Best Budget Laptop for Minecraft.

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Are you tired of your Minecraft running slow? Do you tire of taking your render distance down to two chunks? Are you looking for a new laptop with better specs to play Minecraft?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are in the perfect place.

Here you will learn everything you need to know about picking out the best budget laptop for Minecraft. Further down, you can also see five of the best cheap gaming laptops for Minecraft today.

So if you are ready to start playing Minecraft again without worrying about lag and low render distance, keep reading on!

Laptop Specs For Running Minecraft

Before looking at budget laptops to play Minecraft on, here are the minimum specifications to meet the Minecraft system requirements.

While you can get by using a computer running these specifications, you should still find a laptop with the recommended specs for the best gaming experience.

Minimum Specs

• CPU: Intel Core i3-3210 3.2 GHz / AMD A8-7600 APU 3.1 GHz or equivalent
• GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge) or AMD Radeon R5 series (Kaveri line) with OpenGL 4.4*
• RAM: 4 GB of RAM
• Screen Resolution: 1024×768 or better
• Storage Space: 2 GB

Recommended Specs

• CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz / AMD A10-7800 APU 3.5 GHz or equivalent
• GPU: GeForce 700 Series or AMD Radeon Rx 200 Series (excluding integrated chipsets) with OpenGL 4.5
• RAM: 8GB of RAM
• Screen Resolution: 1024×768 or better
• Storage Space: 4 GB SSD

Ray Tracing Specs

• CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz / AMD A10-7800 APU 3.5 GHz or equivalent
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series or higher, and AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series or higher
• RAM: >8GB of RAM
• Screen Resolution: 1920×1080 or better
• Storage Space: 4 GB SSD

Additional Spec Recommendations for Modding

If you decide to run mods on your Minecraft, you will need to have a minimum of 4GB – 8GB of dedicated RAM just for the mods. 

Due to the RAM requirements, I recommend getting a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM. At least if you still wish to have a great performance when playing modded Minecraft.

While you can technically run mods on 8GB of RAM, you may run into issues if you play with more than one or two mods. So you are better off finding a laptop with 16GB of RAM.  

How to Choose Your Minecraft Laptop

Now that you know the minimum and recommended specs for playing Minecraft, you are probably wondering how to choose the best budget laptop. It is easy to fall into the hole of agonizing over computer specs.

So instead of leaving to the clutches of paralysis analysis, I have compiled the six most important specs to consider on a computer.

And remember, you do not need a high-end laptop for Minecraft. If you meet the recommended specs, you will have no trouble playing Minecraft and most other games. 

CPU

When looking at laptops for Minecraft, you want to find a laptop with a powerful processor, aka CPU. I recommend getting at least a quad-core processor, as it will handle Minecraft’s multitasking much easier than a duo-core. 

Now, there are two processor brands currently, Intel and AMD. While I personally prefer AMD processors because they run a bit cheaper, Intel processors are currently the best for gaming. At a minimum, you need an Intel i3 or AMD A8 CPU to run Minecraft, though AMD 10 or Intel i5 is better. 

The processor speed is the final aspect of the CPU when choosing your laptop. It is important not to go any lower than 3.0 GHz; the recommended is 3.6 GHz or higher. 

GPU & Graphics Card

The second most important spec to consider when choosing a Minecraft laptop is its graphics card and the GPU.

Without a good GPU, you will have difficulty running Minecraft with a high render distance and good graphics. You simply won’t have enough power to ensure smooth gameplay at a good frame rate.

When looking at GPUs, you probably notice that it says either integrated or dedicated. Integrated GPUs are integrated into your CPU, so they are not separate, meaning they use your system’s RAM and processing power.

On the other hand, Dedicated GPUs are separate from the CPU and use their own processors and RAM. This allows you to run games with higher graphics needs like Minecraft without tapping into your system’s RAM and processing power. 

If you want the cheapest laptops for Minecraft, get one with an integrated GPU, as they tend to be more affordable. However, I recommend getting a dedicated graphics card if possible, as your Minecraft experience will be better.

If you want to run Minecraft with Raytracing, you need to get a laptop with a graphics card that supports this, and the best option is still an Nvidia RTX card.

RAM

The third most important aspect of a Minecraft laptop is its amount of RAM. RAM stands for Random Access Memory and is your computer’s working memory. So anything you are currently doing on a computer is using up RAM.

