Tested against the top performing NVIDIA GPUs immediately after it was announced, the Radeon HD 8970M has easily attracted the top gaming laptop manufacturers. One that was recently revealed to have AMD’s newest and fastest graphics processor is the MSI GX70—the most powerful AMD equipped gaming laptop.

The MSI GX70 is a powerful gaming laptop with a 17.3-inch full HD display equipped with complete gaming ports and connectivity options. It has 3 ports for USB 3.0 and 2 ports for USB 2.0. It also has HDMI, video outputs, 3.5mm audio jacks, Ethernet port, a Blu-ray optical drive, a card reader, Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n and the Killer Gaming Networking technology.

Its look and feel has also been designed for great gaming endurance and rugged look. MSI has partnered with SteelSeries to come up with durable, rugged but very fine looking chassis and keyboard. The GX70 looks very much like a bigger GX60 but definitely a lot better on the inside.

Inside, the MSI GX70 already utilizes the newly developed Windows 8 operating system which is a very convenient gaming OS. It allows gamers to preview their gaming status from the Metro UI even when they are not on the game. It also allows a faster boot up and it has a more convenient navigation options. It also has the Bolton M3 chipset which is among the most advanced for gaming laptops these days.

The GX70 CPU is an AMD Quad Core A10-5750M with 4M Cache and can process up to 3.50 GHz. The CPU is supported with an up to 32GB memory. It has a DDR3L that can process up to 1600MHz and it has 2 slots. The storage capacity is up to 1TB SATA that runs at 7200rpm. It also does not close the possibility for gamers to add additional storage either an HDD or an SSD.

Of course the star of all its top-performing components is the graphics processing unit or GPU. It has what AMD claims to be the fastest GPU ever built for gamers—the Radeon HD 8970M. It is also being supported with a 2GB GDDR5 VRAM. The Radeon HD 8970M allows MSI GX70 to give a realistic viewing experience for gamers even if they decide to stream their game across multiple monitors. This GPU supports the AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology that can give both realistic viewing experience and real-time gaming responses. It also has support for the newest gaming technologies like DirectX11.1, OpenCL, PowerTune, etc.

Although the MSI GX70 already has a gaming sufficient 9-cell-Li-Ion (7800mAH) battery, it still did not stop Radeon HD 8970M to make the battery life even longer. It has the Enduro technology which automatically adjusts the GPU according to its battery needs. So whether a gamer is on the game or on an idle mode, he can be guaranteed that his gaming laptop’s battery is well-managed.

Killer Gaming LAN also seconds the stardom among GX70’s top performing components. It is an intelligent networking technology that allows gamers to enjoy extreme performance on their online games. It increases online processing speed by recognizing online data and prioritizing them. This Killer gaming technology is named the E2200. Hard core online gamers can now do away with the freeze-ups, lagging and characters stuttering during the game. Victory can easily be on a gamer’s hand with MSI GX70 and its AMD Radeon HD 8970M.

Mobile gamers have always been looking for the best performing graphics processor each time they find a new game. Satisfaction seems to be non-existent in terms of GPUs. Although AMD has already released their HD 8000 series which are processors at their best, they have saved the 8970M for their ultimate performance GPU release this year.

AMD claims 8970M to be the world’s fastest notebook graphics card. Its performance has never been seen on any gaming laptop before. It utilizes GCN architecture which is primarily built for speed and promises to give real-time performance not just to the newest games today but also to the games that have yet been developed. It also features AMD’s Enduro technology which makes any gaming laptop’s battery life a lot longer by automatically adjusting the GPU requirements whether it is in use or in idle mode.

For gamers who would also like to spread their gaming experience across multiple monitors, the Radeon HD 8970 also utilizes the Eyefinity technology which gives it the highest display performance. It is capable of giving gamers a realistic viewing experience. To make sure that all gaming applications are maximized in a gaming laptop, the Radeon HD 8970 also supports DirectX11.1 and Windows 8.

It also has a productivity tool that is used to maximize the quality of images and provide a smooth video playback. Its performance is also tough enough to assume even the workloads of the CPU. It provides improved and advanced performance and also better visual effects. It is claimed to have been engineered to compute even the heaviest and most graphics-demanding tasks and it also supports OpenCL and GPU acceleration.

Tested against NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M, this new Radeon HD8970M is more than 50% faster in gaming performance. It was able to play Tomb Raider at 53.6 fps and Bioshock Infinite at 63.29 fps. With its performance there is no doubt about why some of the top gaming laptop manufacturers have opted to utilize this new high-performance GPU. One gaming laptop that you could try with the Radeon HD 8970M performance is the MSI GX70. It is a top-performing 17.3 inches wide gaming laptop.

