Thus, unlike the Inspirons meant for Home usage, the Vostros offer some extra features and more classic looks that will be appreciated in business and corporate environments.

The Dell Vostro 3560 is their latest machine in this class, recently launched with upgraded Intel Ivy Bridge hardware inside and a very nice screen. I’ve been playing with this unit for the last week or so and this is going to be my Dell Vostro 3560 review, the post where I’m going to share with you guys the impressions gathered after spending these days with this Vostro.

So read along for all the details.

Specs sheet – Dell Vostro 3560

Of course in stores the 3560 will be available in a bunch of different configurations. The one I’ve tested here is closely the most powerful Dell’s offering right now and will be able to handle a lot of heat. But be aware that a pretty hefty price is tagged along with this top config.

Dell Vostro 3560 – built for small business owners

Dell Vostro 3560 video review

The clip below will tell you a bunch of things about the Dell 3560, will show you what to expect in terms of build quality and exterior and will also showcase how this laptop performs in daily tasks or even when dealing with games. The goodies lie in the written review though, so keep reading if you want to find all the important things you must know about this laptop.

Design and exterior

The Vostro 3560 is quite a beautiful laptop, in its own classic way. The exterior is made from aluminum, with some rubber plastic on the sides. You can get the laptop in three different colors: blue, brown and silver. We got the latter, probably the most boring one (and the only one that you don’t have to pay extra for), but I was still satisfied with the aesthetics and the build quality of this laptop.

Of course the Vostro 3560 Dell is not the sleekest device out there, with an 1.2 inch thick body and weighing 5.8 pounds (2.6 kg). But it’s not designed to be, Dell have their 15z if you want a slim and light 15 incher, while sacrificing power to some extent.

Beautiful in a sober way

Turning the laptop upside down you’ll find that the underbelly mixes plastic and aluminum and I can say that’s one of the ugliest approaches I’ve seen ever. Word of advice: stick to one or the other in the future! But at least it’s functional, as that black plastic panel is easily removable in order to get access to the internals.

Plastic and aluminum for the underbelly – not the best of sights

All the ports are aligned on the sides, as the pictures below will show. I appreciated the fact that the entire right part is designed so the ports are placed towards the back, thus you’ll have just enough space to place a mouse next to your machine.

Also, some of you might enjoy the 34 mm ExpressCard slot offered by this machine, also placed in the right part of the laptop, which can take an mSATA SSD if you want to speed up your device.

The Right side

The Left side

Opening the lid, you’ll find a dark-grey interior, sober and reliable. The only glossy plastic part used for this laptop is between the keys and around them on that shinny chromed edge. Everything else inside is covered in this smooth rubbery plastic which actually feels good and did not catch smudges or fingerprints. Even the screen’s hinge is matte as well, as it should be on a laptop designed with business in mind.

Dark grey interior, with a soft matte finish

Keyboard and Trackpad

There’s no NumPad area on the keyboard of the Vostro 3560 and that’s actually a good thing, cause it leaves plenty of space for a well spaced regular keyboard to be put in place. The keys are proper sized and covered with a soft plastic. The travel is quite good and the keyboard is comfortable and very quiet. It’s also spill resistant. Still, I had to take some time to accommodate with it, cause while accurate, the keys just aren’t springy enough for my liking.

Even so, the keyboard on the Dell Vostro is one of the best I’ve seen lately. It lacks back-lightning on my test model and that is actually its only flaw, but Dell promises to offer an illuminated keyboard as an option as well.

The trackpad is spacious, accurate and smooth. It integrates independent click buttons below as well, so there’s little to nothing you might not like about it. Multitouch gestures are present and working fine, although I did have a hard time using pinch-to-zoom, so I’d say it’s probably not implemented.

Very good keyboard and trackpad

Display

Dell equips the Vostro 3560 business laptop with a 15.6 inch display. But it’s not just the average 15.6 inch screen, it offers Full HD 1920 x 1080 px resolution and comes with a non-glare finish. I must say, this is the kind of screen we should see more often on laptops, cause the brightness and contrast are good, the viewing angles are quite solid and the colors aren’t bad either, although I feel that this might not be a wide-gamut panel like we saw on the Asus N56 laptop. I could be wrong though, I don’t have the right tools to measure that unfortunately.

