The Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail expansion update will be released on July 2, 2024, and fans can't wait to play this game. However, your laptop may not be able to run this game since the system requirements of the game have increased significantly. According to Steam, the new expansion now requires an RTX 2060 as a recommended GPU for this game.
This article lists five budget laptops with the best gaming performance, and they can play this game smoothly at various resolutions.
Note: This list is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
List of the best budget laptops for Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail
1) Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gaming Laptop (RTX 4070)
Price: $1,079
If you want the best performance at this price bracket, there's no better choice than the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i. That's because it's the only laptop on this list that pairs a 14th Gen Intel Core i9 processor with an Nvidia RTX 4070, and such high-end configuration is usually only found in the $1500 price bracket.
With this level of performance, you can easily play Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail at QHD resolution with high graphics or even at 4K with an external display if you are willing to lower some settings. It can even play demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 at QHD resolution with high settings. Also, downloading large games won't be an issue since it has a 2TB SSD capacity.
Pros
- Has the best graphics performance on this list.
- Has the latest 14th Gen Core i9 CPU.
- Has a QHD resolution with a super high refresh rate.
Cons
- Costs well over $1000 and may be affordable for everyone.
2) GIGABYTE G5 KF5 Gaming Laptop (RTX 4060)
Price: $969
Under $1000, the GIGABYTE G5 KF5 is one the best gaming laptops and comes with RTX 4060 to deliver the best gaming experience at 1080p. You can play Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail with the highest graphics settings and still get over 60 FPS constantly.
The design of the laptop certainly caught my eye, or maybe the presence of the RGB keyboard did. Either way, it's a good design that will grab other's attention. It also has 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, which should be enough for most people. However, if it's not enough, you can buy the 32GB variant, which costs $60 more.
Pros
- Has a fast 10-core Intel CPU.
- The keyboard has RGB elements.
- Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail runs extremely well on this laptop.
Cons
- Total Graphics Power is a bit lower.
3) ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Laptop (AMD RX 7600)
Price: $949
This is the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition laptop that packs in an AMD-only configuration. So, both the CPU and the GPU inside are from AMD. You get the Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, which is a decent 8-core chip.
For the graphics card, you get the Radeon RX 7600S. The performance of this GPU is comparable to the RTX 4060, and in some games, the Radeon card actually provides more FPS. Therefore, most games, including the Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail, will run superbly on this laptop.
Pros
- Has an all-AMD CPU and GPU for better performance.
- The chips are incredibly efficient and have a large battery to keep them going for longer sessions.
- Has a color-accurate display.
Cons
- Storage capacity is a bit lower.
4) Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-527S Gaming Laptop (RTX 3060)
Price: $849.99
This Acer Nitro 5 can be a great choice for users with a strict budget. That's because you're getting a decent Intel Core i5 CPU with the Nvidia RTX 3060, and this configuration is usually priced higher.
The GPU has the full 140W power, so it's not gimped in any way and will deliver a smooth and stutter-free performance in most games you play, which includes Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail. You can also hook it to a 1440p monitor and play this title online at its native resolution with DLSS upscaling technology.
Pros
- The RTX 3060 is still a good graphics card and can provide a great 1080p experience.
- Can play Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail with 60+ FPS FPS consistently.
- Has 16GB of RAM needed for a smooth gaming experience.
Cons
- Doesn't have DDR5 RAM support.
5) Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop (RTX 4050)
Price: $777.48
This Acer Nitro V is the cheapest gaming laptop on this list, and there have been some compromises to get it at this price bracket. It comes with RTX 4050, which is enough for 1080p gaming, and it supports DLSS 3 upscaling, which should boost framerates in games where you can't get 60 FPS consistently.
You can easily play Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail without worrying about performance. The primary compromise of this laptop has to do with its 8GB memory, which is enough for the Dawntrail expansion but may not be for modern gaming. However, it can be upgraded to 16GB or more.
Pros
- Has a faster 13th Gen CPU for smoother gaming performance.
- Has an RTX graphics card with support for DLSS.
- The DDR5 RAM support leads to better gaming performance.
Cons
- Has 8GB RAM only, which isn't enough for modern games.
These are the best budget gaming laptops you should buy to play Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail expansion. While they are all great in their respective price range, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gaming Laptop is the best, and you cannot get a better deal than this. You are getting a top-end CPU and 2TB of storage.