The new line of 4th generation Intel processors that is now called Intel Haswell is said to have integrated Iris chips that would double the performance of an Intel HD Graphics 4000. It also opens the possibility of new gaming laptops being a lot thinner and lighter because they no longer need to have a dedicated graphics card.

The Iris chips will have support for DirectX 11.1, OpenCL 1.2 and Open GL 4.0 which are technologies that newer dedicated graphics cards also support. It also promises double the performance of the existing Intel HD Graphics which can already be used for hardcore gaming and also double the 3D processing performance.

A lot of hard core gamers these days are boxed within the idea that if they want a good performing gaming laptop they would have to choose between portability and performance. Although some gaming laptops have already gotten rid of the optical drive which is among the biggest contributory factors to the bulk of the device, it does not totally make them thinner and lighter because they would still have to accommodate a dedicated graphics card slot. With the new Intel Iris Chips on the 4th Generation Intel processors, gaming laptops will be a lot thinner because they would only need to have one processor. They are also designed for laptops that have minimal components but greater performance. They will get rid of optical drives and other gaming laptop necessities and put them in a more compact technology.

The new Intel Iris Chips will make gaming laptops better performing but a lot more portable.

Priced at $1038.99, the Dell Inspiron 15R is quoted a special edition laptop that is high performance but still within the budget. Just like most laptops these days, this laptop is made compatible with the Windows 8 OS. It utilizes a dual channel DDR3 system memory at 8GB and running 1600MHz. The RAM is paired with 3^rd generation Intel Core i7 processor at up to 3.2GHz and a Mobile Intel 7 Series Express Chipset (HM77).

The gaming performance is also always at its best with the Inspiron 15R’s GPU which is the AMD Radeon HD 7730M with 2GB discrete graphics memory. This GPU supports DirectX11.1, Shader 5.0 and other new gaming technologies. It processes at 575-675MHz and it’s built with 28nm technology. It also has Intel Wireless Display capability and other better performing options that would allow gamers to improve their gaming experience. To back up the remarkable GPU specifications the Inspiron’s 15.6-inch wide screen LED display has been made full HD that is capable of showing very vibrant, crisp and realistic details. It is also further supported with Maxx Audio 4 technology and built-in Skull Candy stereo speakers. Gamers do not just see their game but could also hear it—like they would in real life.

As expected from any gaming laptop that is able to give excellent gaming performance, the Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition laptop is slightly bulkier and heavier than most new laptops in the market. But the very sleek and elegant design keep laptop users still interested in it. This laptop has anodized aluminum finish and palm rests to guarantee laptop gamers convenience while they are on the game. It also has rounded edges that provide an even better feel of the device.

For laptop users who are basically looking to maximize the features of Windows 8 OS, the Inspiron 15R Special Edition as an option for a touch screen display. Although there are some slight changes to its other technical specifications, the touch screen option is still a competently performing laptop that could be just within the budget of most laptop enthusiasts.

Packed with the most powerful gaming laptop components, the P2742G was proudly released by its very competent manufacturer—Gigabyte.

The P2742G is a powerful gaming laptop that boasts up to 2TB storage capacity. It supports dual storage system and it has both an HDD and an SSD. It also utilizes one of the newest graphics processors from NVIDIA which is the GeForce GTX 660M GDDR5 with a 2GB memory. This graphics processor supports Optimus technology which automatically boosts processing speed depending on the game’s demand. It also has support for DirectX11 and all other new gaming technologies.

Just like most new gaming laptops that have been released recently, the P2742G also promotes the use of the Windows 8 OS but still retains its compatibility with the other Windows OS. It also has a 3^rd Generation Intel Core i7 processor which runs at 2.4GHz up to 3.4GHz. As for its RAM, it has 3 slots for an optional 4GB or 8GB DDR3 1600MHz. It also has a Mobile Intel HM77 Express Chipset.

Every hard core laptop gamer would usually just look into the CPU and GPU of a gaming laptop. For as long as these two buying factors can promise them great gaming performance, they would consider any gaming laptop it goes with and just work out the RAM and the storage. But Gigabyte’s P2742G proudly gives hard core gamers everything they need; without having to adjust or work out on the RAM and the storage. With its gigantic storage capacity and almost unbelievable system memory, hard core laptop gamers would be able to store as many games they want and could play them smoothly even when they have other applications running.

The gaming experience on the P2742G is also made a lot better with its 17.3-inch wide full HD screen display with LED backlight. Its resolution is at 1920x1080p which is capable of providing a realistic viewing experience on any graphics-demanding game. Its crystal clear audio also has the THX TruStudio Pro Technology that makes any game not just look real but also sound real.

