Notebook Hunter

We’ve put together the Notebook Hunter Buyers Guide to clearly show you what you can expect to get at any price from a mere $300 all the way up to a bank account smashing $3,000. No matter how much you want to spend, we will show you what you should be getting for your money. After all, it’s your cash and there’s no reason why you can’t get the most out of it.

Keep in mind if you can find the specs listed for a notebook in a higher bracket in a lower bracket price, it's an amazing deal. These price brackets have been designed to reflect the best prices of current retail specials, but there's always room for retailers to do something crazy with prices.

It’s also possible you’ll find a notebook with unusual specs that isn’t covered in the guide. First off, check the Notebook Hunter website; our database is updated constantly, so there’s a very good chance you’ll find the unusual notebook along with a rating and a review. Otherwise, head on over to the Notebook Hunter Facebook page and we’ll answer any questions you may have about whether the unusual notebook is good value or not.

Apple Notebooks

Throughout this guide you won’t find any Apple notebooks, and there’s a good reason for that; they’re rarely discounted. If you can get 10% off the listed RRP of any Apple notebook you’ve done well. As it stands though there’s no point listing specific products in this guide, because rather than carefully measure the specs versus the price all you have do to ensure a good deal on an Apple notebook is get a discount as close to 10% as possible.

$300 to $399

Excepting ludicrous specials on basic notebooks, what fills this price bracket is netbooks. They can only handle simple productivity applications like word processing or surfing the internet. There are three fundamentals that you need; a 250GB or 320GB hard disk drive, Windows 7 Starter and an Intel Atom N570 processor. There are also netbooks with AMD Fusion processors that have slightly slower clock speeds but vastly better integrated graphics, but they do cost a bit more as a result.

Two other staples are a 10.1in (1,024x600 resolution) screen and 1GB of RAM; these aren't fantastic, but are necessary compromises to make the netbook's portability so great. Some universal points for netbooks are that they don't have a graphics card or optical drive, as there's simply no room. Batteries will be 6-Cell as well.

The specific processor in the alternative netbooks is the AMD Fusion C-50 processor. It can run productivity applications like the $399 netbooks, but the onboard AMD Radeon HD 6250 graphics means it can also smoothly play movies and videos. This is a dramatic improvement, and gives low-end allrounder notebook versatility in a netbook-sized package.

The specs are otherwise similar to the best of the Intel Atom equipped netbooks; a 10.1in (1,280x800 resolution) screen, a 250GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, a 6-Cell battery and no optical drive. This kind of product can be found at around $399, and there’s no need to pay much more than that.

Basic Netbook
SCREEN: 10.1in (1,024x600)
PROCESSOR: Intel Atom N570
RAM: 1GB
STORAGE: 250GB or 320GB HDD
GRAPHICS: Onboard
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: None
OS: Windows 7 Starter
WI-FI: 802.22 b/g/n

AMD Fusion Netbook
SCREEN: 10.1in (1,280x800)
PROCESSOR: AMD Fusion C-50
RAM: 1GB
STORAGE: 250GB HDD
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6250
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: Onboard
OS: Windows 7 Starter
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$400 to $499

This is the price bracket that introduces majorly powerful processors, and while still technically basic notebooks their graphics performance is equal to a low-end allrounder.The onboard graphics are actually good enough to run games at low settings, and the specs are otherwise fairly impressive. These specs include 500GB hard disk drives, 4GB of RAM and 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution) screens. The other standards are 6-Cell batteries, DVD burners and Windows 7 Home Premium.

2nd Gen Intel Core i3 Basic Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i3-2310M
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Onboard)
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$500 to $599

Ultraportables start appearing in this price bracket, and while their computing power is generally similar to a netbook the larger screen does clearly set them apart. They weigh around 1.5kg and are powered by AMD Fusion E-450 processors. The onboard graphics are actually sufficient to perform tasks like streaming a HD movie to a larger screen, so they’re very versatile. They otherwise have 11.6in (1,366x768 resolution) screens, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drives and no DVD drives. Batteries will be 6-Cell and the OS is going to be Windows 7 Home Premium.

AMD Fusion Ultraportable
SCREEN: 11.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: AMD Fusion E-450
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6320
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: None
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$600 to $699

This is the price bracket that introduces Intel Core i5 processors, and while still technically basic notebooks their graphics performance is equal to a low-end allrounder. They have a fast 2nd Gen Intel Core i5-2430M (2.4GHz) processor. The onboard graphics are actually good enough to run games at low settings, and the specs are otherwise fairly impressive. These specs include 640GB hard disk drives, 4GB of RAM and 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution) screens. The other standards are 6-Cell batteries, DVD burners and Windows 7 Home Premium.

