As any seasoned player knows, a good PC setup can make the difference between a good gaming experience and a mediocre one. That's why I'm going to show you how to buy the best laptop for playing Sons of the Forest. As a survival horror game, this requires a special set of components, since it can be very resource-intensive.
To ensure you get the most value for your money, I'll break down each laptop spec that matters in this game and explain why it's important. We'll also explore what options you have on different budgets and talk about modifications to further boost your laptop's gaming performance.
Processor Power
The laptop processor market is always changing. Currently, Apple has released its 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 also managed to take 20% of the CPU market; they have recently released their 6th generation Ryzen processors. We are still waiting for Intel's 13th-gen processors to reach laptops, though the 12th generation is Intel's latest offering. Both Intel's and Apple's silicon chips have adopted the hybrid performance/efficiency core design (based on big.LITTLE). In general, Ryzen models are best if you need a good battery life in a PC laptop.
MacBooks are a popular option for animators, especially if you're working in a team with someone who can manage the IT side of things. While you can get away with using a lower-powered CPU, it's not recommended to do so because you'll end up waiting for your computer to catch up with the rest of the team, and that's not fun at all. If you're looking for an affordable laptop – don't expect it to be able to handle complex scenes with many characters or detailed environments; instead, look for a processor that is adequate for daily tasks such as video editing or 3D modeling.
When comparing processors, I rely on benchmarks such as PassMark and Cinebench R23 (single-core) and R200 (multi-core). If you're looking for a gaming laptop – it's usually best to go for one with an Nvidia graphics card since they have better support for gaming features such as fast refresh rates and G-Sync/FreeSync support (which prevents screen tearing).
To make your decision-making process easier, here is a table of recommended processors by price bracket and laptop category:
Price bracket | Laptop type | Recommended Processor |
---|---|---|
Budget | MacBook | M1 |
Windows | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | |
Linux | Intel Pentium N5000 | |
Recommended | MacBook | M1 Pro |
Windows | Intel i3-10110U | |
Linux | Intel i3-10110U | |
High-end | MacBook | M2 |
Windows | Intel i5-10210U | |
Linux | Intel i5-10210U |
Graphic Power
Choosing the right graphics card (GPU) for your laptop is a complicated matter, even more so when you want to play the latest and greatest game titles. In the past few years, the market for gaming GPUs has changed a lot and it can be hard to figure out which card is the best for your needs. In this section, we'll talk about the dedicated GPUs available in laptops and why you don't necessarily need one to play Sons of the Forest (SoF). We'll also provide recommendations for different budget levels.
Why a dedicated graphics card is unnecessary for gaming
Sons of the Forest is a fairly modest game in terms of its hardware requirements. The game can be played on integrated graphics such as the Intel UHD 620 or AMD Radeon Graphics, though you may have to lower the graphics settings to get a smooth framerate. If you want to guarantee consistent frame rates at the highest settings, you'll need a dedicated GPU; but if you can live with lower settings, a dedicated graphics card isn't necessary.
How to know if a graphics card is fast?
When comparing GPUs, the 3DMark benchmark is one of the best ways to judge their performance. This is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that tests all aspects of the graphics card, from its ability to render 3D scenes to its ability to handle ray tracing and shading. By comparing 3DMark scores of different models from different companies, you can get an idea of which GPU performs better.
What are the best GPUs for gaming?
For playing Sons of the Forest at higher settings and achieving good framerates, you don't need to look for the latest and greatest GPUs. Nvidia and AMD's latest generation of graphics processors (RTX and Radeon 7) offer only minor performance gains over their mid-range chips, so they're not worth the premium they command. Instead, look for a mid-range chip from the current generation (RX 500 or Nvidia GTX 16 series). These provide excellent performance at a reasonable price point.
Here are some GPU recommendations for different budget levels:
- Minimum: GTX 1650
- Recommended: RTX 3050
- High-end: RTX 2060
Keep in mind that due to power limitations, laptop GPUs will never perform as well as their desktop counterparts. And if you're looking for a gaming laptop with great battery life, you should probably look elsewhere.
Unleash RAM
RAM, or Random Access Memory, is an essential component of a gaming laptop and one of the most important pieces of hardware when it comes to gaming and virtual reality. The amount of RAM you'll need depends on your budget, how much you're willing to spend on other components, and what kind of performance you're looking for.
Most mid-range laptops come with 16 GB of RAM, while high-end gaming laptops will have 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. For audio production, more memory may be needed; 8 GB should be enough for basic tasks while 16 GB is recommended for more complex productions.
When looking at RAM modules, it's important to consider the latency, frequency, and size of the modules. Lower latency and higher frequency RAM will often result in better performance, but the cost of such RAM modules can be prohibitive. The size of the modules is also important, as the laptop must be able to support larger modules.
When choosing RAM for a laptop, the budget should be taken into consideration. For budget-oriented laptops, 8 GB should be enough for basic gaming and audio production. If you're looking for something more future-proof, 16 GB should provide more than enough performance for most tasks. At the high end, 32 GB and more can be ideal if you're looking for a laptop that can last for years to come.
Overall, when deciding on the right laptop RAM for Sons of the Forest laptops, it's important to consider budget, performance, and what kind of tasks you'll be doing. 8 GB is enough for basic gaming and audio production tasks, while 16 GB should be sufficient for more complex tasks. If you're looking for a laptop that will last for years to come, 32 GB or more may be necessary. Finally, when looking at RAM modules, consider latency, frequency, and size to get the best performance for your budget.
6 Best Laptops for Sons of the Forest
HP Victus 15 I
Pros and cons
- Fast processor for multi-tasking
- Sleek design and sturdy build
- Poor quality webcam
- Poor display quality
Alternatives
MSI GF63 Thin
- Lightweight, durable chassis
- Power-packed Intel Core i5 CPU
- Not the best for gaming
- Display is rather dull
Acer Swift X SFX14-42G-R607
Pros and cons
- Packed with powerful 8-core CPU and Nvidia graphics
- Sleek and stylish design
- No SDmicroSD card slot
- Prone to accidental keystrokes
HP Victus 15t
Pros and cons
- Competitively priced
- Multiple CPU options
- Mediocre battery life
- All-plastic construction
Alternatives
ASUS ZenBook 13 UX325EA-DS51
- Portable and lightweight frame
- Strong everyday performance
- Weak speakers
- Dim display
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
Pros and cons
- Durable metallic build with a sleek design
- High resolution, fast, and bright 16-inch display
- Bulky chassis
- Heavy power brick
Alternatives
ASUS ROG Strix G15
- Exceptional CPU and GPU power
- Quality construction and design
- Limited connectivity options
- Potential for coil whine under certain conditions
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4
Pros and cons
- Durable, high-quality housing
- Outstanding WQUXGA LCD
- Less responsive keyboard and TrackPoint keys
- Only 1 M.2 drive and no WWAN connection
Alternatives
MSI Titan GT77 12UHS
- Bright 4K display
- PCIe 4 and 5 SSDs for additional storage
- Bulky and heavy
- Expensive
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo
Pros and cons
- Impressive design and craftsmanship
- Dual excellent-quality displays
- Somewhat limited ergonomics
- High noise levels on Performance mode
Table of the Best Laptops for Sons of the Forest
Laptop | Price (approx) |
HP Victus 15 I | $600 |
Acer Swift X SFX14-42G-R607 | $880 |
HP Victus 15t | $900 |
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro | $1580 |
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 | $3650 |
ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo | $4410 |