While building a gaming desktop is your best option in terms of value, there are some gamers who need a gaming laptop. This guide will go over the best gaming laptops for every budget, based on features and value.
Typically I recommend that gamers build their own computers rather than buy them pre-built. And, I usually don’t advise that people use a laptop for gaming due to cooling issues. However, with the rise of LAN parties, the improvement to laptop cooling, and the benefits (and joy) that come with gaming in the same room as your buddies, there is a real upside to having a laptop that is capable of handling your favorite games.
If you’re one of those gamers who wants to game-on-the-go, then having a solid gaming laptop is a must for you. But choosing the best gaming laptop is a lot different than choosing components for a new computer and assembling it yourself. For starters, you’re going to spend more money for less performance on a gaming laptop. That is just something you will have to sacrifice if you want the mobility of a laptop.
Also, a gaming laptop—even the high-end ones—are not going to be able to run as cool as a well-built gaming desktop. And, that means that your gaming laptop will not be as durable and will not last as long as a desktop.
So, if you can accept those two trade-offs in order to be able to take your gaming with you wherever you go, then there is nothing wrong with getting a solid gaming laptop.
Gaming Laptops Under $1,000
[easyazon_image align=”right” height=”350″ identifier=”B015PYYDMQ” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41BrD2bCAeL.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”350″]Traditionally, sub-$1,000 gaming laptops haven’t really been “gaming” laptops. And, while a lot of the laptops in this category aren’t ideal, all of them will serve as at least an entry-level gaming machine.
And, if you play games like League of Legends and Dota 2, then these laptops will work just fine.
The most surprising laptop in this class, though, is the Dell Inspiron i7559-763-BLK. It comes in at about $750 and will perform just as well as the most expensive laptop in this class (~$1,000).
So, the good news is that if you are working with a little bit tighter of a budget, there are solid affordable gaming laptops available. And, some of those options will allow you to play even today’s top games on medium or higher settings.
Gaming Laptop Comparison Chart (Click “Read Review” to Expand)
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Recommendation
“This Acer Aspire laptop definitely serves its purpose as being one of the most budget-friendly laptops for entry-level and casual gaming. No, you can’t max out GTA V or Battlefront with this laptop, but will allow you to play some of today’s top titles on lower settings and you will definitely be able to play competitive games like League of Legends or Dota 2 with no problems.”
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Acer Aspire E5-573G-52G3
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i5 5200 |
MEMORY | 8GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GeForce 940M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1 TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
With an Intel Core i5 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce 940M 2GB graphics processor, the Acer Aspire E5-573G-52G3 is definitely powerful enough for casual gamers and those gamers who play games that aren’t too intensive graphics-wise.
And, while this laptop isn’t going to allow you to max out today’s top titles, it’s price point is good enough to allow even the most budget-friendly users get a laptop that can also be used as an entry-level gaming machine.
The laptop comes with a 15.6″ screen, which is pretty standard for this price, and a 1920×1080 screen resolution. While the resolution is high, in my opinion this laptop would have benefited from a 1366×768 resolution so that it could play some of the more demanding games more easily.
However, the GeForce 940M graphics processor should be powerful enough to play even some of the more demanding games on lower settings.
The laptop also comes with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, which is adequate for this laptop’s price point.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop that will allow you to play games casually, or play games like League of Legends and Dota 2, or play today’s new titles on lower settings, then this laptop should get the job done.
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Recommendation
“What we’re looking at here is a rival to the Acer Aspire E5-573G-52G3. Neither laptops will blow anyone away, but both laptops will serve as a budget-friendly entry-level gaming machine. If it were up to me, I would probably go with the Dell, just because the lower screen resolution will make it easier to play more demanding games. This is one of the few times where worse is actually better.”
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Dell Inspiron 15 5000
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | A10-7300 |
MEMORY | 8GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | Radeon R6 |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1366×768 |
STORAGE | 1 TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 8.1 |
Another solid sub $500 option is this Dell Inspiron 15 5000 laptop. It doesn’t have an Intel Core CPU, like the Acer Aspire listed above, but the 1366×768 screen resolution on this laptop actually helps it run games better, as the lower resolution isn’t as demanding.
The laptop comes with an A10-7300 APU and AMD Radeon R6 series graphics. It also has 8GB of memory, a 1TB hard drive, and a 15.6″ screen.
For this price you shouldn’t expect to be maxing out The Witcher 3, or Fallout 4, but you can expect to play those games (and others) on lower settings on this laptop.
And, if you play games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Minecraft, Team Fortress 2, or other non-demanding, but competitive, games, this laptop will serve your needs just fine.
