DLSS 3 Frame Generation has shown some impressive results in benchmarks of both desktop and laptop GPUs so far in the gaming world. So being able to access this new tech on a budget laptop sounds great, right? That's exactly what's on offer from Gigabyte in the G5 KF (2023) laptop. Coming in at just £1100 and featuring an RTX 4060 and a 12th Intel Core i5-12500H, we find out if this laptop deliver a solid gaming experience…
Timestamps
00:00 Start
00:44 Specifications / Hardware
04:40 Design / Keyboard / Speakers / Trackpad
06:33 Ports
07:16 Build Quality
08:07 Software
09:13 The modes
10:24 Test results
14:36 Gaming Performance
17:27 Avg FPS / DLSS gains
18:16 Closing Thoughts
Specification
- CPU – i5-12500H Processor 4.5 GHz (18MB Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 4 P-cores and 8 E- cores)
- Video Graphics – Intel® Iris Xe Graphics, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6 Boost Clock 2010MHz / Maximum Graphics Power 75W
- Display – 15.6″ FHD 144Hz Display
- System Memory – 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 – Max Supported Memory 64GB
- Storage – Gen4 512GB – M.2 2280 x 2 (PCIe Gen3x4*1 , PCIe Gen4x4*1 )
- Keyboard Type – Multi-languages, 15 colour illuminated full-size keyboard with numeric pad
- I/O Port
- 1 x USB 2.0 port (Type A)
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port (Type A)
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (Type C)
- 1 x Mini DP 1.4
- 1 x HDMI™ (with HDCP)
- 1 x 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone / Microphone)
- 1 x Microphone Jack
- 1 x RJ-45 LAN port
- 1 x DC-in jack
- 1 x MicroSD Card Reader
- Audio
- 2x 2W Speaker
- Microphone
- DTS:X® Ultra Audio Technology
- Communications
- LAN: 1GB
- WIFI: Intel® Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® V5.2
- Webcam – 1.0M HD video camera
- Security – Security (Kensington® Type) Lock Slot, Intel® PTT for system without Hardware TPM
- Battery – Lithium-Ion 54Wh
- Adapter – 150W
- Dimensions (W x D x H)
- 36.0 (W) x 23.8 (D) x 2.27(H) cm – 14.2(W) x 9.4(D) x 0.89(H) inch
- Weight – ~1.9kg / 4.19lb
The core specs are confirmed in the following CPU-Z and GPU-Z screenshots.
Gaming on the 1080p display at Ultra/High settings across a variety of titles did throw up some impressive results considering the price point.
Looking at thermals, noise and CPU package power we can see that to reach the levels of performance seen on the previous page, the G5 KF (2023) does use quite a bit of power and kick out a fair amount of noise and heat.
Benchmarks
The 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H performed decently and impressed when the laptop was in its performance profile.
Battery
The battery reached a disappointing 177 minutes in the PC Mark 10 Modern Office battery test. For any half-serious work you will clearly want to be connected to mains power.
The Gigabyte G5 KF (2023) delivered some very solid results when considering the price. The combination of an RTX 4060 and a 1080p display is a great pairing for gaming and should be able to keep up with the latest titles. In games that support DLSS 3 Frame Generation, that gaming performance can be pushed even further.
The performance profile is rather aggressive, leading to the CPU using 75 watts over a sustained workload, which in turn does lead to very high temperatures which may lead to thermal throttling in some situations, but this was observed during synthetic workloads and benchmarks which push the system harder than everyday use.
The all-plastic chassis does feel relatively cheap, as does the trackpad. However, they are acceptable when we take the price and specs into consideration as a premium machine, this is not.
Battery life was disappointing, however, with the G5 only managing 177 minutes during our PC Mark 10 Modern Office battery test, placing it at the bottom of the comparable results. Even so, considering the price point, there is a lot to like here, so if you are after a 1080p gaming laptop – perhaps for a student – this is well worth a look.
You can purchase the Gigabyte G5 KF (2023) for £1099.99 from Overclockers UK HERE
Pros:
- Competitively priced.
- Latest generation RTX GPU.
- Slim chassis and build.
Cons:
- Small SSD.
- All plastic build.
- Poor battery life when in performance mode.
KitGuru says: For the price, this is a great gaming laptop. The inclusion of a latest generation Nvidia graphics card helps it deliver solid gaming performance and the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU is no slouch either. The SSD will need to be upgraded if you plan on installing a lot of software and the build quality and cooling are certainly not the best, but for the price Gigabyte are asking for this laptop, I cannot find much to dislike. A solid entry point to DLSS 3 gaming in a small and compact laptop.