If you really want to have a laptop capable of gaming without shelling $1000, then you might want to check this deal out. Lenovo is currently slashing of prices off laptops from its Idea pad line and I think the best offer would be the $350 discount if you purchase an Ideapad y500 with the “WEEKLYDEAL” coupon code valid up until 2/27/2013. This is a good deal for those who are searching for a “general use” laptop and also plays high-end games from time to time. The configuration with an Intel Ivy Bridge Core i7-3630QM Processor, NVIDIA 2GB GT650M, 8GB DDR3 RAM is not to be taken lightly because it can certainly do all  school/office work plus it can deliver decent frame rates on games like Battlefield 3, Prototype 2, Mass Effect 3 etc. at medium to high settings. The Lenovo Ideapad Y500 might not the sharpest tool in the shed but it can certainly pack a punch without burning a really big hole in your pocket.

UPDATED January 2013: For a limited time, get an Alienware M14x R2 with a GeForce GT 650M for $50 below the list price!

• Use one of the following offers:
• $50 off Alienware M14x configured at $1,499+! – Coupon code: BHW1L0MX0D?MCX

These offers expire 01/31/2013..

There appear to be no restrictions on how you can configure the M14x to be able to use these coupons; the first one is currently valid for all Alienware systems configured at $1,099 or more. The lowest possible price with a dual-core CPU is currently $999 including free shipping.

The GPU is now the new Nvidia GeForce GT 650M with either 1 GB or 2 GB of GDDR5 video RAM, and the processor choices range from 3nd-gen Intel Core i5 (dual core) models to 3rd-gen (Ivy Bridge) quad-core Core i7 processors up to the 3840QM (2.8 to 3.8 GHz, 8MB L3 cache). In terms of system memory, the M14x R2 can be configured with up to 16 GB of 1600 MHz RAM. The hard drive or solid state drive options now includes RAID 0 configurations, or a mechanical drive plus an mSATA SSD cache drive as a more affordable alternative for speeding up boot and load times.

We reviewed the first M14x a while back and were very impressed with the machine. It is now even more powerful and keeps its title as the most powerful 14-inch gaming laptop on the planet.

Alienware’s 14-inch M14x is a member of the Alienware family designed for users who neither want a desktop replacement or an ultraportable. The processor options for the M14x are all from the latest 2nd-gen Intel Core series, starting at a dual-core Core i5, but configurable up to a quad-core Ivy Bridge 3rd-generation Core i7 CPUs. The new and improved Turbo Boost feature overclocks the processor automatically to achieve optimal performance; the 3630QM which runs at 2.4GHz (3.4 GHz with Turbo Boost), the 3720QM running at 2.7 GHz (3.7 GHz with Turbo Boost), and the 3860QM which is clocked at 2.8 GHz and goes up to 3.8 GHz with Turbo Boost. These CPUs are also equipped with Hyperthreading that lets them handle two threads per processor core (4 cores shows up as 8 cores in the operating system).

It can now be equipped with up to 16 GB of 1600MHz or 1866MHz DDR3, 750 GB or 1,000 GB 7200rpm hard drives or a dual 256GB SSDs. The most important component for gamers is the Nvidia GeForce GT 650M GPU, which is available with either 1 GB or 2 GB of GDDR5 video RAM. The GT 650M has no less than 384 CUDA cores and is probably the fastest card you can find in a 14-inch laptop. Again compared to the previous GT 555M, the 655M is based on an entirely new architecture and produces in 28nm instead of 40nm.

The display options are either a 1366×768 panel or one with the higher 1600×900 resolution. Regardless of which you choose, the GT 650M GPU will let you run all of the latest games at the laptop’s native resolution. Both option also come with a 2 megapixel webcam built into the bezel. A couple of other nice additions for the latest Alienware laptops is that they come with two USB 3.0 ports and HDMI 1.4 out for external 3D capability. There’s also a slot-loading optical drive included.