Today, most computers use DDR4 or DDR5 ram, which is a fancy way to say that the memory is faster than it used to be. Don’t get too caught up with this. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect a better performance from DDR5 vs. DDR4. And a better performance from DDR4 compared to DDR3 and so forth.

Since Minecraft has a lot of different processes happening at once, it is a good idea to invest in more GB of memory.

To run Minecraft without issues, you should have 8 GB DDR RAM on top of a dedicated graphics card. 

I recommend 16 GB of DDR RAM as that will allow you to run Minecraft and most of the latest games without issue.

Screen Size

While not nearly as important as CPU, GPU, and RAM when picking out a laptop for Minecraft, you should still consider your screen size. Larger screens will make playing easier, allowing you to see more of the world around you.

I recommend a minimum screen size of 15 inches. The standard 15.6-inch display is a great option because it doesn’t make the laptop too big to carry around but still gives you plenty of screen space to enjoy your games and other apps.

Alongside your screen size, you will want a high-resolution display. While it is becoming a basic feature of most laptops, you should get a full HD display, i.e., a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. You can play on a lower resolution, but it is not recommended. 

Storage Space

As solid-state drives (SSDs) have become more common in computers, you may not be sure if you should get an SSD or a normal HDD (hard drive). For Minecraft, both SSDs and HDDs will work perfectly fine. 

SSDs are faster and smaller than HDDs, though they still cost slightly more. NVMe SSDs are faster than SATA SSDs, and M.2 drives are even faster but much more expensive.

You don’t need to worry too much about this for Minecraft, though. But if you have a little extra cash, get an SSD. Otherwise, you can get an HDD, and you will still be perfectly fine. 

I recommend getting a laptop with at least 256GB if it’s an HDD or 128GB if it’s an SSD. If you want to play many other games, 512GB HDD or 256GB SSD should be plenty for your needs.

Remember, even though Minecraft doesn’t take up much space, you still need to factor in space for the operating system.

And if you also want to play graphics-heavy video games like RPG or racing games, you need to factor in a lot of storage space. Because a single game can easily take up 80-100 GB.

If you only want to play Minecraft and a couple of casual games, having 256 or 512 GB of storage capacity is plenty.

Battery Life

Finally on the list is battery life. This is only super important if you are planning on playing Minecraft on the go most often. Otherwise, if you are in a position to keep your laptop plugged in, you should focus more on the above specs. 

At a minimum, I recommend a laptop that has a battery life of at least 5 hours for at-home Minecraft gaming and 8 hours of battery life if you play Minecraft on the go.

Best Gaming Laptops for Minecraft

Now that you know everything you need to know about choosing a budget laptop for playing Minecraft, here are my personal budget Minecraft laptop recommendations.

These are some of the best cheap laptops on the market today that meet the recommended Minecraft specs.

Of course, they all come with the basic stuff such as USB ports, wireless connectivity, and additional features. I’ve focused mainly on the specs and ensured they all meet the bare minimum to play Minecraft.

I hope this list of the best laptops for Minecraft will help get you on the right path.

1. Dell Inspiron 15 – Best Overall Budget Laptop for Minecraft

Computer Specs:

• CPU: Intel core i5-1135G7 (Quad Core)
• Processor Speed: 4.2 GHz
• GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics (4GB) – integrated
• RAM: 12GB
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Display Resolution: 1920×1080 (Full HD screen)
• Storage Space: 256GB SSD
• Battery Life: 7 hours

Pros:

• Fast processor
• Built to be durable 
• It comes with 12GB of RAM, making it versatile
• Narrow bordered and backlit display
• Lightweight and easy to carry around

Cons:

• Average performance from integrated graphics
• Weaker speakers compared to other brands
• Low maximum screen brightness

I chose the Dell Inspiron 15 as Minecraft’s best overall budget laptop because it comes with 12GB of RAM, a Quad-core processor, and processor speeds of 4.2 GHz. You are unlikely to find other laptops in this price range with this many specs.

Not only does this laptop come with a fast processor and a large amount of RAM, but it also comes with a 256GB SSD. And if you need more storage space for this laptop, adding additional storage space for all your needs is easy. 

While it is on the lighter side, it is made of durable material and can easily handle a tumble or two. Do not throw the laptop around, but if you accidentally drop it, there is a good chance it will survive the fall. 

