August 27, 2014by Michael WallReads (41,827)
If you’re looking to play the latest PC games, but also want the ability to play on the go your best bet is a high-end game,best,apple,laptop gaming laptop. Of course with any gaming laptop, you’ll want excellent performance. That means fast processors, top of the line graphics cards, ample RAM, and loads of memory to store your game collection.
Not too long ago, buying a gaming laptop meant choosing from a vast array of hulking 15-inch or 17-inch desktop replacements, but with the introduction of Intel’s new Haswell processors and Nvidia’s new line low powered NVidia GeForce GTX GPUs, manufacturers have been able to cram more power into smaller packages.
While the added variety is great for consumers, it can make finding the right gaming laptop a bit more challenging. To help ease your purchasing decision, we’ve collected five of the best gaming laptops including high-powered desktop replacements, portable gaming solutions, and everything in between.
Normally when it comes to gaming laptops consumers need to make a choice: Do you want the powerful desktop replacement that offers market leading specs but is difficult to travel with, or do you want something that is portable but not as powerful? With the Aorus X7v2, gamers don’t have to choose.
Combining the power of a desktop replacement with the portability of a traditional laptop, the Aorus X7v2 offers the best of both worlds. Equipped with a pair of NVidia GeForce GTX 860M SLI enabled GPUs, along with a powerful 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, and upwards of 32 GB of RAM the Aorus is capable of handling any game on the market with blazing fast performance. Even more impressive is that the device manages to offer such competitive performance levels in an attractive 6.6-pound aluminum frame. Add in the colorful 17-inch display and attractive aesthetic and it’s clear that consumers can have their cake and eat it too with the Aorus X7v2.
One word comes to mind when thinking of the MSI GT70 Dominator 2PC: value. The MSI GT70 may not have an all-metal chassis or the slimmest profile, but the desktop replacement hits all the marks necessary to make it an excellent gaming laptop. MSI adds some serious horsepower to the GT70, soldering an additional 3 GB of DDR5 onto the machine’s already potent NVidia GeForce GTX 870M GPU; allowing the device to handle any game currently on the market with top-notch performance at a reasonable price tag. While the MSI GT70 may not look like your typical luxury device, it certainly feels like it. The responsive keyboard with customizable software, Killer DoubleShot Game Networking and vibrant 17-inch display make this desktop replacement a joy to play games on.
Offering almost every feature a gamer could want for well under $3,000 makes the MSI GT70 Dominator 2PC an excellent choice for users who want to save some money without having to make compromises on performance.
The 2014 Alienware 17 is the total package. As expected, the device is a sight to behold with its all-metal chassis design and ample eye-catching backlights. The refreshed gaming behemoth has seen some significant upgrades to its innards, including either NVidia’s new line of GeForce GTX GPUs or AMD’s upgraded graphics cards along with a faster Core i7 processor. The higher-end build offers arguably the best performance on the market (excluding custom built laptops), while the bright colorful 17-inch display goes toe to toe with the MSI GT70’s as one of the best gaming displays on the market.
The Alienware 17 is a master class in performance and design, but with the higher-end builds costing between $3,000 and $4,000, it may be a bit too expensive for most consumers.
Alienware 17 Review (2014 Edition)
If you’re looking for something to travel with, the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro is an excellent choice. Boasting a slim 0.78-inch profile and attractive magnesium alloy design, it’s one of the lightest gaming laptops on the market at only 4.2 pounds. Equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor, NVidia GeForce 860M GPU and upwards of 16 GB of RAM the laptop isn’t a slouch when it comes to performance either. While most portable gaming laptops cut down on weight by shrinking the screen, the MSI GS60 pro features a crisp 15.6-inch WQHD (2,8080 x 1,620 resolution) display. All of that combined with the device’s relatively affordable price makes the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro an enticing offer.
Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p
Even a year after its release it’s hard to find a better deal than the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p. With a high-quality portable brushed aluminum chassis design, a responsive backlit keyboard and reliable performance capable of handling the latest games the Y510p offers everything you could want from a sub $1,000 laptop.
While any configuration of the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p is a bargain, the best deal is the higher-end builds offering the dual SLI-enabled NVidia GT 750M GPUs, with 4 GB of DDR5 at around $1,000; it’s an absolute steal.