Ultimately, this is another budget-friendly option you have if you aren’t looking to spend more than $500 on a laptop. And, while it isn’t the most powerful laptop on the market, and while it won’t be ideal for a gamer who likes to run everything on high, it will get your feet in the door and give you a mobile gaming machine.
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Recommendation
“If you can get past the fact that you have to pay nearly $100 more than the first Acer Aspire model listed in this post and that all you get for that extra $100 is two extra GBs of VRAM, then this is a decent budget-friendly option.”
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Acer Aspire E5-573G-56RG
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i5 5200 |
MEMORY | 8GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GeForce 940M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1 TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
As a hardware enthusiast it’s hard to imagine spending ~$100 more just to get 2GB extra of VRAM. However, that 2GB of VRAM is the only difference between the Acer Aspire E5-573G-56RG and the Acer Aspire E5-573G-52G3 that was listed first on this list.
So, if you want to spend an extra $100 on two extra GBs of VRAM, then by all means choose this laptop.
But ultimately, this is the same laptop as the first Acer Aspire mentioned on this list and it costs almost $100 more.
Putting that aside, though, and looking at the machine itself, this is definitely not a bad option for a budget-friendly laptop. It can definitely play games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Minecraft, and Team Fortress 2 with no problems at all.
And, it can even handle some of the more demanding games out there on lower settings. But, just like the first Acer Aspire model mentioned above, the 1920×1080 screen actually limits it, rather than helps it out. This is because with that low of a graphics processing unit, the higher resolution monitor pushes the GPU harder and lessens the system’s in-game performance.
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Recommendation
“This is easily the best deal in terms of price-to-performance for a gaming laptop under $1,000. It has a good enough GPU to have you playing most top titles on high settings and it comes with an SSD for fast load times. Ultimately, if I had about $800 to spend on a gaming laptop, this would be the one I would get.”
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Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i5 6300HQ |
MEMORY | 8GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 960M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 256GB SSD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
It’s really hard to recommend anything under $500-$600, when for a couple hundred extra you can get the Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK, which really is an excellent option for gamers.
With the Intel Core i5 6300HQ processor and a GTX 960M 4GB graphics processor, this laptop will be able to run any of today’s top titles on at least medium settings, but will actually run most games on higher settings.
The laptop also comes with a 256 GB SSD which will significantly improve your game load times and overall operating system speed. While the 256 GB of storage may be lacking for some, you can always add more by adding another drive, or getting an external hard drive.
Finally, the laptop sports a 15.6″ IPS panel screen with a 1920×1080 resolution and it has 8GB of DDR3 memory and runs Windows 10.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for the best price-to-performance ratio on a gaming laptop and you’re looking for something that won’t break the bank, this is easily one of the best deals available.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B015PYYDMQ” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41BrD2bCAeL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B015PYYDMQ” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41uPGLbbGdL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B015PYYDMQ” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31iBd9KRYFL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B015PYYDMQ” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41jl6TbPiaL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
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Recommendation
“What would you rather have? A little more processing power, or a little more graphics processing power? Assuming you have an ~$800 budget, the answer to that question will determine whether you should get the ASUS K501UX or the Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK. If you’re looking to get as high of framerate as possible, then go with Dell. If you’re looking to save every penny possible, get the ASUS K501UX.”
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ASUS K501UX
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7-6500U |
MEMORY | 8GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 950M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 256GB SSD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
Another great option in this price range is the ASUS K501UX. It doesn’t have quite the kick that the Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK has in terms of graphics processing power, but the GTX 950M that it comes with is just a step down from the GTX 960M in the Dell laptop, so you will still be able to play most of today’s top titles on at least medium settings.
Still, though, at just $30-$40 more, you might as well just get the upgraded graphics, that the Dell laptop has.
One thing that the ASUS K501UX does have that the Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK doesn’t have is an Intel Core i7 processor (instead of the Intel Core i5 processor that the Dell laptop has).
This is a nice addition for anyone looking to also user their laptop for more CPU-intensive tasks and who are more of casual gamers.
Ultimately, this laptop has the same specs as the Dell Inspiron listed above, except for the slight downgrade in graphics processor. But, in the end, this laptop is definitely a solid budget-friendly gaming laptop and will serve more than well as a gaming machine.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B0146DD02G” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41WN8y6bohL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”377″ identifier=”B0146DD02G” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/413yxrG6mjL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B0146DD02G” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31myM0leXiL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B0146DD02G” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41b4KcZVBCL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
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Recommendation
“The Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black will definitely allow you to play most of today’s top games on medium-to-high settings. However, for about $300 less you can get the Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK, which will ultimately do the same thing.”
