HP Victus , Ryzen 5 8645HS, 16GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 2050, Mica Silver

The HP Victus 15-fb2020ca is a budget gaming laptop with a Ryzen 5 8645HS, RTX 2050, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It handles esports and older games at 1080p fine, but the 4GB VRAM and dull screen limit it for newer AAA titles and creative work. At around CAD 1,050, it's a fair deal for casual gamers who don't need top-tier performance.

The Ryzen 5 8645HS is a solid mid-range chip, landing around the 72nd percentile in our database. That means it's well above average for this category, handling multitasking, browser tab hoarding, and most productivity apps without breaking a sweat. The 16GB of DDR5 helps here too, giving you headroom for background apps while gaming.

The RTX 2050 is the bottleneck, and that's expected at this price. It's also around the 72nd percentile, which sounds better than it feels in practice. In real terms, you're looking at 60+ fps in Fortnite, Valorant, and Apex Legends at medium settings. For heavier titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2, you'll be dialing things down to low or medium and accepting 30-45 fps. The 4GB of VRAM is the limiting factor, and newer games are hungry for more.

Storage is a 512GB NVMe SSD, which is about average for this class. Fast enough for quick boot times and game loads, but you'll fill it fast with modern game installs. The 52Wh battery is on the smaller side, so expect to stay near an outlet during gaming sessions.

Stacked against the Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US, the Victus loses on build quality and GPU headroom. The Legion 5i typically ships with stronger RTX 4060 or 4070 options, which makes a huge difference in modern games. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA403WR is in a different league entirely, with a more color-accurate display and far better portability, though it costs significantly more.

Against the MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247, the Victus is outgunned in raw performance but wins on price and simplicity. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition isn't really a gaming machine, so it's not a direct competitor, but it shows what you give up in build quality and screen quality when you prioritize a discrete GPU at this budget. And the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro? Completely different category, but worth mentioning because people cross-shop. The MacBook destroys this on battery life, screen quality, and reliability, but it can't play most PC games natively and costs way more.

At CAD 1,050, the Victus 15-fb2020ca is priced like a budget gaming laptop, and that's exactly what it is. You're getting a capable CPU, decent RAM, and a discrete GPU for less than many mid-range ultrabooks. But the compromises show up in the screen, battery, and reliability scores. If you can stretch your budget, the Lenovo Legion 5i or ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 offer better build quality and stronger GPUs. If you can't, this HP is a reasonable entry point into PC gaming.

The HP Victus 15-fb2020ca sits in that budget gaming laptop zone where you're getting real discrete graphics without completely emptying your wallet. It's packing a Ryzen 5 8645HS, an RTX 2050 with 4GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR5, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. At around CAD 1,050, this is aimed squarely at people who want to play games and do everyday work without spending MacBook money.

Is the HP Victus 15 good for gaming? For 1080p gaming on medium settings, yeah, mostly. The RTX 2050 is an entry-level discrete GPU, so don't expect to crank Cyberpunk to ultra. But for esports titles, older AAA games, and indie stuff, it holds its own. The 144Hz-class experience isn't here, but the 15.6 inch 1080p IPS panel gets the job done for casual play.

For creators and developers, this machine is more of a mixed bag. The 6-core Ryzen 5 handles photo editing and light video work fine, but the 62.5% sRGB coverage means colors won't pop the way they would on a better panel. If you're doing color-sensitive work, you'll want an external monitor.

Skip this if you're a serious gamer who wants to play the latest AAA titles at high settings, or if you do color-critical creative work. The 4GB VRAM and 62.5% sRGB screen will frustrate you. Also skip it if you need all-day battery life or a lightweight machine for travel, since the 52Wh battery and 2.29kg weight work against you. For better gaming performance, look at the Lenovo Legion 5i or ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. For better screen quality and battery life in a non-gaming package, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition or Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro are worth the extra money.

Should you buy the HP Victus 15-fb2020ca? If you want a budget gaming laptop that can handle esports and older titles at 1080p, and you don't care about color accuracy or all-day battery life, this is a decent pick. The Ryzen 5 and 16GB of RAM give it more longevity than you'd expect at this price.

But if you're hoping to play the latest AAA games at high settings, or you need a laptop for color-sensitive creative work, this isn't it. The 4GB VRAM and mediocre screen hold it back. For casual gamers and students who want a capable all-rounder with some gaming chops, it's a reasonable buy. Just know what you're getting into.