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ASUS shows off G50V / G71V gaming laptops
Wait a second -- you mean ASUS actually had something other than subnotes at Computex? Tucked away in some surely obscure corner were these two gems: the 15.6-inch G50V and 17-inch G71V. The first of the two rigs was packing a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT graphics card, a WXGA "3D display," Intel's Centrino 2 platform, support for 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a pair of 320GB SATA drives and a sturdy keyboard built for gamers. The larger sibling was said to posses the same GPU and platform, though it was sporting twin 500GB drives and support for DDR3 memory / CPU overclocking. Beyond that, we're left to wonder what on Earth could be hiding behind those somewhat unsightly shells, but hopefully ASUS won't keep us wondering for long.[Thanks, David]
OCZ's DIY Gaming Notebook
We've seen this attempted a few times before, but it's hard to imagine OCZ's entry into build-it-yourself laptops will be any more successful. The new OCZ DIY Gaming Notebook is a 7 pound 15.4-inch backbreaker, which comes standard with an NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT video card, Intel PM965 northbridge, SATA support for hard drives, 8x dual-layer DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports, ExpressCard and a fingerprint leader. The problem is that the "optional components" are WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and a TV tuner, with only the last of those being truly optional on a regular enthusiast laptop. It's nice of OCZ to provide documentation and a warranty for those who really want to get under the hood of a modern laptop, but we're guessing most gamers these days would give up a bit of a customization for a straight-up well priced performer. No word on price or availability.
ASUS gets really official with 17-inch G70 gaming laptop
During the hurricane that was CES, ASUS managed to get in a word just long enough to make mention of a forthcoming G70 laptop. Now that the storm has passed, it's dishing out a full list of details to get gamers' mouths watering. The 17-inch behemoth features quite the vivid motif, and crammed within you'll find your choice of an Intel Core 2 Duo / Core 2 Extreme processor, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, twin 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GTs, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM and room for dual hard drives, too. Furthermore, you can feast your retinas on a WUXGA / WXGA+ panel and tickle your fancy with an optional Blu-ray writer, 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, gigabit Ethernet and 8-cell battery. Sure, this beast weighs nearly 10.6 pounds and packs more LED lighting than an LCD Soundsystem concert, but hey, you've got to flaunt it if you've got it, right?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Acer's 18.4-inch Aspire 8920G laptop gets reviewed
First things first: just in case that headline didn't really sink in, this is an 18.4-inch laptop. In other words, those of you with even the slightest of back problems should probably just pass this one right on by. If you're still with us, however, you'll likely be totally engrossed by Laptop Mag's review of the Acer Aspire 8920G. The larger of the two second-gen Gemstones was said to feature a "gorgeous" Full HD display, impressive audio output, a respectable webcam and plenty of power under the hood. They also found the unique CineDash Media Console to be quite effective, save for accidentally activating the multimedia hub on occasion. Overall, critics deemed the lappie a "stellar" machine, but we'd certainly recommend browsing through the review just to make sure you're really interested in picking up a slab this gigantic.
ASUS M50S multimedia laptop seen in the wild
Ooh, shiny! ASUS' CES-announced M50S has finally found its way out of whatever lair it has been tucked away in, and thankfully, the shutterbugs over at PC Perspective snapped a few shots for the world to see. Initial impressions are that it should handle most gaming needs with ease, yet won't destroy your back when toting it from LAN party to LAN party. The built-in Blu-ray burner and multi-function trackpad are quite nice, too. Hit up the read link for the full preview -- a bona fide review should be following shortly.[Thanks, Ryan]
Alienware's Area-51 m17x gaming laptop now on sale
For most, Alienware's AlienNetwork debut was somewhat of a letdown. Nevertheless, at least one good thing did come out of the whole event, and that's the availability of the m17x gaming monster. This 17-inch beast of a laptop finally has its own dedicated page, and yes, you can get your order in starting today. Packed within, you'll find your choice of Intel Core 2 Duo processor, twin GPUs for that sweet SLI action, a WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) display, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, oodles of hard drive space, a dual-layer DVD writer (or optional Blu-ray burner), enough ports for you and your cousin and a 12-cell battery that'll likely last an hour on a good day. Sadly, this Crysis destroyer starts at $2,949 (and breaks the $5k mark with ease), and it looks as if units won't start arriving until late May at best.
