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With the best laptop for Payday 3, you’ll be able to carry out your heists better than ever.
Launch day here and the preloading of Payday 3 has begun! Payday 3 brings many new and more complex heists to the table, and if you want to nail these challenges, then you need to make sure you’re getting high FPS. After all, the last thing you want is to be in a heist with your friends and get busted because your laptop was lagging behind. The recommended specifications for Payday 3 suggest you should have at least an i7-9700K, GTX 1080, and 16GB RAM.
To help you out, we have rounded up the best laptops for Payday 3 that both meet and succeed these specifications. This way, you get the most FPS and don’t have to worry about any performance issues. These may not be the very best gaming laptops, but you’ll find they’re more than enough to handle a game like Payday 3.
Best laptop for Payday 3 at a glance
MSI Sword 15
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4050
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
RAM
32GB DDR5
Storage
1TB SSD
Refresh rate
144Hz
Resolution
2560 x 1600 pixels
MSI Stealth 15M
GPU
Nvidia RTX 3060
CPU
Intel Core i7-11375H
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
512GB SSD
Refresh rate
144Hz
Resolution
1920 x 1080 pixels
Acer Predator Helios 16 L
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4080
CPU
Intel Core i9-13900HX
RAM
32GB DDR4
Storage
2TB Gen 4 SSD
Refresh rate
250Hz
Resolution
2560 x 1600
For those who are prioritising affordability do not worry, we have included budget-friendly options. If you are seeking a cheaper laptop then you can also check our guide on the best budget laptops or the best gaming laptops under $1000 for more options.
Fellow Payday 3 fans, we’re here to get you up to speed with everything you need to know. Whether you want to know about the Payday 3 heist list or find out if Payday 3 is crossplay or cross-platform, we’ve got you covered.
Best overall laptop for Payday 3
MSI Sword 15
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4050
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
RAM
32GB DDR5
Storage
1TB SSD
Refresh rate
144Hz
Resolution
2560 x 1600 pixels
- Bang for the buck
- Excellent 1080p performance
- Beautiful white design
- Mediocre webcam
The best overall laptop for Payday 3 has to be the MSI 2023 Newest Sword 15. One of the best things about this laptop is that it strikes a very good balance between performance and pricing, and that’s why you will find it more affordable than many other competitor laptops. As far as performance is concerned, you get a solid i7-12650H + RTX 4050 duo, which is more than enough for 1080p gaming.
There is also 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which is very impressive and makes sure that you never face any memory-related issues. For the display, you get a 15.6” 1080p panel that can refresh at up to 144Hz. For FPS games like Payday 3, it is important to go for high refresh rate displays so you get smooth gameplay.
The design of this laptop is also very beautiful. With a white finish and RGB keyboard, you get to have a true gaming experience. Overall, if you are looking for an all-rounder laptop to play Payday 3 at 1080p while offering good value for money, the MSI Sword 15 is the right option.
Best budget laptop for Payday 3
MSI Stealth 15M
GPU
Nvidia RTX 3060
CPU
Intel Core i7-11375H
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
512GB SSD
Refresh rate
144Hz
Resolution
1920 x 1080 pixels
- Very affordable
- Solid 1080p beast
- Comes with a Thunderbolt 4 port
- Inferior battery life
If you are after the best budget laptop for Payday 3, the MSI Stealth 15M is for you. MSI has left no stone unturned to pack the Stealth 15M with great performance while keeping the price tag as low as possible. To make that happen, the laptop comes with an i7-11375H paired with an RTX 3060.
Even though the i7-11375H is no longer the latest-gen processor, it’s still quite powerful for 1080p gaming. It has 4 cores and support for Hyper-Threading with its 8 threads. Plus, the CPU can clock at up to 5.00 GHz while maintaining a 35W TDP for good power efficiency. Similarly, the RTX 3060 is still an excellent choice for budget gaming, bringing decent framerates at 1080p in AAA titles without breaking a sweat. It may not be the best GPU of all time but its performance, highlighted in the comparison between the RTX 3060 and the RTX 3060 Ti, is impressive and consistent.
Apart from an RGB keyboard, you also get a Thunderbolt 4 port, which is something you don’t see often in budget-friendly laptops. Basically, if you don’t want to spend top-dollar on a laptop but want to play Payday 3 at 1080p without performance issues, the MSI Stealth 15M is a no-brainer.
Best high-end laptop for Payday 3
Acer Predator Helios 16 L
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4080
CPU
Intel Core i9-13900HX
RAM
32GB DDR4
Storage
2TB Gen 4 SSD
Refresh rate
250Hz
Resolution
2560 x 1600
- Top-notch performance
- High 250Hz display
- Plenty of RAM and storage
- Expensive
When it comes to the best high-end laptop for Payday 3, the Acer Predator Helios 16 stands unrivaled. With an i9-13900HX + RTX 4080 duo, the laptop is so powerful that it runs Payday 3 with maxed-out settings like a walk in the park. Its extreme gaming capabilities make sense because the i9-13900HX is equipped with 24 cores, and the RTX 4080 makes the most out of its 16GB VRAM and DLSS 3 to give you a high-end experience. The comparison between the RTX 4080 and the RTX 4070, indicates the unparalleled high performance of the RTX 4080.
Keeping up with the theme, you also get 32GB DDR4 RAM, which means you get both high memory capacity and fast performance. Plus, the 2TB Gen 4 SSD will make sure you jump right into the heists with zero waiting time.
Sure, the laptop is priced on the higher end of the spectrum, but it makes up for it with its top-tier specifications. If you’re worried about thermal throttling, which is very common in gaming laptops, then rest assured because Acer has used a brilliant thermal solution in this machine. Not only that but to keep up with the performance, it is also equipped with a 250Hz G-SYNC compatible panel to ensure there are no screen tears. It’s definitely a strong contender for the best Intel 13th Gen laptop. All things considered, if you can afford it, then you should definitely go for the Acer Predator Helios 16 to play Payday 3.
Can you play Payday 3 on a laptop?
Yes, you can play Payday 3 on a laptop. Just make sure it has at least 16GB RAM and a good graphics card with 8GB VRAM.