A Guide to Gaming Laptops

Choosing between gaming laptops can be quite a challenge. Laptops are designed to be portable, and this design focus usually means that you compromise power for mobility. Because of the tendency for laptop manufacturers to design smaller, less powerful machines, it's important to know what you're looking at when you start shopping for gaming laptops.

ASUS makes a G series of gaming laptops built on the AMD Turion 64 x2 processor, which include top-of-the line graphics and display options. Some high-end HP Compaq gaming laptops include dedicated graphics cards with 512MB of video memory and integrated Blu-Ray players. Alienware's Area-51 gaming laptop brings a 512MB GPU to a 15.4" screen, bringing portability to a powerhouse machine.

So just what does all of this mean? Basically, you can't build gaming laptops unless you're exceptionally skilled at putting tiny electronic components together, so getting the best gaming laptop means finding out what's inside the case.

Look for a Powerful Core
Serious gamers know that any gaming computer is built around the processor, RAM and graphics card. Laptops are no exception. Look for a laptop with a Centrino Duo, Intel Core Duo or Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion 64 x2 processor. These processors are the most powerful available in laptops today and the ideal choice for a gaming laptop. The Duo designation or the x2 designation in AMD products means the processor is designed for efficient multitasking, which translates well to gaming applications. These processors straddle the middle ground between high performance and long battery life.

Memory, Memory, Memory
Three types of memory are important in gaming laptops: RAM, video memory and hard drive space. RAM is the memory that your gaming laptop uses while processing applications. As far as RAM goes, more is better. Look for a gaming laptop with at least 2GB of RAM. For the highest performance, look for high-speed RAM; DDR2 RAM provides faster performance and reduced power consumption over DDR RAM.

The memory in your graphics card, or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), is another important memory component. Integrated graphics cards, or IGCs, use the laptop's RAM for graphic processing. Discrete graphics cards, or DGCs, feature their own memory for graphics applications. The ideal GPU for a gaming laptop is a DGC that includes at least 256MB of independent memory devoted to graphics functions.

To easily determine whether a graphics card is integrated or discrete, look for the IGC or DGC moniker, or look for a separate category in the system specifications listing video memory. If the video card isn't listed in the specifications or there is no separate listing for video memory, the graphics card is integrated and not a good choice for a gaming laptop. Without video memory, your graphics card needs to access system RAM which slows down your laptop.

The hard drive is the final type of memory to consider. Speed is essential in gaming, so look for a laptop with a 7200RPM hard drive. SATA hard drives are the ideal choice for gaming laptops, as they consume less power and transmit data up to 30 times faster than Parallel ATA drives. If you're planning to do serious gaming or use your laptop for multimedia applications, look for a large hard drive. 160GB is the typical range for gaming laptops, with some boasting up to 250GB hard drives.

Balance Display and Mobility
A good display immerses you in the game, but it also adds weight and power consumption. Small laptops with 10-inch screens are great for portability, but they're not great for an immersive gaming experience.

A gaming laptop should have a minimum screen size of 15 inches. If mobility is less of a concern, 17-inch widescreen displays are the most popular choice for gaming laptops. Most laptop manufacturers boast a proprietary display technology with "increased brightness" or "crisp colors." You may see display descriptions like "ASUS Splendid Video Enhancement Technology" or "HP BrightView technology." The bottom line when considering a laptop display is to look for one that is visually appealing to you. These proprietary display technologies are simply a matter of marketing. There are subtle differences between the displays, but the best gaming laptop for you is the one that looks best to you.

Don't Forget the Sound Card
One of the most often overlooked aspects of a gaming laptop is the sound card. Many laptops include "integrated sound" or "internal speakers" in the description and leave the sound options up to your imagination.

Whether or not you intend to use external sound, don't underestimate the power of the sound card. More and more gaming laptops now include integrated high-definition audio chips and HDMI outputs to hook up to an external system. If you're planning to use the integrated speakers, consider the placement of the speakers. Many laptops have speakers built into the front of the base, facing toward the user. If you rest your wrists on the laptop while playing, the sound coming from the speakers under your arms may be muffled or lack clarity. Look for integrated speakers that won't be obscured when you're using the gaming laptop.

Size and Power Consumption
A true gaming laptop isn't particularly portable. Laptops with enough power for gaming fall into a category known as desktop replacements. While they're easier to take with you than a desktop, these laptops are intended to be used primarily in one spot. Gaming laptops are heavy, sometimes weighing up to 10 pounds as compared with the 5 to 6 pounds of a more mobile laptop.

Power consumption is another serious consideration. High-powered systems require a lot of energy, so the battery life on a gaming laptop may be as low as one hour at peak usage. Look for extended-life batteries or second battery options if you want to run your gaming laptop without a power outlet nearby. Even with extended batteries, the most use you'll get out of your gaming laptop while gaming is likely to be three to four hours.