The most significant improvement has been done on video cards. Gaming laptops need to have dedicated nVidia or AMD video cards that offer enough power to handle modern games. In the past few years, almost every desktop-grade video card has an equivalent model for laptops. This means that some gaming laptops are cheaper than others due to the video card it has as the pricing varies a lot depending on the hardware they come with. Sadly, mobile video cards are quite expensive.

Today we will have a look at some gaming laptops that offer decent performance which should handle games for the next couple of years or so. There are quite a few models available but not all of them are worth spending money on. Here is our selection of the top 10 best gaming laptops in 2017.

10. Lenovo Ideapad Y700

Lenovo Ideapad Y700 is one of the few gaming laptops from the manufacturer. Surprisingly the model is quite decent at running modern games on its nVidia GTX 960M graphics card. It is paired with a quad core Intel Core i7 that delivers plenty of processing power.

The model comes with an interesting design and a backlit keyboard. The display supports a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels and comes with a hard drive and an SSD. It is shipped preinstalled with Windows 10 and 16 GB of RAM.

9. Dell Inspiron i7559-5012GRY

The Dell Inspiron is an inexpensive gaming laptop. However its specs are mediocre in terms of gaming. It has an nVidia GTX 960M which is a decent video card but it is still an entry level model. The processor used is a quad core mobile Intel Core i7-6700HQ running at 2.6 GHz.

Looking at the build quality the laptop is fairly decent. It is not the slimmest or the lightest gaming laptop but fairly portable as it is a 15 inch model. An interesting aspect is the resolution of the display. The Inspiron supports a maximum resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels which means it is an UHD display.

8. HP Envy 17T

The HP Envy series has been quite successful mostly due to their variation in terms of hardware configuration. Looking at the 17T n100 model, things look quite decent from a gaming perspective. The model uses the latest generation of nVidia video cards. Its GTX 950M is able to handle most modern games are medium to high settings without problems.

For the model HP used a Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor which seems to be more of a standard for gaming laptops. The build quality of the Envy is decent with a brushed finish and a full HD display.

7. MSI GE62 Apache Pro

The MSI G series managed to become one of the most appreciated gaming laptops. Their GE62 comes now with revised hardware and a performance boost. It uses the latest Intel Core i7-6700HQ quad core processor and 16 GB of RAM straight off the bat. The model also comes with an nVidia GTX 960M video card and a 15.6 inch form factor.

In terms of build quality the laptop has a brushed finish and a sturdy construction. The keyboard is backlit while the battery is large enough to offer a couple of hours of intense gaming.

6. HP Omen 15-5220nr

HP Omen 15-5220nr is one of the latest releases from the manufacturer. This new series aims to offer plenty of gaming power in a compact form factor. It was made to be thinner and lighter while still using a powerful nVidia GTX 960M video card and a quad core Intel Core i7-4720HQ processor.

Other relevant technical specs include a 512 GB SSD drive and a full HD 15 inch display. The keyboard is backlit while the entire chassis is made of aluminum that makes it lightweight and keeps everything cool.

5. Acer Aspire V17 Nitro Black Edition

The Acer Aspire V17 Nitro Black Edition is a great budget solution for the ones that need a gaming capable laptop. It is a 17 inch laptop that comes with a full HD display and a large battery that offers a few hours of continuous gameplay.

Looking at the hardware inside the model comes equipped with a gaming capable nVidia GTX 960M video card and a powerful Intel Core i7 quad core mobile CPU. According to Acer, the laptop can reach up to 7 hours in terms of battery life if it is not used intensively for gaming.

4. Asus ROG GL552VW-DH74

Asus ROG GL552VW-DH74 is a great option for the ones that need a reliable portable gaming machine. The laptop series has been running strong ever since it was first introduced and each new revision brings even more powerful hardware.

The model comes equipped with an nVidia GeForce GTX 960M video card and a quad core Intel Core i7-6700HQ CPU. By default it is shipped with 16 GB of ram and a 1 TB hard drive. The secondary hard drive is a 128 GB SSD.

3. Acer Predator 15 G9-591-70XR

The Acer Predator series has received a big upgrade in terms of hardware and design. Their 15 inch G9 model now features the latest generation of Intel processors and the most powerful mobile graphics card.

The hardware details of the model are more than promising. Using a quad core Intel Core i7-6700HQ CPU along with an nVidia GeForce GTX 980M graphics card, the laptop can handle virtually any PC game at maximum settings. Its 15 inch display offers full HD resolution while the keyboard is backlit and well suited for fast paced games.

2. Razer Blade 14

Razer Blade 14 is the world’s thinnest gaming laptop that comes with the latest hardware. No compromises have been made in terms of specs. The model features a quad core Intel Core i7-4720HQ processor running at 2.6 GHz and a powerful nVidia GeForce GTX 970M video card which enables it to run all the latest games on maximum settings.

What is mostly praised about the model is the build quality. It has been referred to as the equivalent of an Apple laptop that runs Microsoft Windows and was fitted to be used by gamers. It is a gorgeous laptop that packs a serious punch.

1. MSI GT72 Dominator Pro

The MSI GT72 Dominator Pro is by far the most powerful gaming laptop available on the market at the moment. Surprisingly it is fairly thin but it comes in a 17 inch form factor which means it will need a larger bag.

The model uses an Intel Core i7-6820HK quad core CPU running at 2.7 GHz and an nVidia GeForce GTX 980M video card. With such hardware the model can run any game at maximum settings without breaking a sweat. Its full HD display will surely make up for gorgeous images and excellent video playback.

Entry level gaming laptops are decent in terms of performance. They can run games fairly well but high performance can only be obtained from laptops that come with an nVidia GeForce GTX 980M or 970M. These are a bit more expensive but the cheaper one can work as well.

For a regular gamer, the budget is the biggest factor because it can drastically limit the options available. We attempted to provide a wide selection of models that offer decent performance for the price by including both high performance and entry level gaming laptops.