Best laptop for The Last of Us Part I in 2023

As a passionate gamer and laptop enthusiast, I understand the importance of finding the best laptop for The Last of Us Part 1. This critically acclaimed action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog has captivated players with its immersive narrative, detailed environments, and intense gameplay. To fully appreciate every aspect of this masterpiece, you'll need a laptop that can not only run the game smoothly but also enhance your overall gaming experience.

To help you find the perfect machine, I've reviewed an extensive laptop spreadsheet of recent releases, comparing specs and reviews from both professional and user-generated sources. By focusing on the unique requirements for playing The Last of Us Part 1, such as high-quality graphics, fast processing speeds, and immersive audio, I've narrowed down the top laptops within various price ranges. This will allow you to enjoy the emotional journey of Joel and Ellie without compromising on performance or breaking the bank.

While browsing forums like the dedicated subreddit, /r/thelastofus, or discussing with fellow fans, it's evident that having a powerful laptop can make a world of difference when enjoying this incredible game. By following this guide, you'll be well on your way to finding the best laptop for The Last of Us Part 1 that not only enhances your gaming experience but also fits your budget and personal preferences.

Processor Power

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Apple and AMD have both released cutting-edge laptop processors recently, with Apple's own ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules offering exceptional single-core performance and battery life, and AMD having managed to take 20% of the CPU market with their 6th generation Ryzen processors. Meanwhile, Intel's 13th generation of processors is yet to make its way to laptops, with 12th generation being the latest available right now. In addition, both Intel's and Apple's silicon chips adopted a hybrid performance/efficiency core design, which allows them to offer both power and battery life at the same time.

The Last of Us Part 1 is a PS4 exclusive, so we can disregard Windows laptops from the equation. As the game is not very demanding, we can focus on the CPU performance which is best measured by PassMark and Cinebench R20 (R23). The goal is to get the best value for money when it comes to processors for The Last of Us Part 1; a high-end CPU is not necessary, as an H-series processor would be best if you're looking for a long battery life or you want to play games other than The Last of Us Part 1, but it's not worth the extra cost if you're playing on a budget. We'll use PassMark and Cinebench R20 (R23) to compare CPUs since they are more relevant for gaming laptops than 3DMark or other synthetic benchmarks.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop under $1,000 – don't expect to get a top-tier processor; AMD Ryzen 5/Intel Core i5-U series would be ideal in this case; anything higher will require spending more money than intended. Here are our recommended processors according to budget:

Price Range Recommended Processor
Under $500 AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
$500 – $1,000 Intel Core i3-10110U
Over $1,000 Intel Core i5-10210U

In conclusion, you can rest assured knowing that the processors listed above will ensure an enjoyable experience while playing The Last of Us Part 1 without breaking the bank.

GPU for TLOU1

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With Nvidia continuing to dominate the laptop GPU market, you'll need a good GPU if you want to play The Last of Us Part 1 at high framerates. The game's recommended requirements are a GeForce RTX 20 series card or a Radeon RX 500 series card. Although Nvidia has recently released RTX 40 series cards, these are not yet available for laptops. Currently, their latest notebook cards are in the RTX 30 series (like the RTX 3070 Ti).

In the past few years, desktop GPUs have become much more power-hungry; as a result, the gap between the limited performance of notebook graphics and the power of desktop graphics cards has widened. Additionally, Nvidia has done away with their Max-Q label for RTX graphics cards, meaning that a laptop's exact GPU wattage is determined by the manufacturer. This could result in a wide variance in graphics performance in laptops with the same GPU chipset.

If you're looking for a good laptop graphics card, it's important to pay attention to benchmarks, as they give you an accurate indication of how the graphics card will perform. 3DMark benchmarks are usually more representative than synthetic tests like Firestrike and Heaven. Of course, a more powerful graphics card will come with a heftier price tag, so if you're on a budget, check how well the GPU is supported by the manufacturer (RATIO).

To help you choose the best laptop graphics card for The Last of Us Part 1 depending on your budget, here is a table of our recommended GPUs:

Budget Recommended GPU
Minimum GeForce GTX 1650
Recommended GeForce RTX 3050
High-end GeForce RTX 2060

RAM Essentials

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RAM is one of the most important components in a gaming laptop. Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end – 32 GB or more. If you're looking for the best gaming laptop, you'll want to get at least 16 GB of RAM.

The latest generation of DDR memory is available in laptops, and it's no surprise that it offers better performance than DDR4 from a few years ago. Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology.