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Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 4720HQ |
MEMORY | 8GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GeForce 960M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1 TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 8.1 |
It took three different models of laptops after the Dell Inspiron i7559-763BLK on this list to get to another laptop that has a GTX 960M 4GB GPU. And, this laptop is $300 more than the Dell system listed above.
What this laptop does have that the Dell unit does not have is an Intel Core i7 CPU. But, really, that’s the only upgrade that the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black has over the Dell Inspiron model.
However, the Dell laptop has an SSD (whereas this Acer laptop does not have one) and the hard drive that comes on this unit is only 5200 RPMs.
This laptop also comes with Windows 8.1, rather than Windows 10. You can upgrade to Windows 10 for free, of course, but it would be nice to have it just come ready to go out of the box.
Ultimately, if you want to spend $300 extra on the i7 CPU at the sacrifice of your HDD speed, then you can definitely do so with this model. In my opinion, though, I’d still rather have the Dell laptop and pocket the extra money.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”464″ identifier=”B00WJSQRNK” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41nMaG91AXL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”333″ identifier=”B00WJSQRNK” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41BQOSneQmL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”341″ identifier=”B00WJSQRNK” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31NW3rbEAzL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”335″ identifier=”B00WJSQRNK” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31wVKVZD0iL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
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Gaming Laptops Under $2,000
[easyazon_image align=”right” height=”350″ identifier=”B01DT4A2K6″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41VuGqJWpVL.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”350″]In the $1,000-$2,000 range, you’re basically looking at laptops that have the GTX 970M as their GPU. The GTX 970M is powerful enough to play any game on a 1920×1080 monitor on max settings.
So, really, the $1,000-$2,000 range is kind of the sweet spot for gaming laptops in terms of getting something that will handle anything you throw at it and paying the least amount to be able to run any game.
Still, though, in the lower tier of this range, there are some laptops that have the GTX 960M, which in my opinion isn’t cool, considering you can spend about $750 on the Dell Inspiron laptop listed in the Affordable Tier and get the same performance.
So, my advice if you’re looking to spend between $1,000 and $2,000 is to make sure you get a gaming laptop that has a GTX 970M in it.
Gaming Laptop Comparison Chart (Click “Read Review” to Expand)
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Recommendation
“A good laptop that is ultimately overpriced for what it offers when considering the competition. It does have the 4GB version of the GTX 960M, but considering the ~$750 Dell Inspiron laptop listed above has the same video card, you’re paying a hefty premium for not a lot of in-game performance. Overall, I would avoid getting this laptop unless you will also be doing some heavy video editing/rendering as well, as the extra RAM (16 GB) and the i7 CPU will help with those kinds of tasks.”
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ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7-6700HQ |
MEMORY | 16GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 960M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1 TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
To start off the $1,000-$2,000 range of laptops we have the ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74. This is a solid overall laptop as it has an Intel Core i7 processor, a GTX 960M graphics processor, and 16GB of DDR3 memory.
However, in my opinion, the 16GB of RAM is overkill for a gaming laptop and that money would have been better allocated by upgrading to a GTX 970M or an SSD.
Still, this is a good option, especially if you’re a fan of ASUS and their Republic of Gamers products. It’s just not the best option in this price range…
In fact, for gaming purposes, I would take the hardware that comes on the Dell Inspiron i7-559-763BLK over the hardware in this laptop. And the Dell laptop is nearly $300 less than this ASUS unit.
So, take that as you will, but for me personally, the hardware upgrades in this laptop are in all the wrong areas.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B015ZG997I” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41JuUFBstEL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B015ZG997I” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41K6yZGCW7L.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”372″ identifier=”B015ZG997I” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41Inudx6yPL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B015ZG997I” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/319htUvMTML.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
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Recommendation
“As the least expensive gaming laptop to have a GTX 970M, the APACHE PRO-239 is easily one of the better value gaming laptops in the $1,000-$2,000 price range. With the 1920×1080 screen, the GTX 970M will have no problems maxing out the majority of today’s top games.”
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MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-239
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 6700 |
MEMORY | 12GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 970M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1 TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
In gaming, the biggest determining factor of what settings you can run your games on is the video card in your system. So, in ranking the laptops up until this point, it’s been difficult to hand out steadily increasing scores because from the ~$750 laptop to the ~$1,100 laptop, the video card didn’t change (they all used a GTX 960.)
However, the MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-239 sports the next step up from the GTX 960M… the GTX 970M.
With the GTX 970M, this laptop is more like having a $800-$1,000 gaming desktop (minus all of the space and cooling) in terms of performance.
And, with a 15.6″ screen that has a 1920×1080 resolution, and 12GB of RAM, there’s really not a game out there that will give this laptop any problems.
The only thing this laptop needs to be complete as an all-around amazing gaming laptop is an SSD. And, thankfully you can easily add an SSD later down the road if you choose to.