A WirelessHD transmitter is an optional add-on that lets you send a Full HD signal straight to your HDTV with more or less the same performance as you would get with a cable. You can opt for just the transmitter or one bundled with the universal VIZIO XWH200 audio/video receiver. Just like all of the other Alienware laptops, the M14x also comes with the full-custom AlienFX backlighting system that will light up your system in a variety of different colors of your choosing, as well as a personalized laser etched nameplate. You can even get it with Steam and Portal, World of Warcraft or Eve Online preinstalled for your convenience.

A quick overview of the M14x:

New coupon for January 2013! The M18x is a no-compromise gaming monster. With optional CrossFireX and SLI configurations, factory overclocked Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition processors and a large 18-inch Full HD 1080p display, this laptop offers desktop gaming performance in a portable format. 

• Head over to Dell’s Alienware M18x page
• Configure, review and add to cart
• In the ‘Coupon Entry’ field, apply the following coupon code: BHW1L0MX0D?MCX

Updated November 2012: The latest July 2012 deal is worth 33% off a custom dv6t Quad Edition including free shipping! New offer.

How to use:

• Visit HP and Configure Yours!
• In your cart, use the coupon code: HOLIDAY250HP

Expires 7/19/12

Have a look at the dv7t coupon if you prefer the bigger model (same code).

The base configuration includes a quad-core Core i7 3610QM running at 2.3 GHz  (up to 3.3 GHz with Turbo Boost), a 750GB hard drive, a free upgrade to 8GB of DDR3 RAM as well as a free upgrade to a Blu-ray player. The GeForce GT 650M (Nvidia’s latest Kepler GPU) is an absolute must-have upgrade for gamers.

An important update to HP’s configuration page is that the graphics card options are now either a GeForce GT 630M or a GT 650M, out of which the latter is considerably more powerful. The dv6 was previously available with AMD graphics cards and the latest update to Nvidia’s latest mobile Kepler GPUs makes the dv6t Quad Edition on par with gaming laptops equipped with the GTX 560M. It has enough performance to run most current games at high detail settings regardless of resolution (1366×768 or 1920×1080). In terms of value for money, the dv6t Quad Edition is about as good as it gets right now.

The latest Ivy Bridge version of the Pavilion dv6t is a major update over previous versions. Not only has the design been completely overhauled to be more in line with HP’s premium Envy series, the interior components have been given several important upgrades as well. The quad core edition is, as the name implies, available with the latest quad-core CPUs from Intel with four cores and a total of eight threads (shows up as 8 processors in the operating system). There are three different variants of the Core i7 to choose from in the Quad Edition, of which the fastest i7-3820QM runs at 2.7 GHz but automatically overclocks up to 3.7 GHz in certain situations thanks to the now-improved Turbo Boost feature.

Moreover, the recent change in the GPU department has promoted the Pavilion dv6 Quad Edition to a genuine gaming laptop. The inclusion of the GeForce GT 650M graphics card lets it compete with exclusive and much more expensive gamer-oriented notebooks from Alienware and Asus’ Republic of Gamers series. The specifications for this video card, including 384 CUDA cores and a 128-bit memory bus for GDDR5 should in theory produce around 2000 points in 3DMark 11 and make the laptop capable of playing Crysis 2, Skyrim and other demanding games at high resolution and with sufficient details to make them look stunning.

On the whole, the new dv6t – especially in its quad-core variety – is a massive improvement on previous versions of the laptop with the same name. The only reason that HP has elected to keep the name is likely that it’s well known and established. However, considering the latest specifications and optional upgrades, there is no doubt that the new Pavilion laptops belong in the high-end segment.

Updated 6/3/2012: HP’s latest and greatest 15.6-inch Envy 15 has just been issued a new coupon for June worth 33% off customized laptops, including free shipping! The same offer is also valid on the dv7t Quad Edition and the Envy 17.

How to use:

• Visit HP to configure
• Apply the following code in your shopping cart: NBP9668

Expires 6/13/2012 or sooner.

Also keep an eye on the HP coupons page.