2nd Gen Intel Core i5 Basic Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i5-2430M
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 640GB HDD
GRAPHICS: Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Onboard)
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$700 to $799

Those that don’t want to compromise on computing functionality will find what they need in this price bracket, as the first allrounder notebooks appear. They contain powerful 2nd Gen Intel Core i5s, and the graphics cards are actually good enough for some modern gaming.

The graphics card tends to be a mid-range model like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M, which is still good enough for modern games at medium to high settings. Storage is 640GB hard drives, and otherwise the specs include 15.6in screens, DVD burners, 4GB of RAM and 6-Cell batteries. In addition to productivity applications serious gaming is finally a possibility, albeit at low settings to ensure smooth gameplay.

2nd Gen Intel Core i5 Allrounder Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i5-2410M
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 640GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$800 to $899

People looking for very strong computing power finally get what they want in this bracket, because allrounders with very fast 2nd Gen Intel Core i7s start appearing. The graphics cards are also very good as well, so with the exception of very high-end gaming there's little these allrounders can't easily handle.

The 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM is the most common processor to appear in these allrounders, and its generally accompanied by a graphics card like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M. They otherwise contain 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard disk drive, 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution) screens, 6-Cell batteries and DVD burners. The specs may not be as impressive as those in the previous price bracket, but the much enhanced processor makes up for it and then some.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Allrounder Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz)
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 640GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$900 to $999

The mighty 2nd Gen Intel Core i7 equipped allrounders get improved specs in this price bracket, but nothing especially dramatic. Two common improvements are improvements to the RAM and the storage, but TV tuners also sometimes make an appearance.

Where storage is normally a 640GB hard disk drive you now start finding 750GB examples, and by the same token RAM is often improved from 4GB up to 6GB. Otherwise the specs remain the same as slightly cheaper allrounders, including a 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution) screen, a 6-Cell battery and a DVD burner.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Allrounder Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz)
RAM: 4GB or 6GB
STORAGE: 640GB HDD or 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n
EXTRA: TV Tuner

$1,000 to $1,099

Allrounder notebooks with large screens tend to offer the best bang for buck in this price range, and they tend to be fairly similar to their more affordable brethren with the obvious exception of having larger screens. Their weight is also increased, so they're often referred to as desktop replacements. These allrounders are definitely more portable than a desktop computer, but for most of the time they'll be sitting pretty on a desk.

They usually have 750GB of hard disk drive storage, 4GB of RAM and a 17.3in (1,600x900 resolution) screen. Naturally they have DVD burners as well, and the battery is usually 6-Cell. The dedicated graphics cards are also easily on par with those in cheaper alternatives. One allrounder that fits this price bracket neatly, the Acer Aspire AS7750G, uses a mid-range card called the AMD Radeon HD 6650M that is more than suitable for modern gaming at medium settings.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Desktop Replacement Allrounder Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz)
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6650M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$1,100 to $1,199

This price bracket is where excellent value mid-range Ultrabooks generally appear. The two current standouts are the Toshiba Satellite Z830/001 and the ASUS Zenbook UX31E-RY009V, both of which have their subtle differences but still have similarities in the specs departments. If you can find a roughly equivalent spec Ultrabook in this price-range, you can be certain it’s a good value one. Definitely check the Ultrabook section on Notebook Hunter for more details; there’s a lot more to the equation then just specs, and the Notebook Hunter assessments will give you the scoop on the subtler details like ports or build quality.

The processor should be a low-voltage 2nd Gen Intel Core i5 and there should be at least 4GB of RAM to go along with it. Storage will usually take the form of small capacity (say 128GB or so) solid state drives, while the screens will be 13.3in. The resolution can be as low as 1,366x768 or as high as 1,600x900, while the battery should be 8-Cell or thereabouts.

Mid-Range Ultrabook
SCREEN: 13.3in (1,366x768 resolution) or 13.3in (1,600x900 resolution)
PROCESSOR: Low-Voltage 2nd Gen Intel Core i5
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 128GB SSD
GRAPHICS: Onboard
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: None
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$1,200 to $1,299

Allrounder notebooks containing seriously powerful Intel Core i7s continue to get a wide range of upgrades in this price bracket. While there’s a lot of variety, there are definitely some things to look out for to get the most notebook for your money.

