Gaming Laptops

Serious gamers will always tell you to go with a desktop computers for their flexibility when it comes to upgrading and the sheer power of their components. However, if mobility is a priority, there are some solid choices in this category. Intel's Core i7 processors are recommended for gaming, as well as a top-of-the-line discrete GPU from ATI or Nvidia, at least 6GB of RAM, and up to a terabyte worth of storage.

Similar to desktop replacements, most gaming laptops are large, heavy and usually lack in the battery life department. There are a number of specialized brands and boutique shops that will let you customize their products with all the latest components and even tailor their looks to your taste for a nice premium.


Alienware M17x / M18x R4

83 11 Reviews Alienware's range-topping M17x was updated earlier this year with a third-gen Intel quad-core processor and the latest discrete GPUs from ATI or Nvidia, while keeping the distinctive Alienware lighting and styling.

The M17x starts at $1,469 and the price ramps up quickly as you start adding options. If you're willing to part with the cash, you can add a solid-state drive, Blu-ray and up to 32GB of RAM. There's also an optional 3D screen for an immersive gaming experience that you can pack up and take with you. The 18-inch Alienware M18x is worth looking at if you want to go all in with dual-GPUs.

Additional views:

Quick specs | Full specs Starting price: $1,469 ($1,861 as configured)
Processor: Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3-3.3GHz Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 7970M 2GB
Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz (2 DIMMs) Storage: 750GB 7,200RPM HDD
Display size: 17.3" (1920x1080) Optical: Slot-loading DVD burner
Weight: 9.39 lbs Battery: 90WHr 9-Cell


MSI GT60 / GT70

80 21 Reviews The 15-inch GT60 and the 17.3-inch GT70 gaming laptops from MSI offer Intel Core i7-3610QM processors and Nvidia's latest graphics cards -- up to the GTX 675M right now but the Kepler GTX 680M will be available soon. The GT60 and GT70 are the first gaming notebooks to feature SteelSeries keyboards, which include multi-color backlighting that can be configured to your liking. You can customize these machines with up to 32GB of RAM and solid-state-drive RAID options, starting at $1499 for the GT60 and $1549.99 for the GT70.

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Quick specs | Full specs Starting price: $1,550 ($1,650 as configured)
Processor: Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3-3.3GHz Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M 2GB
Memory: 12GB DDR3 1600MHz Storage: 750GB 7,200RPM HDD
Display size: 17.3" (1920x1080) Optical: DVD Super Multi
Weight: 8.6 lbs Battery: 9-Cell


Samsung Series 7 Gamer

Designed with feedback from PC gamers, the Series 7 Gamer notebook has all the ingredients required for gaming on the road, including an Ivy Bridge 2.3GHz Core i7-3610QM (four cores, eight threads), a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M graphics chip and 16GB of RAM. Although there doesn't appear to be an optional SSD, the hard disk is supplemented with 8GB of onboard flash that uses caching technologies by Diskeeper and Samsung to boost performance. The Series 7 Gamer also has a hardware dial to switch between four settings tailored for common usage scenarios.

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Quick specs | Full specs Starting price: $1,820
Processor: Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3-3.3GHz Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M 2GB
Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Storage: 1.5TB HDD, 8GB cache SSD
Display size: 17.3" 1920x1080 (400 nit) Optical: Blu-ray
Weight: 8.39 lbs Battery: 8-Cell


Origin EON 17S

Boutique PC builder Origin has updated its Eon 17 gaming notebook with the latest Intel "Ivy Bridge" processors and high end graphics from AMD and Nvidia, all crammed into a lightly-modified edition of a Clevo chassis. The base Eon 17-S model starts at just $1,560 and includes an Intel Core i5-3320M dual-core processor along 4GB of RAM and a 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M card. Although that's nothing to write home about, if you can stretch your budget beyond $2,000, there are endless configuration options to pack all the horsepower for your gaming needs.

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Quick specs | Full specs Starting price: $1,560 ($2,540 as configured)
Processor: Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.6GHz Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 680M 4GB
Memory: 16GB DDR3 Storage: 1TB HDD, 40GB cache SSD
Display size: 17.3" (1920×1080) LED-backlit (matte) Optical: 8X DVD Dual Layer Burner
Weight: 12+ lbs Battery: 8-cell (~2 hours)


Other noteworthy options for gaming

Maingear Pulse 11

The Pulse 11 combines the best in small form-factor laptop design with Intel's 3rd Generation Core processor with up to 8-thread processing, and Nvidia's Optimus technology for portable gaming on the go. The Pulse will fill the gap left by Dell's phased out Alienware M11x.

Starting price: $999

Asus G75VW-AS71

83 With a chasis design inspired a stealth fighter, the G75VW offers uncompromising power with a third generation Intel Core i7 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M GPU with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM. It's 15% thinner and almost a pound lighter than the previous version G74.

Starting price: $1,450

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