Gaming laptops the enigma of the century!
What is a
gaming laptop? Can you
call any laptop discrete graphics “a gaming laptop”? Well, a gaming computer is one that is mostly dedicated
to playing computationally demanding video games, and a gaming laptop is the mobile counterpart of a gaming
computer. You might have heard it is better to play games on a gaming desktop, which is true to a degree
since desktops are large and do not have to compromise on performance for the sake of mobility. All desktop
computer parts are almost entirely faster and more efficient than their mobile complements, but laptops have
the advantage of being portable devices. The caveats and the advantages of a laptop are numerous, and we
will not be focusing on that for this review. Buying a gaming laptop is a very tedious endeavor. Meticulous
research is required on the part of the buyer. So, it is with pleasure that we help a fellow follower pick
out a gaming laptop under 50K with the best bang for his buck. Well to find a good gaming laptop, you need
to ask yourself what it takes to run a game at playable frame rates. A few years ago you could pick up a
cheap prebuilt PC with a single or dual core CPU put a graphics card in there and you were solid. Nowadays
this doesn’t cut it, with most games requiring quad core CPUs you are forced to consider both CPU and GPU in
your budget. Let’s say I have 500 dollars and I pick up a kick ass 400 dollar GPU and spend the rest on a
mediocre dual core CPU, for some games that aren’t CPU intensive I would get the best out of my GPU, but for
games that require both CPU and GPU power, and that is most games nowadays unless you count esports titles,
I would have my GPU bottlenecked by my dual core CPU meaning I would get mediocre performance from my system
because it is bottlenecked by the CPU. So, when we come to gaming laptops the same principle applies a good
CPU, and a fast GPU are really the most important things to look for in a gaming laptop. There is also RAM,
an 8gig stick of DDr3 or DDr4 memory is enough for almost every title out there. A good storage solution is
also key in any gaming laptop, an SSD is preferable, but a 7200rpm mechanical drive or an SSHD will also
suffice. What else does a gaming laptop need? A good cooling solution, a good display and a decent battery
life are also vital to a gaming laptop or to any laptop in general. Here are a few gaming laptops to look at
if you’re in the market.
1. The Acer predator 15 G9-593
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-77WF Gaming Notebook comes
with these high level specs: 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ Processor 2.6GHz with Turbo Boost
Technology up to 3.5GHz, 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS display with NVIDIA
G-SYNC technology which I personally say is very necessary to play games that flow so smoothly with no
stutter, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 with 8 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM, 16GB DDR4 2133MHz Memory, 256GB SSD
in RAID 0 Configuration, 1TB SATA 7200 RPM Hard Drive, 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive (M-DISC
enabled), Acer TrueHarmony Premium High-Performance Sound System, Two Built-in Stereo Speakers and
Subwoofer, Built-in Digital Microphone, Secure Digital (SD) card reader, Killer Wireless-AC 1535
802.11ac WiFi featuring 2x2 MU-MIMO technology (Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, Killer
Ethernet E2400 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port), Built-In HD Webcam, 1 - Thunderbolt 3
(Full USB 3.1 Type C) Port, 4 - USB 3.0 Ports, 1 - HDMI Port, 1 - Display Port, 8-cell Li-ion Battery
(6000 mAh), Up to 3-hours Battery Life, 8.16 lbs. | 3.7 kg (system unit only) (NH.Q16AA.001)
This laptop portrays maximum performance with
amazing build and you definitely won't need to upgrade it in atleast two years.
2.
MSI GT72VR Dominator Pro-448
The 7th generation Intel Core H series processor
integrated in this beast utilizes a power-efficient microarchitecture, advanced process technologies, and
silicon optimizations to deliver faster performance over previous generations.
Screen tearing and jitters are a thing of the past
with the all new 120Hz panel with 5ms response time. The ultra fast refresh rate lets you react instantly to
your game giving you a true MSI gaming experience.
The 94% NTSC Panel delivers higher color range,
presenting clear viewing from either sides of the screen.
Nahimic 2 specializes in 3D sound enhancement
processing and audio improvements offering virtual 7.1 surround sound in immersive HD. With the all new
Sound Tracker feature, gamers will be able to see with an on screen indicator where the sound is originating
from. Nahimic will highlight crucial sounds while reducing external noise for an immersive gaming
experience.
Crush the heat with the updated Cooler Boost 4. Dedicated thermal solutions for both the CPU and GPU with a total of 6 heat pipes ensure maximum performance under extreme gaming.
During gameplay, SteelSeries Engine 3 serves as your firearm. With SSE3, customize your lighting with multiple backlit colors, program personalized macros, and sync it all through the cloud.
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Screen Size
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17.3 inches
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Max Screen Resolution
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1920 x 1080 pixels
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Processor
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2.8 GHz Intel Core i7
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RAM
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16 GB DDR4
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Hard Drive
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1024 GB Hybrid Drive
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Graphics Coprocessor
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geforce gtx
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Chipset Brand
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nvidia
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Card Description
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Integrated
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Graphics Card Ram Size
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8 GB
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Number of USB 3.0 Ports
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6
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Though battery life is bad the
MSI portrays a maximum performance and goes above and beyond people’s expectation giving one of the best
gaming experiences of the 21st century. This BEAST is an ideal laptop with in the price range you are
looking for.
3. Asus ROG Strix GL702VM-DB74
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Screen Size
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17.3 inches
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Max Screen Resolution
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1920x1080 pixels
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Processor
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2.6 GHz None
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RAM
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16 GB
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Memory Speed
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2133 MHz
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Hard Drive
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1000 GB flash_memory_solid_state
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Graphics Coprocessor
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geforce gtx
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Chipset Brand
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NVIDIA
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Card Description
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Dedicated
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Wireless Type
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802.11 A/C
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Number of USB 3.0 Ports
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3
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Processor Brand
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Intel
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Processor Count
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4
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Computer Memory Type
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GDDR5
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Flash Memory Size
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256.0
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Hard Drive Rotational Speed
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7200 RPM
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Voltage
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19.5 volts
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Batteries
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1 Lithium ion batteries required.
(included)
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With the GL702VM, Asus offers a relatively slim
17.3-inch gaming notebook. But, do not be fooled by the slim exterior; the laptop packs a good dose of
processing power. A quad-core Core i7 and NVidia’s GeForce GTX
1060 graphics core form a duo which can display all current games in Full HD
resolution with high to maximal quality settings. NVidia’s G-Sync technology takes care of smooth images.
Despite the powerful hardware, heat development is within limits so lap gaming isn’t a good idea. The
notebook's noise is also acceptable but still noticeable.
Thanks to the 1TB hard drive, the storage does not
fall short, though it could be exchanged. This would require taking off the bottom shell, which would also
be an opportunity to equip the laptop with an M.2 SSD (SATA or NVMe), since there is an unoccupied slot. The
matte IPS screen delights with stable viewing angles and sufficient brightness with amazing FULL HD display.
The contrast could be higher. The built-in keyboard fulfills the demands of household use. If you type a
lot, though, you should get a different model. Because of the deactivated integrated GPU, energy consumption
is higher in an idle state. Consequently, the battery life is worse than it could be. This, however, is only
of secondary importance when it comes to gaming laptops. But if portability and performance are features
that are of most importance then this is the laptop in silver lining. It gives a great gaming experience
with sufficient sonic and battery life.
These three laptops are what I think the best
performing laptops within the 50K budget. I hope you guys find it helpful.
This is Kerod Fresenbet from ICT, signing off.