Best Budget Laptops for Playing Black Myth: Wukong Smoothly

Best Budget Laptops for Playing Black Myth: Wukong Smoothly

If you're excited about Black Myth: Wukong but worried whether your laptop can handle it — you're not alone. This highly anticipated game combines cinematic visuals, advanced lighting effects, and complex combat mechanics that push hardware to its limits. You don’t need the most expensive gaming rig to enjoy it, but you do need the right balance of performance and value.

This article breaks down what kind of laptop you need, what specs actually matter, and recommends great value laptops that will run the game smoothly — without draining your wallet.

Why Black Myth: Wukong Demands Strong Hardware

Black Myth: Wukong is a visually stunning soulslike action RPG inspired by Journey to the West. It runs on Unreal Engine 5 and features real-time ray tracing, detailed particle systems, high-poly models, and cinematic animations.

These elements mean the game is graphically demanding — especially when using ray tracing, DLSS, or playing at higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K. Unlike typical indie games, Wukong will not run well on entry-level or outdated laptops.

Minimum vs Recommended Specs (and What They Really Mean)

Let’s clarify what you truly need based on actual testing and gameplay feedback:

Minimum Playable Setup

  • GPU: RTX 4060 (8GB VRAM)
  • CPU: Intel i7-13th Gen or Ryzen 7 6000 series
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 1TB SSD
  • Display: Full HD (1080p)

Recommended for Best Experience

  • GPU: RTX 4070 or higher
  • CPU: i9-13980HX / Ryzen 9 7945HX
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Storage: 1TB–2TB SSD
  • Display: 1440p QHD with 120Hz+

Benchmarks show that even the RTX 4060 can handle the game well at 1080p high settings with DLSS, averaging around 60–80 FPS. If you want ray tracing, smooth 2K gameplay, and future-proofing, the RTX 4070 or above is worth the extra cost.

What Hardware Specs Really Matter for Wukong

Here’s what to prioritize when picking your laptop:

Component Why It Matters Recommendation
GPU (Graphics) Core for frame rate, lighting, and visual effects RTX 4060 (minimum), RTX 4070+ preferred
VRAM Affects texture loading and smoothness At least 8GB
DLSS Support AI upscaling boosts FPS without quality loss Choose GPUs that support DLSS 3
CPU Handles combat logic, AI, and loading i7 or Ryzen 7 and above
RAM Keeps the game running smooth 16GB minimum, 32GB ideal
SSD Storage Faster loading and future updates 1TB or more
Cooling Prevents thermal throttling Dual-fan or vapor chamber systems preferred

Real Player Feedback: Which Laptops Run It Smoothly?

RTX 4060 + i7 HX + 16GB RAM

Plays Wukong at 1080p high settings with DLSS — 64 FPS average. Disabling ray tracing boosts it to 80+ FPS.

RTX 4070 + i9 + 32GB RAM

Great performance at 1440p high settings with ray tracing, averaging 75–120 FPS.

RTX 4090 + 32GB RAM

Max settings with ray tracing and 2K resolution — stable 60 FPS, never drops below 55.

RTX 3050 4GB

Struggles even on low settings. Not recommended.

Pro Tips: How to Optimize Your Laptop for the Game

To get the smoothest gameplay possible, follow these tips:

  1. Enable DLSS (Quality Mode) – Big FPS gains with minimal quality loss.
  2. Lower Ray Tracing on RTX 4060/4070 if performance dips.
  3. Keep GPU Drivers Updated – NVIDIA/AMD often release game-optimized drivers.
  4. Use "Balanced" Power Profile or enable "Turbo" mode if your laptop supports it.
  5. Set a Frame Cap (e.g., 60 or 120 FPS) to reduce temperature spikes and noise.
  6. Close Background Apps before launching the game.

Best Options Based on Budget

Budget Range Recommendation
Under £1,200 / $1,000–1,300 Dell G15 5530 (RTX 4060)
£1,500–1,800 / $1,500–2,000 ROG Zephyrus G16 (RTX 4070)
£2,500+ / $2,500+ MSI Raider or Titan HX (RTX 4090)


Final Thoughts

If you want to enjoy Black Myth: Wukong as it was meant to be played, don’t go for the cheapest gaming laptop you can find. Instead, invest in one that offers great value per dollar — not just raw specs.

For most players, a laptop with RTX 4060 and 16GB RAM will offer excellent performance at 1080p. If you plan to play on a higher resolution or want to keep up with future AAA games, RTX 4070 or above with 32GB RAM is the sweet spot.

No matter your budget, choose smart — and prepare to dive into one of the most epic fantasy worlds ever brought to life in a game.

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