally (e.g. Facebook Marketplace), always:Request proof of functionalityVerify the exact specs before payingSAL includes a list of recommended used/refurb models.🏷️ About “Gx” Naming
Business laptops like ThinkPads use generation-based labels:Example: T14 G1 = ThinkPad T14, Generation 1Generations matter—older gens can still be worthwhile, especially second-handMany models retain the same name across multiple iterations (up to 8+), so gen tracking is important⚙️ High Performance Business Laptops
While some business laptops advertise high performance, they rarely match gaming laptops in actual output due to:Lower cooling capacityPower limitationsIf you need raw performance, consider a gaming laptop instead. But for stability, support, and longevity, business laptops with a strong warranty are the better choice.NEW LAPTOPSThicker laptops/High CPU performance
Thinkpad P16 G2
HP zBook 16 G11
Dell Precision 7670 / 7680Medium thickness/Medium CPU performance
Thinkpad P16v G1 AMD
Thinkpad P1 G7
HP zBook Studio G11
Dell Precision 5690Ultrabooks/Low CPU performanceHigh end:
Thinkpad P14s G5 (Intel)
Thinkpad T14 G5 (AMD)HP EliteBook 845 / 865 G11 and G12
Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 13 - (Soldered Ram)
Thinkpad X9 14 / 15 -(Soldered Ram)
Thinkpad P16s Gen 2 (AMD) - (Soldered Ram)USED LAPTOPS
Please understand that while we are adding a “high performance” tier here, due to the fact that these are generally models that are a few years old, the high performance units may not be nearly as up to snuff as even midranged modern units. But for a budget purchase, they’ll probably make you happy.Thicker laptops/High CPU performance
Thinkpad P15 G1 / G2
Dell Precision 7540 / 7550
HP zBook Fury G5Medium thickness/Medium CPU performance
Thinkpad P1 G2-G4
Thinkpad X1 Extreme G2-G4
HP zBook Studio G5Ultrabooks/Low CPU performance
Thinkpad T14 G1 G2
Thinkpad T15 G2
HP EliteBook 840 / 845 G5-G8
HP Probook G6
Dell Latitude 7390 / 7490 / 7400
❌ SAL Laptop Avoid List
This is SAL’s curated list of laptop models and configurations to avoid, whether due to performance issues, compatibility problems, or simply being bad value compared to better alternatives at the same price—even from the same brand.⚠️ ARM Laptops (Snapdragon CPUs) – Avoid
Windows laptops with ARM-based processors (e.g. Qualcomm Snapdragon) have major compatibility issues with many programs.These units no longer hold a battery life advantage, now that Intel’s Lunar Lake CPUs offer superior power efficiency.With no compelling benefit and significant downsides, there is no reason to buy ARM laptops on Windows right now.Bottom line: Avoid ARM CPUs in Windows laptops entirely.⚠️ OLED Display Warning
Avoid OLED screens under 1440p resolution, especially if they are also touch-enabled.These panels often use a subpixel layout that results in poor sharpness and clarity at lower resolutions like 1080p.Touchscreens on OLEDs can also further reduce visual clarity.While not as critical as ARM CPUs, this is a quality-of-life warning—if you're aiming for visual fidelity, skip low-res OLED touchscreens.Gaming laptopsAll ASUS units - this was already explained above in the basic information section! You should make sure you read that firstGigabyte Aorus Master 18 (2025) - Under combined load, the GPU averages only 130W instead of the 175W it should be getting as a 5070Ti M/5080M/5090M. It is stupid, because the CPU draws a fair amount of power during combined load and it comes with a 400W PSU and the GPU is in no danger of overheating at any rate, so Gigabyte just intentionally screwed up
Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 (2025) - Gigabyte lists combined load at only 55W to the CPU, which is atrocious for 5080M and 5090M GPUs. This isn’t worth your money
