The hype for the casual murder mystery game Among Us is real. And for those of you who are finally getting into it, I bet you've already looked for the best laptop for Among Us. Lucky you, you've stumbled onto the right place. If you want to be the "sus"-iest of them all, read along.
It takes more than an average laptop to run the game smoothly. While I cannot promise you any "sus" level gameplay, I can try to help you with the laptop specs. I've put together a guide to the best laptops for playing Among Us, focusing on budget-friendly alternatives. In this post, I'll also break down the technical requirements and discuss what they mean for the game. So if you're not sure what type of laptop you should buy, don't worry – I have you covered.
Processor Power
Choosing the right processor for your laptop can be tricky, especially when you’re looking for the best performance for playing the popular game Among Us. In this guide, we’ll go over the current state of the laptop processor market, how to choose the right processor for your needs, and the best processors for your money.
The state of the laptop processor market
The laptop processor market is rapidly changing and getting more competitive. Apple has released their own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules, which offer exceptional single-core performance and battery life. AMD has managed to take 20% of the CPU market and has released their 6th generation Ryzen processors. We’re still waiting for Intel’s 13th-gen processors to reach laptops, where 12th generation is Intel’s latest. Both Intel’s and Apple’s silicon chips adopted hybrid performance/efficiency core design (based on big.LITTLE). When it comes to laptops with a good battery life, Ryzen models are the best option.
How to choose a CPU (and why it’s not as complicated as it seems)
When it comes to choosing a laptop processor for Among Us, it’s not as complicated as it seems. MacBooks are a popular option for animators, but they’re not ideal for everyone. If you’re looking for a Windows laptop, then you’ll need to decide whether you want a laptop with a high-end CPU or GPU (or both). For the best performance, look for an H-series processor; these have higher power consumption and heat output, but deliver better performance. I use Cinebench to compare different processors since it’s one of the most popular benchmarks for 3D rendering and video editing applications. If you’re looking for a budget laptop, then don’t expect it to be able to handle demanding tasks such as rendering; instead, focus on getting a more powerful CPU (i7 or Ryzen 7) and GPU (GTX 1060 or above).
Is a fast processor necessary for audio production?
No, a fast processor isn’t necessary for audio production as long as you have a good graphics card and plenty of RAM. The graphics card handles most of the workload for audio production and the amount of RAM can impact performance as well.
What are the best processors for your money?
If you’re looking for the best processor for your money, here are a few recommendations from Linus:
Processor | Cost |
---|---|
AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | Minimum |
i3-10110U | Recommended |
i5-10210U | High-end |
Graphic Card Choice
Choosing the right graphics card for your laptop is an important decision, especially if you plan to use it for gaming, photo/video editing, or 3D modeling. With that in mind, let's break down what you need to know about laptop GPUs so you can make an informed decision.
The current GPU landscape is dominated by Nvidia, who recently released their RTX 40 series cards, though they are not yet available on laptops (expected in 2023). The current laptop-compatible models are in the RTX 30 series, such as the RTX 3070 Ti. However, desktop GPUs are now a lot more power-hungry than their laptop counterparts; thus, the gap between power-limited notebook graphics and desktop graphics cards has widened in the past few years. To make matters worse, Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for their RTX graphics cards. Now, the exact wattage for a laptop GPU is determined by the laptop manufacturer (OEM), resulting in a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.
It is worth noting that a dedicated GPU is not necessary for most content creators who just need a laptop for photo and video editing. On the other hand, having a powerful graphics card can come in handy if you're working with 3D models or playing games in your free time.
When it comes to comparing laptop graphics performance, I rely on a combination of benchmarks. 3DMark benchmarks are an industry standard, though they don't always tell the whole story since some laptops throttle their GPUs when they get too hot (which is understandable). I also look at real-world gaming benchmarks such as those found on YouTube and Twitch.
In terms of budget constraints, if you're looking for a gaming laptop under KEY_POINTS,000 – you'll need to make some sacrifices, especially in terms of display quality and battery life (these two often go hand-in-hand).
Below is a list of recommended GPUs for various price brackets.
