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Friday, August 17, 2012
Top Five Gaming Notebooks
A gaming laptop is unlikely to match the performance of a custom-built desktop gaming rig, but the gap is narrowing each year. The latest high-end gaming laptops have many features desired by gamers: A full-HD display, 3D support, an LED-backlit keyboard and simulated surround sound.
The typical gaming laptop is a 15- or 17-inch desktop replacement that weighs more than 3kg and can only be considered "portable" in the most generous sense of the word. Here's our list of the best gaming laptops you can find in the market now.
Why it rocks: Arguably one of the most well-known brands for gaming laptops, Alienware has refreshed its lineup with the latest hardware. The design remains as attractive as ever and it comes bundled with custom software that's geared toward gamers.
The good: Cutting-edge processor; new Nvidia GPU; slightly slimmer body; matte screen; faster ports and connections, including USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt.
The bad: More expensive than average laptop; bulky; performance behind more powerful gaming laptops.
The bottom line: If you want to buy a "budget" gaming laptop, the Asus G75VW-AS71 offers plenty of horsepower and features in its heavy 17-inch body. Just don't expect a svelte build or good battery life.
Why it rocks: You could call Asus' Republic of Gamers subbrand, the poor man's Alienware. The design is similar enough to Alienware's as to invite comparisons, while its specifications are competitive. But the best part is that the Asus laptop is typically less expensive than its Alienware equivalent.
The good: Excellent, full-HD matte display; significant performance increase over previous generation; good selection of ports.
The bad: Heavy and bulky; build quality could be better.
The bottom line: A great full-HD display is the highlight of this very capable mainstream laptop. The build quality, however, could be better.
Why it rocks: This mainstream laptop may not have the fastest and greatest hardware, but it's up to date with an Ivy Bridge CPU and Kepler-class Nvidia chip. While it won't match the high-end models in this list, the dv6 is competent enough to play PC games at above-average settings. Best of all, it's the most affordable laptop here, perfect for those who wish to game on a budget.
The good: SSD cache makes for a responsive laptop; bright display with good viewing angles; excellent gaming performance.
The bad: Plastic build; huge AC adapter; audio crackles at high volumes; lid is a fingerprint magnet.
The bottom line: Samsung's first attempt at a high-end gaming laptop strikes all the right notes, though the best part is its attractive price.
Why it rocks: Its high-end specs and attractive price make it a gaming laptop to watch. Samsung has also been quick to upgrade the processor with a new quad-core Ivy Bridge chip--this refreshed version is already available in the US and slated to arrive in Asia in Q3.
Why it rocks: Toshiba's latest high-end Qosmio comes with impressive specs, including a full-HD 3D-capable display, a quad-core Ivy Bridge processor and Harmon Kardon speakers. The company has also tweaked the chassis with a dark textured finish that seems more resistant to fingerprint smudges. There's even a flashy red-tinted backlight.
