As a hardcore gamer I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to the ultimate gaming experience, whether it’s Call of Duty, Clash of Clans or online casinos games, these days you simply have to go with a laptop (personally I can’t get enough of online pokies at the moment). With the choice and power on offer they simply can’t be beat for the ultimate gaming experience. But picking the best can be a daunting prospect, especially for the uninitiated. Unlike the simple choice of two consoles those that aren’t ‘in the know’ can easily find themselves lost in the white noise of specifications. So here’s my breakdown of some of the best bets for gaming laptops of 2015 and some of the aspects that make them perfect for that all-round gaming experience.
First up is the Alienware 17. Alienware have been building monster gaming laptops consistently for some time and this new model is no exception. Thinner than most models at 1.35 inches thick this has to be one of their sleekest laptops to date, but they have in no way sacrificed performance, the Alienware 17 has a tasty combination of an Intel Core i7 processor and a Nvidia GTX 980M graphics card. Which in short means, not only is it pretty damn fast but the graphics are excellent too. What’s more is that the new graphics amplifier is compatible and allows you to plug into a desktop GPU to make the system even more powerful than it already is and all this with a crystal clear 17.3 screen. Put it this way, it’s a pretty safe bet that you won’t be losing connection as you’re about to ‘flop the nut’ on your favorite casino site or achieve that killstreak on C.O.D. Truly a machine that’s hard to beat.
Sure, Alienware laptops are fantastic machines but for my money you have to go a long way to beat an MSI. Big favorites amongst the gaming community they are powerful behemoths of machines which consistently deliver on display, audio and keyboards, and the MSI GT80 Titan delivers on all these, and then some. Boasting a staggering two, yes two, Nvidia GeForce GTX 980Ms and 8Gb of RAM in SLI configuration this system will not disappoint. Basically with that much hardware the graphics will be outstanding. Removable top and bottom panels allow for expansion, pretty much future-proofing the product; and as if that wasn’t enough they’ve even chucked in a mechanical keyboard tested to last up to 50 million keystrokes. If you ask me, this is the one to beat.
I think the choice between the two is how mobile you wish to be with your gaming, the Alienware 17 becomes almost unstoppable when used with the desktop GPU and the GT80 Titan’s two Nvidia GeForce GTX 980Ms make it the more powerful on the go. All that said, both laptops are truly fantastic for graphics; I recently took both for a spin on one of my favorite gaming sites, Lucky Nugget Casino. They have a huge variety of games and their range of online pokies with vibrant colours in the highest definition were truly mesmerising, so mesmerising it’d take too long to discuss them here. And if online pokies aren’t your cup of tea, once you get cracking on games like Fallout 4 or Star Wars: Battlefront get ready to have your mind blown wide open. The definition and resolution are exceptional, as real as it gets; and the audio is so atmospheric you’ll feel like you’re actually battling the empire on Hoth. All that said though both are rather large and are pretty expensive, so here’s my tip for something a little more compact that won’t empty your savings account.
The MSI GS40 Phantom is scaled down to a 14inch screen, making it perfect for gaming on the move. But the GTX 970M is easily enough for the 1080p for current gaming titles, meaning you don’t sacrifice too much on the graphics front, and the ability to connect to proprietary docking station allow support for desktop GPU graphics making it even more powerful when playing at home. Recognised by the CES as a 2016 innovation awards honoree this little machine looks set to be a big hit in the coming year. Either way it’s safe to say that with any these laptops, spinning slots, crushing candy or shooting bad guys will never be the same again; and if you take a gamble on one of these you’re bound to hit the jackpot!
[Written by Eddie Greyson]