Updated May 17th, 2013
Typically I recommend that gamers build their own computers rather than buy them pre-built. And, I usually don’t advise that people use a laptop for gaming due to cooling issues. However, with the rise of LAN parties, and the benefits that come with gaming in the same room as your buddies, there is a real upside to having a laptop that is capable of handling your favorite games.
If you’re one of those gamers who wants to game-on-the-go, then having a solid gaming laptop is a must for you. But choosing a good gaming laptop is a lot different than choosing components for a new computer and assembling it yourself. For starters, you’re going to spend more money for less performance on a gaming laptop. That is just something you will have to sacrifice if you want the mobility of a laptop.
Also, a gaming laptop–even the high-end ones–are not going to be able to run as cool as a well-built gaming desktop. And, that means that your gaming laptop will not be as durable and will not last as long as a desktop.
So, if you can accept those two trade-offs in order to be able to take your gaming with you wherever you go, then there is nothing wrong with getting a good gaming laptop.
In this post, we will take a look at the best laptops for gaming in 2013 at various price ranges for different budget sizes. I’ve broken down the categories into five different price ranges: gaming laptops under $500, gaming laptops between $500-$750, gaming laptops between $750-$1,000, gaming laptops between $1,000-$1,500, and gaming laptops over $1,500.
I only chose one gaming laptop for each price range and while there are definitely some other worthy laptops in these price ranges, I felt these offered the best returns for PC gamers.
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The Best Laptop for Gaming in 2013 Under $500
Acer Aspire V3-551-8469 15.6-Inch Laptop ($430-$480)
(Prices fluctuate–check here for current pricing)
For just under $500 you can get yourself a pretty solid gaming laptop. With a quad-core processor and a some pretty good integrated graphics, this computer is perfect for playing non-graphics-intensive games like Minecraft, Diablo 3, Starcraft, League of Legends, etc. And, even though you probably won’t be able to play graphics-intensive games on ultra settings, you will definitely get some decent FPS on low-mid settings. And for a laptop at this price, you won’t find anything better. (On a side note, by upgrading the RAM in this laptop to 8GB, you’ll see a good boost in your gaming experience.)
Acer Aspire V3-551-8469 Features
- Most games were designed to accommodate systems with dual-core processors… this laptop features a quad-core A8-4500M processor!
- The computer comes with 4GB of RAM but can easily be updgraded to 8GB for more performance.
- 500GB of storage should give you plenty of room to store all of your games and a hefty library of music/videos.
- A 15.6″ screen with a 1366×768 resolution will be almost as good as playing in 1080p.
- Has an average battery life of 5 hours, which is pretty good for a laptop in this price range.
- At just over 5 lbs. this laptop will be easy to take with you wherever you go.
Customer Reviews
From yoon10 on Amazon:
Bought this laptop after much research. Used it for two weeks and was really please.
I upgraded the ram to 8gb and is able to play Call of Duty: Black Ops II smoothly.
Acer also include a windows 8 tips card to make transition to the new OS easier.
The only con for this laptop so far is the touch pad, which can sometime get in the way during typing. I get it fixed by adjusting the sensitivity in the control panel.
This is the best notebook for under $400. Period.
From Elizabeth on Amazon:
I got this laptop after mine was officially laid to rest a few days ago. I previously owned a Toshiba Satellite that I got in 2008 which ran on Vista, so I think anything would have been an improvement. This laptop is solid and sleek. I didn’t really care for Windows 8 and am still not completely thrilled with it, but it’s tolerable. I can run some of the more graphics-intensive games with ease, such as Skyrim, The Witcher 2, and Assassin’s Creed 3. Overall, I’m completely satisfied with my purchase. This is a fantastic laptop for anyone who’s on a budget and not looking to compromise on features.