Gateway P-172X FX gaming laptop unboxing and hands-on
If you're a gamer on the move (and we think that you are), you're probably eyeing some monster laptops. If you're looking to bro-down with one in the near future, take a moment to familiarize yourself with Gateway's latest 17-incher, the P-172X FX. The updated rig (a new riff on the similarly-themed P-171) features a Core 2 Duo CPU (the 2.4GHz T8300), 1920 x 1200 resolution, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, NVIDIA's GeForce 8800M GTS GPU (with 512MB of GDDR3 RAM), a DVD-R/RW/RAM optical drive, and a nasty mess of ports and card slots. We got to take the dude out for a spin, and performance was definitely up to par (translation: it plays Crysis), though the design left a little something to be desired, like... style. A cheaper, 2.0GHz version with half the drive space, lower screen resolution, and a gig less RAM is available, though it maintains the GPU and graphics memory. The P-172X FX is available right now for $1,999, and kid brother P-172S FX will run you $1,399. Check the gallery below for a full and proper look.%Gallery-20209%
Rock's Xtreme XL8 promises twin GeForce 8800M GTXs
Merely two days after Dell added NVIDIA's GeForce 8800M GTX to its beastly M1730, it seems that Rock is looking to up the graphical ante as well. Reportedly, the firm is gearing up to unleash the (likely rebadged) Xtreme XL8, which will house an Intel X6800 quad-core processor, a delightful pair of NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTXs, up to 1TB of storage space and a 17-inch 1,920 x 1,200 resolution panel to boot. Furthermore, you'll find an Ethernet jack, Draft-N wireless card, an obligatory (no, really) HD DVD drive and a presumably laughable battery life. Waiting for the sting? Try £2,500 ($4,976) to £3,000 ($5,971), with pre-orders going live later this month.
Asus shows off GeForce 9500M GS-equipped G1Sn laptop
Asus already let out word of at least one new laptop that'd be packing NVIDIA's new GeForce 9500M GS graphics chipset, but it looks like the company's already busy spreading that welcome addition to some of its other offerings, as evidenced by this familiar-looking model HotHardware spotted at CES. Dubbed the G1Sn, the laptop's an update to the company's G1S gaming laptop, and it apparently boasts mostly the same specs, with the exception of those graphics, of course (a 512MB version in this case). No word on a price or release just yet, but we wouldn't expect Asus to sit on this one for too long.
Pixel Lab unveils 17-inch RippleNote PLK570 gaming laptop
Earlier this month, we caught wind of a unique new laptop from Korea's own Pixel Lab, and while it's easy to see how the lid design could be a love / hate affair, we've great news for those leaning towards the latter. Apparently, the firm is rolling out another in the RippleNote lineup, this time with a top that exemplifies smoothness. The 17-inch PLK570 rocks some pretty decent hardware too, including a WXGA+ (1,440 x 900) panel, a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA's GeForce 8700M GT, 160GB 7,200RPM SATA drive, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, gigabit Ethernet and WiFi to boot. Furthermore, you'll find niceties such as Bluetooth, a multicard reader, DVI / S-Video outputs, FireWire and audio in / out ports. We're still not convinced it's worth the ???2.3 million ($2,466) asking price, but we'll leave that one up to you.[Via MobileWhack]
Alienware gets official with Area-51 m15x, m17x laptops
While they don't exactly come as much of a surprise after a couple of leaks and that little website slip-up, Alienware has finally gotten official with is new Area-51 m15x and m17x laptops, which each pack more power than you'll likely need in your choice of two eye-catching designs. The m15x, as you can no doubt surmise, is a 15.4-inch model, which gives you enough room for dual hard drives, along with your choice of Core 2 Duo Extreme processors, NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX graphics, 667MHz DDR2 memory, and plenty of other high-end specs to match. The m17x appears to be identical in most respects, but its 17-inch display also affords just enough room for a third hard drive which, as we had heard earlier, can include SSD if you so choose. Still no word on a release date, but Alienware will gladly inform you of that little detail if you're willing to hand over your email address. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Alienware M15x / M17x laptops revealed with NVIDIA 8800M GTX
