Good Gaming Laptops
Good Gaming Laptops
- How to Find Them
You probably know that good gaming laptops don't grow on trees, especially if you eat, sleep and live for gaming. You might have a game that runs on your current computer...at least at first. But soon enough, your CPU processor slows down, then your graphics processor gets ready to give up the ghost (usually at a critical point in the game). Time to look for a new machine. Not all laptops are made the same, when it comes to gaming. What is it that you need to look for, when you're thinking of getting a new laptop computer?
Memory - How Much RAM?
You'll want to consider RAM (random access memory). RAM's function in a computer is to store recent data, so that it's readily accessible. The more data, the more RAM you need (and games generally tend to need a lot). How much RAM do you need for good gaming laptops?
You'll need to consider how much memory your operating system needs, then how much extra the games will require. In general, Vista and Windows 7 need at least 2 GB RAM to operate decently. Add gaming into that, and you'll need more RAM - 4GB is reasonable. And if you're seriously into gaming, you'll want to think about getting as much RAM as the laptop will hold.
The Processor - Into the Core
Let's check out the processor next. The processor is also known as the central processing unit, a.k.a. the CPU. The CPU is the heart of any good gaming laptops, and controls all other functionality. The two most common processors at the moment for good gaming laptops are Intel and AMD. Intel has an edge on the popularity with several series, and varying speeds.
While older games may be able to use a Pentium processor, the more recent games need a Dual Core processor. The newer processors are faster, and are rated in Ghz (gigahertz) - the higher the number, the better. Naturally, new processors come onto the market pretty often. The rule of thumb is to buy the fastest one you can afford. For your information, the following list of processors would be in good gaming laptops.
Intel Core CPU, i5-520M
Intel Core CPU, i7-740QM
Intel Core CPU, i5-430M
AMD Phenom II Quad-Core N930
what are games without graphics? Your graphic card is another area to look at when checking out good gaming laptops. As with the computer RAM, the graphics card makes use of its own, and the more RAM, the faster the graphics can flow through your machine. The minimum size for your graphics card should be 1GB, or you will be getting those wonderful messages about your graphics slowing down. Here are a few decent graphics cards for good gaming laptops.
ATI HD5650 1GB
NVIDIA GTS250M 1GB
ATI HD5165 1GB
Good Gaming Laptops
- What Else to Look for
It might seem obvious, but you'll want to look for a large screen for good gaming laptops -- 15.6 inches at a minimum, and 17 inches is better. The larger the screen, the better you'll be able to see the action. Fortunately, disk space has become quite inexpensive. Do yourself a favor and get the most disk space you can - games take up a lot of room, not to mention any other applications you may run, photos you may store, etc.
All the processing speed and RAM comes with a price. And while RAM (for example) is pretty cheap these days, it won't help a whole lot if your CPU is slow, or your graphics card is from the stone age. So what are we talking about for price? You can find a few good gaming laptops for under $1,000, but if you're seriously into games, you'll have to think more expensively, perhaps closer to $1,500. There are a lot of brands these days, as well as configurations. Good gaming laptops aren't hard to find; you just have to decide what you want and can afford.
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