Gigabyte also features their Bluetooth 4.0 which is energy efficient and the easier systems restore option with Smart Recovery. Gamers would simply have to click on the F9 to put their gaming laptop back to the default system settings.

It also has all the necessary ports that would allow hard core gamers to really enjoy their game like the HDMI, USB 3.0, Ethernet Port, etc. It comes in two elegant and attractive colors; black and orange. However, as expected from most hard core gaming laptop that is packed with top performing specifications, the P2742G is quite heavy and bulky at around 3.2kg.

Gigabyte has indeed come up with a gaming monster with the P2742G and a lot of hard core gamers would definitely hunger for its storage capacity and other great specifications.

Most often women look into the portability of a laptop. However, modern women have also become more knowledgeable about technical specifications and how they perform. Women have now engaged into graphics-demanding computer activities—including laptop gaming.

A very good laptop choice that can be used for gaming and at the same time can be very portable is a Sony Vaio E laptop. The Sony Vaio E is a series of high-performance laptops that utilizes 3^rd Generation quad core Intel Core i7 processor, an AMD Radeon graphics card and a Windows 8 OS. It comes in different sizes from an 11.6-inch wide screen display up to an extravagant looking 17-inch wide screen display at 1920x1080p full HD display with LED backlight.

The RAM is up to 8GB DDR3-1600MHz⁵ and the storage capacity is up to 1TB running at 5400rpm. The Intel Core i7 processor is also made even better with the Turbo Boost technology of up to 3.20GHz. The graphics processing unit or graphics card can be an AMD Radeon HD 7650 which supports the latest graphics technologies. It is made even better with its xLoud High Definition audio technology and an optical drive which can be both a player and a burner.

Besides its extremely competitive technical specifications it has also the perfect feminine portability features that would attract every woman who is hooked into PC gaming. Weighing just around 7lbs even with its standard 4000mAh battery, a Sony Vaio E laptop is definitely the best portable option for a portable gaming laptop. Polished with a sturdy-looking aluminum and available in different colors, any Sony Vaio E laptop would also definitely be able to fit into women’s fashion.

Traditionally, if an individual would want to buy a gamin laptop or notebook, he would have to be an expert in making changes to the control panel. He needs to know how to make adjustments to the settings so he could manually balance his laptop’s performance and battery life. But today, NVIDIA introduces a totally new GPU that is a lot easier to use even to those who are not really masters of the control panel.

The new GeForce 700M GPU series puts together the different technologies that would allow it to automatically make changes to the gaming laptop settings so it will be able to play the game the way it should be played while it saves battery life. The three new technologies being used by the 700M GPU series are:

NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 technology —this is an intelligent technology that is capable of adjusting the clock speed on its own in order to maximize the graphics performance.

NVIDIA Optimus technology – This technology is also being used with most previously released GPUs in the gaming laptop market. It extends battery life by turning on and off the GPU depending on the game’s demand or any application’s demand.

GeForce Experience software – This technology also automatically adjusts the game settings to make sure that gamers get the best performance and the best visual quality that his gaming laptop is capable of giving him. It also keeps the drivers updated.

The GeForce 700M GPU series include these specific products: GeForce GT 750M, GeForce GT 745M, GeForce GT 740M, GeForce GT 735M and GeForce GT 720M. Most gaming laptop manufacturers have also started introducing this new GPU series with their top performing gaming laptops. These gaming laptop brands include Dell, Sony, Toshiba, Lenovo and a lot more.

Most laptop manufacturers now recommend the use of a Windows 8 OS. However, it is quite interesting to note that newer laptops that are able to offer good performance are not really designed to make the most out of Windows 8…and because of this, potential laptop buyers tend to hesitate about whether to buy one that already has it or not. Even after several months from the date of its release, not everyone really understands what Windows 8 is and what laptop specifications it needs.

Windows 8 is a version of the Microsoft Windows OS that made relevant changes to the Windows platform. It primarily intends to improve the user experience for most mobile devices like tablet PCs, mobile smartphones and others that utilizes touch screen technology. It introduces the use of a tiled user interface which is called the Metro UI to make browsing or navigation a lot more convenient. Although this new OS is being introduced on most new products, laptop and other gadget users also have the option to upgrade the OS of their existing device.

On laptops, the primary system requirements in order to use Windows 8 are as follows:

• CPU with support for SSE2, NX, PAE and it should at least be at 1GHz
• RAM should be at least 1GB for a 32-bit laptop or 2GB for a 64-bit.
• Storage or hard disk space should be at 16GB for a 32-bit and 20GB for a 64-bit.
• GPU should have support for DirectX9 and should have WDDM driver.