The Dell Inspiron 15 (link to Amazon) is a great budget laptop for playing Minecraft, although it also has some areas where it doesn’t perform as well. Fx, it tends to be a low maximum screen brightness, making it difficult to play Minecraft if you’re sitting near a window or outside.

Also, the speakers are pretty poor. So get those headphones on or stream to a Bluetooth speaker!

Check out my buyer’s guide to some great headphones here.

It’s not the cheapest laptop, but I still consider this laptop to offer the best value for the money.

2. Acer Nitro 5 – Best Budget Laptop With Long Battery Life

Computer Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-10300H (Quad Core)
• Processor Speed: 4.5 GHz
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (4GB) – dedicated
• RAM: 8 GB
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Display Resolution: 1920×1080 
• Storage Space: 256GB SSD
• Battery Life: 11 hours

Pros:

• Long battery life
• Powerful graphics card
• Fast processing speeds and four cores
• 144 GHz refresh rate
• Supports Ray Tracing
• LED-backlit display
• Excellent performance for the money

Cons:

• It runs hot after long periods of gameplay
• It tends to be on the more expensive side due to the NVIDIA graphics card
• Occasionally has trouble charging

Regarding battery life, the Acer Nitro 5 is one of the best, lasting 11 hours per charge. That will change depending on how many applications you run at once, but that still outmatches most other laptops on this list.

Besides the battery life, this laptop comes with a dedicated NVIDIA graphics card and 4GB of GPU RAM, alongside another 8GB of RAM for the CPU. So while you are paying for a mid-range laptop, you are getting high-end results.

If you want to do modding or Ray Tracing, the Asus Nitro 5 is also an excellent choice, as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 comes with Ray Tracing capabilities. 

The only real downfall to this laptop is if you play for a long period, it tends to heat up. I recommend you use this laptop on a desk or with a book underneath your lap to prevent you from receiving the heat directly onto your legs.

Despite its cons, this is still a great choice for anyone who wants to enjoy this popular game for hours on the go.

Check out the current price on Amazon here.

3. Asus Vivobook 15 – Best Lightweight Budget Laptop for Minecraft

Computer Specs:

• CPU: Intel-core i3-10005G1 (Dual Core)
• Processor Speed: 3.4 GHz
• GPU: Intel UHD Graphics (4GB) – integrated
• RAM: 4GB
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Display Resolution: 1920×1080
• Storage Space: 128GB SSD
• Battery Life: 8 Hours

Pros:

• Decent processor though slightly old
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Backlit ergonomic keyboard
• Fingerprint scanner
• Thin bezel display

Cons:

• Only 4 GB ram
• Small storage space
• Integrated Graphics card
• Poor speaker sound

If you are looking for the perfect laptop to take with you, look no further than the Asus Vivobook 15 (link to Amazon). Weighing in at only around 3.5 lbs and designed to be as thin and portable as possible, you can enjoy Minecraft wherever you go.

This laptop is also a good choice if you’re on a tight budget.

Even though it is one of the cheaper options for budget laptops, it still comes with a professional design, with thin bezels around the screen. You can enjoy a fully backlit ergonomic keyboard, allowing you to play for long hours during the day or night. 

What I especially like about this laptop for Minecraft is that it can easily run Minecraft, even though it only has 4GB of RAM and two processors. Couple with its 3.4 GHz processing speeds; you will be enjoying everything Minecraft offers in no time. 

This is a good laptop for its price, and you will have a fine time running Minecraft and most other basic applications, though if you plan on streaming or modding Minecraft, you should check out the others on this list.

4. Lenovo Legion 5 – Best Budget Laptop for Modding

Computer Specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 4600H (6-core)
• Processor Speed: 4 GHz
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (4GB) – dedicated
• RAM: 8GB
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Display Resolution: 1920×1080
• Storage Space: 256GB SSD
• Battery Life: 8 hours

Pros:

• Anti-glare display
• Excellent processor with fast speeds
• Dedicated graphics card
• Backlit keyboard
• Large assortment of ports

Cons:

• Poor speakers
• WiFi chip has issues at times
• On the heavier side 

The Lenovo Legion 5 is another great all-around budget laptop for Minecraft, including modding. With a six-core, 4 GHz CPU, and 4GB of dedicated RAM, you will easily run up to 5 mods. Past that, you may see some performance issues. 