For now, though, the MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-239 is easily one of the best value gaming laptops in the $1,000-$2,000 price range.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”400″ identifier=”B01D8VJ0B2″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/415NMIcvjxL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”392″ identifier=”B01D8VJ0B2″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41QIhmzMGFL1.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”400″ identifier=”B01D8VJ0B2″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/51X42BZSB36L.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”348″ identifier=”B01D8VJ0B2″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41TT4TVavML.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
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Recommendation
“The ASUS G751JT is virtually the same machine (hardware-wise) as the MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-242, but it’s also more expensive. I would recommend going with the APACHE to save money, but if you’re an ASUS diehard this machine will serve you well.”
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ASUS G751JT
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 4710HQ |
MEMORY | 16GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 970M |
SCREEN | 17.3″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1 TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 8.1 |
Virtually, the ASUS G751JT is the same laptop (hardware-wise) as the MSI APACHE PRO-242. The only two differences are that the APACHE PRO-242 has a little bit newer CPU and comes with Windows 10, whereas the ASUS G751JT comes with a little bit older CPU and Windows 8.
Neither of these differences are significant, as they won’t have much of an impact on your in-game performance (if at all). So, ultimately, just like the APACHE PRO-242, the ASUS G751JT will be able to max pretty much any game out.
However, it’s tough to recommend the G751JT over the APACHE PRO-242, simply due to pricing. The APACHE PRO-242 comes in at around $200 less than the G751JT, despite having the better CPU.
In the end, I would definitely recommend going with the APACHE PRO-242 over this laptop, but I know everyone has their reasons. Maybe you prefer ASUS products, or you like Windows 8 better than Windows 10…
Whatever the case is, it’s likely that you’ll be happy with this laptop in the long run as it is high-end enough to deliver you amazing in-game performance.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B00NVV2B98″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41A5I3b1jkL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”346″ identifier=”B00NVV2B98″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31Y9XIAkNGL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”349″ identifier=”B00NVV2B98″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31y5QY0VRIL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”321″ identifier=”B00NVV2B98″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/21mVhOzsZVL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00NVV2B98″ locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]GET THIS LAPTOP[/easyazon_link]
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Recommendation
“With ASUS’ Republic of Gamers tag, you can rest assured that this is a well-built laptop. Hardware-wise it’s on par with the MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-242 and the ASUS G751JT but it does come with a 128GB SSD (which those two do not come with). You will pay a premium for the ROG brand despite not getting a GPU upgrade, though, but ultimately it’s a very worthy gaming laptop.”
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01578ZN0Q” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]Get it on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
ASUS ROG G752VT-DH72
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 6700HQ |
MEMORY | 16GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX970M |
SCREEN | 17.3″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1TB HDD/ 128GB SSD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
TWhen you buy anything with ASUS’s Republic of Gamers tag on it, you can expect to get a better built, better-looking, and all-around cooler product. You can also expect to pay a premium, at least if your main concern is in-game performance.
The same goes for ASUS’ ROG laptops. The ASUS ROG G752VT-DH72 has pretty much identical specs to the ASUS G751JT and the MSI APACHE PRO-242, but it comes in at $300-$500 more than both of those laptops.
The difference in price is mainly chalked up to ASUS’ unique ROG design, which comes with a backlit anti-ghosting gaming keyboard with 30-key rollover, and an improved thermal design for better cooling (often the bane of all gaming laptops) and dust removal.
The higher pricetag also gets you a lifetime XSplit Gamecaster account so you can record or stream your games easily and perhaps most importantly, you get a 128GB SSD to go along with your 1TB mechanical hard drive.
Ultimately, this laptop won’t have any problems playing today’s top games on high-to-max settings. What you need to decide, though, is how much of a premium you’re willing to pay for the ROG laptop’s superior design.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”379″ identifier=”B01578ZN0Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41qcJO8vpEL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”344″ identifier=”B01578ZN0Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41aI3erhU2BL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”260″ identifier=”B01578ZN0Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31wjNqAzvHL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”393″ identifier=”B01578ZN0Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41C90Ciur4L.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01578ZN0Q” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]GET THIS LAPTOP[/easyazon_link]
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Recommendation
“With a GTX 980M, the ASUS ROG G751JY-VS71(WX) is the most powerful laptop under $2,000. If you have around ~$1,500 to spend and you want to be able to play today’s top games on the highest settings possible, then look no further than this laptop.”
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01DT4A2K6″ locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]Get it on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
ASUS ROG G751JY-VS71(WX)
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 4720HQ |
MEMORY | 16GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 980M |
SCREEN | 17.3″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1TB HDD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
An i7-4720HQ CPU and a GTX 980M video card make the ASUS ROG G751JY-VS71(WX) the best laptop listed on this page thus far.