Although most laptops that are available in the market these days are able to comply with these requirements, not all of them are really able to maximize the features of Windows 8.

There are other system requirements that a lot of people tend to overlook but turns out to be among the most important considerations in order for them to maximize Windows 8 on their laptops. Like for instance, the touch screen display. The Windows 8 user interface or what is more commonly known as the Metro UI is primarily designed for touch screen devices. The tiles display relevant information about the applications and users would simply need to tap them if they would like to see more of them. Choosing a gaming laptop that would work well with Windows 8 can be really tough especially considering that touch screen laptops with competitive performance are rare.

But here are some laptops and other computer devices that are able really maximize the features and specifications of the Windows 8 OS:

Razer Edge Pro

            The Razer Edge Pro was just recently released to cater to gamers who would like the ultra-portability features of a tablet PC but with the top gaming performance of a gaming laptop. With its 3^rd generation Intel Core i7 processor running at 1.9GHz and still with a turbo boost technology of up to 3GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD storage and NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M LE this gaming tablet PC or convertible laptop is able to allow best Windows 8 performance. Then of course the touch screen display is a very big factor because users are able to enjoy the Metro UI design of Windows 8 OS.

VAIO Duo 11 Custom Touch Ultrabook

Utilizing a 3^rd generation Intel Core i7 processor that can boost up to 3.10GHz, an 8GB RAM at 1600MHz, 512GB SSD storage and an Intel HD graphics 4000 GPU, this convertible laptop or also a gaming tablet is able to maximize the features and specifications of Windows 8 OS. It has an 11.6-inch wide touch screen display that would make it very convenient for users to make use of the Metro UI and other touch screen features for Windows 8.

IdeaPad Z500 Touch

This touch screen laptop from Lenovo is also using a 3^rd generation Intel Core i5 processor with the turbo boost technology, 8GB RAM, 500GB up to 1TB storage capacity and an Intel HD graphics 4000 GPU. It is able to fully maximize the features and specifications of Windows 8 OS considering that it complies with the OS’ system requirements and it also has a touch screen display which makes the Metro UI a lot easier to use.

Although these laptops are not really high end or top performing gaming laptops, they are definitely also able to play some of the latest games in the PC gaming industry these days. If we are going to browse through the different websites of laptop manufacturers, we would notice that most of them already recommend Windows 8. It is just reasonable that we start finding a device that would let us make the most out of the new OS.

A gaming laptop is generally a portable computer that has high-end hardware and software that can sustain the latest graphics and processing demands of PC games. But how do we know that one we have is a gaming laptop or not? Probably five years back, a gaming laptop could be defined with these technical features and specifications:

• CPU—Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 at 2.0GHz
• RAM—2GB or up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667 MHz speed
• Storage—120GB HDD at 5400 rpm/secondary storage of 120GB also at 5400rpm
• GPU—NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 512MB DDR SDRAM
• OS—Windows Vista
• Display—17-inch wide at 1440×900 resolution and with TruBrite Technology
• Portablility—7.5lbs

There were two gaming laptops that used to make extremely loud noises in the market five years ago—the Alienware Area-51 m15x and Toshiba Satellite X205-SLI1. They had those features and specifications of a gaming laptop five years back. These two gaming laptops and others that have almost similar specifications were able to play the best PC games of 2008. One of the best PC games is the Fallout 3. It is an action-role playing game that was set in the future (2277). It featured great graphic images of so many different historical landmarks including the Whitehouse.

Its system requirements were:

• Windows XP or Vista
• 1GB RAM for Windows XP or 2GB RAM for Windows Vista
• Processor should be running at 2.4GHz and
• GPU should have support for DirectX9 with 256MB RAM

With these game system requirements, considering that it was one of the best games that year, the Alienware Area-51 m15x and Toshiba Satellite X205-SLI1 could indeed be considered gaming laptops—well, not really just gaming laptops but great performing gaming laptops. It does not mean though that they could still be called gaming laptops now. Five years from when they made loud noises in the market, the PC gaming industry has already come out with better games that require better graphics performance.

