Gaming laptops – high performance mobile computers made for playing hardware demanding games. These usually feature quad-core processors, dedicated video cards by AMD and Nvidia with more than 1GB VRAM, and large displays, although there are some exceptions such as the 11.6″ Alienware M11x. Some well known gaming notebook series are Asus G Series, Dell’s Alienware, MSI G Series, and Toshiba Qosmio. Also, boutique computer sellers, such as Sager, CyberPower PC, iBuyPower, or Velocity Micro, also offer mobile gaming rigs. In the most cases their customizable models are based on Clevo designs.
The MSI GT60 gaming laptop is now available in the US.
As opposed to its 17.3″ GT70 sibling which comes in various configurations, the 15.6″ MSI GT60 is currenlty offered only in the form of the 0NC-004US model with the Intel Ivy Bridge quad-core i7-3610QM processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M 3GB GDDR5 video card empovering the 1080p display, 12GB (4GB x 3) of DDR3 1,600MHz system memory, dual 500GB hard drives in RAID-0 setup, and a DVD burner.
Dell US has made available the 3rd Generation Intel Core CPU options on the recently refreshed Alienware notebooks.
The 14″ Alienware M14x R2 and 17.3″ M17x R4 now come with the Core i7-3610QM, i7-3720QM, and i7-3820QM “Ivy Bridge” chips, while the M18x R2 is additionally available with the fastest CPU in the new line, the i7-3920XM Extreme edition. The 3920XM is also offered in a factory overclocked variant. Besides the quad-core CPUs, the laptops include the Nvidia GeForce 600M series dedicated video cards, but the announced AMD Radeon HD 7970M option hasn’t been offered yet.
The long anticipated Asus G75VW 17.3″ gaming laptop with the 3rd Generation Intel “Ivy Bridge” processors and Nvidia GeForce 600M graphics is now shipping to the customers in the US. Besides the first known G75VW-AS71, there are four other configurations: the G75VW-BBK5, G75VW-DS72, G75VW-RS72, and G75VW-DS73-3D. The differences between them are in the graphics, RAM, and storage departments, while the DS73-3D is additionally a 3D capable model.
Just after Dell had announced the end of life for the Alienware M11x gaming ultraportable, Eurocom unveiled a new laptop in the same category – the Monster 1.0.
As same as the M11x, Eurocom’s small gaming notebook has a 11.6″ display. The screen resolution is 1366×768 pixels and the 4-pound 1.2″ thick laptop packs the 3rd Generation Intel Core processors, besides the older 2nd Gen Core CPU options. The currently available choices include the dual-core i5 and i7 “Sandy Bridge” chips, but exact “Ivy Bridge” parts and info on their availability date have not been disclosed. The laptop is based on the Intel HM76 chipset, which connects the Nvidia GeForce GT 650M 2GB DDR3 video card and two slots for DDR3 memory at up to 1,600MHz to the rest of the system. For better power efficiency, the notebook features Nvidia Optimus switchable graphics technology. Maximal data storage capacity is 1TB and the laptop doesn’t have a built-in optical drive.
The Alienware M17x R4 and M18x R2 gaming laptops with the 3rd Generation Intel Core “Ivy Bridge” processors are now listed on the official German Dell website.
The new Alienware notebooks have been already put on sale with the 2nd Gen “Sandy Bridge” options, but now we have a list of the “Ivy” parts which will be used in the 17.3″ M17x R4 and 18.4″ M18x R2. The smaller of the two will come with the Intel Core i7-3610QM, i7-3720QM, or i7-3820QM, while its larger sibling additionally provides the Core i7-3920XM option, which is the fastest 3rd Gen Intel Core mobile processor. Furthermore, the 3920XM will be offered in standard and factory overclocked variants. The overclocked CPU will have a clock speed of up to 4.1GHz in TurboBoost mode, up from 3.8GHz.
The MSI GT70 17.3-inch gaming-centric notebook is now on sale in the US via Excaliber PC and it has been reviewed by Engadget.