The GTX 980M is as close to as much graphics processing power as you can get in a gaming laptop and, as such, is capable of maxing out any game you throw at it very easily.
So, if you’ve got a sizable budget and you want to be able to play any of today’s top games on the highest settings, the ASUS ROG G751JY-VS71(WX) will definitely allow you to do so.
Aside from the Intel Core i7 processor and the GTX 980M video card, the G751JY-DB72 also sports 16GB of DDR3 memory. While all of that extra memory won’t really impact your in-game performance, if you’re editing or rendering videos, it will definitely come into play.
The ROG laptop also comes with a large 17.3″ screen with a 1920×1080 resolution to enjoy your games on.
Along with the high-end hardware you get the ROG design… which provides you with a more durably-built and rugged machine. It also provides you with better cooling (which can often be a problem in laptops) and an improved suite of software to help you take your gaming to the next level.
Ultimately, the GTX 980M makes this one of the best laptops on this list, as it is the most affordable laptop to sport the GTX 980M. If you have the budget, this is likely your best option for a gaming laptop.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B01DT4A2K6″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41VuGqJWpVL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B01DT4A2K6″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41V9sfz7ojL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B01DT4A2K6″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/412Bd82XiWYL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B01DT4A2K6″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41GhjnvL5L.SL160.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”160″] |
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01DT4A2K6″ locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]GET THIS LAPTOP[/easyazon_link]
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Gaming Laptops Over $2,000
[easyazon_image align=”right” height=”332″ identifier=”B01578ZM6Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41nc2kVTdsL.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”320″]The over $2,000 category of laptops is kind of thin. There are quite a few laptops in this range that offer the GTX 980M SLI GPU (dual GTX 980Ms) but then they pair that GPU configuration with a 1920×1080 monitor, which, in my opinion, makes absolutely no sense.
A single GTX 980M will run any game on a 1920×1080 monitor on high settings without too many problems.
So, then adding the GTX 980M SLI is just a waste. There is one laptop in this range (the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro) that offers a 4K screen and a GTX 970M, which while enough GPU power to run most games on medium-to-high settings on a 4K monitor, is kind of disappointing considering a GTX 980M or GTX 980M SLI would have been better.
Ultimately, the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro is the only laptop in this range to offer something significantly different to the top laptops in the $1,000-$2,000 range and that is the 4K monitor. If you guys see a 4K laptop with a GTX 980M or 980M SLI pop-up, please let me know so I can add it.
Gaming Laptop Comparison Chart (Click “Read Review” to Expand)
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Recommendation
“Yes, Lenovo has a 4K “gaming” laptop. The only problem is that with it’s GTX 860M 2GB video card, it is kind of limited as to what games you can play on it. If Lenovo would have stuck a GTX 970M or 980M in this they would have had a real interesting option… but alas, they did not.”
[easyazon_link identifier=”B015VINFUW” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]Get it on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
Lenovo Y50 Touch 4K
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 4720HQ |
MEMORY | 16GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 860M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 3840×2160 |
STORAGE | 2TB SSD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
I think Lenovo missed a big opportunity with their Y50 Touch 4K “gaming” laptop. On the one hand, they are one of the first to offer a 4K “gaming” laptop and on the other hand, they didn’t really provide the hardware necessary to truly make their laptop into a “gaming” laptop.
The i74720HQ processor is enough to get the job done, but the GTX 860M 2GB video card provided will not allow you to play today’s top games on a 4K monitor.
The biggest disappointment is that they decided to include a 2TB SSD, which is overkill considering that money would have been much better allocated in the video card.
Still, though, this laptop could fit some people’s needs. If you are really competitive in some of the more non-demanding games out there (like League of Legends, Dota 2, etc.), then perhaps you could get some use out of this machine and it’s 4K monitor. However, if you think this game will allow you to play The Witcher 3 on max settings, you will be disappointed by this machine… especially for how much you spent on it.
So, ultimately, I would probably stay away from this machine unless you’re looking for more of a work laptop that you “casually” game on.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”435″ identifier=”B015VINFUW” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/51YO9XZkXQL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B015VINFUW” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31QJtYOQxwL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”467″ identifier=”B015VINFUW” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/51suDIfR0WL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”375″ identifier=”B015VINFUW” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41S8VNvEdrL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
[easyazon_link identifier=”B015VINFUW” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]GET THIS LAPTOP[/easyazon_link]
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Recommendation
“This MSI laptop is a very powerful gaming machine. With the GTX 980M there isn’t a game that it won’t be able to handle. However, it’s going to provide essentially the same in-game performance as the less expensive ASUS ROG ASUS ROG G751JY-DB72. If you’re a big MSI fan, then by all means jump on it. If you want the better deal, go with the ASUS laptop.”
