HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop: An entry-level gaming laptop with AMD Ryzen 5000-series CPUs and dedicated NVIDIA GPUs is the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15 (2021). Despite being constructed completely of plastic, it seems sturdy and well-built. If you need to install a 2.5-inch hard drive or increase the RAM, it’s also quite simple to access the internals. The keyboard’s keys are evenly spaced and have adequate travel, and there is a Numpad if you frequently perform computations or deal with spreadsheets. Overall, the user experience is respectable. Although it has some issues with multi-touch gestures, its touchpad records motions adequately.
Ports
There is a respectable range of connectors, including one specialized HDMI 2.0 port, three total USB ports, and one USB-C port, although you cannot charge the laptop using this port because it only supports data transfer and video output. Unfortunately, the screen’s limited color gamut makes it appear washed out, and it doesn’t become bright enough to be used outside or in well-lit spaces. Additionally, it has a short battery life, cannot last an entire workday, and under load, becomes considerably hot and quite loud. For video conferencing, you’ll probably need a separate microphone because the one integrated into records garbled, nasally audio.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
With a 1080p 60Hz display, an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H processor, a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, we evaluated the Pavilion Gaming Laptop. The Ryzen 5 5600H is more than adequate for the majority of current AAA games and demanding creative tasks, but if you require more cores and threads for programs like physics simulations or video editing, you may choose the more potent Ryzen 7 5800H. We advise choosing the RTX 3050 or 3050Ti if you want features like ray-tracing or DLSS upscaling in your games because 1650 doesn’t support any of these. Finally, you may upgrade to a 144Hz display for smoother movement, which can enhance cursor performance and aim in first-person shooter games.
HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop
Gaming on the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop is passable. Modern AAA games work on its H-series AMD Ryzen CPUs and dedicated NVIDIA GPUs reasonably well, but if you want smoother gaming at high graphics settings, you’ll need to choose the more potent RTX 3050 or 3050Ti GPUs. You can play for extended durations at your highest performance because it hardly ever throttles. All of your devices should be able to connect to the ports, which include a specific HDMI 2.0 connection for output to an external monitor. The RAM and 2.5-inch storage drive can also be upgraded. Unfortunately, when loaded, it becomes loud and warm. A 144Hz display is an option if you want a more fluid experience.
PROS
Fast AMD CPUs and strong dedicated NVIDIA graphics.
Over time, there was hardly any throttle.
RAM expansion slots and 2.5-inch drive slots.
CONS
The GTX 1650 lacks the power required to play AAA games at maximum settings.
under stress, becomes noisy and heated.
Variations And Size Differences
We put the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated GPU, 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and Shadow Black color scheme with Acid Green backlighting of the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15 (model 15-ec2008ca) to the test. Each component can be customized; the options are listed in the table below. Remember that rather than allowing customers to select the parts separately, the majority of manufacturers, including HP, sell laptops as pre-built units with pre-determined configurations. It could be challenging to locate the precise configuration you need as a result.
To minimize confusion, our assessment solely relates to the HP Pavilion 15 Gaming model, which uses a different connector arrangement and Intel CPU.
Regarding Other Laptops
An entry-level gaming laptop, the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop performs comparably to other computers in its class. With just a few graphics settings adjustments, it can run most AAA games at 1080p with decent framerates when equipped with mid-range NVIDIA dedicated GPUs and H-series AMD Ryzen CPUs. Additionally, it excels in creative jobs like video editing and 3D renders. Unfortunately, its battery life is weak, its speakers don’t get very loud, and while it’s working hard, it becomes extremely noisy and hot.
Style
The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop offers a look that caters to gamers. A matte black plastic chassis and outer shell with an angular shape, a geometric speaker grill, and sizable rear vents are used. The keycap legends feature a particularly gamer-oriented design, and the keyboard incorporates green backlighting that HP refers to as “Acid Green” accenting. On the outside shell beneath the screen, there is also an HP logo in green-tinted chrome. The laptop is available with “Ghost White” accents and illumination.
Build Excellence
The build quality of the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop is good. Despite being totally composed of plastic, it feels sturdy and has decent scratch resistance. The keyboard deck, back shell, and screen all exhibit slight flex when bent, but when the laptop is closed, it still feels fairly robust overall. When positioned on a flat surface, the laptop’s rubber feet help keep it stable.
Hinge
Range 130°
Stability Excellent
Yes, one finger lift
The hinge on the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop is excellent. When opening and shutting it, it feels slick and has a “high-quality” sensation, and it holds the screen steady in its predetermined position. However, if you type quickly or on an uneven surface, the screen will tremble a little.
Portability
Size 15.6″
Size 1.1″ (2.7 cm) in thickness
Width 14.2 inches (36.0 cm)
10.2″ (25.8 cm) depth
153.0 in3 (2,507.8 cm3) in volume
Weight (2.1 kg): 4.6 lbs.
Size of Charger 12.7 in3 (207.4 cm3)
Charger Weight 0.4 kg [0.9 lbs]
The portability of the HP Pavilion Gaming Notebook is simply adequate, as would be anticipated of a gaming laptop. If you wish to carry the laptop and its charger everywhere, you’ll probably need to utilize a larger laptop bag because they are both fairly heavy and thick and their charger is somewhat enormous. Check out the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) if you’re looking for a more transportable gaming laptop.
Serviceability
Easy Access
8.5
Two RAM slots
Storage Space 1
Battery Replacement Yes
Easily replaceable wireless adapter
The serviceability of the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop is outstanding. It is simple to disassemble; all that is needed is to loosen two Phillips head screws of various sizes and then pry the panel open with something thin, like a guitar pick. The network card, battery, both RAM modules, and adding or upgrading the 2.5-inch drive are all simple to change. The manufacturer’s warranty can be void if the laptop is opened and the hardware is changed.
