PC Gaming On A Budget: A Beginner's Guide

Specs, range, user interface, ergonomic design: These, and a lot more, are factors you should carefully research and think through before buying a gaming laptop. Given these, it can be very overwhelming to set up your PC gaming rig if you’re a beginner—and even more so if you’re sticking to a budget. 

However, you shouldn’t let the need to understand tech jargon stop you from purchasing an efficient gaming gadget. After all, getting the right gear can improve the way you play and keep you comfortable while battling enemies and unlocking achievements in your favorite game. 

If budget is also one of your major concerns, you should check out the high-powered gaming laptops at Villman in SM City North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM City Fairview, and SM Mall of Asia via the SM Malls Online app. These gadgets are all available at their lowest prices guaranteed with money-saving discounts from October 1 to 31, and you can even use the voucher code SUPERMONTH to get P150 off on any minimum purchase worth P700.

To further guide you on your beginner’s PC build, check out these 6 important questions you should always consider when buying any gaming device. 

Can its CPU handle games?

Slow internet isn’t the only possible reason why your game keeps on lagging. A computer’s central processing unit or CPU is in charge of running tasks, passing instructions to other processing units, handling input from hardware like your keyboard or mouse, and calculating everything from arithmetic to logic. If your CPU can’t handle the speed and performance required by the game you play, it will affect how your gameplay renders. 

The Intel Core i5 is generally one of the best CPUs for gaming laptops, and like other Intel processors, it has many different generations and types. The Intel Core i5-1240P version is a mid-range processor employed by the Acer Swift 3 SF314-512-50XM, and it lets you enjoy a smooth gaming experience with its 12 MB Smart Cache and 1.7 GHz Performance-core with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 up to 4.4 GHz. 

Combine this processor with the Acer Swift 3’s 14” display, 8GB of onboard LPDDR4X, and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and you’ll have a smooth and satisfying gameplay experience. From an original price of P49,999, you can get the Acer Swift 3 SF314-512-50XM now at 11% off for only P44,588.

Are the graphics good?

Excellent visual details contribute to a fun and immersive gameplay experience, especially for most modern PC games. Thus, when buying a gaming laptop, you should consider two factors: its graphics processing unit and display. The graphics processing unit or GPU is in charge of rendering images, scenes, and animations in games—and of course, the faster it is, the better. 

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti is one of the GPUs that can meet most modern games’ graphic requirements and deliver a stable frame rate. It also provides realistic graphics and cutting-edge AI features for your further enjoyment. Among the reliable gaming laptops that use the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti is the ​​Acer Aspire 7 A715-42G-R9F8.

Aside from the GPU, a gaming laptop also needs top-notch display features to support excellent graphics. Get a device with good resolution, refresh rate, and display size to ensure crisp and detailed visuals throughout your game. Along with a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, the Acer Aspire 7 A715-42G-R9F8 has a 15.6” display with IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology and Acer ComfyView LED-backlit TFT LCD screen to back up its efficient GPU.

Enjoy 25% off on the Acer Aspire 7 A715-42G-R9F8, which you can buy right now for only P46,588 from an original price of P61,999.

Will it run efficiently without problems?

With the heavy work that gaming requires, it’s better to pick a device that can handle heat—literally. Without an efficient cooling system, gaming PCs risk overheating and damaging the components. Not only will this negatively affect your performance and gaming experience, but it can also destroy your device permanently. 

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R77J uses the Acer CoolBoost technology, twin fans, and quad exhaust port design to remain cool and quiet while processing your games quickly and efficiently. With these features, you’ll have no worries about maximizing its AMD Ryzen 7 5800H octa-core processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX TM 3060 GPU with 6GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM while playing.

Bring home the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-45-R77J now while it’s at 16% off, available for only P62,988 from an original price of P74,999.

Does it have user-friendly features?

From mastering keyboard controls to working on a bigger screen, adjusting to a PC gaming setup can take time and effort for newbies. This is where user-friendly features in gaming laptops come in handy. It can also help you be comfortable with your setup in the long run. One of the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-78EN’s beginner-friendly features is its 4-zone RGB keyboard that highlights the WASD and arrow keys, which are used for controlling forward, backward, and sideward movement in games. This allows easy visibility during clutch moments, or simply when you want to explore game worlds in a laidback manner.

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-78EN also has a 15.6” display with IPS technology and high-brightness Acer ComfyView LED-backlit TFT LCD for easier game viewing and eye protection. Operating on a Windows 11 Home system, this laptop also has an Intel Core i7-12700H processor that lets you multitask without a problem—perfect if you want to chat, browse the internet, or stream while playing. 

From an original price of P76,999, you can get the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-78EN at 8% off for only P70,888.

How much storage space does it have?

Modern PC games usually have big file sizes, so you’d need a lot of storage space if you want to download them to your device. Some Call of Duty versions like Modern Warfare and Black Ops Cold War can occupy over 200GB of storage, while the high-resolution pack of Final Fantasy V can bring its file size up to 148GB from the base game’s original 85GB. If your favorite PC games have heavy file sizes like these, you should invest in laptops with large solid-state drives or SSD.

With its 512GB NVMe SSD, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-57-57EZ can handle a couple of PC games and other general performance-related tasks efficiently in terms of storage space requirements. Despite having plenty of storage space, this laptop has a slim and compact body that makes it easy to carry around.

Get the Acer Aspire 5 A515-57-57EZ i5 Safari Gold now at 15% off for only P39,188 (from an original price of P45,999).

Can it be used outside of gaming?

To make your gaming laptop purchase worth every cent, consider using your device for other additional purposes as well. This can include work or school tasks, like participating in Zoom meetings or performing heavy research for a proposal, project, or homework. The Acer Aspire 5 A515-57-53A0 makes multi-tasking easier with its speedy Intel Core i5-1235u processor, and it also supports WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity for your convenience.

With its 15.6” FHD screen and excellent audio capabilities, you can also enjoy using the Acer Aspire 5 A515-57-53A0 for leisure purposes like streaming movies or listening to music online. Enjoy 15% off on the Acer Aspire 5 A515-57-53A0 i5 Glacier Blue, which you can get for only P39,188 from an original price of P45,999.

Find your perfect budget-friendly PC gaming build at the SM Malls Online app now. For additional savings, don’t forget to use the voucher code SUPERMONTH to get P150 off on any minimum purchase worth P700. For more exciting discounts and promos, visit the SM Deals site or download the SM Malls Online app!