Even if you don’t play video games, a mid-range gaming computer can give great power for pros. Gamers pay premiums for the latest and greatest. Older models drop in prices. Non-gaming pros gain more power than they need, at a discount. Check these (mid-range) gaming laptops that double as power pro PCs for non-gamers.
Non-gaming computer users include video editors and professionals who use several complex programs at one time. Here at WorkstationFX, editors often need several browser windows open. On top of that, many need to run Photoshop, MS Word, Powerpoint, and video editing software at the same time.
The bad news is that most online reviews point office workers to pricey models with fancier screens but less power. The good news: office workers also have the option of following gaming computer trends. In 2020, there is an ongoing race for processor and graphics superiority. To keep up with top AAA games, better hardware keeps coming out with more power and less drastic prices.
Non-gamers can follow in the wake of these trends to benefit. When new hardware comes out, prices for previous generations drop. Older generations offer less for gamers, but more power than most non-gamers need.
Best gaming computers for office
For high-end production, a good computer needs four things. Those are the processor, GPU, and the right ports for your needs. To a lesser degree, storage is also a factor.
At the very top of the line in 2020, the best options provide more than any non-gamer needs. You can run multiple programs at one time without delay. At the same time, performance is fast across the board. Since you can also plug in a wired ethernet cable, internet connection speeds are also faster.
Summary of essential 2020 computer specs for pros
Here are our top-rated mid-range gaming computers that can serve as high-end office computers.
Lenovo Legion 5; Ryzen 7 4800H
Amazon price:
Lenovo launched this series of gaming laptops in early 2017. The original model came with a 7th-generation Intel i7-7700, 16GB of max RAM, and a PCle boot drive. GPU options were a GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1060.
The 2020 Legion 5 Series launched in May 2020. This new line comes with some key improvements. Notables:
- TrueStrike keyboard: 100% anti-ghosting and sub-millisecond response times deliver hair-trigger accuracy.
- Legion Coldfront 2.0: better airflow and lower system temperatures.
Legion 5 specs
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a 15″ laptop with a Ryzen 7 4800H CPU that is ideal for both gaming and content creation. Its Ryzen 7 4800H is a beast. It beats the Intel i7-quad-core with eight cores, 16 threads, a much lower price. For gaming, the i7 has an edge. For multitasking, HD video editing, and office work, the Ryzen’s eight cores is superior.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (2.90 GHz, Max Boost up to 4.20 GHz, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 8 MB Cache).
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB
- Memory: 32GB DDR4 3200MHz
- Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, anti-glare, 250 nits, 120Hz, 45% CG
- Keyboard: white backlight; 4-zone RGB (not included on this model)
- Battery life: 8 hours
The GTX 1650 offers less power than the latest-and-greatest GPUs. For gamers, that means you will need to play more demanding titles at lower settings. As well, the 120Hz display looks more washed out than the 144Hz variant on more expensive machines. For non-gamers, the GTX 1640 will make no difference compared to a more powerful card.
Legion 5 ports
Ports on the Legion 5 are decent but not spectacular. There’s neither a card reader nor a Thunderbolt port. For multi-monitor setups, there is an HDMI port and USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort. All ports:
- Data USB ports: USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps, always on); 3 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- Display ports: USB-C 3.2 (DisplayPort™); HDMI 2.0
- Other ports: RJ45 ethernet; Mic / headphone combo; Kensington lock slot; AC adapter plug
Legion 5 Advice
The Lenovo Legion 5 is our top-rated computer for non-gaming professionals. The Ryzen 7 4800H CPU and GTX 1650 GPU provide more power than you will need for office multitasking. After using this machine for one month, three qualities stand out.
Clever design
The Legion 5 comes in a flat black finish with a multifunction RGB-illuminated keyboard. Our favorite part of the design is the port placement. There’s an always-on USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 on the right side. You can use that to transfer data, connect peripherals or charge devices. There’s another USB 3.2 Gen 1 on the left.
All of the other ports are at the back of the machine, between two air vents. There you will find the HDMI, USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and an RJ45 ethernet port. It’s a brilliant design when using the Legion as a desktop computer. It makes cable management easy and delivers a clean desktop with no clutter or cables.
