Why Are Laptops More Expensive Than Desktops?

Both desktops and laptops serve the same purpose as they both depend on semiconductors to work. But as we start exploring their internal construction, the number of similarities also starts diminishing, which makes laptops more expensive than desktops. The main reason behind this is, laptops are more complex to design and build as compared to desktops. Hence, the hardware costs increase while designing a compact and portable computer that must be capable enough to meet an expected level of performance at the same time. A big challenge is not only about its compact design and performance but also to assemble its hardware in such a way that the system should continue to remain cool and maintain its stability under most common usage conditions.

Differences of each component that makes the laptops more expensive than desktops

While looking for the computer shops in Abu Dhabi or any other place, we should consider the price difference that mostly depends on the major components used in the designing of laptops and desktops. Here is a list of the major components:

1. The motherboard: The laptop is a miniature of standard size desktop; hence more components need to be assembled onto the motherboard in a smaller area.

More challenges need to be overcome while designing a smaller motherboard. Here are some examples:

• Smaller component footprint: Those components need to be chosen that provides a suitable solution for their size.

• Extra refinement on track layout: In laptops, there are few components on a smaller motherboard that are interconnected with each other. Hence, circuit pathways are designed in such a way that had very little space left.

• Layout: Various factors like shielding, heat, and performance needs to be considered in the layout of the component so that they did not create an issue.

2. Central Processing Unit (CPU): CPU’s often used in laptops is called a mobile processor. When we talk about power consumption in laptops, CPUs operate slightly in a different manner. Power management is a feature that requires some extra cost in its design to achieve the required result. Hence, designers need to think out of the box while assembling their CPU, which should use the least amount of power along with providing an adequate level of performance. Nowadays, to make laptops more compact, we can see designers usually soldered the CPUs directly to the motherboard using a Ball Grid Array. Solder pads on the processor and the motherboard are coupled together with the help of small balls of solder. These small balls are then heated up and melted to join the pads. For the soldering process to be successful, processors must be designed to resist certain temperatures.

3. Graphics processing: Graphics processors are usually implemented in a laptop using these two ways:

• Integrated Graphics: For a single semiconductor package to perform both the tasks, this graphic processor is soldered into the CPU.

• Dedicated Graphics: To provide excellent performance for graphics-intensive operations such as gaming, a separate graphics processor is integrated onto the motherboard.

Hence, the need for a dedicated graphics processor on the motherboard in laptops raises its cost. It requires extra effort and development to solder the additional semiconductor package on a small motherboard and the need to cool it too.

4. Random Access Memory (RAM): When it comes to the price, random access memory is considered as an exception. SO-DIMM RAM is typically used in laptops, whereas desktops are integrated with DIMM memory. Although SO-DIMM modules are considered as a smaller alternative to DIMM, still it doesn’t affect the price much. The reason for this is the outstanding demand for memory across the world. Two best examples of this are mobile phones and cloud storage.

5. Cooling system: Designing a laptop’s cooling system is considered as of the most challenging and important components for system stability. It is to be designed in such a way that it should always maintain its efficiency for cooling while keeping in mind its compact size too. Hence, the extra cost is needed to design an efficient heat sink and fan assembly. It should not only be compact but also contain heat pipes that are enclosed in a partial vacuum, which carries some fluid and inner wick. This part increases the manufacturing cost while adding a layer of complexity to the heat sink.

6. Drives: Nowadays, SSD’s are used as a primary drive in modern laptops. The main reason behind using SSD is that they deliver an excellent level of performance, as well as SSD’s, took away the flaw of mechanical drives also. Hard drives of laptops are usually more compact and smaller as compared to desktops. When compared to the desktop’s hard drive of the same size, the laptop’s hard drive is slightly more expensive and has lower storage capacity.

Conclusion

These are the few major components that mark the price difference and make the laptop more expensive. Hence, while purchasing a laptop, one should keep in mind all the extra development and production costs that deliver adequate performance in a small package.