Cnet gaming laptop

At CES 2019, graphics chip maker Nvidia announced a slew of new gaming laptops would be coming with mobile versions of its 2060, 2070 and 2080 GeForce RTX graphics cards. That list includes the new Lenovo's Legion Y740 and Y540.    Last year's Y730 and Y530 laptops were two of my favorite mainstream gaming laptops for their smart and subtle designs (for gaming PCs, at least) and good performance for the money. The designs stay the same between these generations, but you will find the new GPUs as well as updated display options, which was one of the few weak spots with their predecessors. Available in both 15- and 17-inch sizes, the Legion Y740 will have GeForce RTX 2060, RTX 2070 Max-Q or GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics options, while the 15-inch Y530 will have only the GeForce RTX 2060. The Max-Q processors allow for thinner laptops, though they are less powerful than the regular versions. As for their displays, the higher-end Y730 will come with a 144Hz full HD … [Read more...] about Add Lenovo to the list: New Legion Y740, Y540 gaming laptops get Nvidia’s latest

Alienware, Dell's in-house gaming brand, is pushing for thinner but larger gaming laptops with the new Alienware m17. An upscaled version of the recent m15, this new model adds a 17-inch screen (obviously) and Nvidia's latest mobile GPU, which is likely going to be called the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q (but that's not finalized yet).The company says this is its "thinnest and lightest" 17-inch laptop to date, using materials like magnesium alloy and copper to cut the weight down to just under 6 pounds, with a thickness of 23 millimeters. I've been using the already released 15-inch Alienware m15 version for most of December, and this 17-inch model felt even more optimized for size, with a larger screen in body of roughly the same thickness. Key features include: Six-zone customizable lighting (yes, including the alien head) and support for the existing Alienware Graphics Amplifier, which can hold a desktop graphics card (Nvidia or AMD) and attaches via a proprietary port found on … [Read more...] about The Alienware m17 upsizes Dell’s slim gaming laptop at CES 2019

Following a quick sneak peak at IFA in August, Acer has introduced two new models in its premium-meets-portable line of Predator Triton gaming laptops. Based on the same cantilevered design Acer used for its 15.6-inch Predator Triton 700, the new $4,000 Predator Triton 900 comes equipped with a 17-inch 4K display, eighth-gen Intel Core i7 processors and Nvidia's GeForce RTX 2080 GPU series. The $1,800 Predator Triton 500, on the other hand, loads much -- though not all -- of the same hardware into a more compact and traditional 15.6-inch body.  And then there's the matter of the touchpad.  When we reviewed the Predator Triton 700 in 2017, we admired its fabulous mechanical keyboard and appreciated the novel, hinged design that shifted the 4K display between laptop and tablet modes. But we found the unconventional placement of the Gorilla Glass touchpad, above the keyboard, regrettable.  The positioning made it unwieldy and that it was made of glass and … [Read more...] about Acer forks the design of its portable, pricey line of Triton gaming laptops

For gamers who dare to be different, Asus has added AMD-based versions of its more traditional Intel/Nvidia-based FX505 and FX705 budget gaming laptops here at CES.  In theory, the AMD models should be even more budget-friendly than their linemates, but that's not always the case. They're slated to ship by the end of March, but Asus hasn't provided any pricing. They'll incorporate the new AMD Ryzen 5 3550H CPU and Radeon RX 560X discrete graphics. Both laptops support FreeSync (AMD's variable-refresh technology for preventing tearing artifacts), but the 17-inch FX705DY's screen has more limited 60Hz-max latitude than the 15-inch's 48-120Hz refresh range.   Unlike the FX504 we reviewed in July, the displays in these models have IPS screens -- not as fast as the TN panel we complained about, but they should look much better. The TUF line distinguishes itself from other budget gaming laptops with boasts of, well, toughness. They're built to MIL-STD-810G spec to … [Read more...] about Asus adds TUF gaming laptops at CES 2019 with AMD inside