Superb cooling and performance
Here at WorkStationFX I often multi-task. Usually, I have around 20 browser tabs open, plus several intensive programs like Photoshop and Illustrator. Under my highest multitasking loads, I use around half of my RAM and a quarter of my CPU and GPU power.
Enhancing the glory of the performance is the superb cooling. A big part of that is the Ryzen 7 chip. It consumes less power and runs cooler out of the box compared to Intel chips. Bundled with Legion Coldfront 2.0, you can expect decent, consistent temperatures even under heavy workloads.
Given the price, power, cooling, and design, the Legion 5 shines. It has everything that a non-gaming user needs. Office workers, content creators, programmers, and designers can all enhance their work with this powerful yet affordable machine.
ASUS TUF 506IU-ES74; Ryzen 7 4800H
Amazon price:
TUF computers go through rigorous MIL-STD-810H tests. These expose the computer to drops, vibrations, humidity, and extreme temperatures. These machines are dependable under even the harshest conditions.
This model comes with a sleek Fortress Gray chassis. Subtle honeycomb patterning around the base adds grip. Hairline brushstrokes across the palm rest keep the surface looking sleek and clean.
ASUS TUF specs
The 2020 TUF laptop has the same Ryzen 7 CPU as the Legion 5. This model includes 16GB of RAM, half of what the Legion 5 offers. Other components beat the Legion 5 specs. First is an upgraded GTX 1660 Ti 6GB graphics card. Second is a superior 144Hz IPS display. For gamers, those are nice extras. For non-gamers, they’re irrelevant.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (2.90 GHz, Max Boost up to 4.20 GHz, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 8 MB Cache).
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
- Display: 15.6″ 144Hz Full HD IPS-Type Display
- Keyboard: uniform RGB backlighting key
- Battery life: 8.7 hours
ASUS TUF ports
Most TUF ports are on the left side of the computer. There you will find your HDMI, USB-C DisplayPort, and other essentials.
- Data USB ports: 1 x Type-A USB 2.0 (480 Mbps); 2 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- Display ports: USB-C 3.2 (DisplayPort™); HDMI 2.0
- Other ports: RJ45 ethernet; Mic / headphone combo; AC adapter plug
ASUS TUF advice
On paper, the TUG gaming laptop looks like a solid alternative to the Legion 5. The first good impression is the legitimately tough chassis. This machine feels solid and rugged. It also has better specs, offering a superior screen and a more powerful GPU. On the flipside, the Legion gives a better port arrangement and more USB 3.1 ports. This machine offers less with only two high-speed USB 3.2 ports and an archaic USB 2.0.
The biggest gap between the Legion 5 and the ASUS TUF is the cooling. The Legion Coldfront 2.0 includes effective venting and consistently lower temperatures. In contrast, the TUF laptop cooling system has well-documented problems. For one thing, air vents don’t line up with airways. As a result, hot air keeps circulating inside the machine instead of blowing out. For another, the internal cooling system is a cheap build made out of four copper pipes. Combined, the whole package tends to run hot.
Running a cooling pad underneath doesn’t help. That is because the bottom chassis holes don’t line up with intake fans. Over time, running consistently hotter will wear your machine down faster.
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK-047; Intel i7-10750H
Amazon price:
MSI Electronics was founded in 2001 in Kunshan, China. In 2015, MSI was ranked as the world’s fourth-best computer company by Laptopmag.com. In 2020, it continues to rank fourth, offering powerful computers for both gaming workstations.
GP Leopard Series are the value computers in the MSI collection. These use the same core gaming features as high-end models, with more accessible pricing.
MSI Leopard specs
The GP65 is packed with high-end components. On paper, these configurations look like a dream.
- CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H (2.60 GHz, Max Boost up to 5.00 GHz, 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 12 MB Cache).