The processor should be a 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM or faster, and the graphics card is a fast mid-range one like the AMD Radeon HD 6770M. Along with this are specs there should be 750GB hard drives, 8GB of RAM, 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution) screens, Blu-ray players and 6-Cell batteries. These are very powerful, very versatile machines that can handle anything except for really high-end gaming.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Allrounder Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6770M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$1,300 to $1,399

Although admittedly fairly rare, actual gaming notebooks do crop up in this price bracket and in this price bracket they're definitely the best value for money compared to the slightly improved allrounders and entertainment notebooks that sometimes turn up.

The specs for these gaming notebooks are excellent. Almost mandatory is a 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz) processor, which has the grunt needed for any intensive program you’d care to throw at it. A large 750GB hard drive is very helpful to ensure you can store lots of videos and movies in addition to the plethora of games you'll be installing.

A common graphics card for these notebooks is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M, which together with 8GB of RAM actually offers very respectable gaming performance. Another good addition that really sets these gaming notebooks apart is the 15.6in full HD screen, which allows you to run games at excellent looking resolutions. Otherwise the specs like a 6-Cell battery and a DVD burner aren't particularly exciting, but they don't need to be given the other specs this notebook contains.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$1,400 to $1,499

Although entertainment notebooks do crop up for less, they can reliably be found in this price bracket and we consider them good value at this price. They'll have specs superficially similar to more affordable allrounders, but there are two key features they'll have that makes them far more versatile. First is a Blu-ray burner that makes it possible to watch or rip Blu-ray movies, and second is a TV tuner that makes it possible to watch or record live TV directly to the entertainment notebook.

The foundations are very strong. These entertainment notebooks have seriously quick 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz) processors and powerful if not quite equally awesome NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics cards. RAM has received a boost up to 8GB, which means that these entertainers can undertake some very intensive multi-tasking. Batteries are still 6-Cell though.

Although they only have 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution) screens (less than the 1,920x1,080 native resolution of Blu-ray) these notebooks will have HDMI ports that makes it easy to connect them to a 1,920x1,080 resolution external screen. As a last point the storage is at least 750GB, and while this is large by hard disk drive standards it may be worthwhile getting an external HDD if the TV tuner and Blu-ray burner are to be used heavily.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Entertainment Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,366x768 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n
EXTRA: TV Tuner

$1,500 to $1,599

Entertainment notebooks with full HD screens start consistently appearing in this price bracket, which is great for those that want the quality of Blu-ray movies with them on the go. The specs also tend to be reminiscent of high-end allrounders, so while pricey these notebooks of a lot to offer.

These notebooks usually have a 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz) or better along with strong mid-range graphics card like an NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M. There should also be at least 4GB of RAM.

A Blu-ray player is a fundamental for any entertainment notebook, and for that matter so is a TV tuner. Hard disk drives tend to be around 500GB, which while not gigantic is still reasonably sized. Another good feature is the 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution) screen. The battery is usually 6-Cell, so if you're doing anything very intensive it might be worthwhile to remember where the nearest power point is.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Entertainment Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz)
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
BATTERY: 6-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n
EXTRA: TV Tuner

$1,600 to $1,699

Although not exactly common, it's possible to find gaming notebooks in this price bracket from brands like Metabox or Clevo Horize. They'll usually have the AMD Radeon HD 6970M dedicated graphics card, which is one of the better high-end cards and very powerful given the price. The truly budget conscious will still likely opt for the example gaming notebook described in an earlier price bracket, but the increased power in this price bracket has a definite appeal.

In addition to the graphics card just mentioned they'll have a fast 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz) processor along with a generous 8GB of RAM. A full HD 15.6in screen is one of the best features for the price, and ensures that modern games will look really great.

Otherwise there's not too much exciting, and as long as there's a DVD burner along with an 8-Cell battery you've got good value for money. More storage or features like Blu-ray players are generally available from the retailers selling these gaming notebooks, but the price will naturally increase if you opt for them.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6970M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$1,700 to $1,799

Gaming notebooks really come into their own here, although keep in mind you're likely to be facing one or two compromises in order for the graphics card to be incredible. One of the most important upgrades is an operating system included standard; while it is a way to save money, some people rightly want to avoid the hassle and get started gaming as soon as possible.

And game they will, because the gaming notebooks in this price contain very fast 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz) processors and extremely powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M graphics cards. This is the minimum you should accept for those two fundamental components; anything less and you’re compromising games performance when you don’t have to.

