The 10 Best Gaming Laptops
The 10 Best Gaming Laptops
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. For those looking to take their game mobile without sacrificing too many frame rates, PCMag has rounded up the best gaming laptops.
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 (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 you can still use to compete on the gaming grid. For more on what to look for in a laptop, check out ourbuying guide.
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP
Digital Storm Krypton
$2,297
The Digital Storm Krypton is a midrange gaming laptop that leverages the latest Nvidia and Intel hardware to deliver top-notch performance.
MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K
$2,199
The MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K delivers a midrange gaming laptop that brings plenty of bang for the buck, and several small touches that will delight gamers.
MSI GT70 2PC Dominator
$2,351
$1,999.99 at AmazonThe MSI GT70 2PC Dominator is a beefy, 17-inch, midrange gaming laptop boasting the latest hardware from Intel and Nvidia, and features like a customizable keyboard backlight and Blu-ray drive.
Origin EON17-SLX (2014)
$3676.34 direct
$1,944.00 at Origin PCThe Origin EON17-SLX is a powerful gaming laptop, and while it’s not perfect, the flaws are easily overlooked.
Razer Blade (2013)
$1,999.99
$1,699.00 at AmazonThe oh-so-portable 14-inch Razer Blade has got you covered when you want to take your gaming on the road, with an Intel Haswell processor and the latest Nvidia graphics.
Alienware 17 (2014)
$3,399
The Alienware 17 is a high-end gaming laptop with all the premium touches you’d expect, and performance to match.
Asus ROG G750JZ-XS72
$2,999.99
$2,811.02 at AmazonThe Asus ROG G750JZ-XS72 is a gaming laptop that earns every penny of its high-end price. It’s outfitted with the latest Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 880M graphics card, and a wealth of features and ports.
Lenovo Y50 Touch
$1,129.91
£999.95 at John LewisThe Lenovo Y50 Touch is a solid gaming laptop for the novice gamer who feels intimidated by all the customization offered by boutique PC manufacturers.
Maingear Pulse 15
$1,999
$2,299.00 at Microsoft StoreThe Maingear Pulse 15 is a midrange gaming laptop that rivals our top pick in many ways, and even adds a couple of touches all its own.
MSI GS70 Stealth (GS70 2OD-002US)
$1,999
$1,299.99 at AmazonThe MSI GS70 Stealth (GS70 2OD-002US) is a solid ultraportable gaming laptop with good performance and battery life.
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