According to the official recommendation, the laptops to play Age of Empires need not be very powerful in particular. However, this does not mean you cannot go for a laptop with a higher spec.
In fact, if you really want to enjoy the game in its entirety and to its fullest potential, you should.
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Minimum & Recommended System Requirements for Age of Empires
To play Age of Empires you need to have a PC with minimum Intel Core 2 Duo or an equivalent AMD processor, 4 GB RAM and 30 GB of free hard drive space.
A 14-inch screen with full HD resolution and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card with 2 GB of video memory and with DX 11 support.
With these specs you can’t play the game in high settings. For it, you need to choose a PC with the recommended configurations mentioned below.
Minimum System Requirements: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | 8GB DDR4 SDRAM | 512GB SSD | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | 14 inches screen | 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution.
Recommended System Requirements: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS or better processor | 32GB DDR4 SDRAM or more | 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD or more storage | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or better GPU | 17.3 inches screen or bigger | 3840 x 2400 pixels resolution or higher.
5 Best Gaming Laptops for Age of Empires:
1. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – Best Overall
Bottom Line: All specs and features of this laptop will work together in a perfect harmony to offer the best overall performance while playing Age of Empires. The huge amount of fast SSD storage and the combo of the AMD Ryzen processor and dedicated RTX graphics card in it adds to its performance.
Key Features
- Screen: 14 inches
- Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
Pros
- The storage is enough
- The keyboard is backlit.
- The battery life is good.
Cons
- The keyboard does not have a numeric keypad.
- The screen is a bit small in size.
- There is no optical drive.
This particular model from Asus comes with all the features and hardware that will support playing games like Age of Empires most effectively and smoothly.
The powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor is able to handle the needs of the game with all its eight cores operating at a fast pace of 3.0 GHz and up to 4.30 GHz to make the best use of its 8 MB cache.
Adding to the potential of the system is the dedicated and powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card that features Max Q design and comes with 6 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory which ensures a better graphics performance.
The 16 GB DDR4 SODIMM RAM is adequate enough in amount as well as power to enable smoother multitasking.
The Intel Wi-Fi 6 or 802.11ax wireless communication standard is also very fast and reliable to transfer data in the shortest possible time.
You will also get a strong Bluetooth 5.0 support to connect your Bluetooth enabled devices to Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.
The backlit keyboard is also quite good and solid to offer an optimal typing and gaming experience, though it does not come with a separate numeric keypad.
The keys are large and spaced properly to allow even larger fingers to type on it smoothly and quickly.
The screen however is a bit small in comparison to the screen sizes of most of the gaming laptops.
However, that does not take away anything from its potential to offer a fantastic viewing pleasure.
This 14-inch screen can deliver images at full HD resolution and at a 120 Hz refresh rate making them crisp, clear, and seamless. The WQHD panel is Pantone Validated for exceptional color accuracy.
As for the ports and connectivity options, this laptop offers two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one HDMI port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C ports, and one headphone/microphone combo jack.
Also included in the package is a portable USB 3.0 data hub with four USB data ports that allow data transfer at a high speed of up to 5 Gbps.
2. Dell XPS 9500 – Runner Up
Bottom Line: Gamers can use this runner up laptop in this list to play Age of Empires and expect to get a high level of performance. Though it comes with a lower amount of SSD storage and a GTX graphics card, the huge DDR4 RAM and the Windows 10 Pro operating system adds to its functionality and speed.
Key Features
- Screen: 15.6 inches
- Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with Max Q design
Pros
- The RAM and storage are huge.
- There are two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
- The screen is of good quality and supports touch.
Cons
- There is no separate numeric keypad.
- There is no USB Type A port.
- The touchpad needs some improvement in performance.
Powered with an Intel Core i7 processor with 8 cores which belongs to the 10th generation, Dell XPS 9500 will also ensure that you have the optimal gaming experience when you play Age of Empires on it.
It comes with as high as 16 MB cache and can operate at a max speed of up to 5.1 GHz.
Apart from that, when you use this computer to perform other tasks, you can easily multitask due to the huge amount of DDR4 RAM of 32 GB that comes with a high 2666 MHz bandwidth.
It will allow you to take the full advantage of the 64-bit architecture of the Windows 10 Professional operating system most easily.
On the other hand, the 1 TB PCIe SSD storage is also huge and fast to save the files and store more data. It will also load the apps and boot up the system fast as well as allow faster access to the stored files.
