Who Makes the Best Gaming Laptop?

Who makes the best gaming laptop? The best machines available utilize high-performance hardware to render amazingly lifelike graphics and to deliver the speed that gamers demand. Portability is a big plus, but be prepared to hand over a pile of cash to pay for the privilege of gaming on the go. Remember, too, that you can't upgrade a laptop on your own unless you've got a degree from MIT, so what you pay for is what you'll get.

Features You Need
Gaming laptops are different creatures than work laptops. Utilizing dual-core processors and even dual video cards, gaming laptops possess an exponential increase in available memory to process graphics and load content as efficiently as possible. Gaming laptops also utilize advanced screen technology to produce the most vivid, high-definition displays. All that miniature processing power generates a lot of heat, so gaming laptops require equally impressive cooling systems. When you're shopping, keep in mind that bigger screens will add weight to the device and lift more weight from your wallet than a laptop with a smaller screen.

The Best of the Best: Alienware
Fanboys and gamers everywhere dream of Alienware laptops for a reason; they make the best gaming laptops around. Alienware always includes the most high-end hardware and cutting edge technology to deliver top-of-the-line performance. With high-end dual-core processors, dual video cards and plenty of RAM, Alienware gaming laptops provide enough processing power for the most detailed and demanding games.

High-end Alienware equipment comes with a high-end price, and few people can afford the best Alienware laptops. Alienware Area-51 gaming laptops easily reach $5,000 in price, putting them out of reach of many gamers.

Dell XPS: Best All Around
Dell doesn't necessarily have the street cred for gaming laptops, but the XPS series is designed with gamers in mind. The benefits of going with a Dell computer are plentiful; you can customize the laptop to get exactly the equipment you want, splurging in some areas and downgrading in others there to keep the price reasonably affordable. You'll also get Dell's award-winning support.

Although they're cheaper than Alienware models, Dell laptops may still cost more than what you'll find at electronics stores. Dell's XPS series starts around $1,700, but these machines can easily go over $3,000 with upgrades.

Gateway Leads in Value
Avid gamers might laugh at you if you tell them you're gaming on a Gateway, but if you can't afford the higher-level entries, Gateway makes a very decent gaming laptop at an affordable price. The Gateway P-series retails for around $1,300 and provides a good entry-level laptop for gamers who don't want to break the bank. The P-series comes with a scaled down dual-core processor and a single graphics card with shared memory. You might not be able to play your favorite video games on the highest graphics settings with this machine, but if you need a mobile gaming solution and don't want to shell out the big bucks, this is a respectable device.