Gaming Laptops (Prefer Portability)

[Adazir]

Hello,

I am currently looking a gaming laptop with portability (light and thin) due to being a college student. I understand that portability limits cooling system, but I need to be able to lug this thing around and go to my classes/study halls/etc.

What I am looking for:
Display: ≤15.6 inches.
Weight: ≤5 lbs.
Price: Unsure , but not cut-throating.
Graphics card: As long as I can get 60+FPS, I do not mind lowering the game graphics to achieve this, but I still would like to be able to enjoy the graphics within the game.
Main Concern: Durability as a whole. I want a laptop that will last me for a while, and that means more than a few years.
Other Main Concern: I do not want a computer that will burn my leg, like my former Lenovo Y series and iBuyPower custom laptop.

I do not want something ultra flashy, but it is not my biggest concern. I have been looking at HP, Dell, Asus, MSI, and Sager. At this moment, I would like to hear other people opinions, experiences, suggestions, etc. to help me decide on a laptop that would be well suited for me.

Thank you for your responses in advance.

 

[hang-the-9]

Gaming laptops will not really be portable or cool, pick what you want to focus on, gaming or size/lower temps.

 

[jaguarskx]

There's the 15.6" Dell XPS 15 with an i5-6300HQ and GTX 960m. It has thin bezels making this laptop about the size of a 14" laptop and helps with it's weight as well; which starts at 4.4lbs. Dell sells it for $1,200.

http/www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/xps-15-9550-laptop?ST=dell%20xps%2015&dgc=ST&cid=297819&lid=5695354&acd=123098073120560&ven1=sEkin0DOM&ven2=e&ven3=471303134391041693


If you are looking for something even more powerful than the GTX 960m, then be prepared to pay. The new 14" Razer Blade has a GTX 1060 GPU which is basically slightly better than the GTC 980m. But it costs almost $2,000.

https/www.amazon.com/Razer-Blade-GeForce-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B01LZTCMPA


There is the slightly less expensive older 14" Razer Blade with the GTX 970m for under $1,750, but a few people have reported issues with overheating.

https/www.amazon.com/Razer-Touchscreen-GeForce-graphics-Free-Windows/dp/B00TB8X8GA/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1479499194&sr=1-1&keywords=razer+blade+gtx+970m

 

[Adazir]

Gaming laptops will not really be portable or cool, pick what you want to focus on, gaming or size/lower temps.

Thank you for your response.

Well, I wish I could be able to choose one or the other. I just want to be able to bring the thing around with me to places and such without lugging around a 17in laptop that weighs 10+ lbs. I have considered the option, and I have done that with the iBuyPower laptop, and I did not enjoy that one bit...

 

[Adazir]

There's the 15.6" Dell XPS 15 with an i5-6300HQ and GTX 960m. It has thin bezels making this laptop about the size of a 14" laptop and helps with it's weight as well; which starts at 4.4lbs. Dell sells it for $1,200.

http/www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/xps-15-9550-laptop?ST=dell%20xps%2015&dgc=ST&cid=297819&lid=5695354&acd=123098073120560&ven1=sEkin0DOM&ven2=e&ven3=471303134391041693


If you are looking for something even more powerful than the GTX 960m, then be prepared to pay. The new 14" Razer Blade has a GTX 1060 GPU which is basically slightly better than the GTC 980m. But it costs almost $2,000.

https/www.amazon.com/Razer-Blade-GeForce-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B01LZTCMPA


There is the slightly less expensive older 14" Razer Blade with the GTX 970m for under $1,750, but a few people have reported issues with overheating.

https/www.amazon.com/Razer-Touchscreen-GeForce-graphics-Free-Windows/dp/B00TB8X8GA/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1479499194&sr=1-1&keywords=razer+blade+gtx+970m

Thank you for your response.

I do not mind paying more for something that is worth it. Thank you for your input on those laptops. I will certainly check them out.

 

[hang-the-9]

Gaming laptops will not really be portable or cool, pick what you want to focus on, gaming or size/lower temps.

Thank you for your response.

Well, I wish I could be able to choose one or the other. I just want to be able to bring the thing around with me to places and such without lugging around a 17in laptop that weighs 10+ lbs. I have considered the option, and I have done that with the iBuyPower laptop, and I did not enjoy that one bit...

If you stick to the 15" sizes it won't be that bad, but the thinner/lighter the laptop and the faster it is, the more you will pay for the design. If you want to keep your budget lower, you'd need to look at some compromises for size. To keep a system for gaming for several years, you'd want something with a 1060 card in it, those are in the $1,200 range.

 

[Wiz33]

Gigabyte Aero 14. 4lbs, 8 hours browsing, GTX-1060, will run hot for gaming but with optimus will switch off 1060 while watching movies and browsing so heat should be manageable. But you really will not get any gaming laptop that will run cool.