The Best Laptop for Gaming in 2013 Between $500 and $750
Acer Aspire V3-771G-6485 17.3-Inch Laptop ($690-$730)
(Prices fluctuate–check here for current pricing)
This Acer Aspire laptop is basically just a bigger and more powerful version of the laptop listed above. With a third generation Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M discrete graphics, the Acer Aspire V3-771G-6485 is the perfect gaming laptop for gamers who aren’t looking to break the bank. With this laptop you can expect to play pretty much any game on at least low-mid settings, and a lot of games on mid-high settings. If you’re goal is to just play some of the more popular games on a laptop, and getting 60+FPS on the highest settings isn’t something you have to have, then this is the laptop for you.
Acer Aspire V3-771G-6485 Features
- Third generation Intel Core i5 processor will be able to handle anything you throw at it
- The discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M graphics is powerful enough to handle the majority of modern games (even games that are very graphics-demanding)
- Comes with 6GB of DDR3 RAM
- With 750GB of storage you should have plenty of room for your games, applications, and data.
- A 17.3″ screen will give you a large viewing area and although it’s not 1080p, the 1600×900 resolution on this laptop is the next best thing.
- Average battery life of 4 hours will be enough to keep you going between recharges.
- At just over 7 lbs. this laptop is extremely light and you’ll hardly notice it when you take it from hot-spot to hot-stop.
Customer Reviews – This is a Brand New Product and There Are No Reviews on it Yet. Be the First to Review the Acer Aspire V30771G-6485!
The Best Laptop for Gaming in 2013 Between $750 and $1,000
Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition Laptop (i7-3632QM 15.6″ 8GB, 750GB) ($890-$920)
(Prices fluctuate–check here for current pricing)
Just because you don’t have $1,000 to spend on a high-end Alienware gaming laptop doesn’t mean you can’t get a machine that is capable of delivering some serious performance. The Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition Laptop is a real monster of a system. With an Intel Core i73632QM processor and a Radeon HD 7730M discrete video card, you will have no problem running your favorite games in 1080p on mid-high settings with good framerates. So, if you’re looking for a high-end gaming laptop that won’t cost you a fortune, this one is your best bet under $1,000.
Dell Inspiron 15R Features
- Intel Core i7-3632QM processor is a monster and will be able to handle even the most processor-oriented tasks (like gameplay recording and image/video editing).
- The AMD Radeon HD 7730M video card has benchmarked very well for a mobile card and can handle most games on mid-high settings.
- The 15.6″ widescreen doesn’t offer the biggest viewing area out there, but at 1080p resolution you’ll get to play your games in crystal-clear full HD.
- 8GB of DDR3 RAM
- A 1TB hard drive will give you more storage space than you will probably ever need.
- Approximately four hours of battery-life isn’t the greatest out there, but if you’re doing some serious gaming on a laptop then you’re probably used to plugging your system in on a regular basis.
- At just about 7.5 lbs. this isn’t the lightest laptop out there. But with a good carrying case, you should have no problem lugging this thing around.
Expert Reviews
From Sarah Jacobsson Purewal on PCWorld:
In a world full of sleek and slim Ultrabooks, the Dell Inspiron 15R 7520 looks enormous. This 15.6-inch laptop is bulky, heavy (7.4 pounds), and not terribly stylish. But it does have some surprises under the hood—namely, four USB 3.0 ports, a full HD screen, and solid overall performance.
From Jonas Adams on notebookcheck.net:
The Inspiron 15R Special Edition is a multimedia-notebook that manages to leave a very good impression in those areas where it really matters: a great display, well-designed input devices, and plenty of performance. Those not needing a long battery life should take a look at this great all-around performer retailing for about 900 Euro.
The Best Laptop for Gaming in 2013 Between $1,000-$1,500
ASUS Republic of Gamers G75VW-AH71 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop ($1,200-$1,300)
(Prices fluctuate–check here for current pricing)
For those of you hardcore gamers that are looking for more than just a regular laptop for your gaming habit, the ASUS Republic of Gamers G75VW-AH71 has all of the power you could ever hope for. With a third generation Intel Core i7 processor and a GTX 660M this laptop will have you playing even the most graphics-intensive games on high settings. So, whether you’re just playing World of Warcraft, or Battlefield 3 (or any other game for that matter), this laptop will serve you well.
