The best laptop for Football Manager 2024 doesn't necessarily have to be a beast. However, investing in something more robust than a basic notebook is recommended for a smooth gaming experience, especially with multiple leagues loaded for extensive simulations.
Fortunately, Sports Interactive's commitment to accessibility means FM 2024 boasts relatively low system requirements, making it playable on most modern devices and one of the best football games around. That said, for optimal performance and the ability to delve deep into your managerial journey, prioritising a machine with a powerful processor, ample RAM (ideally 8GB or more), and a decent graphics card for 3D gameplay is key.
Both top gaming laptops as well as some everyday portable PCs excel in meeting these requirements, offering the potential for an unparalleled virtual management experience. Therefore, we've covered both bases here to ensure your setup is perfectly poised to play Football Manager both now, and in the future when FM25 debuts later this year. With that in mind, let's get into our first pick...
Best laptops for Football Manager 2024
- Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 - best for everyday use and gaming
- Razer Blade 16 - a seriously powerful gaming laptop
- Dell G5 - best budget alternative
- Apple MacBook Air 15 - an excellent lightweight choice
- MSI Katana 17 - a great gaming laptop with a larger screen
1. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Best everyday laptop for Football Manager 2024
* prices are accurate at the time of the last update
Why we chose the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Although it has gaming in its name, we believe the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 makes for the ideal laptop for playing Football Manager and performing everyday tasks. It's not overly expensive, and it comes with enough power under the hood to run the game quickly and smoothly, all while at its maximum capacity.
To start with, it features an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS CPU along with an RTX 4050 GPU, both of which more than exceed the game's system requirements. You also get 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, allowing you to download more games to your device as well as store all your documents comfortably, while also having Football Manager downloaded so you can tinker with tactics until you're the next Pep Guardiola.
Its screen is pretty impressive too, boasting a 15.6" FHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This may be a bit much for Football Manager, but at least you'll know whatever it is you're doing will appear smooth and stutter-free on the screen.
Ultimately, this excellent Lenovo laptop is a great all-rounder for everyday use as well as gaming. So, when it comes to upgrading, make sure you check it out for both the current title and the future of football gaming.
TL;DR Reasons to Buy:
- Cheaper than rival gaming laptops.
- Exceeds the minimum system requirements and then some.
- Has a battery life that can last close to eight hours.
2. Razer Blade 16
Best gaming laptop for Football Manager 2024
- Amazon - $2,599.99 / £1,999.99
* prices are accurate at the time of the last update
Why we chose the Razer Blade 16
The Razer Blade 16 is almost overkill for a game like Football Manager as it surpasses the recommended specifications tenfold, making it the ultimate device for long-term careers.
What sets this laptop apart for gaming is that it features a 16-inch 4K display, supported by a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. Sure, Football Manager graphics may not be the most demanding, but at least you know you'll be able to play the game in 3D at the highest settings possible.
In addition, the laptop offers a staggering storage capacity of 1TB from the M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD and an impressive 16GB of DDR5 RAM, allowing you to store multiple games on one device and quickly load up your saves in next to no time.
Of course, investing in a laptop of this calibre comes with a premium price tag. However, if you're an avid gamer playing games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and so on, and you're also in the market for a powerful laptop for Football Manager, the Razer Blade 16 is definitely worth considering.
TL;DR Reasons to Buy:
- Is good enough to play the most demanding AAA titles as well as FM.
- Its larger 16" screen helps you see more stats as well as the pitch.
- 4K visuals will help Football Manager look better than ever.
3. Dell G5
Best budget laptop for Football Manager 2024
- Amazon - $748.00 / £799.00
* prices are accurate at the time of the last update
Why we chose the Dell G5
The Dell G5 is a fantastic budget laptop in general, not just for Football Manager, as it boasts some all-around great specs at a price that won't completely break the bank.
You get an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor for starters, providing speeds of up to 4.5GHz. It also has a relatively strong AMD Radeon RX 5600M graphics card for the price. For a game like Football Manager, the GPU is more than good enough for it to deliver high-quality 3D visuals.
On top of that, it has a decenyt 256GB SSD, giving you ample storage, and 8GB of RAM that allows it to run Football Manager and other applications simultaneously relatively effectively. It also has an IPS-paneled, Anti-Glare, Full HD screen that boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, and it offers fast charging to keep you managing your club without the worry of a dead battery slowing you down.
