I swapped a gaming desktop for a gaming laptop computer — here is how they stack up in 2025

A gaming desktop or laptop computer, which to get? It’s an age-old query I’ve been pondering these days, particularly now that the very best gaming laptops come fitted with the newest peak {hardware}, pushing CPU and GPU energy even additional.

To many, it is a simple selection. The greatest gaming PCs simply ship the next bar for efficiency, with hovering energy output and bigger parts that may be custom-made to at least one’s liking. But desktop-class laptops exist for good motive, as they present simply how a lot energy might be packed right into a cellular gadget — and it is onerous to not be impressed by the efficiency they dish out.

Nothing says that greater than the current Acer Predator Helios 18 AI I’ve examined. This machine boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 cellular GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD. It’s a monster, and so far as desktop replacements go, it suits the invoice.

But then there’s the juggernaut that’s the Acer Predator Orion 7000 I also recently tried out, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU, RTX 5080 desktop GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD. Now this is a beast, capable of delivering 4K gaming with frame rates as high as 160 FPS (thanks to Nvidia DLSS 4).

Two mighty gaming machines, one similar price. The Helios 18 AI can be found for $3,099/£3,099, whereas the Orion 7000 for round £3,299 (no U.S. pricing but, however I can think about it being round a similar $3,299). As you’ll be able to inform, these are premium investments, so I’d be ensuring my pockets is proud of my decisions.

Can each gaming PCs crank up settings to max in the very best PC video games? You guess your GPU they will, however the true matter right here is the distinction in efficiency they ship. And so, I put the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI to the take a look at — all to see if it actually can measure as much as the degrees of a gaming desktop. Let’s dive into the numbers.

Impressive comparisons… form of

Look, even a high-end gaming laptop computer would by no means be capable to beat a tower with desktop-equivalent specs. So realistically, the Predator Helios 18 AI would not stand an opportunity in opposition to the Predator Orion 7000, as they’re two completely different lessons of gaming machines.

As you may discover, the benchmarks say all of it. With its sizeably spectacular 18-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) mini-LED panel with a 250Hz refresh charge, the Helios 18 AI cannot ship 4K (3840 x 2160) visuals by itself, so the Orion 7000 already needed to put up with a heavier load once I examined its 4K efficiency.

But regardless of the hole in resolutions, the Helios 18 AI remains to be beautiful to play on throughout real-time gameplay. And if the additional per-pixel depend is not an enormous concern, you may discover it may pull off commendable body charges.

Using the built-in benchmarking instruments in video games like Black Myth Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages, I saw frame rates skyrocket to nearly 200 FPS with Nvidia’s frame generation at x4. That’s all at max settings as well, and at 1600p resolution, that’s some mighty performance.

Those numbers dip without DLSS turned on, though, and I wouldn’t want to play Cyberpunk 2077 at just over 30 FPS. Still, I was impressed to see it reach nearly 60 FPS in Black Myth: Wukong, even with the highest Cinematic settings.

A valiant effort, but when you consider the Orion 7000 is reaching these numbers at 4K, you can see the clear difference in power. If resolution was taken down a notch, Acer’s gaming desktop would wipe the floor with its gaming laptop.

Moving over to the 3DMark benchmarking tool, which scores the CPU and GPU’s rendering capabilities under different conditions, the difference is made clearer:

In virtually all the graphics tests, the Helios 18 AI gets just over half the rendering performance of the Orion 7000. This is to be expected, of course, seeing as the RTX 5080 laptop GPU comes with up to 175W max power, while the RTX 5080 desktop GPU can utilize up to 360W power.

Either way, the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI still delivers commendable scores, even when compared to our current top 18-inch laptop contender: the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. And when it comes to the rest of the benchmarks, including Geekbench and SSD speed results, it isn’t so far behind that it becomes a joke.

The perks of a gaming laptop

As per the results above, the performance gains you get from a gaming PC like the Acer Predator Orion 7000 over a laptop are substantial, and its value then soars over the Predator Helios 18 AI with their prices in mind.

But what if I want to take that kind of gaming power with me on a trip, to a pal’s house for a big ol’ LAN party, or just to another room? Well, that’s the perk of a gaming laptop: portability.

The Predator Helios 18 AI may weigh a hefty 7.7 pounds, but it sure beats lugging around the Orion 7000’s whopping 35.6 pounds from place to place. With its 18-inch size, it’s big enough to act as a generously sized computer, too — but one that’s portable.

But a laptop is also an all-in-one device, coming with its own keyboard and monitor (and a trackpad, I suppose, but the best gaming mouse would be better suited). Unlike a gaming desktop, that’s less cash to spend on essential peripherals. And with the stunning per-key RGB keyboard (sporting hot-swappable WASD keys) and 18-inch mini-LED display with a mega-fast 205Hz refresh rate, these are premium assets to have.

Granted, it takes a lot of money to get high frame rates at equally high settings in a portable machine, even if it doesn’t quite match the sheer might of a gaming desktop. But if gaming on the go is more your jam (as is mine), then that’s where the perks of a gaming laptop like the Helios 18 AI shine.

Can a gaming laptop be a true desktop replacement?

Back to the crux of the matter, and to put the big question on my mind to rest. Can a gaming laptop like the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI be a true desktop replacement? Well, compared to the power of the similarly priced Predator Orion 7000, not exactly.

But that doesn’t mean the Helios 18 AI isn’t mighty, and it boasts more than enough performance to blaze through the latest, high-demanding PC games (even if the fans can get a tad noisy). You’re still getting desktop-level performance — even if it’s just over half the power of a gaming desktop.

If stationary raw power is what’s needed, then the choice is obvious: a gaming desktop will always be the go-to option. But if an all-in-one setup and simple mobility calls, I wouldn’t feel like I’m missing out if using a premium gaming laptop. Sure, I’d be missing out on extra performance, but for the most part, I’m still getting pure joy out of playing high-end games at their finest.

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