Best Gaming Laptops - Alienware m17
If you are into online gaming then you are probably also into getting the best gaming laptops that are available. Online gaming and the latest games require a lot of power and as a result the best gaming laptop computers are generally extreme machines with specs like Arnie's pecs. So unfortunately the best gaming laptops are not gong to be the cheapest gaming laptops !When looking for gaming laptops you need to bear in mind which features are essential. Gaming laptops are designed around fast CPUs and powerful graphics cards. It is also useful if they are not too heavy, gaming notebooks are supposed after all to be mobile, so you don't really want to be carrying around the equivalent of a desktop computer.
Laptops used for gaming are essentially souped up ordinary laptops for people who move around a lot. If you are using a laptop in the same room all the time you are probably better off getting a desktop for gaming.
A high performance gaming laptop computer needs a high performance graphics card and plenty of video memory i.e. 1GB. Extremely fast CPUs, they also need large heat sinks to combat the heat the laptop will generate.
Gaming laptops also like to look good, much like sportscars, but appearance is very much subjective and people have different tastes in this department
You will also want a large screen, the bigger the better in fact and a widescreen display with WUXGA resolution would be nice.
Gaming laptop technology is constantly evolving and improving - dual core, dual hard drives, dual graphics etc… .
Larger 19 and 20 inch screens are now available.
The essence of a gaming laptop is the graphics card so you need the most powerful graphics or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) you can get for ultimate performance. If you are looking to save a bit of money you can always take at look at the used laptops on sale here.
Well obviously, if one card is good, two must be twice as good ! Gaming systems now have twin or dual graphics with over 1 GB of memory. You also need something to handle this power so you need PCI-Express with SLI (Scalable Link Interface) systems.
A lot of gamers go for high-end GPUs such as ATI Mobility Radeon or NVIDIA GeForce Go series. Go for the highest number.
Memory is also very important for gaming laptops as RAM will to a large extent determine speed of performance. Go for the most RAM you can get especially video RAM.
High performance gaming laptop computers are now equipped with dual core processors, the most popular choice being Intel or AMD. Choose the largest SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) hard drive.
If it is ultimate the gaming laptop you want where money is no object you will probably look at Alienware (owned by Dell), Voodoo (owned by HP) and Rock Direct, a UK Company specializing in Laptops.
The only drawback is that you are sometimes getting style over substance as most companies use the same components from Taiwan.
But if you are going for power then you are going for the sportscar so looks matter.
Certainly one of the most powerful gaming laptops to consider is the Alienware m17, which pushes gaming performance to the limit without bankrupting you.
The M17 starts at around $1600 and includes a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (upgradable to Quad Core 2 Extreme), 3GB of DDR3 memory (upgradable to 4GB), dual ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870s, 1920x1200 high-definition LCD and 160GB storage (supports up to 1TB using two 500GB 7200rpm drives).
An 8x dual-layer burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW) is fitted as standard, but you can opt for a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc Reader (BD-ROM, DVD±RW, CD-RW) for an extra $200.
The Alienware M17 is powered by Intel’s Core 2 Extreme QX9300 the world’s first mobile quad-core processor and it is also Alienware’s first laptop to include dual Mobility Radeon HD 3870 cards.
The main reason the m17 is not overly expensive is because it uses ATI graphics cards rather than overpriced nVidia parts but it still has full DirectX 10.1 and ofers frame rates up to 80% higher than single GPU solutions.
The M17 is also high on style with either Alienware’s Ripley or Skullcap case designs. The Skullcap design reflecting the aggressive Alienware attitude, whereas the Ripley design is sleeker and more subtle.
The matte black, soft-touch Stealth finish is practically fingerprint-proof, and resists most minor scratches.
The M17 is also fitted with a s 2.0-Megapixel Webcam which records high-quality video and audio.
The AlienSense facial recognition software captures unique biometric data to confirm your identity, thus allowing you to log in quickly and securely.
Virtual Scrolling ensures vertical and horizontal scrolling with the slightest touch of your finger. In addition the built-in fingerprint reader ensures that private files remain private. Instant Access Media Buttons instantly launch your browser, e-mail program, Windows Media Player and Power DVD.
The M17 is fitted with three Hi-speed USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo (2-in-1 port), ExpressCard Slot, IEEE 1394a (4-pin) port, Gigabit Ethernet, 7-in-1 media card reader (SD/MS/MSPRO/RS-MMC/MMC), auto-sensing headphone jack, auto-sensing microphone jack, and TOSlink digital audio out.
Plus a HDMI 1.3b connector and analogue VGA connector, but unfortunately there is no DVI port. Integrated Bluetooth 2.1 as standard, and s also 802.11a/b/g/n.
The M17 incorporates the performance of CrossFireX graphics and quad-core processing to deliver an impressive machine that won't cost the earth !
The M17 is made for serious gaming, you can either go for the standard and very affordable option or you can add-on every conceivable option and end up paying around $4000. Clearly gaming laptop computers can be expensive. And if you ain't impressed with all that then you ain't human - and in that case you probably don't need a gaming laptop !
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