If you're looking for an upgradeable laptop, make sure it has an accessible M.2 slot or an empty DIMM slot so you can add more RAM down the line. When shopping around, you should also consider latency, frequency, and other features, as they all impact performance.

So, what can you expect at each price point? Here are our recommendations:

Price range Memory
Minimum 8 GB
Recommended 16 GB
High-end 32 GB

6 Best Laptops for The Last of Us Part 1

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Acer Nitro 50 N50-640-UA91 Desktop $660
i5-12400F | GTX 1650 | 512 GB RAM | 500 GB SSD | |

1.Acer Nitro 50 N50-640-UA91 Desktop

The Last of Us Part 1 laptop
Pros
  • Solid memory amount (512GB)
Cons
  • No IPS Panel (inferior color reproduction)
Alternatives
HP Victus 15 I $668
HP Victus 15 I
Pros
  • Strong entry-level gaming
  • Solid productivity performance
Cons
  • Display and webcam could be better
  • Too much preinstalled software
HP Victus 15 $880
i5-12450H | GTX 1650 | 32 GB RAM | 2000 GB SSD | 15.6″ IPS WA; 1920x1080 |

2.HP Victus 15

HP Victus 15: A budget gaming laptop that delivers good performance at an excellent price.
Pros
  • Excellent price
  • Good gaming performance
  • Can double as a work laptop
  • Three color choices
Cons
  • Bad battery life
  • Rather plain design
  • Weak GPU yields unsatisfactory frame rates
  • Screen only so-so despite 144Hz refresh rate
Summary

The HP Victus 15 is a budget gaming laptop that offers solid gaming performance for its price. While it lacks in battery life and design, it is a great option for price-conscious buyers who need a laptop that can handle high-end titles and also double as a work laptop.

Reviews
TechRadar
4/5
HP Victus 15
Alternatives
HP Victus $939
HP Victus
Pros
  • Delivers smooth gameplay at 1080p.
  • Fast SSD.
Cons
  • No VRR to reduce screen tearing.
  • Some performance loss on CPU under load.
ASUS TUF F15 FX507VU-ES53 $1,100
i5-13500H | RTX 4050 | 512 GB RAM | 500 GB SSD | 15.6″; 1920x1080 |

3.ASUS TUF F15 FX507VU-ES53

The Asus TUF F15 offers superb gaming performance and strong productivity capabilities at a great price, but falls short in webcam, touchpad, and speaker quality.
Pros
  • Superb 1080p gaming performance
  • Strong productivity capabilities
  • Great price
Cons
  • Poor webcam, touchpad, and speaker quality
  • Some games appear washed out on display
Summary

The Asus TUF F15 is a budget gaming laptop that delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance and solid productivity capabilities. It offers great value for the price, but its webcam, touchpad, and speakers leave something to be desired.

Alternatives
Lenovo Legion 5i Pro 16 $1,300
Lenovo Legion 5i Pro 16
Pros
  • Stylish, sleek form factor
  • Gorgeous display
Cons
  • Webcam quality is poor
  • No biometrics
ASUS ROG Strix Scar $2,050
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: A powerful gaming laptop with some drawbacks.
Pros
  • Sturdy construction
  • Fast Wi-Fi 6E
  • Excellent performance
Cons
  • Limited display angles
  • No biometric login
  • High heat and noise emissions under load
Summary

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar is a high-performance gaming laptop with a sturdy construction, fast Wi-Fi, and excellent performance. However, it has limited display angles, no biometric login, and high heat and noise emissions under heavy load.

Alternatives
HP Envy 16 $1,950
HP Envy 16
Pros
  • Plenty of CPU and GPU power
  • New 120Hz screen refresh rate
Cons
  • Merely adequate base screen
  • Optional OLED has fewer pixels than before
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16 $3,800
i9-13900HX | RTX 4090 | 64 GB RAM | 2000 GB SSD | 16″; 2560x1600 |

5.Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16: A mid-priced powerhouse for gaming.
Pros
  • Strong overall performance
  • Display is big, bright, and fast
  • Per-key RGB lighting
Cons
  • Some flex to keyboard deck
  • Poor battery life
Summary

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 is a powerful gaming laptop equipped with a 13th-gen Core i9 CPU and RTX 4090 graphics. It offers strong overall performance, a big and bright display, and per-key RGB lighting.

