15.6 vs 17.3 for gaming

[NeedALaptop]

Looking to hear what screen size in inches do you prefer and why

 

I am in for 17.3 and the reasoning is that it gives you more real estate, arguably helpful in RPGs where the interface gets cluttered with action buttons

[WambleCropped]

i personally have always used 17.3 for that reason, and it is more immersive 

[WambleCropped]

tho larger laptops can be somewhat more expensive, are you looking to buy a laptop?

[Eastman51]

If you are going to be hauling the laptop (assuming that's what we're talking about here) around, get 15". Much lighter and easier to transport.

If its going to sit on your desk all the time, 17" all the way.

[Silentprototipe]

15.6 inches is the perfect sweetspot for portability and screen realestate. The perfect balance between 13 and 17 inches 

[flibberdipper]

If I had my way about it, I'd have a laptop just like my E4310 but with (obviously) updated internals and a 1080p screen. I'm not one for laptops bigger than 14", and my favorite are 13's.

[dizmo]

For gaming? 17.3". Chances are you'd want the better cooling etc offered by a larger chassis, and it's not like gaming laptops get good battery life so portability isn't a huge issue anyway.

[BuckGup]

17in will probably offer better cooling as said above and potentially more space for things like a 2.5in bay and full keyboard. Also a 17in gaming laptop is NOT portable by any means

[NeedALaptop]

Obviously, a desktop gives a better value. However, in my position (where I may change the country soon, and also I am forced to buy abroad and desktops are not possible to deliver) it seems like a decent compromise. As others have also said, a gaming laptop forces you to be stationary, so portability is not an issue - somewhat, a stationary desktop, which is also possible to move more easy.

 

Currently, I have a non-gaming 15.6" (720P) laptop and trying on game screenshots make everything appear too small. Did have a 17.3" gaming laptop like 10 years ago (720P too) but have good memories of having just enough screen size.

Edited March 12, 2019 by NeedALaptop
Typo.

[markr54632]

As someone who frequently uses a lapdesk and has to transport their laptop frequently I never liked 17 inch laptops. I had one 12-3 years ago. It was too big to use with a mouse on a lapdesk comfortably. The size makes it awkward to move. Bags and sleeves are hard to find for 17" and when you do they cost twice as much.

[genexis_x]

I prefer 17 inch TBH. 15 inch feels a bit small to me. There are a few fairly portable 17 inch laptops nowadays, if I were to buy a laptop now I would definitely pick those

[travisjunky]

I use a 13” at work and a 15” at home. I’m constantly moving from room to room at work which is a breeze. My home laptop usually sits at a desk for gaming but sometimes finds its way in my lap or over at someone’s house. It’s no trouble to move. I would imagine 17” would be slightly less mobile than the 15”, depending on weight. Use case is really important and what you feel like tolerating. Personally I don’t mind “setting up” for a gaming session on the larger screen or toting around a larger computer.