12 Rigged laptops for Unreal Engine 5 in 2023

If you're looking to get serious about game development, Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) might be the right choice. It's already considered by some to be the best game engine available. But to get the most out of it, you'll need a laptop capable of running UE5.

That's why I've put together a guide on how to buy the best laptop for Unreal Engine 5. From budget options to those that will ensure you can run UE5 without any hiccups, we will cover it all. So you can rest assured that you won't miss a beat while you try to realize your creative dreams.

We'll start with a laptop requirements breakdown – everything you need to know when buying a laptop for UE5. This section should set you up with enough knowledge to find your ideal laptop.

Powerful Processors

The central processing unit (CPU) is one of the most important components when it comes to running Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) on Windows. In the processor market, there have been some exciting changes in the past year. Apple released their own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M2 system-on-chip modules; they offer exceptional single-core performance and battery life. AMD has managed to take 20% of the CPU market, and have released the 6th generation Ryzen processors. Intel is set to release its 13th-gen processors soon, but the latest Intel processor currently available for laptops is 12th generation. The modern chips from both Apple and Intel are based on a hybrid performance/efficiency core design, which means that the cores can switch between performance and efficiency depending on the task at hand.

It’s important to understand why UE5 needs a fast processor, as this will help you make an educated decision when it comes to choosing one for your laptop or workstation. UE5 is a game engine that requires a lot of processing power for its visual effects, 3D rendering, and physics simulations. It’s also capable of running demanding real-time applications such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). Therefore, it’s important to have enough computing power to handle the various tasks UE5 can throw at you.

Your budget will be an important factor in deciding which processor is right for you. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, you should prioritize its graphics processing unit (GPU) over its CPU, since games rely heavily on graphics. However, if you’re looking for a workstation laptop, then it would be wise to prioritize the CPU over the GPU.

The best way to compare different processors is to use Cinebench R23, as this benchmark is widely used for 3D engines such as UE5. With that being said, here are my recommendations for each price bracket:

• Minimum: Intel Core i3-1115G4
• Recommended: Intel Core i5-10310U
• High-end: Intel Core i7-1180G7

For AMD laptops, I would recommend going with either a Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 processor, depending on your budget. Ryzen processors are good if you need a good battery life in a PC laptop. However, if you're looking for the best performance, then go for an Intel processor.

Graphic Power

Whether you’re a casual gamer or a professional content creator, the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) of your laptop is an important factor when it comes to choosing the right laptop for Unreal Engine 5 (UE5).

Nvidia continues to dominate the laptop GPU market, with its latest graphics cards being part of the RTX 30 series such as the RTX 3070 Ti. While Nvidia recently released its RTX 40 series, it has yet to make its way to laptops. Additionally, desktop GPUs are becoming increasingly power-hungry, causing the gap between laptop and desktop graphics cards to widen. To make matters even more complicated, Nvidia has discontinued its Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards, leaving laptop manufacturers to determine the exact GPU wattage themselves.

Fortunately, UE5 is well-optimized for Nvidia graphics cards, so you can feel confident that most laptops with a Nvidia GPU will be able to run UE5 games without any issues. If you’re looking for a laptop that can run games, you’ll need a discrete GPU. If you’re looking for the best gaming laptop, look no further than the latest Nvidia RTX or AMD Radeon VII series GPUs.

To compare graphics cards, I use 3DMark to compare laptop graphics cards. It’s a well-known benchmark with plenty of results available online, but it doesn’t take into account all the nuances of real-world gaming performance. Therefore, I also use other more recent gaming benchmarks such as 3DMark Fire Strike and Unigine Heaven/Valley to supplement my laptop GPU rankings. Additionally, when choosing a gaming laptop, pay attention to its display panel type (IPS vs TN) for optimal image quality.

For a minimum gaming laptop GPU, I’d recommend a GeForce GTX 1650. For optimal performance, I’d suggest looking into the GeForce RTX 3050. And for the absolute best gaming experience and VR-ready content creation, check out laptops with the GeForce RTX 2060.