Razer Blade 16 AMD (2025) - I thought the above Gigabyte was bad. This thing doesn’t even get HALF the power it does during combined load. It is actually just a waste of your money, and you’d have to actively pay me on the daily to keep this as a primary gaming device
Eluktronics Prometheus XVI & other rebrands - while still excellent units with fairly good performance, the similarities in price and design with the Hydroc 16 and its rebrands, which is its updated model, render this unit obsolete. Buy that instead
Lenovo Legion 9 - while not necessarily a bad unit, the build quality is hilariously worse than the Legion 7 Pro, it has a flipped motherboard, and potential screen problems. Reject L9, embrace L7P
Razer Blade 15 - older model design, plethora of issues. Also severe battery problems (the expanding, exploding kind). Google “razer blade battery reddit” if you want to find some examples
Gigabyte G5/G6/G6x/Aero 14 - poor CPU performance poor GPU power limit poor keyboard/display/everything
MSI Katana/Sword/GF63/Cyborg/Thin- terrible build quality, liable to literally fall apart at the hinges. This is IN ADDITION to poor performance, cooling, etc, which doesn’t even matter when it’s liable to break without you doing anything. Commonly referred to as e-waste
Clevo rebrands - while not terrible units, their cooling and performance is notably sub-par across the board, and not worth purchase unless HEAVILY discounted
Acer Nitro V 15 - poor performance poor build quality poor everything, prone to QC issues, just avoid
Lenovo LOQ Essential - it is essential you do not buy these trash, because they took the extremely budget LOQ line and decided to cut out everything that was barely acceptable about it
Acer Helios 18 - complicated CPU/GPU behaviour (from poor performance to dangerous-to-the-components), should avoid
Lenovo LOQ gen 9 - specifically, models 15IAX9E, 15IAX9I, 15IAX9, 15AHP9, 15ARP9, & 15IRX9 have motherboard failures, both on Intel and AMD CPUs (less likely with AMD, however, but do not take the chance)
Alienware M16/x16 - as far as we are aware, these units are limited to 45W on the CPU during combined load, and as such should be avoided as gaming laptops. IF YOU HAVE PROOF OTHERWISE CONTACT USMainstream laptops aka UltrabooksAll ASUS units - this was already explained above in the basic information section! You should make sure you read that first
Acer Aspire 1/3/Go - low quality trash, not worth your money
Lenovo Ideapad 1/3 - low quality trash, not worth your money
HP Stream/No-name/Pavillion - generally poor build quality, thermals, and quality control. No-name means “HP units that don’t have a suffix like pavilion”, eg “HP 450”; they’re bottom tier garbage
MSI Modern -
LG Gram - terrible performance and cooling. Surprisingly good build, though
Samsung Galaxybook Gen 4 and prior - poor build quality, poor thermals, confirmed reports of screen glass cracking
Literally any off-brand chinese laptop, eg Acemagic - very questionable aftersale support, if any, as well as other growing pains; avoid for your own sakeBusiness class laptopsThinkpad P14s Gen 5 AMD - Poor thermals, idles at very high temps, loud fan, terrible throttling and horrible battery life (2 hours with OLED). Not worth your time, money, looks, thoughts, anything
Dell Precision 55xx line - XPS 15 clone; inherits all the defects of XPS 15 of its time
Thinkpad P1 / X1 Extreme G5 and G6 - Terrible thermals, poor battery, terrible idle temps, low performance, high cost, quality control issues; basically a disgrace of a business class laptop
Thinkpad P15v - all versions have the cooling and build of an MSI GF63 which is pretty much e-waste. They should have paid people to accept this instead of charging money for it
💾 SSD Tier & Info (SAL)📌 Why is this here?