Price Bracket | Recommended GPUs |
---|---|
<$500 | Iris Xe Graphics G7 |
$500 – $1000 | Quadro T500 |
>$1000 | GeForce MX550 |
Powerful RAM
RAM is one of the most important components in a laptop, especially if you're looking for a gaming laptop. However, it's not as critical as the processor or graphics card. Generally, most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end laptops have 32 GB or more. The latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules, though DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology.
So, how much RAM do you need? It depends on your needs and budget. If you're looking for a gaming laptop, 16 GB is the bare minimum, while 32 GB is ideal if you want to future-proof yourself. Meanwhile, 64 GB is only recommended if you're playing games at 4K resolution or above. There are two types of DDR memory modules – DDR4 and DDR5. While DDR5 is faster, it's not worth it because it has the same latency as DDR4 and costs more money. So, I'd recommend going with DDR4 unless you're looking for a high-end gaming laptop with an Intel 990 chipset (X-series). In that case, it might be worthwhile to get a laptop with DDR5 memory (though I'd still recommend getting a higher-end processor instead).
When comparing laptops, we can use their RAM capacity to compare them directly since this spec is nearly universal across all laptops. But if we want to compare two laptops with different amounts of RAM – we need to consider their frequency and timings since these affect performance more than the amount of installed memory chips. If you're looking for a gaming laptop that can last you for years – make sure it has upgradable RAM so that in the future you can add more memory if needed (though I don't think that's likely).
Regarding other specs, we need to look at how the advent of cloud storage and external drives affects our RAM usage. The short answer is that for typical workloads, 8 GB of RAM should suffice. However, if you're doing video editing, rendering or photo editing, you'll need at least 16 GB, and even more if you're doing tasks at 4K resolution or higher.
My recommendation:
Price Range | Minimum | Recommended | High-end |
---|---|---|---|
Low | 8 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
Mid | 16 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
High | 32 GB | 64 GB | 64 GB |
6 Best Laptops for Among Us
Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC
Pros and cons
- Lightweight and ergonomic design for maximum portability
- Well-built aluminum chassis with good IO
- No memory card reader or memory slots
- Poor webcam audio and video quality
Alternatives
MSI GF63 Thin 11SC-693
- Sleek, lightweight design
- Affordable price point
- Dim display
- Lower quality speakers
ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325EA-EH71
Pros and cons
- Lightweight and Compact Design
- Reliable Battery Life
- No Headphone Jack
- Weak Speakers
Alternatives
HP Victus 15t
- Affordable price tag
- Varied CPU options
- Lower GPU performance
- Plastic construction
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
Pros and cons
- Compact and lightweight - Easily fits in backpacks and other small bags.
- Bright and color-accurate display - Enjoy gaming with sharp visuals.
- Limited RAM - Upgrade options may be limited.
- Partially soldered RAM - Repairs might be more difficult.
Alternatives
Acer Predator Triton 500
- Robust aluminum body ensures long-lasting use
- Fast WiFi connection for quick online gaming
- Inaccessible SSD for customization
- Soldered RAM limits memory
ASUS ROG Strix Scar
Pros and cons
- Sturdy construction for long-term reliability
- Fast Wi-Fi 6E for a smooth connection
- Limited display angle
- No biometric login for extra security
Alternatives
Acer Predator Triton 500
- Slim and sleek design
- Solid connection options
- Soldered RAM and inaccessible SSD
- Keyboard layout not ideal for typing
Acer Predator Triton 500
Pros and cons
- Bright display for a clear view of fellow players
- Robust and slim aluminum casing for convenient transport
- Soldered RAM for limited upgradeability
- Inaccessible SSD to hinder data storage options
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
Pros and cons
- Slim and sleek design for dual displays
- Handy two-screen layout
- Pricey for an all-round laptop
- Awkward keyboard and touchpad design
Alternatives
Lenovo ThinkPad P15
- Durable design for long-lasting gaming
- Plenty of ports for connecting gaming accessories
- Runs a bit hotter and noisier than the competition
- No buttons on the trackpad which may cause inconvenience
Table of the Best Laptops for Among Us
Laptop | Price (approx) |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC | $580 |
ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325EA-EH71 | $730 |
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 | $1320 |
ASUS ROG Strix Scar | $2310 |
Acer Predator Triton 500 | $2500 |
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo | $3820 |