I’m not including my personal GPU recommendations in this table because everyone’s situation is unique and your personal budget, needs and preferences should be taken into consideration when shopping for a new laptop.

Unreal Answers

What laptop specs do I need for Unreal Engine 5?

According to the recommended system requirements, you'll need a processor of at least an Intel i5-10310U, 8GB of RAM and a GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card to run Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop.

What laptop should I buy for Unreal Engine 5?

For the minimum requirements, we'd recommend the HP Victus 15, which comes with an Intel i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card for about $740. For a medium budget, we'd suggest the ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 OLED which comes with an Intel i5-10310U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card for about $1,300. For a maximum budget, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a great choice, as it's equipped with an Intel i7-1180G7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card for around $3,200.

Is Unreal Engine 5 supported on laptop?

Absolutely! Unreal Engine 5 is supported on a wide range of laptops, including models with the minimum specifications listed above.

Is 16GB RAM enough for Unreal Engine 5 on laptop?

16GB of RAM is sufficient to run Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop. However, we recommend opting for at least 32GB of RAM if you plan on running multiple programs at once or creating high-end content with Unreal Engine 5.

What are the minimum requirements for Unreal Engine 5 on laptop?

To run Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop, you'll need an Intel i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card.

Can I run Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop?

Yes, you can run Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop! However, make sure that your laptop meets the recommended system requirements to get the best performance out of Unreal Engine 5.

What is the best laptop for Unreal Engine 5?

If you have a medium budget, we'd suggest the ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 OLED which comes with an Intel i5-10310U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card for about $1,300. If you have a maximum budget, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a great choice, as it's equipped with an Intel i7-1180G7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card for around $3,200.

Do I need an RTX 2060 for Unreal Engine 5 on laptop?

The minimum requirements for Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop include an RTX 3050 graphics card. An RTX 2060 is more than enough to power the latest version of Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop.

What are the recommended system requirements for Unreal Engine 5 on laptop?

According to the recommended system requirements, you'll need a processor of at least an Intel i5-10310U, 8GB of RAM and a GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card to run Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop.

Can I run Unreal Engine 5 on an i7 laptop?

Absolutely! An Intel i7-1180G7 processor is more than capable of running Unreal Engine 5 on a laptop. However, make sure that your laptop meets the minimum system requirements, including 8GB of RAM and a GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card.

Boosting RAM

Unreal Engine 5 is a cutting-edge game engine that can take advantage of a powerful hardware setup, and it won't run properly on a laptop with an inadequate RAM setup. It's essential to know how much RAM you'll need for optimal performance.

Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end – 32 GB or more. The latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology.

Unreal Engine 5 is a hungry beast, and it's not going to get any lighter anytime soon. That means that you'll need a lot of RAM. 16 GB should be enough for most projects, but if you're working on a complex project with lots of assets, you might need 32 GB. The difference between DDR5 and DDR4 is minimal in terms of performance, so don't worry about it unless you can afford the upgrade (and don't forget to check if your motherboard supports it). If you're working with large scenes or have multiple VMs open at once, consider getting a laptop with 32 GB of RAM.

It's important to consider other factors when selecting RAM, such as clock speed and latency. However, these are minor factors compared to the amount of RAM.

What to expect at various price levels:

Price Level	Average laptop prices	Recommended RAM
Budget	$600-$900	8 GB
Mid-range	$900-$1200	16 GB
High-end	$1200+	32 GB

To summarize, when choosing RAM for an Unreal Engine 5 laptop, 8 GB is the absolute minimum and 16 GB should be enough for most projects. High-end laptops should be equipped with 32 GB or more for optimal performance. Just remember to check that your motherboard supports the RAM you're buying.

6 Best Laptops for Unreal Engine 5

Table of the Best Laptops for Unreal Engine 5

Laptop	Price (approx)
HP Victus 15	$710
HP Victus 15t	$900
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	$1,350
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4	$1,600
ASUS ROG Strix Scar	$2,310
MSI Titan GT77	$5,500