Envy 15 Overview

The brand new version of the Envy 15 does not have much in common with the older model that was launched about three years ago. Instead of the lap-melting 1st generation quad-core Intel Core i7 processors, this one can be equipped with the much more solid 2nd-generation (Sandy Bridge). There are options for both dual-core (Core i5) and quad-core (Core i7) CPUs, and the base model ($1,099.99) ships with a Core i5-2450M clocked at 2.5 GHz (3.1 GHz with Turbo Boost).

Add $100 for twice the theoretical computing power and a Core i7-2670QM, which has the same clocks as the base model’s Core i5 but four physical cores and eight threads thanks to Hyperthreading. Besides the i7-2670QM, the CPU alternatives also include two faster quad-core options–the Core i7-2760QM (2.4 GHz / Turbo Boost 3.5 GHz) and the Core i7-2860QM (2.5 GHz / Turbo Boost 3.6 GHz).

On the graphics side, there is just one alternative, which is a pretty good one: the upper midrange AMD Radeon HD 7690M, which recently replaced the HD 6770M as the fastest GPU in HP’s current lineup. It is slightly faster than its predecessor and roughly on par with the GT 555M from Nvidia (as seen in the M14x). Gaming benchmarks for this card are available in my recent review of the Envy 17 3D for Notebookcheck.net.

Other options and add-ons for the base model from HP is up to 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 RAM or up to 8GB of 1600 MHz RAM (Windows limitation). The 500 GB hard drive can be upgraded to a roomy 1 TB variant or a considerably faster 300 GB SSD. Another important option is the upgrade from a basic 1366×768 display to a full HD “Radiance” display (IPS panel).

Something that is even more noticeable compared to the older Envy 15 is of course that the design has been completely overhauled. A new unibody chassis has been introduced that makes it somewhat reminiscent of certain “Pro” laptops from a fruit-themed company. HP’s own introduction:

UPDATED 5/10 2012: There’s a new promotion available at Toshiba Direct! Save up to $300 on customizable Qosmio gaming machines as well as upgrades.

The offer includes pretty much the entire Qosmio lineup, including the 17-inch X775 and X770 as well as the 15-inch F755 glasses-free 3D laptop. Prices start at $999 for the glasses-free F755 3D laptop ($300 off), or $1,039 for the dual-core Core i5 edition of the X770, which is the lowest price so far on this laptop and possibly the best price anywhere on a laptop with the Nvidia GTX 560M. $1,199 gets you a considerably more powerful X755 with a quad-core Core i7 processor.

Visit Toshiba Direct to have a look at the full listing.

Valid until 5/14 2012

All of the 17-inch Qosmio gaming laptops include an NVIDIA GTX 560M graphics card–the same model as in the ASUS G53SX that we recently reviewed but with 1.5GB of video RAM and a wider memory bus. The short version is that it can play all current games at the laptop’s default resolution. The dual-core (Core i5) should be sufficient to power the graphics card, but the Core i7 models offer 4 cores/8 threads and up to twice the theoretical general computing power.

The F755 is an interesting specimen in that it comes with a glasses-free 3D display that shifts resolution depending on the content. It runs in native 1366×768 with 3D on and native 1980×1080(Full HD)  in 2D mode. It ships with a Core i5 processor and a GT 540M GPU. For those hoping to play games in glasses-free 3D, however, it should be pointed out that support for 3D gaming without the glasses is in its infancy and the 3D functionality should primarily be thought of as a movie feature (a Blu-ray optical drive is also included).

Update: The glasses-free 3D laptop has actually been updated and the Qosmio F755 3D now supports “hundreds of games”, according to Toshiba.

The best deals of the year are here, and we have meticulously sorted the wheat from the chaff in the gaming laptop segment. As it turns out, there are quite a few great deals available on excellent machines. There are different limitations in terms of expiry date, stock and/or coupons redeemed and we can’t check and re-check them all. The short version is that it’s best to hurry up before the deals expire.

