Why are Laptops more Costly than Desktops?

A few basic facts are needed to answer the question, “Why are laptops more costly than desktops?” This is the purpose of this article.

Both types of computers depend on semiconductors for operation, but the similarities diminish as you examine their inner construction.

Laptops are generally more expensive than desktops due to the high development costs involved in creating hardware that is small enough yet still delivers the expected performance.

It’s not only performance that is challenging. It’s also about keeping the system cool enough to ensure stability under all conditions.

Price – Differences between components

Below is a list of significant components that can significantly impact your product’s cost.

If you’re curious, I’ve written another article about different parts of a computer & their function computers in general.

The Motherboard

A laptop must be as compact as possible. This is because more components are needed to be integrated into the motherboard.

Design challenges are more significant when a motherboard is smaller. Here are some examples:

A smaller component footprint is required: The best solutions for the size of your components must be chosen.

Additional refinement on track layout: Many components are interconnected on a smaller motherboard. Therefore, designing circuit pathways that require very low clearances is essential.

Layout, A lot of thought must be given to the layout of components so that performance and shielding are not an issue.

CPU

Laptop CPU

A mobile processor is a central processing unit that is used in laptops. They have a different approach to power consumption.

This is why it would be expensive to develop. It is essential to achieve the best performance with the least power.

Power management features are essential and require additional development costs to ensure an acceptable outcome.

A CPU socket is not something you’ll see on a laptop motherboard very often. CPU sockets are often soldered directly onto the motherboard with a BGA (Ball Grid Array) to save space.

The motherboard and processor have solder pads that can be joined using small balls made of solder. These are heated and melted to join the pads.

This is why processors must be able to withstand high temperatures to ensure the success of soldering.

Graphics Processing

Two main ways that the graphics processor can be implemented in a laptop are:

Integrated graphics: The CPU integrates the graphics processor. Both tasks can be performed by one package of semiconductors.

Dedicated graphics: This separate graphics processor is soldered to the motherboard and provides better performance for graphics-intensive tasks like gaming.

Developing additional software to incorporate the extra semiconductor package onto a smaller motherboard is necessary.

This increases costs and is why you’ll pay more for a laptop with dedicated graphics.

Learn : How to save yourself from DDOS Attacks

RAM

RAM is a random access memory that can be used to store data. Unlike desktops, laptops use DIMM RAM. This is one exception when it comes down to price. 

Although SODIMM modules may be smaller than desktop RAM, it does not seem to impact the price.

This could be due to the high demand for memory all over the globe. This is just one example.

Cooling system

The cooling system for a laptop must be compact and efficient.

This is a difficult task and one of the most critical components for system stability.

Designing a heat sink or fan assembly that is efficient and compact enough is expensive. Many heat pipes contain heat pipes that have been sealed in a partial vacuum and sometimes contain wicks and fluid.

This complexity adds to the heat sink’s materials and increases its cost of manufacture.

Drives

Modern laptops now use an M.2 SSD primary drive. This is a good thing, as an SSD does not suffer from the limitations of mechanical drives. It delivers exceptional levels of performance.

If you’re interested, we’ll discuss SSDs and whether they’re worth the investment.

Laptop hard drives are smaller than desktop hard drives (2.5 Inches vs. 3.5 Inches).

These drives have lower storage capacities and performance and are slightly more costly than desktop hard drives of similar size and comparable specifications.

Battery

This component is not found in a desktop computer. A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is the closest thing to a desktop computer that could look like one.

A UPS is a unit that has a battery in it. It connects to the mains power separately and allows your computer to run long enough for you not to have to work or shut down.

The battery can also be used to power a laptop. The battery can charge the whole laptop for many hours without the need to plug it into the power source.

This adds to the manufacturing cost of a laptop. It is not a very expensive option, but it does contribute to the final price.

Laptops must be designed to withstand physical damage and remain as cool as possible.

The battery is also given a special place in the design of the laptop.

Other things to consider when adding a battery to a product include a reasonable amount of amp-hours so that the laptop can last for the desired length without running out.

These are additional tips to keep a laptop’s battery healthy for longer. I wrote an article about this topic.

Conclusion

These are the main components of a laptop.

When looking at laptops in your local store, remember all the additional development and production costs involved in delivering high performance in a small package. because you can use gaming laptops for programming also.