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB
- Memory: 16GB (8Gx2)DDR4 2666MHz; Max Memory 64GB
- Display: 15.6″ Thin Bezel FHD (IPS-Level 144Hz; 3ms; 100% sRGB; 72% NTSC)
- Keyboard: Steel Series per-Key RGB with Anti-Ghost key+ silver lining
- Battery life: around 4-5 hours
MSI Leopard ports
Most ports are on the left side. There you will find both an HDMI and Mini DisplayPort to connect external screens.
- Data USB ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C (10Gbps); 3x USB 3.2 Gen1 (5 Gbps)
- Display ports: mini DisplayPort v1.2; HDMI
- Other ports: RJ45 ethernet; Mic / headphone combo; AC adapter plug
MSI Leopard advice
This looks like a great option for content creators and non-gaming computer users. The i7-10750H delivers six cores of power with a high boost clock. On top of that, the powerful GPU is also a performance monster.
The big drawback to this machine is cooling. Standard use temperatures hover in the 80s. Even though you can run higher CPU and GPU clock speeds, poor cooling means you can’t do so for long.
Inside the Leopard is a cheap conventional heat pipe solution. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion 7 offers similar power with a vapor champer cooling system.
Higher-end alternatives
For around $500 more than what previous models cost, you get better features. The most significant is an upgraded graphics card. For gamers, the means smoother gameplay at higher framerates. For non-gamers, the biggest benefit is to add more than two extra screens.
Is that worth paying an extra $500 for? Below we take a closer look at what other upgrades more money gets you.
Lenovo Legion 7i; Intel i7-10875H
Amazon price:
The Lenovo Legion 7i comes with a high-end CPU and better GPU than the Legion 5. Most notable for office workers is the ability to connect up to three external screens. This model also boasts the same robust cooling system as the Legion 5.
Legion 7i specs
The 2020 TUF laptop has the same Ryzen 7 CPU as the Legion 5. This model includes 16GB of RAM, half of what the Legion 5 offers. Other components beat the Legion 5 specs. First is an upgraded GTX 1660 Ti 6GB graphics card. Second is a superior 144Hz IPS display. For gamers, those are nice extras. For non-gamers, they’re irrelevant.
- CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H (2.60 GHz, Max Boost up to 5.00 GHz, 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 12 MB Cache).
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q 8GB
- Memory: 16GB DDR4-2933 RAM
- Included storage: 512GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe
- Display: 15.6″ Full HD (1920×1080) WVA 500nits Anti-glare, 144Hz, 100% Adobe RGB, Dolby Vision Display
- Keyboard: Corsair iCUE RGB support
- Battery life: 4.5 hours (see tests)
Legion 7i ports
The 7i has a good selection of ports on all three sides. The left has a headset jack, USB 3.1 Type-C port, and a Thunderbolt 3 port. On the back is an HDMI 2.0 port, a Kensington lock slot, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, and an Ethernet port. The right side has another USB 3.1 Type-A port and the OneKey Recovery button. Use that to restore your system in case of a crash.
- Right port: 1 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- Rear ports: 2 x USB-A 3.2; HDMI 2.0; RJ45 ethernet; Kensington slot; power-in
- Left ports: Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C (Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, USB 3.2, HDMI); USB-C (DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.2 Gen 1), headphone / mic combo
For office workers, the left ports are notable. Both the Thunderbolt and USB-C ports can connect to displays. Combined with the HDMI port on the back, this machine can power three separate external screens at once. Three external monitors plus the laptop screen gives you way more screen real estate than you will need.
One option is to disable the laptop screen and use a triple-monitor setup. Another is to add two screens and use your Legion 7i screen as the third.
Legion 7i advice
For non-gamers, the main appeal of the Legion 7i is the triple-monitor support. The Legion 7i also has a better GPU, but that’s only relevant for gamers. If willing to pay a $550 premium for those extras, this is a solid pick. It’s powerful, runs cool, and looks great.
ROG Zephyrus G14; Ryzen 9 4900HS
Amazon price:
The ASUS Republic of Gamers ROG G14 is an ultra-slim, compact laptop. It has a 14″ 2560 x 1440 screen and packs plenty of pure muscle under the hood.