Alienware

First of all, Alienware is running their best offer in several months. It’s valid for four days (expires 11/29/11). The coupon is worth $100 extra in savings on ANY Alienware laptop and includes free shipping. That means that the latest M11x starts at just $799, the M14x (review here) at $999, M17x at $1,399 (3D version also eligible) and M18x at $1,899 with coupon code: 9NLWM92ZQNTZBS

• Visit Alienware.com
• Use the following coupon code: BHW1L0MX0D?MCX

HP

The dv6t and dv7t Quad Edition with the option for an AMD Radeon HD 6770M GPU is probably the most interesting options for gamers from HP right now. As it happens, these two are now selling for the lowest price ever! There are two separate coupons that take $450 and $430 off the list price for each of these laptops including free shipping. These are also valid until 11/29/11 or until the limited amount of coupon codes have been redeemed. Note that the codes differ and that the HD 6770M gaming GPU is an optional (but highly affordable) upgrade.

Use this link for the dv7t Quad
Save $450 instantly using the following coupon: HOLIDAY250HP

Use this link for the dv6t Quad
Save $430 instantly using the following coupon: HOLIDAY250HP

Newegg

Click on the picture on the left to view Newegg’s complete Black Friday listing. Head for page 3 and scroll to the bottom to find some very interesting deals on ASUS’ Republic of Gamers laptops as well as a couple of MSI laptops. These are selling out quickly, so even though the listing will be up for another couple of days it’s better to act fast.

One of the best deals in terms of value for money is a recertified ASUS G73 laptop with a 2nd-generation Core i7 quad core processor and an NVIDIA GTX 460Mgraphics card that is selling for just $859.99! The newer and slightly faster G74SX is also available starting at $1,149.99 (new).

Additionally, the equally fast but smaller MSI GT683R is selling for just $1,169.99 after using a mail-in rebate card.

TigerDirect

Follow this link to get straight to TigerDirect’s Black Friday page and scroll down to around the middle of the page to find a couple of very attractive offers. One is for a brand new ASUS G53SX (read our review here) for just $899.99 including a Blu-ray drive! Even more importantly, this laptop comes with a 2nd-gen (Sandy Bridge) quad-core Core i7 processor and the NVIDIA GTX 560M.

The larger and also brand new G74SX with the even faster Core i7-2670QM plus a GTX 560M with 3GB of Video RAM and a 192-bit memory bus, plus 12GB of RAM is selling for only $1,249.99–a real bargain on this laptop, which has just been upgraded with a new processor and normally sells for $1,479.99.

Toshiba

Here’s the link to Toshiba’s Black Friday Deals. These are valid until 11/27 and the most interesting option for gamers is of course the latest Qosmio laptops located at the bottom of the page. The deal is $300 off plus 30% off upgrades! This is not bad at all considering that the starting price is $999 or $1,199 for the quad-core version with a brand new Core i7 2670QM.

The new 17-inch Qosmio X770 lineup come standard with an NVIDIA GTX 560M graphics card, backlit keyboards and Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs. It also has room for dual hard drives or even better, an SSD + hard drive combination. There’s also an option for an affordable upgrade to a Hybrid drive (likely a Seagate Momentus XT).

[Updated 12/22/11] The GT780DX-406US is the latest and most heavily equipped version of MSI’s 17-inch gaming rig. It comes with the latest Intel Sandy Bridge refresh–the quad-core  i7 2670QM, which operates at 2.2GHz instead of 2.0GHz in its predecessor. In Turbo Boost mode it overclocks to 3.1GHz instead of 2.9GHz. The gaming graphics are handled by an NVIDIA GTX 570M, which is second only to the much more expensive GTX 580M in the manufacturer’s lineup.

Update: The coupon code has been replaced by a mail-in rebate that brings the price down to just $1,449.99 including free shipping.

• Click here to visit Newegg (opens in a new window)
• Print the MIR rebate card to get it for $1,449.99 (expires 12/31/11)

Don’t forget to print the mail-in rebate card to ensure you get the best possible price (there’s a link to it just below the extended warranty option). As far as we’ve been able to gather, this is the best price online on this model at this writing. Note that it’s not the cheaper 8GB version with a 2.0GHz CPU. This one is equipped with 12GB of RAM, the faster processor as well as all the other goodies that come with the GT780DX, including the nice-looking new Steel Series back-lit keyboard. The configuration also includes a 750GB 7200rpm hard drive.