The display of this machine is pretty large measuring 15.6 inches. This display is of high quality and supports touch. It comes with Infinity Edge design which offers a larger viewing and working area.
The images on this UHD screen are displayed at 3840 x 2400 pixels and 500 nits of brightness. However, the anti-reflective property of this touchscreen keeps it soft for your eyes and is itself protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6.
The dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card reproduces the images with better color accuracy and seamlessly with its 4 GB of dedicated GDDR6 video memory and Max Q design.
There are lots of ports and slots in the system that will add to your convenience in using this machine. It comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports that allows data transfer at a fast speed, power delivery and DisplayPort.
There is a USB 3.1 Type C port for power delivery and DisplayPort, one full size SD card reader, one USB Type C port, and one HDMI port.
There is also a wedge-shaped lock slot and a 3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo jack. This audio jack supports Waves Nx which produces 3D audio effects with efficient headtracking.
As for the connectivity, the laptop supports both Bluetooth 5.0 technology and Wireless Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650.
The 720p webcam integrated on the system can capture and deliver images at 30 fps. This HD camera is paired with a dual-array microphones that captures clear sound during a video conversation.
These microphones come with Waves MaxxVoice that is supportive to VoIP and is also Cortana capable.
The audio quality of this device is equally good. The stereo speakers come with custom tuning and Waves MaxxAudio technology.
The quad speaker system comes with two woofers of 2.5 watts each and two tweeters of 1.5 watts each, together making it an 8-watt peak output for an immersive audio experience.
3. ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Gaming Laptop – A Perfect Game Changer
Bottom Line: For its powerful and efficient configurations, this laptop can provide a superior gaming experience, and is a perfect choice for playing Age of Empires. This is a perfect game changer that generates stunning visuals and quite responsiveness while running any intense game.
Key Features:
- Screen: 16 inches
- Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
- RAM: 16GB DDR5 SDRAM
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
- OS: Windows 11 Home
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Pros
- Smooth performance
- 90wh battery supports USB Type C fast charging
- Dual multitasking display with touchscreen functionality
Cons
- Not a lightweight laptop
- Sometimes the second screen annoying a little
- A little bit expensive
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is an excellent option for playing Age of Empires due to its powerful hardware specifications.
The laptop features an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD, making it capable of running the game smoothly at high settings.
The laptop’s main 16-inch 165Hz display provides stunning visuals and responsiveness, enabling players to immerse themselves in the game’s graphics and sound effects.
Its secondary display is very useful to work on any multimedia file.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is an excellent option for those looking to play Age of Empires and other strategy games.
4. MSI Stealth 15M Gaming Laptop – Versatile Connectivity
Bottom Line: This gaming laptop is a great option for gamers who need versatile connectivity in their PC. Of its stunning configurations, you can get an immersive gaming experience while playing Age of Empires on it.
Key Features:
- Screen: 15.6 inches
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 SDRAM
- Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11375H
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Pros
- Updated Wi-Fi 6 interface
- Backlit keyboard
- A lightweight device
Cons
- Battery life is poor
- Not a full-size keyboard
- Limited upgradability
The MSI Stealth 15M gaming laptop is a great option for playing Age of Empires due to its powerful hardware specifications and comfortable keyboard.
The laptop features an Intel i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD.
These components make it capable enough to run the game smoothly at high settings.
The laptop’s versatile connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and USB Type-C, make it easy to connect any external displays or peripherals.
Overall, the MSI Stealth 15M is a great option for gamers who want a powerful and comfortable laptop for playing Age of Empires.
5. Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop – Value for Money
Bottom Line: The Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is a good value-for-money PC that comes with decent specs, including a 17.3 inches full HD display and a dedicated Nvidia GPU. Casual gamers will be pleased by playing Age of Empires on this PC.
Key Features:
- Screen: 17.3 inches
- Storage: 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 SDRAM
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Pros
- Updated Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with dual-band support
- Backlit keyboard support
- USB Type C port
Cons
- Not an ultra-portable device
- For gaming purposes the battery is weak
- Storage capacity is not very promising
The Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop can be a good option to play Age of Empires, a classic real-time strategy game.
With its AMD Ryzen 5 5600H hexa core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, the laptop can deliver a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
The 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms overdrive response time of the 17.3-inch full HD IPS display also provide a vibrant and immersive visual experience.
In addition, the laptop comes with a decent amount of RAM (8GB DDR4) and storage (512GB NVMe SSD), that ensure the game runs smoothly, without facing any lag.
