How Much Does it Cost?
As you might expect, the Gigabyte G5 KD comes in a few variants, and I certainly can’t check them all. There will be a choice of RAM and SSD options that people can choose from, but the version I tested features a 16GB RAM configuration and a single 500GB hard drive, which is effectively one of the more affordable configurations. In this configuration, it is available for just £899 at Currys. That’s a pretty decent price, and a good entry point for those wanting a gaming laptop, which can often cost well over £1000.
Overview
I really like the Gigabyte G5 KD laptop, it makes no excuses about what it can deliver or how it hits its price point. It’s a gaming laptop, not a particularly powerful one, but at the same time, it’s actually pretty darn cheap for something that can really game and is actually portable. Now, as far as practicality goes, that is usually the first casualty when it comes to gaming laptops, and that’s still sort of the case here. Unlike most non-gaming laptops that make do with SOC GPUs and the like, it is a bit on the chunky side. Plus, even though the GPU isn’t the most powerful, it’ll still drain the mid-size battery easily enough if you’re maxing things out. So like virtually all gaming laptops, the power cable goes where you go, most of the time.
High Refresh Rate Gaming
The G5 KD does have some advantages though, a lot of high-end gaming laptops are naturally very expensive. However, for most modern PC gaming, the RTX 3060 is actually pretty potent. Especially on this laptop where the resolution is 1920 x 1080, which is a good resolution for a smaller 15.6″ screen too. However, it makes it easy to hit north of 100FPS, taking advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate of the panel. However, it’s also not stupidly heavy. Not that more extreme models don’t have their advantages, but they often have larger components and heavier heatsinks too, so this one isn’t a total drag to carry around when you feel the need.
Versatile
It’s great for a bit of work too, gaming is about the most demanding thing you can do on a PC, as it stresses both the CPU and GPU. However, if you did find the need to do a bit of light video editing, or some graphics rendering, it’ll get the job done in a pinch. It’s good for writing too, the keyboard has good ergonomics and I found it comfortable for shorter periods of work. Of course, a desktop setup is more idea if you’re planning on sitting at the same desk writing all day. Full HD is OK for most tasks, but if you are doing a lot of spreadsheets and editing work, perhaps a larger display with a higher resolution output would be preferred, such as a 1440p 17″ model.
Should I Buy One?
Gigabyte strikes a fine balance here, with a laptop that’s not too thick, not too heavy and not too expensive. However, what little compromises the Gigabyte G5 KD has made are worth it, as getting competent and portable gaming performance at this price range is certainly appealing. It’s a hard setup to beat, short of spending a lot more money on a more powerful system, obviously. Highly recommended!
