Is the Surface Laptop 5 suitable for gaming?

If you’re considering a Surface Laptop 5, you’ve probably seen Microsoft call it “super fast.” Sure, that means you can easily accomplish productivity tasks, but does that apply to playing video games as well? Well, we’ve done some research outside of marketing, and the answer to that question is that no, the Surface Laptop 5 isn’t good for gaming.


The Surface Laptop 5 is just a productivity laptop, although you might be able to enjoy some light gaming or games with older, less demanding titles with the settings turned off entirely. You can also play on it if you end up buying an external GPU enclosure.


Why the Surface Laptop 5 is not for gaming

The main reason the Surface Laptop 5 isn’t good for gaming has a lot to do with the lack of a dedicated GPU, or what we like to call discrete graphics. Instead, just like the Surface Pro, the Surface Laptop 5 has what’s known as integrated graphics, which is part of the CPU chip. All Surface Laptop 5 models, even the larger 15-inch model, have an Intel Iris Xe on a 12th generation Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 CPU. Gaming laptops need discrete dedicated graphics to ensure the best possible experience, so as not to over-tax the CPU.

You can technically play less demanding classic games with Intel Iris Xe graphics, but you won’t have the best experience. You won’t be able to get 30fps or play super smoothly. And even if you do, you will have to lower the visual settings, sometimes just enough to make the game unplayable. We tested the 15-inch Surface Laptop 5 in our review with 3D Mark: Time Spy, which is used to benchmark some popular gaming laptops, and scores were just under 2,000 at 1,772. Gaming laptops or innovative laptops like the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro and HP Envy 16 scored 11194 and 6729 in these tests, respectively.

How to play on Surface Laptop 5

If you have to play on the Surface Laptop 5, there is a workaround. Since the Surface Laptop 5 supports Thunderbolt 4, which allows a PCIe signal, you can connect an external GPU via the USB-C port. Of course, doing this will be an expensive project because you need to buy a dedicated GPU and GPU enclosure. You’ll also be limited to playing at the desk because the case will need power. It’s not perfect, but if you have to play on the Surface Laptop 5, this is the way to go. We’ve included some suggestions for GPU attachments below.

razr core x chroma
The Razer Core X Chroma is an external GPU enclosure with a 750W power supply, including 100W of power delivery to your laptop.  Plus, it has RGB lighting for some extra flair.
razr core x chroma

The Razer external GPU is one of the most popular processors on the market. It features RGB lighting and can provide 100W of power to charge your laptop.

750 . Sonnet Detachable Box
If you want something quieter and still looks elegant, the Sonnet Breakaway Box 750 is also a great choice.  It has a more powerful 750 PSU, but oddly enough, it can only deliver 375W of continuous power to the GPU, with an additional 85W for peak loads.  Additionally, it charges your laptop up to 85W as well.
750 . Sonnet Detachable Box

This external GPU is one of the most elegant processors we can find. It has a 750W PSU and can charge the Surface Laptop 5 at 85W.

As you can see, you cannot play on the Surface Laptop 5 without workarounds. It’s a high productivity laptop, but some of the best Windows laptops are built for gaming, so you have alternative options. If you have to play on a Surface Laptop 5, though, and can’t afford or don’t want an external GPU, there are always cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia GeForce Now, which stream games to your PC over the Internet.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
The Surface Laptop 5 has a sleek design, runs Windows 11, and has a touchscreen.  It does feature some old ports, but it's one of the best Windows laptops on the market right now.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5

The Surface Laptop 5 comes in three sizes – 13″ and 15″ – and contains the latest 12th generation Intel processors. It’s the laptop you should use if you need a good all-around, but not a gaming one.

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