Overall, the Acer Nitro 5 can be a good choice for gamers looking for a reasonably priced, high-performance laptop to play Age of Empires.
How to Choose Best Gaming Laptop for Age of Empires?
There are a range of aspects to consider while choosing a gaming laptop to play Age of Empires. If you do not know where exactly to start from, follow this buying guide.
Display
In order to have a better gaming experience while playing Age of Empires you should choose the right display, based on different factors.
The higher the resolution, the better will be the images with more pixels. Here, 1080p is the standard wherein 1440p or 4K screens will also do a great job.
The refresh rate, if higher, will ensure smoother images. Ideally, you should go for 120 Hz or 144 Hz refresh rates, if not higher.
The size of the screen should be at least 15 inches, if not 17. You may get away with a 14-inch screen but that should have thinner bezels.
As for the type of display, depending on your budget, you can go for an OLED or Organic Light-Emitting Diode display which is available in almost all major gaming laptops.
CPU
The choice of the processor will also have a significant impact on the performance of the laptop and the game of Age of Empires.
The key features of the processor to look for are clock speed, which should be high, the core count, which should be at least four, and a processor of Intel core i5 family, at least.
GPU
A powerful graphics card will help in the visuals of Age of Empires with a higher and smoother frame rate.
It will support high resolution during gameplay. The type of graphics card you need will depend on the type of display.
However, the factors to look for in a GPU are the frame rate, resolution, refresh rate of the display, ray tracing ability, and Artificial Intelligence support.
Any dedicated Nvidia graphics card of the GTX or RTX series of the latest generation is required for smoother gameplay.
You may also go for an AMD Radeon graphics with similar specs and capacity.
Storage
Once again you will need a high amount of storage because games are usually large and need a lot of storage space.
You should typically go for 512 GB storage, higher the better, but never settle for less than 256 GB to play Age of Empires.
As for the storage type, you should choose only SSD instead of HDD because it will be faster, quieter, lighter, but a bit costlier.
This is because SSDs use flash memory to read and write the blocks of data electronically and not through moving parts.
You can choose an NVMe SSD which uses high-speed PCIe bus or SATA SSD that are slower than NVMe SSDs.
Yes, you may also use an external storage for additional space if your laptop does not allow upgrading the internal storage space.
RAM
The RAM will make the temporarily stored data available to the CPU. Higher the RAM amount, more data will be stored and easily accessed.
It will also allow switching between programs more rapidly. It is good to go for a laptop that comes with at least 8 GB of RAM, though a 16 GB RAM will allow faster and better performance and Age of Empires gaming experience.
The key features to look for in a RAM are its speed or bandwidth measured in MHz, upgradeability so that you can add more later on, and type whether it is SODIMM or DDR4 where DDR4 is preferred more.
Other features
Though the design of the laptop should not matter much, if portability is not your main concern, there are other things to consider to ensure that you have a wonderful gaming experience playing Age of Empires on your laptop.
Check for the build quality, preferably with an aluminum casing. It will ensure durability as well as portability.
Check for connectivity, both wireless and wired. As for the wireless connectivity, go for a laptop that supports Wi-Fi 6 and home routers on dual bands of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
The ports are also important where more of it will provide more options to enhance the functionality of the laptop and the gaming experience as well.
The types of ports to look for include HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3, USB Type C and Type A of 2.0, 3.0, or 3.1 versions of different generations, audio jack, RJ 45 Ethernet jack, and SD card slot.
You will also want improved and efficient cooling systems with fans, vents, cooling pipes, exhausts, and heatsinks.
Battery life is also important. If the battery lasts for at least 6 to 8 hours, you can play a session of Age of Empires easily on a single charge.
Finally, check the input options for an ultimate gaming experience.
These include a good keyboard, preferably backlit with or without a numeric keypad, good trackpad so that you do not need to use a mouse, the audio system or headset options.
Questions & Answers:
Do you need to choose an optimal display resolution in a laptop to play Age of Empires smoothly?
Yes, you should, but make sure that the resolution is not higher than the recommended option. It will then affect the framerate of the game and lower your gaming experience.
Can you set the game speed while playing Age of Empires on your laptop?
Yes, you can because the game itself allows you to set the default speed. If it is slow, you will have a more casual approach and a higher speed will ensure a faster and more action-packed experience.
Is it necessary to match Windows 10 and graphics settings of a laptop to play Age of Empires?
Yes, it is. You should change the default graphic settings of Windows 10 to match the executable application of the game. This will ensure a high performance and a better viewing and gaming experience.