Need Help Choosing the Best Budget Gaming Laptop Under $800

The Acer Nitro 5 is a solid pick for your budget, especially if cooling is a priority—those games can push a laptop hard, and the Nitro 5 handles heat better than most in this price range. That said, the IdeaPad’s brighter display might be worth it if you’re often gaming in well-lit spaces. For Valorant and Genshin, both should run fine, but I’d lean toward the Nitro 5 for longevity.

As for refresh rates, 120Hz vs. 144Hz isn’t a massive jump, but if you’re competitive in Valorant, the smoother motion of 144Hz can give you a slight edge. That said, at this price point, I wouldn’t stress over it—focus on thermals and build quality first.

Have you looked at the ASUS TUF Dash F15? It sometimes dips under $800 on sale and has a great balance of performance and portability. Just a thought!

I’ve had the Acer Nitro 5 (last gen model) for about a year, and I can confirm the cooling is legit—it really helps when you’re gaming for hours. Genshin Impact can get pretty demanding, and it kept temps reasonable without throttling. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3’s brighter screen is tempting, especially if you game in daylight, but I found the IdeaPad’s fans louder and its chassis gets warmer faster, which can be annoying mid-session.

Regarding refresh rates, the jump from 120Hz to 144Hz is subtle. If you’re not a pro-level Valorant player, it won’t be a game changer. I’d prioritize thermals and build quality over that small refresh rate bump.

Also, don’t overlook the ASUS TUF series—Taylor’s right about the Dash F15; it’s occasionally on sale and offers great specs for the price. Just double-check if the GPU and CPU align with your needs. Budget gaming is all about balancing compromises, and cooling should be top of the list to avoid a laptop that slows you down after 30 minutes.

The Nitro 5 is the smarter choice here—cooling matters more than you think, especially for Genshin Impact, which can push temps higher than Valorant. I’ve seen too many laptops throttle into uselessness because they can’t handle sustained loads. The IdeaPad’s brighter screen is nice, but if you’re gaming in a dim room (which most of us do), it’s not a dealbreaker.

As for refresh rates, 120Hz vs. 144Hz is barely noticeable unless you’re a hardcore competitive player. Save the cash and put it toward better thermals or an SSD upgrade.

And yeah, the ASUS TUF Dash F15 is a great shout—if you can snag it on sale, do it. But if you’re buying now, the Nitro 5 is the safer bet. Don’t overthink it; just get the one that won’t turn into a toaster after an hour of play.

I have to agree with the consensus here: the Acer Nitro 5 really is the better all-around pick for under $800, especially if you care about sustained gaming performance. It’s maddening how many laptops get hyped for flashy screens only to throttle like crazy after 20 minutes of play. Genshin Impact is deceptively demanding, and the Nitro’s thermal design is no joke—it keeps things cooler and quieter than the IdeaPad, which can get loud and hot fast.

About that screen brightness argument: sure, a brighter display is nice if you’re gaming in sunlight, but I honestly don’t see many serious gamers playing Valorant or Genshin outside in bright rooms. If you do, maybe consider proper ambient lighting rather than compromise cooling.

As for 120Hz vs 144Hz, it’s basically splitting hairs unless you’re a pro aiming for every millisecond of smoothness. I’d rather have a reliable laptop than chase a tiny refresh rate bump. My advice: prioritize thermals and build quality over marketing buzz, and watch for ASUS TUF deals if you want a slight upgrade.

The points made about cooling being a top priority for sustained gaming performance really resonate with me. It's so frustrating when laptops throttle due to poor thermal design, effectively becoming unusable after a short while. The Acer Nitro 5's cooling system seems to be a strong selling point, and it's reassuring to hear from users who've experienced its benefits firsthand. While a brighter display is certainly a plus, it's not worth compromising on thermals, especially for games like Genshin Impact that can push a laptop to its limits. If ambient lighting is a concern, there are other solutions that don't involve sacrificing performance. The advice to prioritize build quality and thermals over a marginal refresh rate increase makes a lot of sense too.

Totally agree with the thermals argument—so many budget gaming laptops get this wrong, and it drives me up the wall. The Nitro 5 is a solid pick, but I’d also throw the ASUS TUF A15 into the mix if you can find it on sale. The newer Ryzen models handle heat even better and give you more battery life, which is rare in this price range.

As for the screen debate, 120Hz vs. 144Hz is *barely* noticeable unless you’re playing CS:GO at a pro level. What’s more annoying is a dim, washed-out panel—so if the IdeaPad’s brightness is significantly better, that’s worth considering if you don’t always game in a cave.

Final thought: Genshin Impact isn’t *that* demanding, but thermal throttling will ruin any game’s performance. Prioritize cooling, then look at screen quality. If the Nitro 5’s thermals are better, lean that way.

Great points, @mayaperez76! The ASUS TUF A15 wasn’t even on my radar, but if the Ryzen models handle heat better *and* squeeze out more battery life, that’s a game-changer. And you’re totally right—I’d take a bright, vibrant screen over a slightly higher refresh rate any day (my gaming sessions are definitely not in a cave).

Thermals seem to be the real MVP here, so I’ll dig deeper into how the Nitro 5 and TUF A15 compare in that department. Thanks for the solid advice—this helps narrow things down!