Another neat feature exclusive to MSI’s gaming laptops is the TDE (Turbo Drive Engine) feature that overclocks both the CPU and GPU of the laptop with the simple push of a button. All in all, this is a pretty great deal on a really powerful laptop.

HP has just launched a coupon for Pavilion laptops configured at $1,399+ that takes $500 off the regular price tag and includes free shipping. This one might might come in handy if you have been planning on getting a high-end configuration of the dv6t or dv7t Quad Edition laptops.

[UPDATE: This offer has expired. Take a look at the Pavilion dv6t and dv7t Quad coupon pages respectively for the latest offers]

HP’s quad-core Pavilion series has also just been given the same treatment as the Alienware lineup and MSI’s GT-series gaming laptops, i.e. an updated entry-level quad core Intel processor. The Core i7-2670QM replaces the 2630QM and is clocked at 2.2GHz instead of 2.0GHz and reaches 3.1GHz instead of 2.9GHz when Turbo Boost is active. The Turbo Boost feature kicks in automatically when the laptop isn’t utilizing all cores but can take advantage of a higher clock frequency in single-threaded applications, which happens quite often. Just like its predecessor and all other mobile quad-core Intel CPUs, it has the Hyperthreading feature enabled that makes it an 8-core processor for practical purposes since all of the cores can handle two threads simultaneously.

These laptops are quite well equipped from the get-go, with a 750GB hard drive, 8GB of RAM and a Blu-ray combo player. There are still quite a few things that can be upgraded though, out of which the AMD Radeon HD 6770M upgrade is the most important one for gamers. Other options include Full HD (1920×1080) displays, larger batteries and of course more RAM and faster CPUs. The dv7t also has room for an additional hard drive–allowing for up to 2TB of hard drive space or a combination of a speedy 160GB SSD and a 500GB hard drive.

UPDATED 6/3 2012: Save 33% on a custom ENVY laptop, including the latest HP Envy 17 (3D or non-3D). Includes free shipping!

• Visit HP’s ENVY 17 3D Page
• To save 33% plus free shipping, use the coupon code: NBG5247

Note that this is the latest version of the HP Envy 17 3D with a brand new design and the new Radeon HD 7690M GPU. That makes it the best offer yet on this laptop. It is still equipped with the latest 2nd-gen Core i7 processors but a new GPU as well as several cool new physical features such as a dedicated volume control knob and a new backlit keyboard. The weight is still very low for a 17-inch laptop at just 7.37 pounds.

The Envy 17 3D remains the flagship in HP’s high-end lineup, with a slim design that hides plenty of raw processing power. The configuration options for the 3D version of the Envy 17 start at a quad-core (eight-thread) 2nd generation Core i7 clocked at 2.2GHz (Turbo Boost 3.1GHz) on the processor side, which can be upgraded to a 2.3GHz version that reaches 3.4GHz in Turbo Boost mode.

All of the Envy 17 laptops come with the same GPU–a powerful AMD Radeon HD 7690M, which is equipped with 480 stream processors and 1GB of GDDR5 VRAM. It can handle all of the latest games and add an extra dimension to your gaming experience on top of that. Active shutter 3D glasses and the mandatory 120Hz display are also included.

Furthermore, the Envy can also be equipped with up to 16GB of RAM and a large variety of different (dual) hard drive combos, including the option to use an ultra-fast SSD for the system files along with you most important games or apps, and use a secondary hard drive with plenty of room for your movies and music.

The entire Envy lineup has been upgraded with the latest Sandy Bridge CPUs from Intel. This coupon is very limited and could expire any minute if it hasn’t already, so act fast or miss out on this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

Unlike other 3D gaming laptops such as the Alienware M17x, this solution is not based on Nvidia’s 3D vision technology but the techology is very similar, using active shutter glasses to block every other image for every other eye to create a depth of field effect.If you are looking for the smaller Envy laptop, there’s also a brand new Envy 15 coupon, with the same attractive rebate.