A really GOOD gaming laptop is basically a portable computer, purposely designed for playing the latest video games. While desktops are better and can readily be configured for playing video games, high-end gaming laptops have the advantage of being more portable.
These powerful desktop replacements have high-end components and exceptional performance that is comparable to their desktop counterparts. However, this comes at a price.
There are a lot of gaming laptops from different manufacturers available in the market and the cost of a decent gaming laptop can start around $1,000 and it is even possible to get one with upgrades which can easily cost over $5,000.
We decided to go for the best gaming laptops under 2000 dollars and give you the comparison together with the different specs. But first some easy to swallow points;
Things to Keep in Mind When Buying the Best Gaming Laptop under 2000
Before setting out to search “the best gaming laptop under 2000 dollars” on the internet, there are a few things that need some consideration.
On the surface, ordinary laptops and gaming laptops appear similar, but there are design differences. Gaming laptops have one or more graphic processor or high-end video cards, and powerful processors to get the best graphics performance and gaming experience.
Processor
A quad core processor is a must in any gaming laptop as it can provide the desired performance, so pick one with enough processing power ( 7700HQ for example). Do not go for a processor with U termination since those are making a compromise between power and battery autonomy. Choose the HQ termination when looking at a laptop’s processor. If you have the budget then you should go for a high-end processor with K letter in it’s name ( example Intel Core 7700K).
Graphic Video Card
Typical laptops have an integrated graphics processor, which is adequate for web pages, displaying spreadsheets, playing videos, but when someone plays the latest video games with the graphic settings set too high, it places a heavy strain on the graphics processing unit and the central processing unit. This drains battery power fast, usually operating not more than an hour and this generates a large amount of heat, requiring an efficient cooling system.
A gaming laptop has a powerful graphic card that allows you to play any game at highest details and more frame rates. The processor and graphic card are the most important things to look for when buying a gaming laptop. Choose a video card with 4 or more Gb of VRam memory – this will make your laptop run games at high FPS and keep up with new releases.
RAM Memory
For a gaming laptopunder 2000 Usd, we should always choose one with at least 8 GB of DDR4 RAM memory. Memory is important for running smooth every game or important app. If the budget is enough look for 16 GB of RAM to have a top notch laptop.
Cooling System
A normal laptop’s cooling system cannot efficiently deal with this problem and the heats starts to build up, radiating out of the keyboard and casing. During a game, a 2000 dollar gaming laptop could run hot enough to be uncomfortable or even hurt.
A gaming laptop with its high-resolution displays, powerful graphic processors, and full-sized backlit keyboards, requires an efficient cooling system. These are basically powerful cooling fans that require a lot of power, resulting in a laptop with a much larger casing.
The large casing, often weighing over seven pounds, is important since it can act like a heat sink and to house a much larger battery to meet the high power requirements.
The heavier casing is also important for the heavy-duty keyboards because when playing video games people often hit the keys harder or more often than normal.
Gaming laptop keyboards are often backlit because most gamers tend to play in darkened areas and some of them need some light to clearly see every key on the keyboard.
Below is a quick review of six best gaming laptops under $2,000 of 2016, based on performance specification, features and customer reviews.
6 Best Gaming Laptops Under 2000 Reviews
Whe chose the best gaming laptops considering: price, performance, reliability and cooling. These are just a few picks with the best value over money without compromising performance.
1. ASUS ROG G752VT-DH74 17-Inch Gaming Laptop
The ROG G752VT-DH74 is a powerful gaming laptop with an innovative dust-release thermal fan and a backlit anti-ghosting gaming keyboard. It uses the Intel Core i7-6700HQ 2.6 GHz processor, 24 GB DDR4 RAM, and uses the Windows 10 operating system. New design dust-release thermal fan and a backlit anti-ghosting gaming keyboard.
PROS
- Low surface temperatures
- Great sound quality
- Good keyboard and touchpad
CONS
- Short battery life
- CPU and GPU cannot be upgraded
- Heavy
2. MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 4K-053 Gaming Laptop
The MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 4K-053 gaming laptop uses the Windows 10 Home 64-Bit OS and has the Intel Core i7-6700HQ (2.60 GHz) Skylake Quad-core processor, 16 GB SO-DIMM RAM. It has a 15.6-inch screen and the 6 GB NVIDIA Geforce GTX970M graphics.
PROS
- Sleek plastic and aluminum chassis
- A lot of performance
- Decent speakers
- Customizable keyboard illumination
- Very fast SSD-RAID
CONS
- Awkward fan controls
- Very high temperature
- Strange keyboard layout
- Clickpad button can be triggered accidentally
- Short battery life
3. MSI GT72 Dominator Pro G-034 Extreme Gaming Laptop
The MSI GT72 Dominator Pro G-034 is a gaming laptop with the 6th Generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ quad core processor and 4GB NVIDIA Geforce GTX980M graphics card. It has 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD and 24GB RAM.
PROS
- Quiet, efficient cooling system
- Sturdy construction
- Powerful performance
CONS
- Thick and heavy
- The delete key is in an odd location
- The touch pad is a little stiff
4. MSI GE72 Apache Pro-001 17.3″ SLIM AND LIGHT GAMING LAPTOP NOTEBOOK
The MSI GE72 Apache Pro-001 is a gaming laptop with 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor which can be boosted up to 3.5GHz. It has 16GB RAM and 1TB hard drive. The Windows 10 operating system installed on this gaming laptop
PROS
- Awesome colored lights for the keyboard
- Great looking screen with good viewing angles
- Button to turn fans on max
- Good speakers
CONS
- The textured touch pad
- Speakers come out the front
- Power connector is has a little give, not a snug fit
5. Alienware AW17R3-4175SLV 17.3-Inch FHD Laptop
Alienware is famous for their gaming laptops and the AW17R3-4175SLV is great 17.3-inch gaming laptop designed for high-performance gaming with the Skylake Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor and 3GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M graphics.
PROS
- Easily upgraded RAM and HDD
- Excellent cooling system
- Adjustable keyboard lighting
CONS
- Challenging out-of-the-box experience
- Issues with Wifi
- Random Crashes
6. Acer Predator 17 G9-791-78CE 17.3-inch Full HD Gaming Notebook
Acer Predator 17 G9-791-78CE is a gaming laptop with excellent gaming performance. It is loaded with the Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor and the high-performance 4 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M graphic processor.
PROS
- Beautiful screen
- Very good cooling system, runs quiet
- Excellent keyboard
CONS
- High asking price
- Lacks Nvidia G-Sync
CONCLUSION
The 6 best gaming laptops under 2000 being represented here were selected based on it high performance graphic processors, efficient cooling system, backlit keyboard, durable casing and lasting battery life. To know more about other gaming laptops we have tried, go here.