The notebook features a 3rd Generation Intel Core processor known as “Ivy Bridge”. Excaliber PC will officially announce which i7 CPU model will be used in the GT70 configurations they offer on April 29th, but unofficially we have learned that it will be the 2.3GHz i7-3610QM quad-core CPU, also used in Engadget’s reviewed unit. The graphics processor is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 670M with 3GB GDDR5 video memory.
The Alienware M14x R2 with Ivy Bridge, listed on Dell Denmark.
Alienware M18x
Dell has put on sale the new generation of Alienware laptops, and phased out the smallest member of the family. The new models are the 18.4″ Alienware M18x R2, 17.3″ M17x R4, and 14″ M14x R2.
The Asus G55VW gaming notebook.
Thanks to HID Evolution, we now have specifications, official images, and pricing for the first Asus G55-series 15.6″ gaming laptop model – the G55VW-DS71.
The configuration in question is available for pre-order and appears to be a lower-end one, with the entry-level quad-core i7-3610QM Ivy Bridge processor, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M 2GB GDDR5 video card, and a $1,475 price tag. According to the page, the G55VW will be offered with faster processors in the future, but there’s no info on availability of better video cards. Included RAM is 12GB DDR3 1333MHz, expandable to 16GB, while for data storage there are two drive bays which can be populated with various hard drive, hybrid drive, and solid state drive options. The price of the laptop includes a single 750GB 7,200rpm HDD and a DVD burner, with Blu-ray optionally available.
The first generation (2011) M18x.
The first specifications of the Dell Alienware M18x R2 gaming notebook with an 18.4″ display have emerged.
It was previously revealed that the M18x R2 exists on Dell’s roadmap and that it will come in black or red color, but now we have leaked specs including Intel Ivy Bridge processors and AMD and Nvidia 2012 graphics cards.
We have spotted the first model in the Asus G75 gaming laptop series. It’s the G75VW-AS71, listed at Amazon (page removed) as “currently unavailable”. The same notebook is listed at less known sellers called Guermant (page removed) and Gadgets Central Station for about $1,450. Actually, you can purchase the notebook now at Guermant and GCS, since the product pages have functional Add to Chart buttons, but there is no info on shipping date.
Besides the 2012 Satellite line, Toshiba has released the Qosmio X870, their latest addition to the gaming notebook series.
This is the Origin PC EON17-X with optional 3D.
Origin PC has made available the EON17-X, a new gaming laptop based on high-performance desktop PC Intel X97 chipset and Intel desktop processors. The laptop is based on the Clevo P270WM, which is also sold via Ava Direct and other custom PC sellers. But, the EON17-X is additionally available with Nvidia’s 3D technology. Optional 3D capability is provided via the 17.3″ full HD 3D display and active shutter Nvidia 3D Vision 2 wireless glasses.
XoticPC has started offering Carbon Fiber Modification, available on almost all laptops sold through their store.
The material used isn’t real carbon fiber, but a durable embossed graphic plastic wrap which looks like carbon fiber. The mod covers the laptop lid, screen bezel, keyboard panel, as well as hinges. Interestingly, the finish also covers the touchpad, without affecting its functionality, according to XoticPC.
A screenshot of the Samsung NP700G7C-S01US product page.
The Samsung NP700G7C-S01US, a Series 7 17.3-inch laptop with 3rd Generation Intel Core processors code-named Ivy Bridge, has appeared again online and is available for pre-order.
The NP700G7C-S01US is the first known laptop model with Ivy Bridge. It showed up for the first time back in mid-January at the Best Buy store with expected shipping in “1 to 2 weeks”, but that was apparently a mistake since availability info is now removed. Back then we didn’t know that it’s a gaming laptop. This time, Samsung has published the official product page and specs for the NP700G7C “Gaming PC”, packing the 3rd Gen Intel Core i7-3610QM quad-core processor at 2.3GHz. Continue reading →
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