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The days when gaming on a laptop was a joke are long gone. With computer parts becoming smaller and more powerful by the day it seems, you can actually buy a laptop that can play most modern games. Although they are no match in terms of firepower in comparison with a desktop gaming machine, they are definitely no slouch.
When most people think of gaming laptops they immediately assume that they are expensive. While this can absolutely be the case of course, you can find a good gaming laptop for under $1000. I have picked my top three gaming laptops under 1000 and will discuss their positives and negatives.
Dell XPS 15-L502X
The new Dell XPS 15 sports a high resolution screen and sweet JBL speakers. The CPU featured on the XPS is from the new Intel i-series and the graphics are handled by Nvidia. Although the graphics are pretty standard there are tons of configuration options available if you want to beef this laptop up a bit. This is the cheapest of the three models we are looking at today so any upgrades will take the price tag over the retail price of $799.
On the negative side I found the XPS to be very bulky and pretty plain looking, kind of surprising being that this is in Dell's XPS lineup. While the battery life is good it is not the greatest.
ASUS U31SD A1
The Asus U31SD has the smallest screen size of all three models but that doesn't mean it's a slouch graphically. I was happily surprised to see this little guy had very good graphics. You will not confuse this model with the XPS in term of overall size. I really liked the fact that this "thin and light" model was so compact. While not as thin as the Macbook Air it is quite thin at a mere 1 inch.
What I didn't like about the ASUS U31SD was its lack of an optical drive and some very common higher-end ports and features like Bluetooth and USB 3.0.
Toshiba Satellite M645-S4118X
The Satellite is a great machine. Although it is not perfect for sure, at this price range I think it's pretty close. It's very rare to find the trifecta of Blu-ray, solid graphics and a fast processor but the Toshiba sports all three and Harman/Kardon speakers. All this for under $1000? Not bad.
But, (there is always a but) I was not too fond of the thick plastic case or the battery life. The case is ugly. There is no denying that. Also, the battery life is not the best either. I know this combination can scare off a few potential buyers.
In closing I would have to say that as far best overall value goes the winner would have to be the Toshiba Satellite. I would award second place to the Dell XPS 15 because its low price really gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Although it came in third, the ASUS U31SD is no shrinking violet here. I could see people picking this up for the mere fact of its very compact size.
Check out my site for the top rated laptops under 300 dollars and laptops under 200 dollars.
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