Gaming laptops group test

Once upon a time you’d need a fully blown desktop the size of a desk and an epic CRT monitor to run the latest games. How times have changed. Nowadays, you can get top notch graphic cards, multi-core processors and high def screens all tucked away inside a machine that only needs one plug.

Let’s be honest here: you’re still looking to pay those same sky high prices as those bulky gaming rigs, and they sometimes don’t feel like they weigh much less. You won’t get much in the way of battery life out of them either, but there’s no denying the portability factor: if you can’t get these gaming laptops in a bag, most will certainly fit in a backpack.

Asus G71V-7T043G

The Asus G71V doesn’t pack the absolute best graphics card on the market, but it comes close. Where it really shines is as an all rounder – the quad core chip means this is perfect if you’ve got a hardcore gamer in the house, but others need to use it on occasion for work, internet browsing and especially multimedia. It’s just a pity it looks so embarrassing. Asus has got the tech down to a tee, but it needs to go back to design school. Anyone got Apple’s number?
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Go to the Asus G71V-7T043G product page >>

Toshiba Qosmio X300-148

A first glance compared with the Asus tested would have you writing the Qosmio off. But since it clocks in at £300 under the G71V, if you’re cash strapped and don’t need Blu-ray, you’d be better off. We’d like to have seen a higher resolution screen on board, as stretched over 17 inches, 1,4440×900 isn’t so sharp. Ultimately though, that’s the trade off – you get a HDMI port to solve that, and save money too. This is exactly what you’d expect from a mid-range gaming notebook: it does a decent job of handling all new games, but not spectacular. All you need to decide is whether you can afford that difference or not right now.

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Go to the Toshiba Qosmio X300-148 product page >>

HP HDX X18

LIke the G71V, the HP HDX 18 is a great gaming laptop for those who want to do slightly more, as it strikes a great balance between gaming and multimedia. You won’t be able to play the latest games at the tippest, toppest settings as the NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics card isn’t the best option out there for laptops, but you’ll also be able to enjoy movies in your downtime, and frankly, the screen is so lovely that the colours will more than make up for a lack of frames per second. Sounds up your street? The real decision to make is whether you ever plan to take your laptop out of the house. If the answer is yes, you’d better hit the gym, or look elsewhere.

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MSI GT725

When did a Chinese brand become a sign of quality? Yes, the MSI GT725 is another red gaming laptop, but it doesn’t go for crazy. For all the red paint, unnecessary surface buttons and flickering lights, it still manages to look subtle, something you’ll be grateful for when you pull this notebook out on the train. And that’s the beauty of the MSI GT725: you’ll physically be able to pull it out on the train. At 3.25kg, it doesn’t weight much less than other gaming laptops, true, but the relatively slimline size makes this by far the most portable model on test. And yet despite this, it punches out graphics with the best of them. For around £1,125, the MSI GT725 is an absolute bargain.

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PriceRunner recommended
Sony VGN-AW11Z

The Sony VGN-AW11Z is a great gaming option for those who fancy getting a bit of work done in between rounds. It’s not for hardcore gamers, but if you fancy a quick deathmatch at lunch you can do happily, before jumping back into video/photo editing mode, where the AW range excels. It’s also a great option if you ever fancy using it as a laptop and taking it out the house – it’s easily the most portable 18 inch model we’ve ever come across, and that’s saying something. The AW11Z may not play every game you want at the highest possible settings, but it will let you play them wherever.

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Go to the Sony VGN-AW11Z product page >>

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