It's no secret that Alienware laptops have long loved to pack some serious NVIDIA-based heat, and judging by screenshots (another shown after the jump) of a reported slip up earlier today, those scouting a new extraterrestrial rig might want to hold out just a tick longer. It looks as if the firm will soon be unveiling (officially, that is) the 15-inch M15x and 17-inch M17x gaming laptops, both of which will seemingly be available with the 512MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 8800M GTX graphics processor. As for the 8M-series GPU, it'll boast full DirectX 10 support, the Lumenex Engine, second-generation PureVideo HD technology, a 500MHz core clock, 1,250MHz shader clock and an 800MHz memory clock. Regarding the actual lappies, all we know is that the smaller of the two will be available with a 1,440 x 900 resolution display, 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB HDD, dual-layer DVD writer and Vista Home Premium. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for something official, but don't worry, it ought not be long now.[Thanks, Andrew]
Asus intros G2K, A7K, and F7K gaming laptops
It looks like gamers not wanting to be tied to their desks will soon have a few new options to consider from Asus, which is apparently set to release no less than three new gaming-minded laptops. At the head of the pack is the company's latest G2 model, the G2K, which boasts a 17.1 -inch 1440 x 900 display, along with a 2.0GHz Turion 64 X2 TL60 processor, 2GB RAM, a 200GB 7200 rpm hard drive, and ATI HD2600 graphics with 256MB of dedicated memory, among other fairly top-end features (not to mention the usual matching backpack and mouse). Further on down the line, the company's new A7K model boasts many of the same specs, with the exception of a slightly slower 1.8GHz Turion 64 X2 TL56 processor, while the F7K opts for a 1.9GHz Turion 64 X2 TL58 processor and ATI HD2400 graphics. No word on a price for any of them, but they're apparently all set to officially launch sometime this month.[Via PC Launches]
Rock making HD DVD standard on select laptops
Although Toshiba has been quite a player in bringing HD DVD to more and more laptops, Rock is now boasting that it is the first company to "feature HD DVD as standard" on lappies. Granted, it's only standard on select machines, but at least it's a start. The firm's Pegasus 670 features the obligatory HD DVD reading / DVD writing drive along with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 processor, a 15.4-inch WSXGA panel, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, NVIDIA's 512MB GeForce 8600M GT graphics card, WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, and Windows Vista. The higher-end Xtreme 770 is available with most of the same specs, save for the 512MB GeForce 8700M GT, 17-inch WSXGA+ display and a number of additional ports. An HD DVD-equipped Rock laptop can be yours for as low as £999 ($2,037), but if your credit card is up for some pain, you can ratchet that figure way on up.[Via Stuff]Read - Pegasus 670Read - Xtreme 770
Dell's M1730 "Beast" officially gets official
Well kids, it's official... the Beast is loose. Dell's M1730, which had been extensively leaked over the past few months, has been made public on the Dell blog (they even go as far as naming us in the notice). As expected, the gaming laptop is crammed full of over-spec'd gear, like the Core 2 Extreme X7900 (which they say is now overclocked to 3.2GHz), dual NVIDIA GeForce Go 8700M GT GPUs, and a slew of other lap-burning components sure to make even the toughest dude start crying immediately. The whole fugly package is available for purchase on the Dell website right now, but approach it with extreme caution. Look, all we're saying is this: when the Beast crushes and dismembers everything you hold dear, don't say we didn't warn you.
