Asus G74SX-BBK8

Asus G74SX-BBK8

Gaming laptops can range from mainstream systems equipped with discrete graphics to customized individual rigs, loaded with overclocked parts; the Asus G74SX-BBK8 ($1,299.99 list at Best Buy) falls somewhere in between. It offers legitimate gaming muscle in a straightforward configuration, and at a price that won't require selling a kidney to buy it. It won't replace our Editors' Choice Alienware M17X (Sandy Bridge) ($2,254 direct, 4.5 stars), but with a quad-core Intel Core i7-2670QM processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M graphics card, the Asus G74SX has the hardware you need to be competitive, without the expensive extras. The G74SX-BBK8 is big, from it's large 17.3-inch screen to its daunting 9.7-pound weight. Its 2.4 by 16.5 by 12.8 inches (HWD) chassis makes it one of the larger gaming laptops we've reviewed; it's built for stability, with a hinge designed to hold the screen steady and wobble free. While it's not as large or as heavy as the monstrous 13.3-pound AVADirect Clevo X7200 ($4,957.64 direct, 3.5 stars), it's on par with the Alienware M17x (Sandy Bridge) (9.8 pounds). The G74SX-BBK8 has an angular look, with polygonal shapes and sharp angles inspired by the Navy's stealth ship, the Stealth Shadow.