But one way you can lighten the load is to just start with a gaming laptop, which packs in everything you need to get started in PC gaming without all the extra pieces. Of course, gaming laptops can be expensive, too, but plenty of budget options also exist.

Amazon Prime Day is almost over and time is running out to grab the best Prime Day laptop deals before the event wraps up at midnight. While the name suggests a one-day affair, this year's sale has stretched across four days—and this is your last chance to score serious savings.

This Prime Day, the Asus ROG Strix G16 is a great bet. This laptop has a large screen, isn't too heavy, and while it leans a bit hard on the hardcore aesthetics, you can turn off its RGB lights if those aren't your thing.