Vigor Gaming rolls out a bundle of new gaming laptops
It looks like Vigor Gaming's deemed it necessary to refresh its line of gaming laptops, with the company introducing no less than five new models today. On the very top end of those is the company's new Atlantis Pro model (seen above with a rather unfortunate choice of artwork), which boasts a mighty 20-inch widescreen display, along with an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor, NVIDIA GeForce Go 7950 GTX graphics, and a pair of 250GB hard drives in a RAID 0 configuration. It'll set you back $2,800. For few hundred bucks less you can get the standard Atlantis model, which includes a 17-inch WUXGA display, backed up by a Core 2 Duo processor and the same NVIDIA graphics as the pricier model. Rounding out the new models, the Ares, Ares Pro, and Artorius Pro each boast your choice of Core 2 Duo processors, with 15.4 displays on the Ares models and a 17-incher on the Artorius, and various levels of NVIDIA graphics depending on the model. Each of those also comes equipped with a built-in fingerprint reader, with prices ranging from $1299 to $1925 (or higher if you opt for some of the available upgrades).
Dell XPS M1730 shows its colors in the wild
Just in case you haven't seen enough of Dell's, um, eye-catching XPS M1730 gaming laptop, the folks at LaptopSpirit have kindly let loose a slew of new pics of it in the wild, with the laptop's various color options on full display. In addition to the stylish red option above, you'll also be able to get the laptop in your choice of Sapphire Blue, Bone White or Smoke Grey, each of which should attract varying degrees of askance glances from passers-by. Thankfully, the laptop's innards are a good deal more attractive than its exterior, including your choice of top-end Core 2 Duo processors, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8700M GT graphics, up to 4GB of RAM, and an optional Blu-ray drive among other desirable options. Those still undecided about a purchase can get a better look at the laptop by hitting up the read link below.[Thanks, Matthias]
Dell's XPS M1730 gets more specs, more pics
For those of you out there who are actually interested in this thing (and we know there's a few), we've got some additional details and a slew of photos on the new Dell XPS M1730 that should make you very happy. The first juicy tidbit concerns the graphics chipset, which now looks like it will be two NVIDIA GeForce GO 8700M GTs coupled using SLI, which should make the performance somewhat blazing (and the temperature downright fiery), additionally, the system can / will utilize high capacity SSDs (a feature which we've seen in other gamer-targeted laptops lately). If you really wanna get to know the guts of this monstrosity, however, you should hit the photo gallery.%Gallery-6354%
Dell XPS M1730 gets confirmed specs and release date
We've just gotten our mitts on some specs for the forthcoming Dell XPS M1730; a nasty looking, gamer-targeted laptop that's due out soon -- and we'd thought we'd share. The new 17-inch, 10.6 pound entry will rock the much-loved Intel PM965 Santa Rosa chipset, a Core 2 Duo T7300, T7500, T7700, or X7800 CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce Go 8700M GT, up to 4GB of RAM, an optional Blu-ray drive, 802.11 (in varying configurations), plus an ExpressCard 54 slot, Bluetooth 2.0, and a slew of ins and outs (USB, DVI, Firewire, S-Video, etc. Additionally, Dell is going to a lot of trouble to "trick out" the laptop, offering customizable external LED lighting, adjustable keyboard lighting, and "flashy industrial design with color customization options." The laptop also curiously features a small "gaming LCD" display above the keyboard, for providing "additional information about the system or applications." Also of note is the fact that an Ageia PhysX Controller will be available as an add-on, as well as 2-megapixel, built-in webcam, and a variety of SATA hard drive options. The system will be available on August 27th worldwide, so stay tuned.
Ageia announces PhysX 100M processor for gaming laptops
Although it's been well over a year since the Ageia PhysX processor made any noise at all over on the desktop front, the firm is taking full advantage of the exposure provided at the Games Convention in Germany to unveil the PhysX 100M processor for "high-performance" gaming lappies. According to the company, this new device aims to provide "the most intensely realistic gaming and entertainment experience to PC gamers" on-the-go, but the nitty-gritty we were hoping for simply hasn't been divulged just yet. Of course, it's fairly safe to assume that we'll only be seeing this unit packed within beastly gaming laptops that can't stray far from an AC outlet, but only time will tell which manufacturer takes the bait first.[Via ExtremeTech]