Other high-end specs to seek are a 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution) screen and 4GB of RAM., which ensures this gaming beast will run games well and display them very crisply. Although 8GB of RAM would've been preferable, 4GB is still good enough and allows for the price to be as low as it is. The battery should be at least 8-Cell. There are some compromises to expect, but as long as the other specs just discussed are present and correct they’re easily acceptable. These include a 500GB hard drive and no Blu-ray player, the former which means you’ll need some storage discipline and the latter preventing you from easily watching Blu-ray movies.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz)
RAM: 4GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$1,800 to $1,899

Gaming notebooks get seriously powerful in this price bracket because top tier graphics cards start appearing. A powerful baseline that should be aimed for is an 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz) along with an AMD Radeon HD 6990M graphics card; if one is a bit less powerful than the other one should be better to compensate. RAM should also be at least 8GB, and an 8-Cell battery is also the smallest you should accept.

The last must have is a full HD 15.6in screen; with all the horsepower underneath the hood, you want a screen that lets you push game graphics as high as they can go. Otherwise you ought to have a 500GB hard disk drive and a DVD burner, which while unexciting are still fine given the very good performance specs.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6990M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$1,900 to $1,999

Specs continue to steadily improve in this price bracket, and while the dedicated graphics card remain largely the same it's now time to decide if you'd prefer more storage or maybe even an extra like a Blu-ray player.

It may be getting repetitive to hear if you’ve been reading this entire guide start to finish, but the fundamental required specs are still the same here as they were in previous price brackets. An 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz) processor, an AMD Radeon HD 6990M dedicated graphics card along with 8GB of RAM are more than enough for any modern game along with any game coming out in the next half a year or even further into the future. You should also ensure you have a full HD 15.6in screen so that the games running on your mighty gaming notebook can look as good as they can.

Okay, so beyond this there are many ways to improve over the baseline of a DVD burner and a 500GB hard drive seen in earlier price brackets. Our personal preference would be for a Blu-ray player or a 750GB hard drive, but overall the rule of thumb should be significant improvement in at least one area. This way you’re still getting good value for money.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD or 750GB
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6990M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner or Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,000 to $2,099

Gaming notebooks continue to become steadily more and more powerful; large screens in particular start appearing on top of their already good internal components. The main noteworthy improvement is the appearance of the ludicrously powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M dedicated graphics card. It even outshines a fair few dual graphics cards!

Now, one of the first features to look for is a 15.6in full HD screen. Apart from the screen there should be at the least a 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz) processor along with a mighty NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M dedicated graphics card and 8GB of RAM.

The other specs should include an 8-Cell battery, a DVD burner and a 500GB hard drive. Although not really exciting, the specs most relevant to gaming are still awesome enough to excuse the otherwise merely average specs.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,100 to $2,199

Although slightly more affordable notebooks have awesome dedicated graphics cards, they compromise in the storage and optical readers. In this price bracket you can rectify one of those issues in order to get a better rounded gaming notebook!

So, you should of course first ensure that your prospective purchase has an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M under the hood, but there’s more to look for as well. First up is a 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz) processor that is among the fastest processors a notebook can currently have, and a hearty 8GB of RAM further ensures that you’ll be gaming happily even a year or two down the track.

A 500GB hard drive is the minimum you should be prepared to accept, and a DVD burner along with an 8-Cell battery should also be part and parcel of any notebook you’re buying that has the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M graphics card. Now, either the storage should be upgraded to 750GB or the optical drive replaced with a Blu-ray player; if you can get either upgrade then you can be confident that you got the most mileage out of your money. The last thing to make sure you’re getting is a 15.6in full HD screen; with the kind of grunt this notebook has, anything less than full HD is preventing you getting the most graphically out of modern games.

2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 15.6in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD or 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner or Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,200 to $2,299

While there are many gaming notebooks that can with a few upgrades end up costing around $2,300, there is one standout that really makes this price bracket its own. The Toshiba Qosmio X770/00X is a 3D capable gaming notebook and the combination of specs it offers really make it one of the best gaming notebooks available.

It has a very fast 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz) and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics card. This powerful set of specs allows you to run games at high to ultra high settings on the 17.3in full HD screen, although when you switch on the 3D effect you're more likely to be able to run games at medium to high settings only. Still, being able to watch 3D movies via the Blu-ray burner is a terrific bit of extra functionality.

