This might be quite a strange question, and I understand the answers are only based on speculation.
Short explanation before I ask the question. I can get a laptop for pretty cheap with an i5 12450h cpu and an rtx 3050 gpu. Screen resolution is 1080p. The Gpu only has 4 gig vram which is above the current minimum requirement of 3 gigs. But since Im not planning on buying a new laptop after this one for 5 years or so I was wondering how likely it would be the minimal requirements in vram will go above 4gb at 1080p. I dont mind I will need to turn down some graphical options a couple years down the line, but would prefer the game not to crash because of too little vram.
If the changes are very likely it will increase above it I will wait to buy a new laptop for now, and wait for about 6 more months to save up some money. (saving goes very slow)
I found an expansion history of system requirements for WoW through quick google, can’t link it tho because forum restrictions, got to it through a reddit post linking to wowpedia fansite.
During legion idk not specified exact amount possibly lower than 2 gigs, during bfa and shadowlands 2 gigs was minimum, 3 gigs for dragonflight and it would seem the same for TWW so if the pattern remains the minimum should not increase to more than 4 for the midnight expansion and possibly remain at 4 for last titan.
Depending on how much faster these expansions release as Chris Metzen said they would, Last titan expansion could be a bit less than 4 years away from now if they release every 1.5 years.
This! Don’t buy old or low spec then expect longevity.
I’m also gonna ask; do you need a gaming laptop? As in, is a lot of your gaming while you are not at home, or do you have severe space restrictions and definitely can’t find room for a desktop?
Most people who consider a gaming laptop are actually better served with a dirt cheap laptop for work/study, plus a desktop at home. Usually end up with better gaming performance (and a lighter laptop) for the same budget.
There are reasons to get a gaming laptop, but there’s also a lot of reasons not to (high cost and low performance vs desktop “equivalent”, heat, weight, etc). Make sure you’re buying for the right reasons and understand you pay double per FPS with a laptop vs a desktop
Thank all of you. To answer a couple of questions.
Outside of World of Warcraft I dont play any other new games. Only old games that I can already play on my old desktop. The reason I want a laptop is because I want to play in my living room where there is no real space for a desktop, also we dont like the look of a desktop in the livingroom.
My current desktop is very low specced. i3 7100 with gt 1030 gpu. Only 8 gig of ram and the game is on an HDD. I have not even bought the dragonflight expension since I have just recently returned to the game and want something to play on.
As far as 1080p being outdated. I dont mind playing in 1080p. It is fine for me. And will be more than fine on a 15,8 inch laptop screen. As mentioned. Im not a serious gamer and just want something I can decently play Wow on for the coming couple of years.
I don’t think that kind of budget laptop will be enough for 5 years lol. Games and even operating systems require much higher specifications after 5 years.
Try to buy the best laptop you can but for WoW budget laptops more or less around 1000€ will be enough for multiple years (2-3) easily.
Wow specifically still ran on my gts 250 when i last played with it in shadowlands prepatch-ish which is an ancient graphics card. If you stick to wow(honestly there’s no game that has given me issues with a very similar setup on a laptop outside of the last of us which was broken anyway) they kinda keep optimising the game even for old hardware so it’ll last you a long time, although at some point you’ll be unable to play on proper settings anymore.
My last thought is that particular laptop is already 3 years old. Would you plan to keep a new one for 8? If not, just wait and save. It ain’t no amazing deal
I recently bought a acer v15 nitro laptop with i5 13420 and nvidia 3050 6 gb vram with 16 gb ddr5 ram and it is hitting 144 fps with 6 graphic settings outside cities and in dungeons .i have not yet unlocked raids so cant comment on its performance there .
So maybe this would be good fit for you .
I think this is the model name Acer Nitro V15 ANV15-51-59TJ I5-13420H 16GB 512GB SSD Gaming Laptop .although my sister bought it for me from south korea when she was visiting me so check if this model is available in your area.
Thank you for your feedback guys and girls. Guess Ill just have to wait with getting dragonflight (and war within) until I can sell a rib for a new laptop I guess. Since my old desktop probably wont run it (i3 7100 and gt 1030)
@deeceesham
It was just a question because not everyone can buy 1500+ dollar laptops/desktops to use for the 1 hour a day they can play a game.
I never expected the laptop to run 10/10 @ 144 fps. Was just curious what was your estimation for the expensions a couple years down the line. If this laptop will likely meet the minimum requirements.
this would be good fit for you .