When it comes to gaming, the platform of choice goes to the consoles. Well, at least as far as the average consumer goes.
But enthusiasts know that if you want to experience the true quality that a game has to offer, then PC gaming is the way to go.Desktops will give you that extra oomph, but sometimes portability is a necessary factor for LAN party-goers or traveling pros.
As with desktops, the best gaming laptops tend to be configured specifically for gaming performance. That means the best gaming graphics card out there (in this case, either an Nvidia GeForce GTX 780M or AMD Radeon HD 8870M), and at least a third-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU. The screen size for gaming laptops tends to be big (think 15 to 18 inches), though there are one or two ultraportable gaming laptops on the market today. And given that high-end components tend to drain battery life, don't expect these gaming rigs to stray too far from a wall socket very often. Lastly, be prepared to brownbag it for your workweek lunches for a while, as all this performance (especially in a portable package) doesn't come cheap.
But maybe you're not looking to burn up the gaming grid. Maybe you want a laptop that offers smooth gameplay on the lighter end of the 3D graphics spectrum without sacrificing your rent check. In that case, there are laptops available with lower-end GPUs that cost a little less than the higher-end stuff out there and still let you hold your head up when competing in World of Warcraft or Torchlight, or older titles like Team Fortress 2.
Below are 10 of our best gaming laptops, which range from the luxury to the more moderate purchase that can still command respect on the gaming grid.
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP
Alienware 18
$4,499 list
$3,014.10 at DellBig, bulky, and ostentatious as heck, the Alienware 18 is the ginormous gaming laptop you want to use to show off your riches on the game grid.
CyberPower FangBook X7-200
$1,549 list
$1,441.98 at Best BuyThe CyberPower FangBook X7-200 gaming laptop delivers strong performance and a healthy feature set for less than two grand.
MSI GX60 1AC-021US
$1,299 list
$1,367.14 at MercadoMagicoWhen you're faced with a choice of overall performance vs. gaming performance on a budget, the MSI GX60 1AC-021US is a great entry-level system for the gamer on a budget.
MSI GX70 3Be-007US
$1,399 list
$1,199.99 at AmazonThe MSI GX70 3Be-007US gaming laptop provides playable 3D gaming, even at full HD resolution and with all the eye candy, for a modest price.
Origin EON17-SLX
$4,405 list
The Origin EON17-SLX high-end gaming laptop has the latest and best of everything, from an overclocked quad-core processor to SLI graphics. It's a mean machine, but it costs serious green.
Razer Edge Pro
$1,449.99 list
$1,299.99 at Razer Online Store | North America/EuropeThe Razer Edge Pro gaming tablet is the rare device that reimagines what the PC experience should be and delivers something that's not just different, but better. That it's made to let you game anywhere just makes it a lot more fun.
Alienware 17
$2,799 list
$2,409.10 at DellThe Alienware 17 is a little pricey, but it's a powerful imposing gaming rig that can be taken from room to room or to a friend's house. It will serve you well on the game grid.
MSI GE40 2OC-009US
$1,399.99 list
$1,099.00 at Buydig.comThe MSI GE40 2OC-009US is a gaming ultrabook that delivers solid performance on the go, with a low price and a few flaws that can be overlooked.
Samsung Series 7 Gamer
$1,899 list
£2,900.00 at Amazon MarketplaceThe Samsung Series 7 Gamer delivers on most fronts, making for a powerful gaming laptop that's equipped with some great features. Its minor shortcomings are tempered by its reasonable price tag.
Lenovo IdeaPad Y500
$1,250 list
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 is a solid choice for a gaming laptop, offering decent gaming performance and portability, with a modular upgrade system that lets you add and swap extras
As with desktops, the best gaming laptops tend to be configured specifically for gaming performance. That means the best gaming graphics card out there (in this case, either an Nvidia GeForce GTX 780M or AMD Radeon HD 8870M), and at least a third-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU. The screen size for gaming laptops tends to be big (think 15 to 18 inches), though there are one or two ultraportable gaming laptops on the market today. And given that high-end components tend to drain battery life, don't expect these gaming rigs to stray too far from a wall socket very often. Lastly, be prepared to brownbag it for your workweek lunches for a while, as all this performance (especially in a portable package) doesn't come cheap.
But maybe you're not looking to burn up the gaming grid. Maybe you want a laptop that offers smooth gameplay on the lighter end of the 3D graphics spectrum without sacrificing your rent check. In that case, there are laptops available with lower-end GPUs that cost a little less than the higher-end stuff out there and still let you hold your head up when competing in World of Warcraft or Torchlight, or older titles like Team Fortress 2.
Below are 10 of our best gaming laptops, which range from the luxury to the more moderate purchase that can still command respect on the gaming grid.
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP
Alienware 18
$4,499 list
$3,014.10 at DellBig, bulky, and ostentatious as heck, the Alienware 18 is the ginormous gaming laptop you want to use to show off your riches on the game grid.
CyberPower FangBook X7-200
$1,549 list
$1,441.98 at Best BuyThe CyberPower FangBook X7-200 gaming laptop delivers strong performance and a healthy feature set for less than two grand.
MSI GX60 1AC-021US
$1,299 list
$1,367.14 at MercadoMagicoWhen you're faced with a choice of overall performance vs. gaming performance on a budget, the MSI GX60 1AC-021US is a great entry-level system for the gamer on a budget.
MSI GX70 3Be-007US
$1,399 list
$1,199.99 at AmazonThe MSI GX70 3Be-007US gaming laptop provides playable 3D gaming, even at full HD resolution and with all the eye candy, for a modest price.
Origin EON17-SLX
$4,405 list
The Origin EON17-SLX high-end gaming laptop has the latest and best of everything, from an overclocked quad-core processor to SLI graphics. It's a mean machine, but it costs serious green.
Razer Edge Pro
$1,449.99 list
$1,299.99 at Razer Online Store | North America/EuropeThe Razer Edge Pro gaming tablet is the rare device that reimagines what the PC experience should be and delivers something that's not just different, but better. That it's made to let you game anywhere just makes it a lot more fun.
Alienware 17
$2,799 list
$2,409.10 at DellThe Alienware 17 is a little pricey, but it's a powerful imposing gaming rig that can be taken from room to room or to a friend's house. It will serve you well on the game grid.
MSI GE40 2OC-009US
$1,399.99 list
$1,099.00 at Buydig.comThe MSI GE40 2OC-009US is a gaming ultrabook that delivers solid performance on the go, with a low price and a few flaws that can be overlooked.
Samsung Series 7 Gamer
$1,899 list
£2,900.00 at Amazon MarketplaceThe Samsung Series 7 Gamer delivers on most fronts, making for a powerful gaming laptop that's equipped with some great features. Its minor shortcomings are tempered by its reasonable price tag.
Lenovo IdeaPad Y500
$1,250 list
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 is a solid choice for a gaming laptop, offering decent gaming performance and portability, with a modular upgrade system that lets you add and swap extras