Because SSDs are important for laptops, and we’re nerds who love helping. It matters when upgrading or replacing your laptop’s storage!🔧 General Info
Most laptops let you replace the SSD (except MacBooks, which don’t—Apple doesn’t allow it).MacBook users:
You can still use external SSDs (get an M.2 SSD and a USB enclosure).Most drives listed are DRAM-less,
which is fine for most people. You only really need DRAM if you’re constantly moving huge files.PCIe 5.0 SSDs are often too hot for laptops and not worth the extra cost, unless you have a high-end 2025+ model with special cooling.PCIe 4.0 SSDs are the current sweet spot. PCIe 3.0 drives still work, but there’s usually no real reason to buy them anymore.Drives are ranked mostly by speed, but also by features and the hardware inside (like the controller chip). If you spot a mistake in our list or a drive you think should be added, tag D2ultima or Coelacanth on Discord.🏆 What’s on the List
High-End & Midrange SSDs only — No low-end drives. They’re just not worth the trouble. Different brands under one entry = basically the same drive inside, so any one is fine to buy.QLC drives are unreliable, especially at large sizes like 4TB or short sizes like 2230. Just don’t buy them.Some drives (like the Crucial P3) may be TLC or QLC, and you can’t tell before buying. We do not recommend those.4TB drives can be double-sided (NAND chips on both sides), which might make them too thick for super-thin laptops. If your laptop is slim, check if it supports double-sided SSDs.✅ Final Note
You won’t find cheap, low-end SSDs here. That’s on purpose. Bad SSDs cause problems, so we only recommend quality drives to save you time, money, and stress.HIGH END DRIVESLexar NM790/Netac NV7000-T/Orico O7000/Addlink A93/Teamgroup MP44
All Samsung “Pro” SSDs (DRAM)
All Samsung non-“Pro” SSDs
Gigabyte Aorus Gen4 7300 (DRAM)
MSI Spatium M480 Pro (DRAM)
MSI Spatium M482
Mushkin Vortex Redline (DRAM)
Crucial P5 Plus (DRAM)
Crucial T500
Kingston KC3000 (DRAM)
Inland Performance Plus/MSI Spatium M480/Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus/Teamgroup Cardea A440/Corsair MP600 PRO/Corsair MP600 Pro Hydro X/Kingston Fury Renegade (all DRAM)
Western Digital Black SN850X (DRAM)
Patriot Viper VP4300
Kloxia Exceria Plus G3
SK Hynix Platnium P41MIDRANGED DRIVESWestern Digital Black SN770, Blue SN580, Blue SN5000 (update SN580 and SN770's firmware ASAP)
Teamgroup MP44L, T-Force G50
Verbatim Vi5000
Lexar NM710, NM620
ADATA LEGEND 900
Klevv CRAS C910
MSI Spatium M450, M460
Silicon Power US75
PNY CS2150/Corsair MP700 EliteM.2 2230 LENGTH DRIVESWestern Digital Black SN770M
Inland TN436, TN446
Corsair MP600 MiniM.2 2242 LENGTH DRIVESCorsair MP600 MicroSATA DRIVESFor SATA drives, DRAM is more important than for NVMe drives. The entries on this list without DRAM are only here due to being excessively cheap, and should be avoided by most people.Crucial MX500 (DRAM)
Samsung 860 Evo (DRAM)
Teamgroup T-Force Vulcan Z
Crucial BX500AVOID THESE DRIVESAll QLC drives
All drives featuring the problematic InnoGrit IG5236 controller
Brands with poor after-sales support (FanXiang, KingSpec, other chinesium)
Silicon Power UD90 (too many variants)
Kingston NV1, NV2, NV3. (Has at least 10 different variations, all incredibly mediocre)
Crucial P3, P3 Plus (slow, typically QLC)
SanDisk Extreme Pro (hardware defect, they got sued over it)
Addlink S91 (gamble)
All the laptop deals listed on this list use affiliate links. That just means if you click a link and buy something, they might get a small payment.But if you don’t want to use them, Here’s how to remove them:Look at the link. If you see a “?” or “&” in the middle, that’s usually where the tracking part starts. Ex:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZD9S5GC?creative=9325&camp=1789&linkCode=ur2&ie=UTF8&tag=slickdeals09-20&ascsubtag=070ba9d642f711f0b9a9d6250b86c8230INT&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1Delete everything after the “?” or “&”.*https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZD9S5GCHit enter or paste the cleaned link into your browser. Now you’ve got the same page, just without the tracking.Laptop Deal Sites:USA:SlickDeals
BestLaptop.Deals/JustJosh
USA Gaming Laptop.dealsUK:UK Gaming Laptop.deals
HotUKDealsGermany:MyDealz Germany
Germany Gaming laptop.dealsCanada:BestBuy Canada Deals
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Canada Gaming laptop.dealsIndia:India Gaming Laptop.dealsAustralia:Australia Gaming laptop.dealsIf you are aware of any sites we missed, please contact us so that we can add the site to the list.