For the gamer, a laptop with high performance configuration, especially the graphics card, is very important. A high-end gaming laptop has to rival the performance of a gaming desktop. Demanding smooth-running games is no longer exclusive to desktops. Currently the best graphics cards are the GTX 980M and the GTX 970M that recently launched. Obviously, laptops equipped with the 980M are more expensive (their prices are always above $1800) and I do not think it is necessary to choose a GTX 980M laptop. According to the 3DMark (2013) test, the 970m is a full 20% slower than the GTX 980m, however the GTX 970M is fast enough to run all most demanding games with Full HD resolution and highest details. You can get a GTX 970M at a price under $1500 and save money for other equipment, such as an SSD or a great gaming headset, to get a better gaming experience. For under $1500, there are also some laptops that feature the previous-generation GTX 860m, such as Lenovo Y50. Next, I’ll introduce these gaming laptops to you.
#1, Most recommend: Asus RoG G751JT-CH71
The new Asus RoG G751 carries everything needed for players to take their games everywhere. In addition to incorporating the latest generation of Intel Core i7 processors, the G751 incorporates the new GeForce GTX970M GPU, with the proprietary software GPU Tweak to get the best graphics performance.
The design of the laptop is also unique, with good finishes and a sleek look, in line with other RoG products, specifically inspired by the F-22 Raptor aircraft. The new G751 adopts the same chassis as the G750, but it brings a lot of stylistic changes in the form of a brushed aluminum plate on the rear of the machine, which accentuate the aggressive nature of the machine.
The G751 is equipped with a matte, anti-glare 17.3-inch Full HD IPS screen. At the rear are two openings which are strongly reminiscent of reactors, which are mainly used to vent hot air components. Moreover, with the Asus G751′s upgraded cooling system, the copper sinks and two fans run asynchronously for load cooling, keeping the CPU and GPU at a lower temperature even under overclocking conditions. There is also a red, backlit keyboard, which includes special shortcut keys to launch Steam or soft video registry renewal, among other things. The F-22 Raptor also boasts a 2.1 audio system and the connector is expanded enough. The third generation’s GameFirst offers priority to games without delay and allocates more bandwidth. It also features four preset packet-priority modes, and the option to manually set which is useful for the user who wants full control over their networks.
For gaming, you won’t be disappointed with it. Its 16GB ram is big enough, the GTX 970M is fast enough to run all the current, most demanding games with Full HD resolution and the highest details.
The only drawback is that there is no SSD. I suggest you buy an extra SSD to get the best gaming experience, or you can choose another model of G751 that has a pre-installed SSD.
#2, MSI GT70 DOMINATOR-2293
MSI also has an important role in the high-end gaming laptop market. Here I’ll recommend MSI’s new GT70 series: MSI GT70 DOMINATOR-2293. It has an almost identical configuration to the Asus G751, i7-4710MQ, 1TB 7200RPM hard drive, and GTX 970M GPU. The only difference is its RAM is just 8GB while the Asus G751 has 16GB of RAM. I feel in this high-end configuration, 8GB of RAM is a little low, but in most cases it won’t become a performance bottleneck.
Of those two, which is better? I prefer Asus , the best at the price. Their current price is almost the same (in the future that may change). Having more than 8GB of RAM gives the Asus better cost performance. Asus upgraded its cooling system, giving it better cooling performance, while the G751 is lighter at about 0.2 pounds, though it can be negligible. One of the biggest reasons I prefer Asus is its newly designed appearance, which makes it look stunning and sexy.
Of course, this is just my opinion. It cannot be denied that the MSI GT70 is a very good laptop for gaming.
#3, Lenovo Y50 4K UHD Laptop
Lenovo is unknown in the field of high-end gaming laptops, and has yet to launch the laptop equipped with GTX 900 series GPU. However, in the mid-end gaming laptop market Lenovo performs well, especially with its $1,000 price tag. Lenovo is the sales champion thanks to its Y50 series. Here I will recommend the Lenovo Y50 4K UHD laptop.
Compared to the two models introduced above, the specs of the Y50 are slightly worse. It still adopts the previous-generation GTX 860M. Even so, it has an excellent point that the others don’t have. It features a 512GB SSD (it also has a 256GB version) and 4K UHD IPS Glossy Display (3840×2160). Compared to a normal mechanical hard drive, the SSD will make the running speed of the system and applications feel significantly faster. The 4K UHD screen will allow you to get a better visual experience when playing game, especially in graphic design or photo editing. This will be a great help, and avoids the drawbacks that other Y50 models equipped with TN display have .
If you are playing very demanding games like Battlefield 4 and Crysis 3, it needs at a lower resolution (1366 x 768) to run smoothly. For other midrange games, the Y50 can run smoothly at 1080P resolution without any problem. If you’re not sure how it will perform with the games you’re playing, you can check on NotebookCheck.
If the 860M can meet your needs, I recommend choosing this machine. It is not necessary to spend money on the excess performance if you won’t be using it. Spending your money in a more practical place (SSD, UHD screen) would be more worthwhile.