There's also 8GB of RAM along with an enormous 1,250GB hard disk drive. A Blu-ray burner adds a nice final touch, because you can watch 3D Blu-ray movies at their native resolution. In many ways this is a gaming notebook that's taken inspiration from entertainment notebooks, and it's an admirable product as a result.

Toshiba Qosmio X770/00X
SCREEN: 17.3in 3D Capable (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 1,250GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,300 to $2,399

Gaming notebooks with large screens are a great way to get a more cinematic experience with gaming, and it's around this price that they start to commonly appear with really strong dedicated graphics cards.

The performance specs of this machine are very good, including a healthy 8GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M and an Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz). All of this powers a 17.3in full HD screen, so gamers should be very satisfied even if the dedicated graphics card isn't quite as mighty as those in lower price brackets; the enhanced overall specs more than make up for it.

Also important is an 8-Cell battery, but don't plan to game away from a power point. A 500GB hard disk drive is a bit of a compromise, but given the other specs are so strong it's a necessary one. A Blu-ray player rounds out the high-end specs, because when you're not gaming you can watch Blu-ray movies at their native resolution.

Large Screen 2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 17.3in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,400 to $2,499

This is another price bracket that is best represented by a specific pre-built gaming notebook, specifically the ASUS G74SX-FHD-TZ230V. There are other gaming notebooks that can be upgraded to the point where they enter this price bracket, but the pre-built gaming notebooks still offer the best bang for buck.

The performance specs of this machine are very good, including a whopping 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M and an 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz). All of this powers a 17.3in full HD screen, so gamers should be very satisfied even if the dedicated graphics card isn't quite as mighty as those in lower price brackets; the enhanced overall specs more than make up for it.

Also important is an 8-Cell battery, but don't plan to game away from a power point. A 160GB solid state drive has been included to dramatically improve boot times, and a 750GB hard disk drive ensures that bulk storage is plentiful. A Blu-ray burner rounds out the high-end specs, because when you're not gaming you can watch Blu-ray movies at their native resolution.

ASUS G74SX-FHD-TZ230V
SCREEN: 17.3in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2630QM (2.2GHz)
RAM: 16GB
STORAGE: 160GB SSD and 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,500 to $2,599

Although 3D capable gaming notebooks did appear in lower price brackets, at this point they start appearing with really high-end single dedicated graphics cards. The better card means that 3D capable games can be rendered in higher settings, which is an outcome that's well worth the extra cost.

As before the 3D capable screen should be 17.3in in size and full HD in resolution. A 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz), an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M graphics card and 8GB of RAM are the performance specs, and should keep games running in ultra high settings even in 3D.

Storage should be 500GB or larger as well to store lots of games, videos and other large files. As a final note there should be at least an 8-Cell or larger battery.

3D Capable 2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 17.3in 3D Capable (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,600 to $2,699

There's nothing too exciting in this price bracket, but the 3D gaming notebooks described earlier now get Blu-ray players so you can watch 3D Blu-ray movies. It's not a dramatic improvement, but if you're going to be spending over $2,500 it's a luxury well worth having.

As before the 3D capable screen should be 17.3in in size and full HD in resolution. A 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz), an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M graphics card and 8GB of RAM are the performance specs, and should keep games running in ultra high settings even in 3D.

A Blu-ray player should be sought after at this price range; you’ve got a massive full HD screen, and watching 3D Blu-ray movies on it will be a real treat. Storage should be 500GB or larger as well to store lots of games, videos and other large files. An 8-Cell or larger battery is also good to have.

3D Capable 2nd Gen Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 17.3in 3D Capable (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2GHz)
RAM: 8GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M
BATTERY: 8-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,700 to $2,799

Custom gaming notebooks vary a lot in terms of their exact specs, and in this price bracket they tend to do one or two unique things to justify the increased cost. One obvious way is by adding a Blu-ray player, which is a natural fit with the full HD screen.

Straight off the bat you should check that your prospective gaming notebook has a desktop Intel Core i7-960M (3.2GHz) processor along with a very high-end single graphics card like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M. This is a lot of money, and you’re well within your rights to expect extremely powerful components. One other obvious feature to go for is a 17.3in full HD screen that really puts the gaming specs of your gaming notebook to work.

Two other seriously boosted specs to check for are 12GB of RAM and a 1,000GB hard disk drive. A Blu-ray player is another very handy component to have; you’ve got a TV sized screen, and the Blu-ray player makes it that much more useful. Although less exciting, a 12-Cell battery is the smallest you should accept to ensure at least some battery life when this monster is not connected to mains.

