Best Laptop for Shadow Warrior 3 in 2023

SHADOW WARRIOR 3

As an avid fan of the action-packed Shadow Warrior series, I know that finding the best laptop for Shadow Warrior 3 can be quite the challenge. With its stunning visuals and fast-paced gameplay, it's essential to have a laptop that can handle the demands of this thrilling first-person shooter. This guide is tailored specifically to help you make an informed decision when shopping for a laptop that will provide an optimal gaming experience for Shadow Warrior 3.

My laptop selection process involves reviewing an extensive spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs and reviews from both professional critics and fellow gamers, and narrowing down the top laptops based on topic-specific requirements and price ranges. As someone who's spent countless hours immersed in the Shadow Warrior universe, I understand the importance of having a laptop that can deliver smooth performance, sharp graphics, and responsive controls.

In this guide, you'll find the key factors to consider when searching for the best laptop for Shadow Warrior 3. These include the processing power required for Lo Wang's high-octane adventures, the importance of strong graphics capabilities for truly immersive gameplay, and the benefits of a high refresh rate display for seamless action. Whether you're a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer eager to dive into the world of Shadow Warrior 3, this guide will help you find the perfect laptop that caters to your gaming needs.

Picking a good processor

Requirements

red processor

A game such as SHADOW WARRIOR 3 should run well on most laptops with an average CPU – provided it has a sufficient GPU. Still, some processors are better than others – particularly when it comes to rendering detail and shadows in the game. And this is where Intel Core i5/i7 and AMD Ryzen 5/Ryzen 7 come in handy.

If you're really looking for a high FPS and are OK with tinkering with your laptop's settings – Core i9/Ryzen 9 will also do the trick. But I would recommend these only in case you're going to play other more demanding games.

Recommendations

There are three main types of processors that are suited for playing SHADOW WARRIOR 3:

  • Ryzen 5 3500U – best for those who care about long battery life
  • i5-10300H – a popular option for gamers who want a solid mix of performance and battery life
  • i7-10870H – ideal for those who want a more substantial FPS increase (100+)
TL;DR
  • Ryzen 5 3500U is best for those who care about long battery life
  • i5-10300H is a popular option for gamers who want a solid mix of performance and battery life
  • i7-10870H is ideal for those who want a more substantial FPS increase (100+)

Deciding on a graphics card

red gpu

A modest GPU will do the trick. For SHADOW WARRIOR 3, an average graphics card should suffice. You might want to pay a little more if you want to play at higher settings or resolution. Here are my recommendations for playing SHADOW WARRIOR 3 on PC.

Minimum graphics (under $500)

Integrated graphics chips are not recommended for gaming. I'd recommend to start from GTX 1650 for low settings. If that's not your cup of tea, then I'd recommend AMD Radeon RX 5600M for playable performance on medium settings. These cards will both set you back by about $250 and up to around $700.

Recommended graphics ($500 – $1000)

To play SHADOW WARRIOR 3 at its fullest potential, we'll need to invest in something better than our minimum options above. This means going for Nvidia's GTX 1660 Ti or AMD's RX 5600M ($1000). Both of these cards will deliver 60 FPS on medium settings and the RTX 3050 offers slightly better performance with an extra $200 investment.

Best graphics ($1000 – $2000)

For a smooth 60 FPS experience on the highest settings, I recommend going for RTX 2070 and AMD's RX 5700. These cards provide you with solid performance on most settings and the latter even brings you a little extra juice in VR.

Choosing the right memory for SHADOW WARRIOR 3

Minimum (8 GB)

gaming ram stick red

First of all, I should mention that you could get away buying an 8GB RAM laptop. Though that's acceptable in a single situation – you're on an uncomfortably tight budget, and you could upgrade the 8GB laptop with an extra RAM stick.

But let's be realistic here – even the minimum 8 GB is not enough for SHADOW WARRIOR 3. I recommend opting for at least 16 GB of RAM to make sure that your gameplay is buttery smooth, while your gaming sessions are never interrupted by lagging or stuttering frame rates. It's worth the extra money!

Recommended (16 GB)

If you're not in this situation – stick with 16 GB. That's the sweet spot for gaming, work, and everything in-between. I might consider 32 GB to be more future-oriented than 16 GB, but if you don't particularly care whether you're ahead of the pack or not – 16 GB is still a considerable amount of memory for most. In my opinion, SHADOW WARRIOR 3 needs around 16GBs to deliver an optimal experience, which means any system below that won't do justice to it.

TL;DR
  • SHADOW WARRIOR 3 needs around 16GBs to deliver an optimal experience
  • you should avoid any system below that (8GB) to get the best experience

Deciding on a storage

gaming ssd

There are three things that you need to know about SSDs. The first is that they're way faster than regular hard drives, the second is that they're expensive and the third is that there's no reason to get a laptop with anything less than 256 GB of storage space. If you want to save money and your budget is around $1000, get one with 512 GB of storage space. Anything less than 256 GB will only cause you grief in the future.

