Media and Gaming Laptops

Best laptops for video, gaming and movies

Larger laptops have more internal space, which leaves plenty of room for a dedicated video card instead of video that's integrated into the motherboard. Video cards have processors and RAM dedicated to the display, which enables rapidly moving video to look natural. That's not essential for playing modern action games or watching movies, but it can make a big difference in performance.

Gaming-oriented laptops commonly have 17-inch widescreen displays, but the range is from 15.4 to 20.1 inches. DVD burners are standard. Drives that will also play Blu-ray Discs are a common option for higher-end laptops. Notebook computers with 17-inch or larger widescreens are barely portable, but they do make a more functional substitute for a desktop computer. If total functionality, multimedia features and fast performance are a priority over portability, you should first consider gaming laptops. Large multimedia and gaming laptops are often marketed as desktop replacements; reviewers agree desktop computers are still faster with more features, and they cost less. For video and photo editing or fast-action competitive gaming, desktops still have an edge. For more pedestrian uses, a modern laptop can be your main computer.

For serious gamers, reviews indicate the 17-inch Alienware M17x (*Est. $1,800 and up) is the way to go. Multiple reviewers praise this award-winning laptop, and it earns Editors' Choice awards from PCMag.com and Laptop Magazine.

The M17x is designed specifically for gaming, so it boasts some powerful hardware. Dan Ackerman at CNET says it "offers the best laptop gaming hardware you can get," but only if you're willing to shell out some serious cash. While the M17x starts at a reasonable $1,800, experts recommend a host of upgrades to uncover this notebook's true gaming potential. Most of the review units tested by experts cost upwards of $4,000, and have been upgraded with larger hard drives, 8 GB of RAM, an Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad QX9300 processor and dual SLI Nvidia GeForce GTX 280M graphics. (The base model has a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor, 4 GB of memory and a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M video card.) The Alienware M17x gaming laptop can also be upgraded with a Blu-ray drive, high-resolution screen and an extended warranty. The anodized aluminum case comes in black or silver; a special-edition red model is also available for an extra $100. Alienware is owned by Dell.

Across the board, reviewers say the Alienware M17x is a solid gaming performer. Cisco Cheng at PCMag.com calls the M17x laptop the "complete package," and Darren Gladstone at PC World says it has "blistering gamer-approved performance for a notebook." John Delaney at ComputerShopper.com agrees, saying the M17x is "the fastest gaming laptop we've ever tested." The M17x gaming laptop posts great scores in 3-D benchmark tests, with fast performance and good frame rates. Reviewers also appreciate the numerous ports, including four USB slots, an eSATA/USB combo, ExpressCard and an 8-in-1 media card reader.

While the Alienware M17x is praised overall, reviews do note a few drawbacks. The glossy display gets high marks for brightness and resolution, but glare can be a problem. The M17x is quite a beast of a laptop -- weighing 11.68 pounds -- and a short battery life limits its portability. Of course, the biggest downside mentioned in reviews is price. Reviewers acknowledge that there are better deals out there, but the Alienware M17x is still recommended for those who want the best gaming notebook money can buy.

Budget gaming laptops

Reviewers and undoubtedly most gaming fanatics challenge the notion of a budget gaming computer or even a gaming laptop (as opposed to a desktop). While you will be competitively disadvantaged at a LAN party without a high-end gaming laptop, some relatively affordable machines are suitable for playing the latest games at home. In the affordable gaming category, reviewers say the Asus G51Vx-RX05 (*Est. $1,050) has little competition. While it receives lower ratings overall than the top-rated Alienware M17x, the Asus G51Vx is recommended for college students or gamers on a budget. The Asus gaming laptop has a 15.6-inch widescreen display, Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M graphics and a DVD/CD drive. While the G51Vx comes in two main configurations, most experts review the RX05 version, which is sold exclusively at Best Buy and includes a 2.0-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard drive.

Jeffery Wilson at Laptop Magazine says the Asus G51Vx-RX05 offers "strong graphics muscle with a wallet-friendly price." He notes several gamer-friendly features, including a slip-proof palm rest, backlit keyboard and easy-to-use touchpad. While the Asus G51Vx-RX05 does have its strong points, the inexpensive laptop may not please the most demanding gamers. In Wilson's test, frame rates in 3-D games were decent but not as high as those achieved by more expensive gaming notebooks. Tests at ComputerShopper.com indicate "excellent" performance on DirectX 9 games, but only "mediocre" scores for games in DX10. The screen resolution is only 1366 x 768 pixels, and the glossy display can inhibit viewing from an angle. While the Asus G51Vx-RX05 weighs only 7.3 pounds (several pounds less than the Alienware M17x), it still suffers from a short battery life. Still, Mathew Miranda at HotHardware.com says the Asus G51Vx-RX05 "represents one of the best values in gaming notebooks currently on the market."