[easyazon_link identifier=”B015YC8XN4″ locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]Get it on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
MSI GT72 Dominator Pro G
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 6820HK |
MEMORY | 16GB DDR3 |
VIDEO | GTX 980M |
SCREEN | 17.3″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1TB HDD/128 GB SSD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
The MSI GT72 Dominator Pro G will provide pretty much identical in-game performance as the ASUS ROG G751JY-DB72, but will cost you almost $200 more.
You do get a little bit of an upgrade on the CPU (the i7-6820HK over the i7-4720HQ) over the ASUS laptop, but you also get less RAM (which isn’t a big deal ultimately, as that extra RAM won’t make a difference in your in-game performance) and you also get the 8GB version of the GTX 980M instead of the 4GB version that comes on the ASUS laptop.
But again, the 8GB version of the video card isn’t going to give you much of a performance boost playing on a 1920×1080 screen, so it’s kind of an overkill addition.
Yes, the Gigabyte model will be able to handle any game you throw at it with ease, but in my opinion, you might as well pocket that extra $200 and get the ASUS ROG gaming laptop mentioned above.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B015YC8XN4″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/51J45UawjL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B015YC8XN4″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/51pkFtsumuL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B015YC8XN4″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41silR66iCL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B015YC8XN4″ locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41TAESw3QGL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] |
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00ZUYMQYY” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]GET THIS LAPTOP[/easyazon_link]
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Recommendation
“The ASUS ROG G752VY-DH72 is another solid option that will handle any game you throw at it on max settings. However, like the MSI laptop listed above, it is a bit pricey considering the ASUS ROG G751JY-DB72 will provide the same in-game performance and costs quite a bit less.”
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01578ZM6Q” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]Get it on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
ASUS ROG G752VY-DH72
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 6700HQ |
MEMORY | 32GB DDR4 |
VIDEO | GTX 980M |
SCREEN | 17.3″ |
RESOLUTION | 1920×1080 |
STORAGE | 1TB HDD/256GB SSD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
Another laptop with the GTX 980M, the ASUS ROG G752VY-DH72 is definitely in the upper echelon of gaming laptops.
However, just like the MSI laptop listed above, it’s higher price makes it a tough buy, considering the ASUS ROG G751JY-DB72 is sitting there with mostly identical specs and a much cheaper price tag.
This ASUS G-series laptop does boast 32GB of RAM, but the bulk majority of that is unusable in a gaming setting, so it’s kind of overkill if you’re just looking for a gaming-specific laptop.
But if you need something to serve as a workstation laptop as well, the extra RAM will come into play.
Ultimately, though, I’d stick to the ASUS ROG G751JY-DB72. If you really need the extra RAM, you can add it yourself and save yourself some money.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”121″ identifier=”B01578ZM6Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/410yDcwDL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”123″ identifier=”B01578ZM6Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/412Btdk9v4mL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”160″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B00QH9H8CQ” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41iBPsK5zL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”160″ identifier=”B01578ZM6Q” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/41nc2kVTdsL.SL160.jpg” tag=”egclaptops-20″ width=”154″] |
[easyazon_link identifier=”B01578ZM6Q” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]GET THIS LAPTOP[/easyazon_link]
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Recommendation
“A GTX 970M 6GB video card and a 4K screen make the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro a very intriguing option for hardcore gamers. This is one of only a few gaming laptops on the market that currently have a 4K screen and unlike some of the others (the Lenovo Y50) it actually has a capable 4K video card in it. So, if you’re looking for a 4K gaming laptop, this would be one you would want to consider.”
[easyazon_link identifier=”B015QHZL8M” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]Get it on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
MSI GS60 Ghost Pro
TECH SPECS
PROCESSOR | i7 6700HQ |
MEMORY | 16GB DDR4 |
VIDEO | GTX 970M |
SCREEN | 15.6″ |
RESOLUTION | 3840×2160 |
STORAGE | 1TB SSD/512GB SSD |
O.S. | Windows 10 |
Now here’s a real 4K gaming laptop… the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro did what the Lenovo Y50 Touch couldn’t… it put a 4K capable video card in a 4K gaming laptop.
It would have been nice if the Ghost Pro sported a GTX 980M or even GTX 980M SLI, but the GTX 970M 6GB GPU should be enough to game on at least medium settings on a 4K monitor. So, if you are itching to get into 4K gaming, this will at least allow you to do so.
Aside from the 4K screen and the GTX 970M, the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro also boasts a brand new i7-6700HQ CPU and 16GB of DDR4 memory.
