Gaming Laptops Review

Games are becoming more and more graphics-heavy and give you the ability to customize everything from shadows to texture and even the density of clutter in the environment. Graphics will only continue to improve, and having a gaming specific system will let you view 3D graphics and high-definition movies with clarity. With the ability to access the internet anywhere, gaming laptops also give you portability without sacrificing the power and function of a traditional desktop. This way, you can dominate any noobs, even when you're away from home.

The computing power gap between desktops and laptops is rapidly closing. Laptops like the Alienware M17x, the MSI GT70 ONE and the Asus G75VW support the kinds of components that are effective at running high-end graphic games, such third generation processors and superior graphics cards meant for mobile computers. Games such as Diablo 3 and Battlefield 3 require your computer to have these upgraded components to even run their graphics on the lowest settings. All the laptops we looked at will run any game on at least medium settings. The best gaming laptops will also keep your laptop cool while running games that support graphic-heavy environments.

Buying a gaming laptop doesn't mean you will sacrifice all the peripherals and accessories you get with the bulky desktop counterpart. Gaming laptops come standard with a webcam, microphone, media-card readers, USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI slot and a good pair of speakers. Many manufacturers also give you the option to upgrade to a Blu-ray disc drive. For more information, check out our learning center to find more articles on gaming laptops.

Gaming Laptops: What to Look For

The portability, connectivity and versatility of a laptop, combined with the power of a desktop, allow for a mobile gaming experience every bit as satisfying as what you expect from a full-sized desktop tower at home. The following is what we looked for when reviewing the top gaming laptops on the market.

Performance
The core of your gaming experience on these laptops is going to come from the graphics card. Since mobile graphics cards are integrated into the motherboard, low-end cards heat up quickly. Look for components that work for mobile gaming. NVIDIA's GTX modules are specifically meant for mobile computers, and AMD Radeon competes with their 7000 series. These graphics cards will stay cool. Also, improved video memory makes all the difference. If you have more video memory, this takes stress off the RAM and CPU, making your system run more smoothly.

You can expect the most powerful gaming laptop to come equipped with a third generation processor. These quad-core CPUs let you multitask lag free and experience fewer heating issues. In terms of raw power, as you increase your cores, you will see an increase in speed across all applications.

With games taking up large amounts of space (sometimes up to 20GB), the best gaming laptops should have no less than 500GB of hard drive space. Be sure to keep an eye on hard drive speed: 7200 RPM is a fast and responsive drive speed in a laptop. Since you'll be opening and closing such large programs, look to find systems loaded with at least 8GB of RAM.

If you strive for extreme performance, consider solid-state drives – they forgo spinning drives for flash-based technology similar to that found in a USB memory stick. Solid-state drives are gaining in popularity, but they still cost substantially more than traditional drives.

Design
Remember, size does matter! Look for laptops with at least a 17-inch screen for excellent widescreen viewing. Gaming laptops are made to support intense graphics, and their screens flaunt true 1080p resolution. The lowest resolution we found was 1600 x 900,while the rest had a resolution of at least 1920 x 1080. These high resolutions mean you'll experience familiar and fantastical landscapes and arresting animation.

One thing to expect with these laptops is they won't be as light as a traditional laptop. Gaming laptops can be as heavy as 12 pounds. The most efficient gaming laptop will have two or more fans cooling the CPU and graphics card inside while you are playing.

Features
Like a traditional laptop, gaming laptops give you the convenience of being able to attach your peripheral devices while you're away from home. All of the laptops we reviewed either include a Blu-ray drive or give you the option to upgrade. The best gaming laptops have multiple memory card readers, an HDMI port (sometimes two) and four or more USB ports. More ports give you the ability to plug in your own special gaming keyboard and mouse for more effective gameplay.

Warranty & Support
The breathtaking power of a high-end gaming laptop doesn’t come cheap. Manufacturers generally offer a one-year warranty that covers any hardware defects. You will also want to make sure the site you choose to buy your gaming laptop from has all the basic support options. Some of the standard support features are a live chat, a community section, phone number, email and driver downloads.

The graphics in the gaming industry are improving quickly, so you will need to plan ahead. Industry-leading graphics cards provide detailed images for years to come. And bigger is always better, so the manufacturers let you upgrade and customize any system you pick, which is a perk if you want to install a bigger hard drive, more RAM or an upgraded graphics card. Gaming laptops supply anything you need to get an edge on your competition.

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