While Laptop Magazine likes the Asus G51Vx-RX05, it gives its Editor's Choice award to the Gateway P-7807u FX (*Est. $1,100 and up) instead. The P-7807u FX is one of two budget-friendly gaming laptops recently released by Gateway to replace older notebooks in the well-reviewed P series. Reviewer Jeffrey Wilson says the Gateway P-7807u FX "offers blazing gaming performance at an affordable price." Wilson's review unit has been slightly upgraded and retails for $1,400. The base model has a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 320 GB hard drive and discrete Nvidia GeForce graphics. Wilson's benchmark tests show that the Gateway P-7807u FX consistently beats the average for desktop replacement laptops, and its gaming scores reveal decent frame rates for an inexpensive laptop. The downsides? The P-7807u FX sports only three USB ports and the 1,440-by-900-pixel display is a downgrade from previous models (although it's still higher than the Asus G51Vx-RX05.) The glossy screen is highly vulnerable to glare. Still, Wilson claims the P-7807u FX is "the best budget gaming rig available."

Another budget-friendly entertainment laptop, the HP Pavilion dv7t (*Est. $800 and up), may also be worth a look. The dv7t laptop has been around for a while, but it was updated earlier this year with a slighter larger display (17.3 inches) and a switch from Nvidia to ATI graphics. The HP Pavilion dv7t laptop has a variety of upgrade options, but the base model comes with a 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of memory and a 250 GB SATA hard drive. HP's recommended configuration ups the price to about $1,080. Cisco Cheng at PCMag.com tests a slightly different configuration with a 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor. Cheng says this laptop has "terrific gaming performance," and it performs well in "World in Conflict" and "Crysis" benchmark tests. Like most gaming laptops, the battery life is short -- lasting less than two hours in Cheng's drain test. PC World also gives the HP Pavilion dv7t a good review, but it tests the older version that still used Nvidia graphics.

Multimedia and home-theater laptops

If you're not a hard-core action gamer, but you want a snazzy laptop for playing movies and less intense games, you can spend less and still get an excellent multimedia laptop. Most either come with or can be optioned with a Blue-ray drive.

For general multimedia use, the Dell Studio XPS 16 (*Est. $1,030 and up) gets a number of recommendations, including Editors' Choice awards from Laptop Magazine and PCMag.com. The base model has a 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 processor, 3 GB of memory, a 250 GB SATA hard drive and ATI Mobility Radeon HD graphics. Cisco Cheng at PCMag.com calls the Dell Studio XPS 16 a "lavish media center experience." He tests the top-of-the-line model with a faster processor, larger hard drive and slot-loading Blu-ray Disc drive. This configuration is priced at $1,800, although it was on sale for $1,400 at the time of our visit in August 2009.

PCMag.com's Cheng gives the Dell Studio XPS 16 high marks for design and style, especially the LCD widescreen that provides rich and vibrant colors. Jarred Walton at AnandTech.com agrees, saying the 1,920-by-1,080-pixel widescreen (in either 15.6 or 16 inches), available on most configurations and as a $250 upgrade on the base model, is one of the best he has tested. The backlit keyboard also earns mostly raves. Reviews indicate that performance will meet the needs of most users, with the exception of hardcore gamers. The screen may be too reflective for some, and some reviewers note that the laptop's glossy surfaces attract fingerprints. Like most multimedia and gaming laptops, battery life is nothing to write home about; in CNET's battery-drain test, the six-cell battery on the Studio XPS 16 lasts less than two hours.

Sony Vaio laptops generally get good marks for multimedia use, and the Sony Vaio VGN-NW180J/S (*Est. $1,000) has a number of high-tech features for the price. The textured silver case houses a 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 processor, 15.5-inch LCD display, 4 GB of memory and a Blu-ray drive. It gets a high score from Danny Atkin at ComputerShopper.com, who praises the value of this Blu-ray equipped laptop. Still, Atkin says the Sony Vaio VGN-NW180J/S is "responsive, but it's no speed demon." For a multimedia laptop, the display resolution of 1,366 pixels by 768 pixels is a little low, and the battery drains quickly. Darren Gladstone at PC World thinks the Sony laptop is a capable performer for those who want Blu-ray without spending a fortune. This is a preconfigured laptop; you can specify upgrades when you order.