Got Game: A Gaming Laptop Feature Checklist

Shopping for a gaming laptop is no mean feat. If you have been looking around for some time now, you probably noticed that this type of laptop is one of the most expensive in the market. Everyone knows that most laptops have built in or integrated systems; that make them highly useful for practical applications such as word processing or project presentation. However, that very fact means that they aren't any good for gaming. A good gaming experience requires a high-performance laptop – something that can handle demanding direct x 10 applications. Here are the key specs that you have to look into.

1. Graphic Card

The type of graphic card can be a deal breaker. A laptop that isn't really geared for gaming would probably have an

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integrated graphic card system, such as Intel Graphics Media Accelerator. You can still run gaming applications, but it would draw resources from your system memory. They can be great for normal computer usage, but they aren't any good for today's games that can be very demanding, at least in terms of system resources. What you are going to need for a gaming laptop is a dedicated card such as ATI or nVidia. Unlike most built-in or integrated cards, they have their own memory provisions so your system resources remain mostly untouched.

Best graphic chipsets:
NVIDIA, ATi Mobility Radeon 9700, Intel's Graphics Media, or ATI's Mobility FireGL V3200.

Other common graphic chipsets include:
Trident S3, STMicro, 3D Labs, Matrox, and SIS.

VRAM

VRAM is dedicated video RAM (VRAM) that is memory, which usually comes with a graphics card which, has its own memory in MB of 32MB, 64MB, and 128MB. VRAM is a special form of RAM that is used by the video adapters inside the laptop and only handles graphics and visuals. The best way to find out approximately how much memory you need is by checking your game’s minimum computer requirements. In general, getting a high end graphics card with the 128MB of VRAM will work for all games.

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2. RAM

This particular spec is what is needed for your gaming laptop to run and process applications on the operating system that

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you are using. Vista needs a minimum of 2MB. There are several newer laptops that have around 6 and even 8 GB. When you can spare the cash, it certainly is worth getting, especially if your 'multitasking' extends to your gaming. There are certain gamers who grind at the training fields of World of Warcraft while on a break from a NFS game running in a different window.

3. CPU Processor Speed

The processor is actually the heart of your computer's performance. You are going to need a high-powered processor which can process information and applications at the speed needed. Many high-end laptops for gaming have two processors, like many of the Alienware models, which can run as much as $4000. While there are many brands and types of processors, one of the best available today is the Intel Core 2 Duo, which is a wise choice for gaming.

Consider one around 2.26 GHz or more acceptable. Anything lower than that might not let you play with more demanding games; however, it might be alright for earlier versions of today's popular games (think pre-direct X 10 games).

4. Dimensions and Screen Size

An ideal gaming laptop should be 'generous' in the size department. It has a lot to do with the fact that one way for you to truly appreciate a game is through its visuals. And what better way to really appreciate the visuals, except by having an ultra-large display? You cannot go wrong with a 17-inch screen. That way, you can breathe in the game developer's efforts at visuals in all its multi-color glory. Shop Cheap Gaming Laptops

5. Hard Drive Capacity

If you simply intend to use a laptop for storing music, videos and word files, you can probably get by with a two-digit HD

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capacity. However, if you are one, true gaming buff (which means that you might have installed around 20 games on your gaming laptop, each taking up a 4GB slot in your HD), you won't have much room for anything else. Alienware makes some of the best gaming laptops, though they are expensive in retail prices.

6. Operating System

It is a common practice for a laptop to be bundled with an operating system, and a gaming laptop is no exception. There might be games that can operate on multiple platforms, but they aren't that numerous. Choose a laptop with an operating system that would be compatible with the games of your choice.

With a gaming laptop, you can finally take you game anywhere. Taking a careful look at its specs would make spotting a winner – or a dud, easier. Reading gaming laptop reviews is a good idea to find a good system. With a high-performance gaming laptop, you can even bring it a notch further – take any game, anywhere.

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