Best laptops for gaming: Alienware leads the way, but isn’t the only option

Buying a gaming laptop is easier than it once was, but it’s still no simple task. It’s an expensive proposition with a number of different variables, each of which puts at least a hundred dollars on the line. And, of course, because you can’t swap out parts the way you can on a desktop, you really want to make sure you get your purchase right the first time.

Buying a gaming laptop is a delicate balance between paying a huge premium for (semi) future-proof parts and getting a system that won’t be able to game at the top settings next year. Of course timing is important here as well, but with the recent release of Intel’s Haswell processors that’s largely taken care of, making this a good time to upgrade.

Here are four of the best laptops for gaming that we could come up with…

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop and you don’t want to bother doing any research, buying an Alienware is a safe bet. The company has been making some of the best laptops for gaming for years, and the 18 (not the M18x, that’s an older system) is the biggest and baddest Dell gaming laptop currently available.

As the name implies, this machine houses an 18.4-inch display, but what it doesn’t tell you is that the panel is LED backlit and runs at 1920×1080, the same as a widescreen 24-inch monitor. The display is fully game ready, but an external display works too, as there are HDMI and mini DisplayPort connections available, plus ample GPU power to handle dual displays. How ample? We’re talking dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M graphic cards in SLI, on the base model. Of course the base model is $2100…  Along with those graphics cards you’ll get 750GB of storage, 8GB RAM, and a Core i7-4700MQ processor. From there you can ramp up the system to well over $3000.

As a great as the Alienware 18 is, the Alienware 14 is in many (OK, most) ways a more practical computer. With this system you can get an adequate gaming laptop for $1200, about 40% less than the 18′s starting price. Sure, the display isn’t as large, but you can spend $200 or so and get a get 24-inch monitor. Unplug the HDMI cord and you’ll be left with a computer that you can actually move around without any sort of forklift or tiny crane.

The downside with the A14 is that you are restricted to a single video card, and the best video card is the base model on the A18, the GeForce 765M. That said, you can get a A14 with the 765M, 8GB RAM, 750GB storage, and all the Alienware frills for a not unreasonable $1349. That’s $750 under a A18 with a lot of the same components.

The Alienware 14 is on the thick side and the battery life isn’t great, but it’s a good deal for a boutique system and it’s a handsome computer. The 2013 refresh is capable of handling all today’s top games.

I’m including the Razer Blade, with a number of caveats. First of all, the MacBook Pro-like computer is super thin (0.66 inches) and quite attractive, but you’re paying for its sleek design. The Blade starts at a price $1800, which gets you a computer that is pretty close to that Alienware 14 we were just discussing. The entry-level Blade has a not-very-good 14-inch display (1600×900), an Intel Core i7-4702HQ processor, 128GB of SSD storage, 8GB RAM, and GTX 765M graphics. Yes, that’s our first standard SSD, a major point in the Razer’s favor.

So, as you can see, it’s a lot like the specs of the A14, but it’s much thinner and better for mobile use. There are serious tradeoffs though — the Blade gets quite hot when you are gaming, the display isn’t as good as it should be, and the trackpad isn’t very good either. Overall, the Razer’s form-factor is quite nice but it’s not the most practical choice, even if you can’t help but put it on your wishlist.

Note: The Razer Blade Pro isn’t a better model, it’s the 17-inch version of the Blade. It starts at $2299 and has no features that justify the price tag, at least when it comes to gaming.

I’ve had mixed results with MSI’s laptops in the past, butPCMag highly recommends the GX70 and I’m confident enough with their testing that I’m going to go with it here, especially after consulting them. The MSI GX70 3Be-007US is a $1300, AMD-powered gaming laptop that ships with 8GB RAM, 750GB of storage, and AMD Radeon HD 8970M graphics. The AMD A-Series A10-5750M processor isn’t exactly Haswell, but it gets the job done and using it meant the system could ship with some nice perks, like a 17-inch 1920×1080 display (non-reflective), 7200RPM hard drive, and a Blu-ray drive. All the basics are there are as well — HDMI, mini DisplayPort, USB 3.0, LED keyboard lighting, and so on.

The MSI GX70 isn’t customizable like the gaming laptops from Alienware, but it’s a good price and it’s available from reputable retailers like NewEgg and Amazon. The GX70 isn’t quite as flashy as the other models in this roundup, but it’s a solid machine with good hardware. Clearly, less money was invested in design and the exterior hardware, but if you need something in the middle of your gaming monitor, gaming mouse, and gaming keyboard, the GX70 could be a great fit.

Another reasonable option in this category, though not one that offers as much bang-for-the-buck as the MSI, is the Digital Storms Veloce. This gaming laptop ships with top-notch parts like an Intel Haswell processor, GeForce GTX 765M graphics, and 1080p display. The battery life on this system is poor though, making it one of those old school gaming laptops that’s really meant to be a desktop replacement.

There is an age old saying concerning gaming laptops: “No one ever got fired for buying Alienware.” OK, well, not exactly, but that’s basically the case. If you want spend the money and know you are getting the right system, without doing a ton of research or rolling the dice, you can’t beat the Alienware 18 and Alienware 14. The Blade is a very nice system, but it’s not nearly as practical. Finally, the MSI, and its competition from brands like Lenovo and CyberPowerPC, offers more bang-for-your-buck, but you’re losing out on brand name, curb appeal, and (in some cases) support. That said, any of these are solid systems that will play all of today’s games at a great framerate and have you ready for all the upcoming titles you are so excited about.