Ultimately, the Dell G5 offers a lot for less, thus making it one of the best budget laptops out there for Football Manager.
TL;DR Reasons to Buy:
- Cheaper than comparable laptops
- Its CPU and graphics card are particularly strong for the price
- Charges quickly for non-stop football management
4. Apple MacBook Air 15
Best lightweight laptop for Football Manager 2024
- Amazon - $1,362.52 / £949.05
* prices are accurate at the time of the last update
Why we chose the Apple MacBook Air 15
We all know about the MacBook, an extremely versatile device from Apple that's both incredibly powerful and sleek in its design. However, the Apple MacBook Air 15 stands out from the rest as it's one of the slimmest, lightest models to date.
It features an ultraslim profile measuring just 1.15cm, making it extremely lightweight and great to travel with and play Football Manager. It's also fanless, so it remains almost silent, even if you're processing the game 20, 30, or 40 years in the future.
Performance-wise, this MacBook has you covered. Featuring the impressive M2 chip, it's capable of running games like Football Manager with ease alongside other resource-intensive applications. And with 18 hours of battery life, you can play all day long without having the recharge.
It also features a visually stunning Liquid Retina display, supporting 1 billion colours, and boasts a 2880 by 1864 resolution. This might not be the most important factor for Football Manager, but it can definitely add to your immersion in games as part of your simulated managerial career.
TL;DR Reasons to Buy:
- Its M2 chip is built by Apple, for Apple products only.
- Has a battery life of up to 18 hours.
- So thin, you can play Football Manager whenever you are in the world.
5. MSI Katana 17
Best 17" laptop for Football Manager 2024
- Amazon - $1,199.99 / £729.00
* prices are accurate at the time of the last update
Why we chose the MSI Katana 17
Anyone who has played Football Manager will appreciate it's best played on a bigger screen. With the MSI Katana 17, you get both a huge 17.3" display and some exceptional stats that make it ideal for gaming.
Alongside Windows 11 Home, you get an Intel i5 CPU and RTX 3050 GPU that exceed the recommended system specs and then some. You also get a handy amount of RAM at 16GB, plus a sizable 1TB SSD to store more games than just this one.
However, the screen is the true highlight here. Its high refresh rate, coupled with its 1080p resolution, will help keep Football Manager looking great, all while you're able to delve deeper into those stats and attributes on the bigger screen to help you pick out your next signing.
The MSI Katana 17 is a bit of a gem for gaming, all things considered. While its specs may be a little overkill in places, at least you know you've got a device that can absolutely get the best out of this year's Football Manager.
TL;DR Reasons to Buy:
- It boasts a bigger screen to help you view even more stats
- More than enough storage for Football Manager and other games
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Laptops can sometimes be quite difficult to get your head around, especially for gaming, but don't worry because we've answered some of the most commonly asked questions.
What are the minimum system requirements for Football Manager 2024?
Unlike on Football Manager mobile, you need to be aware of the game's system requirements to make sure your PC or laptop is up to the task. According to SI, the minimum requirements for 2024 are:
- Requires: a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10/11
- Processor: Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 X2
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT, AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 7 GB available space
However, we'd suggest going for a slightly more powerful laptop to run the game quicker and to showcase the 3D graphics at their max. capacity. This is especially important if you're looking to run a save for multiple years, as there'll be a ton of data to process each day you want to progress further in your get.
How do you configure your settings for Football Manager?
When running Football Manager, optimising your device settings can greatly improve performance. Here are some recommendations to ensure you get the best experience:
- Access your control panel and select the 'Maximum Performance' or 'High Performance' power settings. This will maximise your device's performance during gameplay.
- Check that you have the correct graphics card selected for Football Manager. If you have an NVIDIA card, open the NVIDIA control panel. Navigate to '3D settings' and 'program settings', then add 'fm.exe'. It is advisable to run the game using the more powerful NVIDIA card rather than integrated graphics. For AMD/ATI Radeon cards, go to Graphics > PowerPlay. Set this to 'Plugged In' and the battery to 'Maximum Performance'. Then, if the option is available, go to Graphics > 3D and move the slider across to Optimal Performance.
- Open your catalyst control centre and locate the switchable graphics tab. Set it to 'Optimal Performance'. Repeat the same process for Steam.