And, if you like SSD storage, this laptop has all of it you could ever use. It has a 1TB SSD as the main drive and a 512GB SSD as the secondary drive.
So, ultimately, if you have a big budget and are looking for an all-around high-end laptop that will allow you to jump into 4K gaming, then the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro might just be the laptop for you.
[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”323″ identifier=”B015QHZL8M” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41hoksT8JEL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”393″ identifier=”B015QHZL8M” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/31HCi4AGHML.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”343″ identifier=”B015QHZL8M” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41YMM22m7iL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] | [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”373″ identifier=”B015QHZL8M” locale=”US” src=”https://elitegamingcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/41fDpMtNBUL.jpg” tag=”thowisguy-20″ width=”500″] |
[easyazon_link identifier=”B015QHZL8M” locale=”US” tag=”egclaptops-20″]GET THIS LAPTOP[/easyazon_link]
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Did I Miss One?
I am committed to updating this list of the best gaming laptops just a regularly as I update my affordable gaming PC builds and high-end PC builds, but I know that there is a good chance that I have missed some solid laptops for this list.
So, if you have experience with a laptop not on this list and you think it should be included, please let me know! I’ll look into it and likely add it to the appropriate category.
Def_not_anon says
Hey brent i’ve been wondering if this gaming laptop: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y4GZS9C/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IUE94Q1XCKTJD&colid=UVZXQZ3PRZKB&psc=1&th=1 (acer predator helios 300) would be an amazing price to performace gaming laptop, it has an i7-7700HQ and a gtx 1060 6gb and currently is 999$ on amazon. I’m considiring getting it in around 4-5 months.
Drake Hatfield says
This is a great list. Honestly, it really is a great list. One question… Some of us are frustrated about the current landscape when it comes to laptop keyboards. For example, I am currently using a Dell Precision M4800. Great little laptop and was top of the line when I got it, have since done several modifications. In my quest to replace it with something far more powerful, I am finding that all manufacturers have gone to the stupid chiclet-style keyboard. The ones that have not gone that style, have ditched the page up/down buttons next to the arrow keys. The only manufacturer that seems to keep great full-size keyboards with compromise is Alienware, who I have never puchased a computer from. I hate the look of the brand, though I suppose I could mod it and remove the Alienware logo from the back of the laptop. Then again, I have read many reviews that those comps are loaded with bloatware.
Thoughts on computers that fit the bill of being powerhouse monsters, but with fullsize keyboards?
patrick says
Hi everybody,
great insights, i like it!
I have a wish but i don’t think it’s on the market yet
What i would really like to see it’s a lightweight mobile workstation equipped with
I7 or Xeon
GTX1080 or TITAN X Pascal
32GB Ram
4K display
and close to the new macbook pro 15″ size and weight.
Let me know if there’s something similar around :)
Zune says
Either this http://www.razerzone.com/ca-en/gaming-systems/razer-blade or this http://www.razerzone.com/ca-en/gaming-systems/razer-blade-pro come close, depending on what you prefer more 1080 and a bit more weight or 1060 and lightweight.
Jayden says
Hi, Iately I’ve been traveling alot, that being out of state or just to friends. Me and my friends play alottttt of games togetger, and you can’t really bring desktop any where. So I’ve been looking at laptips, and the Dell Inspiron 7559 laptop is in my range of prices. I wanted to know if the laptop would run Minecraft very well, as that is the game we play the most.
Thanks, Jayden
Hunter says
Yes . The dell 7559 is a cheapeat gaming laptop under 800$
L. White says
Alienware, MSI, Sager/Clevo have better offerings in the sub/over $2K range that pound ‘tops you have listed… Just my .02 cents.
Yana says
Greeting Grent, Mm..there is a gaming laptop brand named Sager. Would you like to review their laptop here, thanks?
Yana says
Greeting Grent. Emm there is a gaming laptop brand named Sager. Would you review this brand here, thanks?
Tommy says
Hey Brent I’m looking at the ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74 and I’m wanting at least 60fpson GTAV or GTAIV I’m running LSPDFR and want good graphics and not as much lag
Mistechal says
Hey Brent,
I am looking to get a laptop because with my current job i am going to be on the road a lot. I will have access to the internet and I mostly play league of legends. I built the hornet pc on your list a couple years back for my desk top but now i need to make sure i get a good laptop and I want to ensure that i will not have any issues with my league game play as well as i also play skyrim, and Diablo 3. I am looking to get into Witcher 3 and a few other games but i want to be certain i get a laptop that can not only handle what games can dish out today but also for a few years to come. I want to ensure that i don’t have any issues with it over heating as I have a tendancy to play for long periods of time and if it had good battery life that would be a great plus. I want it to be able to do everything my current desktop build can do and then some if that makes sense however i don’t want to brake the bank to do it think you might be able to point me in the right direction? Thanks for taking the time to read this as well as for any reply.