TL;DR
  • SSDs are way faster than regular hard drives
  • they're expensive
  • get one with at least 256 GB of storage space
  • if you have a budget of $1000, get one with 512 GB of storage space

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Table of Best Laptops for {topic}

LaptopPrice (approx)

5 Best Laptops for Shadow Warrior 3

$700
Ryzen 9 6900HX | RTX 3070 Ti | 64 GB RAM | 2000 GB SSD | 16″; 2560x1600 |

1.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16

Shadow Warrior 3 laptop
Pros
  • Very good processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
  • Solid graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
  • Superb memory amount (64GB)
  • Light (5.48 lbs)
Cons
  • No IPS Panel (worse contrast)
Alternatives
$730
HP Victus 15t
Pros
  • Low price
  • Good gaming and productivity performance
Cons
  • Weak GPU yields unsatisfactory frame rates
  • Display and webcam could be better
$850
i7-12650H | RTX 3050 Ti | 64 GB RAM | 2000 GB SSD | 15.6″ IPS; 1920x1080 |

2.HP Victus

HP Victus falls short of expectations for Shadow Warrior 3 gaming.
Pros
  • Easily serviceable
  • Attractive design
  • Relatively cool surface temperatures
  • Smooth 144 Hz refresh rate
Cons
  • Buggy battery life and fan behavior
  • No Thunderbolt or USB-PD support
  • Subpar Turbo Boost sustainability
  • Weak hinges.
Summary

HP Victus 15 gaming laptop is a good budget model, however, its GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU is not good enough for playing games like Shadow Warrior 3.

Alternatives
$1,150
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16
Pros
  • Exceptional processor (Ryzen 9 6900HX)
  • Excellent graphics card (RTX 3070 Ti)
Cons
  • No IPS Panel (limited viewing angles)
$1,600
Ryzen 7 5800H | RTX 3060 | 32 GB RAM | 1000 GB SSD | 16″ IPS HDR G-Sync; 2560x1600 |

3.Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a powerful gaming laptop with a few flaws.
Pros
  • Good performance with Ryzen 7 and RTX 3070
  • Bright and color-accurate display
  • Durable and robust build quality
  • Good cooling performance
Cons
  • Slow SSD
  • Drab design for a gaming laptop
  • Noisy fans on some performance modes
  • Large and heavy with a hefty power brick
Summary

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a high-performing gaming laptop with good cooling, display, and a powerful Ryzen 7 processor paired with RTX 3070 graphics. It has a durable case and good battery life, but with some quirks like a drab design, slow SSD, and noisy fans.

Alternatives
$1,700
ASUS ROG Strix G15 G513RM
Pros
  • Fair design and solid build quality
  • Good inputs and IO
Cons
  • Some quirks affecting everyday ergonomics,
$2,310
Ryzen 9 5900HX | RTX 3080 | 64 GB RAM | 4000 GB SSD | 15.6″ IPS-level G-Sync; 1920x1080 |

4.ASUS ROG Strix Scar

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 is a powerful gaming laptop with a few thermal and battery issues.
Pros
  • Sturdy construction
  • Fast Wi-Fi 6E
  • Excellent response times and no PWM
  • Wide color gamut coverage with Dolby Vision support
Cons
  • Limited display angle
  • Heavy SSD throttling during continuous reads
  • High heat and noise emissions under load
  • Battery backup could have been better
Summary

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533 is a solid gaming laptop with excellent hardware components that make it an ideal choice for enthusiasts. It has a sturdy construction, excellent response times, and fast Wi-Fi 6E. However, the laptop suffers from thermal issues, heavy SSD throttling, and poor battery backup.

Alternatives
$2,500
Dell XPS 17 9720
Pros
  • Excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB
  • High-quality case
Cons
  • Lower graphics performance than the predecessor
  • Performance not completely stable under combined load
$3,470
i7-13700HX | RTX 4090 | 64 GB RAM | 4000 GB SSD | 17.3″ IPS; 2560x1440 |

5.HP Omen 17

HP Omen 17 is a great choice for gamers with a QHD display and expandable memory, but expect loud noise and short battery life.
Pros
  • QHD display with 165 Hz
  • Advanced Optimus technology
  • Expandable working memory
Cons
  • High noise level
  • Clattery case
  • Meager battery life
Summary

HP Omen 17 is a high-end laptop that delivers powerful gaming performance with its QHD display and expandable memory. Its advanced Optimus technology ensures seamless switching between integrated and dedicated graphics. However, the laptop's high noise level and meager battery life can be disappointing.

Alternatives
$3,170
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
Pros
  • Sleek dual-screen design
  • Top-end gaming performance with Ryzen 9 CPU and GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU
Cons
  • High cost
  • Poor battery life

Table of the Best Laptops for Shadow Warrior 3

LaptopPrice (approx)
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16$700
HP Victus$850
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro$1,600
ASUS ROG Strix Scar$2,310
HP Omen 17$3,470
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John Winstler
With over a decade of experience in the tech industry, combined with a degree in computer science, I have developed an in-depth knowledge of laptops, PC games, software, 3D modeling, video editing, and photo editing. My detailed and unbiased laptop reviews have helped many people make informed decisions about their technology purchases.

One comment

  1. It’s somewhat unfortunate. Shadow Warrior (2013) was fantastic, very underrated, and has constantly been eclipsed by Doom 2016 as the game to rekindle the ‘old-fashioned’ high-paced fps, never really gaining a proper level of recognition. Mind you, Doom 2016 was incredible and an excellent step in (and up) the right direction. Now the Shadow Warrior legacy feels to have gotten even more muddled with this new installment.

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