12 Powerhouses for Unity game development in 2023

Game development, especially with Unity, can be a daunting task when you don't have the right laptop. The process can be tedious and long, requiring plenty of energy and lots of late nights. That's why I'm here to help find the perfect laptop for game development with Unity that won't break the bank.

This post is for everyone, from total beginners to seasoned veterans, who want to learn about Unity game development and need the best tools for the job. In this guide, I'll break down the necessary hardware for the Unity game development process, from the most basic hardware specs to the extras that can greatly improve your experience. I will also provide you with a list of laptop recommendations, tailored to the preferences of a beginner game developer, so you don't need to figure out which is best by yourself. So let's dive right in!

Processor Power!

With the emergence of Apple's ARM-based M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M2 system-on-chip modules, and the 20% of the market AMD has managed to take with the 6th generation Ryzen processors, it can be hard to decide on the right processor for game development with Unity.

Intel's 13th-gen processors have yet to reach laptops and the latest from Intel is the 12th-generation chips that have adopted a hybrid performance/efficiency core design (based on big.LITTLE). If you need a good battery life in a PC laptop, then Ryzen models are best.

For MacBooks, the choice is easy – go for a MacBook Pro. For PCs, you'll need a fast CPU to compile your game and perform well-optimized code analysis. If you're using an integrated graphics chip (IGP), then I'd recommend going for an H-series processor since they tend to be more power-efficient than U-series processors.

When choosing a processor for your development machine, consider its clock speed and core count; these two factors are crucial when evaluating the overall performance of the processor. I use Cinebench R23 to compare laptop processors because it's a popular benchmark that measures single-core performance; however, if you're looking for a gaming laptop – I'd recommend using 3DMark benchmarks as they better reflect gaming performance.

Recommended Processors for Each Price Bracket

Price Range	Recommended Processor
Budget ($200-400)	Intel i3-1115G4
Mid-Range ($400-700)	Intel i5-10310U
High-End ($700+)	Intel i7-1180G7

Graphics Power!

In the laptop market, Nvidia continues to dominate the graphics card landscape. While Nvidia has recently released the RTX 40 series, these are not yet available on laptops (expected in 2023). The latest notebook cards are in the RTX 30 series, such as RTX 3070 Ti.

Desktop GPUs have become more power-hungry in recent years; the gap between power-limited laptop graphics and desktop graphics cards has widened. Furthermore, Nvidia has discontinued the Max-Q label for its RTX graphics cards, so an exact GPU wattage is determined by a laptop manufacturer (OEM). This unfortunately results in a wide variance in graphics performance even in laptops with the same GPU chipset.

While a CPU can be used to accelerate some tasks (such as physics or AI), most of the work in game development is done by the GPU. This is why it's important to invest in a good graphics card when developing games with Unity. Fortunately, you don't need to invest in an expensive one. Here, I've put together a list of recommended GPUs for game development, based on their 3DMark scores from desktop PCs with similar CPUs as found in many laptops today (i5/Ryzen 5).

Recommended GPUs for Game Development

GPU	3DMark Score	Pros	Cons
GeForce GTX 1650	5650	– Affordable – Low power consumption	– Low performance
GeForce RTX 3050	6133	– Low power consumption – Decent performance	– Moderately priced
GeForce RTX 2060	7000	– Great performance – Ray tracing support	– Expensive

Keep in mind that if you're looking for a gaming laptop that's also suitable for work, you might want to consider investing in a high refresh rate display (144Hz or higher) and possibly an IPS panel instead of TN if you're working with colors or video editing.

Maximizing RAM

When it comes to game development with Unity, the amount of RAM in your laptop matters. Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM and high-end – 32 GB or more. Latest-gen Intel and AMD CPUs support DDR4 and DDR5, though DDR5 is still quite expensive and needs time to mature as a technology.

While you can get by with 8 GB of RAM, 16 GB is the sweet spot for most developers. 32 GB is only necessary if you're working on a large project with multiple scenes open at once. For gamers and other casual users, 8 GB is more than enough.

DDR5 vs. DDR4 – while it's not a make-or-break difference, it's nice to have the latest standard if you can afford it. If you're looking for an upgradeable laptop, make sure it has two SODIMM slots instead of one; that way, you can add more RAM down the line without having to replace the entire module (which is a pain).

Minimum RAM: 8 GB

Recommended RAM: 16 GB

High-end RAM: 32 GB

FAQ

What laptop is best for game development with Unity?

That depends on your budget, as well as your desired level of performance. Generally speaking, you'll want at least a Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1650 or better graphics card. For more serious game development, you may want to consider a laptop with a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a GeForce RTX 3050 or better graphics card.

What specs do I need for game development in Unity?

For basic game development in Unity, you'll want a laptop with at least 8GB RAM, a Core i3 processor, and a GeForce GTX 1650 or better graphics card. For more advanced game development, you'll want 16GB of RAM, a Core i5 processor, and a GeForce RTX 3050 or better graphics card.

Is AMD Ryzen 5 enough for game development?

AMD Ryzen 5 is a great processor for game development in Unity. However, for more intensive development you may want to consider a laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor.

What RAM do I need to develop games in Unity?

For basic game development in Unity, you'll want at least 8GB RAM. For more advanced game development, 16GB RAM is recommended.

What laptops are best for game development with Unity?

The best laptops for game development in Unity will depend on your budget and desired level of performance. At the lower end of the price range, we'd recommend the HP Victus 15t ($870) or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 ($1,320). For mid-range laptops, the GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4 ($1,600) is a great option. For high-end gaming and development, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar ($2,310) or the ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97 ($3,800) are excellent choices. For those who are serious about game development, the MSI Titan GT77 12UHS-064 ($6,290) is a powerful machine with the latest components.

How to choose a laptop for game development with Unity?

When choosing a laptop for game development in Unity, there are several factors to consider. First, you'll want to make sure that the laptop has sufficient RAM (at least 8GB, preferably 16GB), a decent processor (at least an Intel Core i3), and a good graphics card (a GeForce GTX 1650 or better). Next, you'll want to consider the size and weight of the laptop, as well as the battery life and cooling system. Finally, consider your budget and select the laptop that best fits your needs.

What hardware is required for game development in Unity?

The hardware requirements for game development in Unity will depend on the level of performance you desire. At the minimum, you'll need at least an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1650 or better graphics card. For more serious game development, you'll want a laptop with at least a Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and a GeForce RTX 3050 or better graphics card.

Is Core i7 good enough for game development?

Yes, a Core i7 processor is more than sufficient for game development in Unity. However, for more intensive development tasks, you may want to consider a laptop with an Intel Core i9 processor.

What graphics card do I need for game development with Unity?

For basic game development in Unity, we'd recommend at least a GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. For more advanced development tasks, we'd suggest a GeForce RTX 3050 or better graphics card.

What laptop processors can run Unity games?

The processor needed to run games in Unity will depend on the complexity of the game. For simple games, an Intel Core i3 processor should be more than sufficient. For more intensive games, we'd suggest at least an Intel Core i5 processor.

6 Best Laptops for Game development with Unity

Table of the Best Laptops for Game development with Unity

Laptop	Price (approx)
HP Victus 15t	$900
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro	$1,350
GIGABYTE AORUS 15 XE4	$1,600
ASUS ROG Strix Scar	$2,310
ASUS ROG Strix Scar G733CX-XS97	$3,800
MSI Titan GT77	$5,500