1. Alienware 14
If the large display on the Alienware 18 model is just too
big for your backpack, then this 14-inch version is going to be much more
manageable. Don’t expect a massive drop in performance though; this machine is
still a speed demon. Under the hood there’s an Nvidia GeForce GTX GPU and an
Intel Core i7 processor, both of which make short work of high-end titles like
Cysis 3 and Splinter Cell Blacklist. We love the bright, sharp and just down
right fantastic IPS 1080p screen, though the poor battery and annoying method
of changing graphic settings are slight downsides.
Price: from £1,099
2. Gigabyte P27K
If you look beyond the rather bland and uninteresting design
of this laptop, you’ll see that what it lacks in looks, it more than makes up
for in grunt. The big, 17.3-inch 1080p display is great – making games like
Crysis 3 looks absolutely stunning along with Blu-Ray movies. Processor wise
this rig packs an Intel Core i7 and an Nvidia GeForce GTX GPU, plus the
keyboard is backlit – a must for night time gaming marathons. We were slightly
annoyed by the lack of USB ports , but for this price we’re not complaining too
much.
Price: £1,300
3. Scan 3XS Graphite
Gaming laptops are more often than not, very expensive
pieces of tech. Scan are hoping to attract a slightly more cost-conscious
customer with their 3XS, while still providing enough power for intensive
online sessions. Up-top is a manageable 15.6-inch LCD screen with a 1,920 x
1,080 resolution, while under the graphite body is a meaty 4th generation Intel
Core i7 CPU which should provide enough oomph for most top games. Ports are
aplenty on this model, there’s three USB 3.0 ports, a sole USB 2.0, mini
FireWire, Displayport output and HDMI. Scan offers a hit of customisation,
letter you plump for either an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M or 780M graphics card.
Price:
from £870
4. Chillblast Genesis 15
Industry favourite Chillbast’s latest addition to its
growing line of gaming rigs is a 15.4-inch display toting power-house, which
also comes in at a fairly reasonable price. While the design won’t win any
awards, it’s the guts of this beast where the plaudits will be gained. First
off there’s a quad core, i7 processor, fast AMD Radeon 7970 GPU and 8GB of DDR3
RAM, which all work together to give you great performance, in or out of games.
Instead of just a hard-drive, Chillbast has equipped this model with a dual
SSD/HDD, so boot times will be speedy, yet still offer plenty of storage space
for when you’ve gone a bit overboard in the Steam sale. The combo of Blu-Ray drive
and Onkyo 4w stereo speakers mean that when you’re taking a gaming break, your
movie watching needs are all taken care of.
Price: £1,199.99
5. ASUS ROG G750JX
A little chunky in terms of design, this gaming specific
laptop boasts a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, dual fans to keep the heat
low and SoundBooster tech to get the most from the in-built speakers. The
17.3-inch full HD display is capable of pumping out 3D images, there’s an HD
camera up top and even a Thunderbolt port for super fast data transfer. RAM and
HDD space can all be user customised, with Asus offering options up to 32GB and
1TB with 256GB SSD respectively – definitely enough for the majority of gaming
fans.
Price: from $1,800
6. Medion Erazer X7827
Looking for a dedicated gaming laptop that will immerse you
in your games? This Medion Erazer is specced up impressively, with some great
features to boot. A massive 1TB SATA hard-drive houses your precious game data,
while the 128GB SSD makes sure everything runs smoothly and keeps boot-up times
to a minimum. Instead of being overly shiny and glossy, the 17.3-inch display
has a matte coating, keeping pesky reflections at bay. Intel’s Core i7-4700MQ
processor provides the raw power, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M takes care
of the graphics.
Price: £1,449
7. Novatech Elite N1724
Novatech takes pride in allowing the end-user full
customisation over their machine, even offering it free of an operating system.
If you prefer something a little more straight-forward, they have kitted out
the Elite N1724 with everything you need to get. Front and centre is a
17.3-inch display, while under the hood is the latest generation Intel Core i7
processor, for fast, effective performance, paired with NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX
770 Graphics and 16GB RAM. Storage options come by way of a dual SSD/HDD, with
128GB and 1TB respectively, plenty for all your media, along with games. If
you’re looking to add some colour to your to set-up, then the customisable,
backlit keyboard should let your creative side run wild.
Price: £1,315.00
8. Razer Blade Pro
Typical Razer gimmicky name aside, this gaming laptop is a
true behemoth, packing specs and features that will ensure your games run just
how the developer intended. The Blade Pro is equipped with a 17.3-inch full HD
LED screen that produces crisp visuals and smooth textures and in a rare
occurrence for a dedicated gaming machine, has a svelte and sexy chassis,
measuring just 0.88 inches. Tucked inside is where the real specs shine, with
the latest Intel 4th gen Intel Core processor, next generation NVIDIA GeForce
GTX graphics and variety of storage options, all present. If you’re still
craving more, Razer has taken its Switchblade concept and fitted it to the
keyboard, giving you macro controls, mini-apps and more in an LCD touchpad.
Price: from $2,299.99
9. MSI Dragon Edition 2 Extreme
This blazing red clad dedicated gaming laptop may lack
subtlety in its appearance, yet take a look under the dragon emblazoned
exterior and the horsepower is clear to see.
Powering the ‘dragon’ is the latest Intel Core 4th generation i7
i7-4930MX CPU, backed up with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 780M discrete graphics card
for high-end performance. The display is 17.3-inches, with full HD resolution
and anti-glare tech to make gaming easier on the more sunny days. If the raw
power from the speedy processor is not enough, an exclusive NOS design enhances
the GPU and pushes it an extra 10%, yet things stay cool thanks to MSI’s Cooler
Boost 2 tech. Keyboards are the control center of any good gaming rig and this
one uses the renowned SteelSeries model, with full colour LED back-light and
sturdy feedback.
Price: £3,299
10. Alienware 18
Alienware has become synonymous with uniquely designed and
powerful gaming rigs. Things are continuing in the same vein with their latest
top-of-the-line model, which packs an 18.4 inch, TrueLife full HD display so
you can enjoy your favourite games in joyous 1080p. Powering the bright screen
is the latest generation, Intel Core i7 processor which can even be over
clocked to speeds of 4.3GHz, and the graphics come courtesy of a Dual NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 770M card. The exterior is typical Alienware, slightly chunky,
angular and with coloured lights aplenty, these lights can also be customised
to fit with the ambience of particular games. In terms of RAM and HDD space,
the base model comes with 8GB DDR3L and 750GB to store all those games, though
this can be offset with an SSD for faster boot-ups.
Price: from £1,999
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