ROG Zephyrus specs
The Zephyrus G14 comes with an AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS CPU. That is an upgrade over the Ryzen 7 4800H. The Ryzen 9 variant has a 2% higher clock speed, 50% more L3 cache, and a 29% lower power consumption. That comes bundled with an RTX 2070 Max-Q 8GB graphics card.
That’s a big gamer upgrade compared to the GTX 1650 Ti that the Legion 5 offers. The RTX 2070 is around 112% faster in synthetic tests. It also has a wider memory bus, more pipelines, and a higher memory bandwidth. Gamers will notice the upgrade when playing games at high settings. Non-gamers won’t notice any significant performance difference.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS (3.0 GHz, Max Boost up to 4.3 GHz, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 8 MB Cache).
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q 6GB
- Memory: 40GB DDR4 SODIMM RAM;
- Included storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Display: 14.0″ Full HD (1920×1080) 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Keyboard: backlit chicklet keyboard
- Battery life: 11.5 hours (see tests)
ROG Zephyrus ports
Most ports run along the sides. On the right are two USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, and a Kensington lock slot. On the left is the power input, an HDMI 2.0b port, and a USB-C port with power charging and DisplayPort. Also on the left is a combination audio jack with headphone and mic support.
- Data USB ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps); 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps)
- Display ports: USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery; HDMI
- Other ports: Mic / headphone combo; AC adapter plug
There’s no Ethernet port. Instead, you get Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+). The former delivers robust device connectivity. The latter ensures speedy internet connections, even without an Ethernet connection.
ROG Zephyrus advice
The ROG Zephyrus G14 packs a lot of power into a small chassis. As a result, it tends to run hot. Expect most games and heavy CPU applications to put the CPU over 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Over extended gaming sessions, surface temperatures along exhaust ports can reach 110F.
Common office computer questions
This section addresses common questions about gaming computers for non-gamers. Non-gaming computer users include content creators, designers, and office workers.
Desktop computer vs laptop
For six months in 2019, I tested out working with a custom-built PC. It has an Intel i7 either-generation chip and a GTX 1050 ti GPU. After my testing, I switched back to working with laptops.
For gamers, there are a few advantages of using a gaming PC. First, they have more space, better colling systems, and much better airflow. Second, better airflow and larger components yield more power at lower temperatures. Third, RGB lighting add-ons are delightfully addictive.
For non-gaming purposes, I found that using a gaming PC was overkill. It consumed a lot more power than a laptop — my electricity bill went up. As well, I had to get used to the sound of loud fans blowing at all times. A third problem is that most desktop motherboards only support two monitor screens. To ensure a 3-monitor setup, I needed to buy a more expensive specialty motherboard.
For non-gamers, a good laptop PC offers several advantages. All models in this review can connect to two extra screens. They all consume less power and cost less than desktop equivalents. On top of that, they are portable and more flexible. For instance, if the power goes out, your desktop dies, but a laptop lives on.
What computer features do I need?
A good workstation computer should provide enough CPU and GPU power to handle heavy multitasking. It should also run cool, with little need for loud fans.
A third requirement is screen connectivity. Most laptops can connect via HDMI to at least one external screen. The best models for pro users can connect to two external screens. Plus the laptop’s monitor, that means up to three screens of workspace.
How long will a gaming computer last?
All computers in this review come with a 1-year warranty. With full-time daily use, most should last around years. Assuming no build defects, the first part to degrade will likely be the SSD.
After five years, it should be time to upgrade your machine to whatever is the latest and greatest at the time.
Conclusion
For computing professionals, a good-quality gaming laptop offers amazing value for money. As gaming hardware pushes the boundaries, prices on older components drop. As a result, non-gamers can gain more power than they need, for less than what gamers pay.
All laptops in this review boast high-end components that wield plenty of power. As with most gaming laptops, the main drawback of these machines is cooling. As a general rule, gaming laptops run hot.
The Lenovo Legion laptops are the exception. Both come with powerful cooling units that keep temperatures cool and consistent. If you’re looking for insane power plus cool, stable operation, nothing beats the Legion Series.
To learn more about 2020 CPU, GPU, port, and storage standards, check out this feature:
