Technology is advancing at such a fast pace that we are now seeing several manufacturers selling a gaming laptop for under $1000. These laptop models come with specifications that are well tuned to give you a great gaming experience. However, there are models that outperform the rest in terms of performance and this is what we will analyze now. If you’re in the market for a gaming laptop under $1000, be sure to follow our guide to making the right choice.

GPU (Graphics Processor Unit)

What sets a gaming laptop apart from other models is that it always uses a dedicated GPU to handle the intense 3D graphics. Some of the most popular brands used are Nvidia and ATI Radeon, which can easily handle the most graphics intense a game can throw up. It is always important to get the fps (frames per second) rating that a GPU can output in a game. For testing purposes, Crysis has been used as the benchmark, as it is the most graphically demanding game. If you can do at least 30fps in this game then you have found a great model. An excellent model to consider is the Dell Alienware M11X which uses an NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M. It is one of the best gaming laptops available at this price.

Screen size

Now that you have great graphics, you’ll want to view them on a big enough screen. If you’re going to constantly carry your gaming laptop with you, then a screen size of 11.6 inches will suffice; However, if you’re looking for a desktop replacement, then a 15-inch screen size is a better choice. However, you should also consider that the larger the screen size, the heavier the laptop will be. A great gaming laptop to replace your desktop is the Samsung RF510-S02 15.6-inch HD LED Laptop.

Processor

There is an ongoing debate as to who makes the best gaming processors, Intel or AMD. Both companies offer excellent processors; however, Intel has a slight advantage over its second generation Intel Core processors. The versatile 15.6-inch ASUS N53JQ-XC1 entertainment laptop is an excellent choice that uses an Intel Core i7-740QM processor.

Memory

A gaming laptop should have as much memory as possible. If you can upgrade your memory to the maximum possible configuration that your laptop can accommodate, do so. This will ensure smoother gameplay as more and more characters appear in the game.