Desktop Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 17.3in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: First Generation Desktop Intel Core i7-960 (3.2GHz)
RAM: 12GB
STORAGE: 1,000GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M
BATTERY: 12-Cell
OPTICAL: Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,800 to $2,899

Gaming notebooks inhabiting this price bracket tend towards powerful single graphics cards, but the other specs are much better than slightly cheaper gaming notebooks with dual graphics cards. They are prohibitively expensive, but even here it’s still possible to get good value for money.

The single graphics cards in these gaming notebooks should be something along the lines of an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M. Another key gaming feature to look for is a desktop Intel Core i7-960 (3.2GHz) processor. While 12GB RAM is probably excessive for modern games, it’s still something to aim for in order to ensure this gaming notebook maintains relevance for a while after being purchased.

While a DVD burner is still acceptable, storage has to be 500GB or larger to compensate for having only a single graphics card. A 17.3in full HD screen is well worth getting for such an expensive gaming notebook as well; playing a game on a full HD screen the size of a small TV is a fantastic experience. The battery in this giant should be 12-Cell, but in all honesty the other specs are more important to get given how immobile this gaming notebook will be.

Desktop Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 17.3in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: Desktop Intel Core i7-960 (3.2GHz)
RAM: 12GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
BATTERY: 12-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$2,900 to $2,999

The stakes get ever higher in this price bracket, largely because to stand out gaming notebooks have to start including extra features like Blu-ray players or otherwise improving one of the specs massively.

Gaming is rather obviously the bread and butter of these gaming notebooks, and to that end you should be aiming at a first generation desktop Intel Core i7-960 (3.2GHz) and a high-end single graphics card like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M.

Another feature to go for is the combination of a Blu-ray player and a full HD 17.3in screen that ensures that even when you’re not gaming the screen is still getting used to the fullest. Hard disk drives can still be 500GB or even 750GB if all the notebook has is a DVD burner, and RAM should also be at least 12GB. A 12-Cell battery is another baseline spec that shouldn’t be compromised on if you can help it.

Desktop Intel Core i7 Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 17.3in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: Desktop Intel Core i7-960 (3.2GHz)
RAM: 12GB
STORAGE: 500GB or 750GB HDD
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
BATTERY: 12-Cell
OPTICAL: DVD Burner or Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

$3,000 and Over

The notebooks in this price bracket are strictly for the I-Just-Won-The-Lottery crowd, because while they are outstandingly powerful they are also very expensive. The manufacturers that make notebooks of this calibre in the Australian market include Alienware, Clevo Horize and Metabox. While any of these brands should give you confidence about the quality and power on offer, there are still some important things to look for that set these bank account smashing behemoths apart from more affordable notebooks that should be kept in mind.

There is one key feature that should be sought for is a dual graphics card, either the Crossfire AMD Radeon HD 6970M, Crossfire AMD Radeon HD 6990M or SLI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M. For a notebook there’s none more powerful than either of these three, and any modern game imaginable will be running at ultra high settings. The processor ought to be something along the lines of a 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz). This or a faster 2nd Gen Intel Core i7 is easily powerful enough to match the ridiculous might of the dual graphics cards mentioned earlier.

RAM can vary a lot, ranging from 8GB to 16GB. Storage is similar, and notebooks in this price bracket vary from 500GB to 1,500GB. A good rule to follow is to ensure that at least one of these two specs is large. The smallest battery size that’s acceptable is 12-Cell, the same as in previous price brackets. DVD burners and Blu-ray players are scattered all over this price bracket, and if possible get one.

One final point which ties into the Blu-ray player is to get a gaming notebook with either a 17.3in full HD screen or an 18.4in full HD screen. The increased screen real estate makes gaming an almost cinematic experience, and of course watching Blu-ray movies in their native resolution isn’t to be sneezed at either.

Dual Graphics Card Gaming Notebook
SCREEN: 17.3in (1,920x1,080 resolution) or 18.4in (1,920x1,080 resolution)
PROCESSOR: 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2760QM (2.4GHz)
RAM: 8GB to 16GB
STORAGE: 500GB HDD to 1,500GB HDD
GRAPHICS: Crossfire AMD Radeon HD 6970M, Crossfire AMD Radeon HD 6990M or SLI NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
BATTERY: 12-Cell   
OPTICAL: DVD Burner or Blu-ray Player
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
WI-FI: 802.11 b/g/n

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