Testing tech comparisons and benchmarks under $500 for gaming setups

[Edward.H]

So I've narrowed it down to two laptops and I keep going back and forth. It's the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 with the Ryzen 7 7745HX and RTX 4070, versus the ASUS ROG Strix G16 with the i7-13650HX and RTX 4060. Both are roughly the same price where I'm at, about $1,450 give or take.

The Legion has the better GPU on paper, but I've read a ton of reviews saying the 4070 isn't a huge leap over the 4060, maybe 10-15% at best. Meanwhile the Strix has that Intel chip which seems to perform better in most gaming benchmarks, especially at 1080p where I'll be playing. But then I keep seeing people complain about ASUS build quality and coil whine on the G16, while the Legion is supposedly built like a tank. The thing that's really tripping me up is battery life when I'm not gaming — the AMD chip should crush the Intel in that department, but some reviews claim the Legion's battery optimization is garbage and you only get like 3 hours on a full charge.

I guess my question is, for someone who mostly plays stuff like Cyberpunk and Baldur's Gate 3 at high settings, and doesn't plan to upgrade for at least 4 years — which one is actually going to hold up better in the long run? I keep feeling like the 4070 is the smarter buy but the Strix wins everywhere else except raw GPU power.

[Emma57]

If you're gaming at 1080p, many say the 4060 can hold its own just fine. Also, the battery life on the Legion can be disappointing with real-world usage far from what you might expect. Don’t underestimate the importance of a solid build and effective thermal management too.

[Aria96]

The Legion might have a slight advantage in GPU performance, but think about your needs for the next four years. If you value longevity, the better cooling and build quality of the Legion could save you headaches down the line. 4070 might give slight color advantage, but considering the Strix's strong CPU performance at 1080p, it could be worth a look.

[EmmaLR]

Been using the ASUS ROG Strix G15 for over a year. While I enjoy the performance, the coil whine is real. It's distracting, especially during quieter moments in games. Just something to keep in mind when picking. Definitely consider your tolerance for that sort of thing.

[BrandonH]

If you’re eyeing future-proofing, the 4070 might edge you out in games that demand raw GPU power. However, don't forget to consider your typical gaming experience. If the Strix serves better for what you play, it might be a reasonable choice. Just keep the warranty and return options in mind.

[James_A]

I have the Legion and I can say it’s built like a tank, but the battery life is indeed subpar. You can expect around 3-4 hours under normal use, which is rough if you aren't always plugged in. Maybe check reviews specific to gaming performance since those often vary depending on the title.