Crysis, which is among the newest and most widely played games these days, has this list of minimum system requirements:

• Windows Vista, 7 or 8
• Dual Core CPU
• RAM at 2GB or 3GB on Vista
• GPU should have support for DirectX11 and with 1GB Video RAM
• Storage should at least have 12GB space available

With what the newer PC games require, gaming laptops from five years back may still be considered good laptops but they no longer really define a gaming laptop. At this time, a really competitive gaming laptop could be twice or even triple times more powerful than what they called a gaming laptop five years back. Alienware is still one of the world’s leading gaming laptop manufacturers and its high-end products now have these specifications:

• CPU is a 3^rd eneration Intel Core i7 processor with 8MB cache and speed at up to 4.2GHz with the Turbo Boost technology.
• Windows 7 operating system
• RAM is 16GB dual channel DDR3 running at 1600MHz
• Storage is at 1TB and 5400rpm
• GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M (SLI enabled and has support for DirectX11 and other newer gaming technologies).

Gaming laptops these days are still generally portable computers that have high-end hardware and software that can sustain the latest graphics and processing demands of PC games. But they are no longer just as good as the laptops you must have purchased five years back. They are a lot better.

Microsoft’s introduction of their latest platform which is the Windows 8 made it a lot easier for computer manufacturers to put an end to the very tough competition between laptops and tablet PCs. They have come up with convertible laptops or what is also called the Hybrid PC. Razerzone, one of the world’s top gamin laptop manufactures, has come up with the Razer Edge Pro which they called the “First Gaming Tablet PC.”

The specifications of this gaming tablet PC includes:

• CPU—Intel Core i7 Dual core with Hyper Threading Base 1.9 GHz and Turbo Boost Technology of up to 3.0 GHz
• GPU—Intel HD 4000/ NVIDIA T 640M LE at 2GB DDR3
• RAM—8GB DDR3 at 1600MHz
• Storage—126/256GB SSD
• Display—10.1” multi-touch HD display
• Portability—278.5mmx178.85mmx19.5mm and weighs around 2.1lbs

The specifications were indeed remarkable for a tablet PC and definitely adequate for a laptop in order to play the top PC games these days. But is Razer Edge Pro really the first tablet PC of its kind?

One of the things that Razerzone is most proud about its “First Gamin Tablet PC” is the fact that it can be used in multiple ways. Like if its users would like to use it as a dedicated gaming console, they can simply attach the gamepad controller which would allow gamers a console-style gaming. The downside though is that it makes the tablet PC a lot heavier and bulkier—plus, the gamepad controller would have to be purchased separately. Other accessories like the Keyboard docking station and the home console docking station are sold separately. The add-ons would cost $200 to $300 more on top of the tablet selling price which is already at $1299.

To list, here are some of the convertible laptops available in the market these days that has almost similar or equivalent technical specifications:

Dell XPS 12 Convertible Touch Ultrabook

Slightly wider than the Razer Edge Pro, the Dell XPS 12 also has the 3^rd generation Intel Core i7 Processor that has the same features and run up to 3.0GHz as well. It also has the Intel HD Graphics 4000 that supports DirectX11 technology. It has 8GB dual channel (DDR3) RAM and an up to 256GB SSD storage capacity. When it comes to portability, the Dell XPS 12 is at 317mm x 214mm x 20mm and it weighs around 3lbs. However, it would be very interesting to note that it already has the keyboard included in a simple but elegant flip-hinge design.

Toshiba Satellite U925T

            Another convertible or hybrid computer product from a reputable computer manufacturer is the Toshiba Satellite U925T. It is also slightly wider than the Razer Edge Pro but it has competent specifications. Just like the so called “First Gaming Tablet PC,” the U925T also utilizes a 3^rd generation Intel Core processor which is the i5-3317U Processor it is also supported with a 4GB DDR3 RAM that runs at 1600MHz. It also has Intel HD 4000 graphics and has 128GB SSD storage capacity. Users also have the option to purchase an optical drive. Weighing around 3.35lbs, this convertible laptop/ tablet PC is definitely also able to compare well with the Razer Edge Pro.

HP or Hewlett-Packard also has its own version of a convertible laptop and an extreme performance tablet PC—the HP ElitePad 900 which they tagged a corporate or business tablet. Just like the Razer Edge Pro, it has options for accessories that would have to be purchased separately to turn it into functional laptop or anything else.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad Twist which is a multi-touch convertible laptop/ extreme performance tablet PC is also just slightly wider than the Razer Edge Pro being at 12.5 inches wide. It also utilizes the a 3^rd generation Intel Core i5 processor at 2.70GHz and it is supported with a 4GB RAM. The graphics performance is also the same since it utilizes an Intel HD 4000 as well. The storage is at 128GB SSD and users also have an option for additional storage capacity.

With these, it is easy to say that the Razer Edge Pro isn’t really the first tablet PC of its kind and some may even be better especially considering that they do not sell their accessories separately. But we must note that Razerzone did a really good job by calling it the “First Gaming Tablet PC.”