How To Choose The Right Gaming Laptop

Playing the latest games is a performance intensive task requiring latest and fastest graphics on the market. Graphics or the quality of the graphics chipset in your notebook computer will be your first area of consideration and it will greatly determine the gaming performance of your PC.

Processor Speed and RAM

An Intel Core Duo or AMD Turion X2 processor will provide the power required, but needs to be supported by at least 1GB of memory or significant slow-down may be experienced. Get the largest amount of RAM possible. It will determine how much graphics your notebook computer will be able to handle. There is nothing more annoying as your PC freezing up in the middle of some major gaming action! If you want a laptop for 3D games, check the amount of video RAM. This is memory that's dedicated to graphic or video applications.

You will want a minimum of 1 GB of RAM since new systems such as Windows XP and Vista, aim for 1 GB or even 2 GB of RAM. A hard drive of around 80 gigabytes or more to fit all those huge games is necessary. Most laptops use 5400 RPM or slower drives to save power but you can find laptops that use 7200 RPM drives. 7200rpm hard drives are 33% faster than 4200rpm drives. It is also a must that you grab a USB mouse to use for gaming as I don't suppose you will use the touchpad for gaming. Also make sure that the keyboard size is not too small as many laptops do not use full sized keyboards.

Screen Size

For the most vivid and realistic gaming experience, chose a laptop which features screen technology such as CrystalBrite from Acer or Xbrite from Sony. Most manufacturers have their own version which ensures a crystal clear display with sharper colors, rendering the intricate details found in the latest games. A 15.4" widescreen display will provide a large enough viewing area but a 20" screen would provide the ultimate experience if mobility and cost aren't large factors. Most laptops in this price range come packed with excellent features as standard, like wireless online gaming and DVD writers for large backups.

Below are some of the best gaming laptops that balances superior performance and price...