One of my favorite aspects about this laptop is its full-size backlit keyboard. It sucks to play Minecraft on a smaller keyboard, but you will have none of those issues here. The keys are smooth and have such a low delay you will not even notice it. 

Another great aspect of the Lenovo Legion 5 is its anti-glare screen. I am sure all of us can relate to a moment when our screens reflected the light of the morning sun into our faces blinding us. Though you will not have to worry about that with this laptop, you can enjoy Minecraft for all your late-night gaming sessions. 

The main issue with this laptop is that it is a bit heavier, coming in at over 5.5 lbs. It can still be carried around easily enough, though.

This laptop a good option for anyone looking to get into modding Minecraft but doesn’t want to break the bank.

Check out the current price on Amazon.

5. HP Pavilion 15 – Best Budget Laptop for Ray Tracing

Computer Specs:

• CPU: Intel core i5-9300h (Quad Core)
• Processor Speed: 4.1 GHz
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4GB) – dedicated
• RAM: 8GB
• Screen Size: 15.6 inches
• Display Resolution: 1920×1080
• Storage Space: 256 SSD
• Battery Life: 4 hours

Pros:

• Dedicated graphics card
• Fast processor
• A good amount of RAM
• Stays cool to the touch with advanced thermal design
• Supports Ray tracing 

Cons:

• Low battery life
• Slightly on the heavier side 

One of HP’s top gaming laptops, the HP Pavilion 15, is great for Minecraft, especially because it supports Ray Tracing.

It has an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU and an Intel 15 quad-core CPU that easily runs Minecraft. No lagging Minecraft here with its 4.1 GHz processors and 8GB of RAM. 

You can download Minecraft and plenty of other games and applications on this laptop, as it comes with a 256GB SSD. If you need extra space, you can install additional storage sticks easily. 

The keyboard, though, is another great selling point of this laptop. It has been built with premium features allowing your fingers to glide across its keys while playing Minecraft. Each key is easy to press and responds quickly to your finger presses, unlike some laptop keyboards. 

The only major issue with this laptop is its low battery life of around four hours. You can find higher-powered versions, but they max out at around 7 hours. So if you plan on getting this laptop, you will need to keep it plugged in most of the time.

This is an excellent laptop for those who want to enjoy Raytracing but don’t want to pay a premium.

Check out the current price on Amazon.

Conclusion

While finding the best budget laptop for Minecraft can be difficult, if you just focus on CPU, GPU, and RAM and keep the above recommendations in mind, you will find your perfect laptop in no time.

I hope you have found this guide helpful, and be sure to check out more great guides like this Intel processor comparison guide. Until next time, happy gaming! 

FAQ

Q: Can I use a Chrome book for Minecraft?

A: No, you can not use a Chrome book to play Minecraft, as it hasn’t been released for Chrome OS. You will have to get either a Windows or Mac laptop. 

Q: If I have a good CPU, do I need a dedicated GPU?

A: If you have a great CPU with at least 16GB of RAM, you can get away with an integrated GPU. Otherwise, you should get a dedicated GPU if you want to play Minecraft. 

Q: Do I need a gaming laptop to play Minecraft?

A: No, you do not need a gaming laptop to play Minecraft. Most of the time, you can get by just fine with a general-use laptop. Gaming laptops can come with many great features but will cost much more. If you’re in doubt if you need a regular laptop or gaming laptop, I recommend you read this guide.

Q: I want to stream Minecraft. Do I need a ton of RAM?

A: If you want to play Minecraft and stream it simultaneously, you should have at least 16GB of RAM. I recommend you get a computer with 32GB of RAM if you plan on streaming and playing Minecraft. 

Q:  Is a laptop better than a PC for Minecraft?

A: A laptop IS a PC because PC simply stands for Personal Computer. What people often refer to when they say a PC is a desktop computer. If you only plan on playing Minecraft and casual games, a laptop is great because the game doesn’t require that much power. Laptops are portable and can be used anywhere while a PC is stuck in a certain spot. If you need a ton of processing power and the best performance possible, get a desktop PC.

Q: What type of Graphics Card should I get?

A: I recommend either Nvidia or AMD for a graphics card. They are the best on the market, though they will cost you a bit more.