ASUS G75VW-AH71 Features
- The Intel Core i7-3610QM processor will be able to handle even the most CPU-oriented tasks (like gameplay recording and image/video editing).
- The GTX 660M is one of the most powerful mobile video cards out there and it benchmarks extremely well in some of today’s best games.
- The 17.3″ widescreen gives you a huge viewing area for a laptop and brings you all the awesomeness of 1080p Full HD.
- 16GB of DDR3 RAM
- 750GB of storage space should be enough to meet all of your demands.
- The battery life on this thing isn’t that great… but that’s expected of a high-end gaming laptop. So make sure you charge it often.
- At nearly 9 lbs. this laptop isn’t going to be the lightest gaming laptop out there. But with all of the extra power it brings to the table, it’s understandble why it would be a little on the heavier side.
Customer Reviews
From Shef on Amazon:
The computer runs very quiet and looks like a professional/nerdy mix of materials and design. I would also like to emphasize that I did lots of research before arriving at this laptop. I found that it had minimal negative reviews with many good ones that matched my graphical expectations and price point. While some people may complain about the hefty size of the computer or the large AC adapter brick that accompanies the unit, you must remember that this is a desktop replacement gaming laptop and it serves its role admirably. I would strongly recommend this laptop to anyone looking for a gaming powerhouse laptop without breaking the bank and is willing to sacrifice portability for power.
From Desertmatch on Amazon:
So far all the games I have ran so far I have been able to run on the highest settings the games will alow, WoW, Age of Conan, LOTRO, Crysis, Guild Wars 2, Skyrim, Dungeon siege 3, Diablo 3, Star Wars the old Republic, witcher 2, and a few others. and the machines runs them great, and remains pretty cool compared to my last gaming laptop.
The Best Laptop for Gaming in 2013 Over $1,500
ASUS G75VW-DH72B 17.3-Inch Laptop ($2,000-$2,100)
(Prices fluctuate–check here for current pricing)
If running your favorite games on high settings isn’t enough for you, you might want to consider the ASUS G75VW-RS72… This uber gaming laptop will allow you to play some of the top games on ultra settings with pretty good frame rates. With an Intel Core i7-3630QM processor and a GTX 670M video card with 3GB of GDDR5 graphics memory, you will be hardpressed to find a more powerful gaming laptop. So, if it’s ridiculous performance you seek, then this laptop is the only one for you.
ASUS G75VW-RS72 Features
- The Intel Core i7-3630QM processor will be able to handle even the most CPU-oriented tasks (like gameplay recording and image/video editing).
- The GTX 670M is a beastly mobile video card and will have you maxing out pretty much any game you throw at it.
- The 17.3″ widescreen gives you a huge viewing area for a laptop and brings you all the awesomeness of 1080p Full HD.
- 16GB of DDR3 RAM
- With a 256GB SSD and a 750GB HDD, all of your storage needs will be met and the SSD will give you significantly improved boot-up and load times.
- The battery life on this thing isn’t that great… but that’s expected of a high-end gaming laptop. So make sure you charge it often.
- At nearly 9 lbs. this laptop isn’t going to be the lightest gaming laptop out there. But with all of the extra power it brings to the table, it’s understandble why it would be a little on the heavier side.
Customer Reviews
From EXP10 on Amazon:
Fast boot, awesome wireless internet connection speeds, nice sound, quiet fans, nice gaming graphics, SSD is a Kingston SVP…
…I play Diablo 3 w/high settings no issues. Dead Space 3 with high settings and enabled AA 4x looks good and no issues. I’ll be installing FarCry 3 soon and will post back with results. I am really impressed with graphics and playing. Happy Asus installed a mouse pad off key so when playing with mouse I don’t accidently hit the mouse pad.
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