By applying these settings, you can optimise your device for running Football Manager and ensure smoother gameplay. Remember, specific steps may vary depending on your graphics card version, so consult the relevant control panels or documentation for detailed instructions.
How much storage do you need for Football Manager?
As stated in the minimum system requirements, Football Manager necessitates a minimum of 7 GB of storage. Nevertheless, we'd advise you to choose a laptop with slightly more storage capacity to ensure smooth gameplay without pushing the system to its limits.
Furthermore, it is crucial to consider purchasing a laptop with sufficient storage for your personal files, especially if you intend to utilise the device for purposes beyond gaming. This includes accommodating general laptop storage needs such as Windows updates.
Additionally, if you plan on downloading various graphics packs, it is essential to take them into account when assessing your storage requirements.
As a result, a laptop with a storage capacity ranging from 500 GB to 1 TB should be more than sufficient for both personal and gaming usage. However, if the need arises in the future, you can always upgrade your available storage space by acquiring larger hard drives.
How much should you spend on a laptop for Football Manager?
This will ultimately depend on your budget and what you're looking to get out of the laptop.
As previously mentioned, Football Manager has always been built to be accessible for everyone with a laptop, which is one of the reasons why the graphics are not as detailed as the likes of FIFA.
With that being said, you shouldn't need to spend loads to get a decent laptop to run FM smoothly.
However, if you're someone who enjoys loading up the biggest database possible, it may be worth spending a bit extra to get a laptop with more memory and RAM to be able to handle the immense amount of processing.
Some of the best budget gaming laptops should suffice here though with it being not a particularly graphics-heavy title, as you should find they have the processing power to keep up.
Ultimately though, you should only purchase a laptop that you can afford based on your budget. Our one piece of advice is that you can always upgrade your setup later down the line.
Can you play Football Manager on a MacBook?
Yes, Football Manager is available on Mac OS X. The minimum system requirements are similar to Windows, with the main difference being with the operating system.
You'll require a 10.13.6, 10.14.6, 10.15.5, 11 – 64-bit operating system if you plan on playing FM on a MacBook.
What size laptop should you get for Football Manager?
Choosing the right size laptop for Football Manager can be a bit challenging as laptop sizes can differ greatly, ranging from around 11" for the smallest option to over 17" for the largest.
If you're solely choosing a laptop to play the game, then selecting one with a larger screen can be more beneficial as it allows you to see more information, like player attributes and performance, at the same time. You could even take this a step further by hooking up a much larger monitor with your laptop.
However, if you also plan to use this laptop for work, for example, then selecting something around the 15" mark may be a little easier to transport, whilst still being big enough to view multiple fields of data before your next fixture.
How important is a high refresh rate display for Football Manager?
A high refresh rate is not particularly important for playing Football Manager. Football Manager is primarily a text-based simulation game, and the gameplay does not involve fast-paced action or rapid screen movements. Therefore, the benefits of a high refresh rate, such as smoother motion and reduced motion blur, are not significant in this case.
The game's interface and graphics are relatively static, and the majority of the gameplay involves reading text, analysing statistics, and making managerial decisions. A standard 60Hz display is more than sufficient to provide a smooth and enjoyable experience for playing Football Manager.
That being said, if you plan to use your laptop for other purposes such as gaming or multimedia, a high refresh rate display can enhance those experiences. However, for Football Manager specifically, investing in a high refresh rate display is not a critical factor to consider. Other aspects like processor speed, RAM, and storage capacity are typically more important for smooth gameplay and quick processing of in-game actions.
Does Football Manager drain battery life?
Playing Football Manager on a laptop can consume a significant amount of battery life, especially if the laptop is not plugged in. The game requires a lot of processing power and graphics rendering, which can put a strain on the battery.
It is recommended to play the game while the laptop is plugged in to ensure optimal performance and avoid draining the battery too quickly. Additionally, adjusting the graphics settings and reducing screen brightness can help extend the battery life while playing the game.
Can Football Manager be played offline on a laptop?
Yes, Football Manager can be played offline on a laptop. You can create your own offline saves and play the game at your convenience without needing an active internet connection.
However, some features, such as online multiplayer modes and accessing community-created content, require an internet connection. Also, a stable internet connection is required to update the game and load Steam to launch the game. But the core gameplay of Football Manager is fully functional and playable offline on a laptop.
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