Alternatives
HP Omen 17 $4,290
HP Omen 17
Pros
  • QHD display with 165 Hz
  • Advanced Optimus
Cons
  • Slightly below-average performance for a RTX 4080
  • High noise level
Dell XPS 17 9720 $5,600
i9-12900HK | RTX 3060 | 32 GB RAM | 6000 GB SSD | 17.3″ IPS HDR; 3840x2400 |

6.Dell XPS 17 9720

Dell XPS 17 9720: A high-performance laptop with a stunning 4K display, but has some graphics and cooling issues.
Pros
  • Excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB
  • High-quality case
  • Thunderbolt 4 PCIe 4.0
  • Very high system performance
Cons
  • Lower graphics performance than the predecessor
  • Performance not completely stable under combined load
  • Not Wi-Fi 6E compatible
  • 720p webcam
Summary

The Dell XPS 17 9720 offers an excellent 4K display with AdobeRGB and high-quality case. It has Thunderbolt 4 and PCIe 4.0 support, along with very high system performance. However, it suffers from lower graphics performance compared to its predecessor and has some stability issues under combined load.

Reviews
Notebookcheck
89%/100
Dell XPS 17 9720 review
Alternatives
MSI Titan GT77HX 13VI-042US $6,400
MSI Titan GT77HX 13VI-042US
Pros
  • Excellent mechanical keyboard
  • Class-leading Mini-LED display
Cons
  • Uninspired design
  • Short battery life

FAQ

Q: Can you play The Last of Us Part 1 on a laptop?

Absolutely! The Last of Us Part 1 can be played on a laptop as long as it meets the minimum system requirements.

What are the system requirements for The Last of Us Part 1 on PC?

The minimum system requirements for The Last of Us Part 1 on PC are as follows:

  • Memory: 8 GB
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 1650
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
What is the best laptop for playing The Last of Us Part 1?

The best laptop for playing The Last of Us Part 1 depends on your budget and desired performance. For an optimal experience, we recommend a laptop with at least the following specifications:

  • Memory: 16 GB
  • Graphics: GeForce RTX 2060
  • Processor: i5-10210U
Can a budget laptop run The Last of Us Part 1 smoothly?

Yes, a budget laptop can run The Last of Us Part 1 smoothly, but you may need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a stable framerate. We recommend a laptop with the following specifications for budget gaming:

  • Memory: 8 GB
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 1650
  • Processor: i3-10110U
Is a dedicated graphics card necessary for playing The Last of Us Part 1 on a laptop?

While The Last of Us Part 1 can be played with integrated graphics, a dedicated graphics card is highly recommended for better performance and visual quality. Integrated graphics may struggle to deliver a smooth gaming experience, especially at higher settings.

Can integrated graphics run The Last of Us Part 1?

Yes, integrated graphics can run The Last of Us Part 1, but you may need to lower the graphics settings to achieve an acceptable framerate. We recommend using a laptop with a dedicated graphics card for a better gaming experience.

How much RAM is required for playing The Last of Us Part 1 on a laptop?

The minimum requirement for playing The Last of Us Part 1 on a laptop is 8 GB of RAM. However, for a smoother experience and better multitasking, we recommend upgrading to at least 16 GB of RAM.

What are the recommended laptop specs for The Last of Us Part 1?

The recommended laptop specs for The Last of Us Part 1 are as follows:

  • Memory: 16 GB
  • Graphics: GeForce RTX 3050
  • Processor: i5-10210U
Can I play The Last of Us Part 1 on a MacBook?

Yes, you can play The Last of Us Part 1 on a MacBook. However, please note that the game is not officially supported on macOS. To play the game, you will need to use software such as Boot Camp to install Windows on your MacBook.

Can a gaming laptop run The Last of Us Part 1 at high settings?

Yes, a gaming laptop with higher-end specifications can run The Last of Us Part 1 at high settings with smooth performance. For the best experience, we recommend a laptop with the following specifications or higher:

  • Memory: 16 GB
  • Graphics: GeForce RTX 2060
  • Processor: i7-10750H

Table of the Best Laptops for The Last of Us Part 1

LaptopPrice (approx)
Acer Nitro 50 N50-640-UA91 Desktop$660
HP Victus 15$880
ASUS TUF F15 FX507VU-ES53$1,100
ASUS ROG Strix Scar$2,050
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16$3,800
Dell XPS 17 9720$5,600
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Mathew Greensbig
I'm an enthusiastic gamer with extensive knowledge of computers, laptops, components, and gaming. It's this depth of knowledge that I bring to writing reviews for the most suitable laptops for specific games. My finely tuned understanding of the intersection between cutting-edge technology and gaming requirements ensures that gamers are equipped with the best tools to augment their gaming experiences. I pride myself on my ability to distill complex tech concepts into understandable advice, proving myself to be a trusted guide in the vast landscape of gaming technology.