Brent Hale says
Hi Mistechal, how’s it going?
The tough thing with laptops is that they are always going to cost more and give less performance. As of right now, your best bet for a gaming laptop under $1,000 is probably the Dell Inspiron listed in the under $1,000 price range, as it is the cheapest available laptop with a GTX 960M graphics card.
There are laptops with the newer GTX 1060M and 1070M in them, but they are all at least $1,000 or more.
Fortunately, though, the GTX 960M will be able to handle the games you want to play with no problem. You might have to turn down the settings a bit on the Witcher 3, but you should be able to play on medium settings.
As for cooling, there really aren’t any options under $1,000 that offer superior cooling, and even the best gaming laptops will get warm after prolonged use. But paired with a laptop cooler, you should be able to game for quite awhile without any problems.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
All the Best,
Brent
xDeuiii says
Are all these laptops have been selected according to adequate cooling?
Dion says
Hey Brent, awesome website.
Out of curiosity I looked around for 4k laptops with sli GPU. I came across the EON17-SLX, which is very customizable. You can choose between 1920 x 1080 and 3840 x 2160 displays, and there is dual GTX 970m and 980m GPU.
Oh you can also have a really pointless amount of RAM — 64GB to be exact. A lot of other options as well.
Also out of curiosity.. the most expensive laptop I could build is in the neighborhood of $8,000, that is excluding the Accessories.
Hope this helps!
Website – https://www.originpc.com/gaming/laptops/eon17-slx/
Devin says
Hey Brent. Though you get this a lot, I just want to start off by saying great site. Really. But I’m needing a little bit of help. I know that this site’s main focus is to build/buy your own pc, but I was wondering, in your opinion, which laptop would I want to get if I am planning to major in computer science (probably software engineering) and would like to do light gaming on it until I can actually build a pc. LaptopMag recommends the ThinkPad T450s, but I don’t know. My budget is around $1000. I can go a little over if I need to.
Damon says
Forgive me, I don’t mean to be presumptuous and answer for Brent. I was gonna throw in my two cents. I have dealt with the guys at Xidax. They are GREAT to deal with and always have time to answer questions. If my budget is around the $1000 range for light gaming and your school needs, I would humbly suggest the XM-5 laptop. The price is slightly higher than your $1000 goal ($1300), BUT, you get the I7 6700HQ, Nvidia 960M, and 16 gigs of memory! They also come with a 2 year warranty. Well worth looking at!
FYI: I have NO affiliation with Xidax, nor have ANY financial interests with them, I simply like this American company enough to tell others about them.
Devin says
Thanks man, I’ll be sure to check it out. If you or anyone else has an opinion, please share it!
Brent Hale says
Hey Devin, how’s it going?
I definitely understand the need for a laptop instead of a desktop, especially for a college student.
In my opinion, I’d look at either the MSI GE72 APACHE-264 for about ~$900 or the MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-264 if you can stretch to about ~$1,200. The difference is that the PRO-264 will give you a GTX 970M GPU, whereas the less expensive version will give you a GTXM GPU.
Though, if you’re only looking to do some light gaming, the GTX 960M will be find.
Both laptops have i7 CPUs and over 12GB of RAM, so they should be more than adequate enough for school work.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
All the Best,
Brent
Damon says
Well, with the 980m SLI capabilities on the new mega laptop rigs coming out, it seems laptop gaming is REALLY making mobile gaming experiences nearly comparable to their desktop cousins. The Sager NP9390 and NP9870-S chassis come with a couple of game changing abilities. One of which is the availability of the desktop version of the GTX 980, the other is the I5 6600K/ I7 6700K CPU options. Yeah, that is DESKTOP CPUs! Couple all that with Samsung 950 pro M2 NVMe drives running raid 0, and you have a really sick system. Needless to say your sticker price is verging on $4000 US, but hey, with great power comes great ….money.
william says
i’m wanting to build a new gaming experience in desk top and lap top i’m just wanting your opinion on new developments in processors.
Brent Hale says
Hey William, how’s it going?
Going with the newest CPU is always a good idea if you’re buying a new laptop or building a new gaming desktop. However, for gaming, it’s not totally necessary. The reason is that most modern games rely more on your video card than they do your processor. In fact, even AMD’s aging FX series of CPUs still performs well enough to where it doesn’t cause any bottlenecking issues in most games.
So, if you don’t want to pay a premium for the newest CPU out there, you definitely don’t have to. Instead, you should be looking to get the best GPU possible for your budget.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
Brent