Fallout: London is here at last and has helped trigger some renewed interest in the franchise, something we saw in a big way when the hit TV show dropped. Anyway, today we’re here to find the best laptop for Fallout 4 and Fallout London. With the latter being an overhaul mod, it will run just as well on the same hardware, sporting pretty much the same system requirements. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there and we’ve hand-picked a selection to talk about.
Our dive into reviewing laptops on PCGuide has given us the chance to find some of the very best on the market, with hands-on experience proving valuable. Some of the best gaming laptops have passed through our testing lab, many of which we’d have to admit would be overkill for an older title like Fallout 4. Regardless, we’re going to stick to recommending newer hardware which will see you through for years to come.
With all that out of the way, let’s take a closer look at our top pick – the MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG – and some alternatives further down below.
Why we picked the MSI Raider GE78
- CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop
- RAM: 32GB (2*16) DDR5
- Storage: 4TB NVMe
- Max Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- Screen Size: 17″
- Panel Type: QHD+
The MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG is a power gaming laptop, packed with some of the latest and greatest specs. Since Fallout 4 close to becoming a decade old at this point, it isn’t exactly hard to run. Even with Fallout: London releasing in 2024, it’s still on the same engine and this MSI laptop will run both easily. With a stunning 240Hz QHD+ panel, this MSI laptop gets our top pick.
- Powered by i9 processor and RTX 4080 12GB
- High-quality 1600p HDR display
- Super smooth 240Hz refresh rate
- 4TB NVMe SSD for your games and mods
- Well-designed keyboard and strong build quality
- Can get quite loud when under stress
- RGB aesthetic is not for everyone
- Comes with a lots of preloaded software to manage
It’s no secret now that Fallout 4 should run on a wide range of hardware given its age. This translates over to Fallout: London as well. So, since the game isn’t as demanding as something like Cyberpunk 2077, we’ve opted for a high-end QHD+ laptop in the form of the MSI Raider GE78. It comes fitted with an Intel Core i9-14900HX and 12GB RTX 4080 laptop GPU which makes it a powerhouse for both productivity and gaming scenarios.
In our MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG review, we praised its looks, display, and most importantly, performance. While the RGB design might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it certainly follows the ‘gamer’ aesthetic that many of these machines do and we found the build quality to be top-notch. On top of that, the sound system was immersive, in case you aren’t going to be playing with a headset or other external speaker system.
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG display, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG box, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG box contents, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG back lid, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG underside, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG top, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG standing laptop, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG right side, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG rear, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG left side, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG laptop infront of box, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG front on, Image by PC Guide
MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VHG front closed, Image by PC Guide
Sadly it doesn’t feature the same mini-LED panel found in the MSI Stealth 17 Studio, but the HDR display was still up to scratch and its 1600p screen resolution pairs well with a 240Hz refresh rate. This makes it ideal for a wide range of games, not just Fallout, just in case you fancy some more competitive gaming on the side.
On the performance side, the i9-14900HX is one of Intel’s latest processors and the flagship of the Raptor Lake-HX range. We’d say that this can be seen as overkill for gaming, but we can’t argue against its power, boasting 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.8GHz boost clock speed. Overall, a very solid pick whether you’ll be using it for work, games, or both.
For gaming specifically, we’re more interested in the RTX 4080 GPU on board the MSI Raider GE78. This graphics card will deliver top-notch performance in any resolution, and it can easily flex its power at the laptop’s native 1600p (QHD+) resolution. Finding the best graphics settings for Fallout 4 and Fallout London should be easy and we’d suggest going straight to Ultra.
Some alternatives
To give you a wider range of options, we’ve bundled in more suggestions below, covering a wider range of budgets. Luckily, today’s hardware shouldn’t struggle with Fallout 4 or Fallout: London, even some of the more entry-level options. This gives you the freedom to choose just about any gaming laptop from the past few years.
Whether you want a high-end 4K machine such as the MSI Stealth 17 Studio or a budget-friendly 1080p pick like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, you should be good to go.
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Best for 1440pRazer Blade 15 (RTX 4070)
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Best value choiceAcer Predator Helios 16 (RTX 4060)
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Budget pick for 1080pLenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2023)
Conclusion
We think the MSI Raider GE78 covers just about everything you need. A gaming laptop that is more than enough for Fallout 4 and Fallout: London, while being a beast for productivity as well. You can consider it overkill if you’re only looking for something nice and simple which will play Fallout for you, however, that’s where our value & budget alternatives come in. The Raider is a future-proof option and a great QHD+ pick for any new and demanding games you wish to play as well right now.