The screen’s hinges are sturdy, solid enough to keep the display in place, but they won’t allow you to lean back the screen too much. That’s OK though, this is a laptop you’re going to use mostly at your desk, so that’s not such a big issue.

Non-glare FHD display, with good contrast, colors and viewing angles

Hardware and performances

Like I’ve said above already, I got to test the most powerful config Dell offers on their Vostro 3560 right now, with an Intel Core i7-3612QM processor, 4 GBs of RAM, dedicated AMD Radeon 7670 graphics and hybrid storage (500 GB HDD 7200 rpm with 32 GBs of Flash).

The graphics aren’t really top notch, as they’re pretty much on par with the Nvidia GT 630M chip. Thus don’t expect too much from the Vostro 3560 when it comes to dealing with games, but for anything else it should offer rock-solid performances.

The system automatically changes between the dedicated and the integrated graphics chips based on the app you’re running and whenever you install something new and the system does not where to allocate it, a notification pops out asking for your input. So, I’d say the system is not as seamless as Nvidia’s Optimus, that requires no human input, but it does the job.

I’ve ran a couple of synthetic tests on this unit and the results are below.

All in all, this will handle all your daily tasks and multitasking like crazy. Some more resources hungry apps won’t put any problems either, like some programming or video/photo editing software. Basically, the kinds of apps you’ll run at work, where such a computer is most productive.

Connectivity, speakers, heat/noise and others

Except for a 3G/4G integrated modem, there’s nothing missing on this machine. Gigabit Lan, Fast Bluetooth 4.0 or Wireless N, they are all present. As for ports, you’ll get all you’ll need, with HDMI video output, USB 3.0 ports (one of them with Power Share) and a 34 mm ExpressCard slot as well. There’s no ThunderBolt port though.

The laptop managed to stay pretty cool no matter how hard I pushed it. Yes, the entire left edge does get a bit hot under heavy load, cause there’s where the exhaust is placed, but the palm-rest and the keyboard area will get merely warm at most. And that’s very good, that’s what I want from a powerful laptop these days.

There’s a catch however: the cooling system is a bit loud even under regular daily load and can get annoyingly loud when running some intensive apps. That’s why using this laptop in a quiet environment without a pair of headphones won’t be a pleasure.

As for the speakers, they’re placed bellow the laptop, just under the front edge. They’re overall alright but won’t impress in terms of audio quality. Plus, they tend to distort sound badly when dealing with loud noises, that’s why I once again suggest using some proper headphones.

Battery life

There’s a 6 Cell 48 Wh battery inside this machine and considering how powerful the hardware inside is, you shouldn’t be surprised that it will only last for just about two and a half hours during average daily use.

You will be able to squeeze up to three when watching Full HD videos and even more for very light tasks, but the battery life can also easily drop below the 2 hours mark when pushing the laptop.

This once again proves that the Vostro 3560 is a desk-laptop that shouldn’t be kept too long far from a power-source.

You’ll get about two and a half hours of life from the Vostro 3560

Prices and availability

The Dell Vostro 3560 is available at Dell’s websites and a bunch of other online and offline retailers in the United States and across the world.

The prices start at $599 for the base model, with an Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge processor, integrated graphics and a 320 GB HDD.

The top config, the one we tested here, will get to about $1350 and even more if you add extra warranty options. And to be frank, that’s a lot of money for such a computer and I’m not sure I’d recommend going for one unless you really really want it and can’t look at other brands.

Wrap up

All in all, the Dell Vostro 3560 is a very good 15.6 inch laptop. With powerful hardware, Windows 7 Professional, a matte FHD screen, an excellent keyboard and trackpad and a solid built exterior, you’ll hardly find a better computer in its class. And that despite those pesky noisy fans and the below-average speakers.

Dell Vostro 3560 is a good and powerful business laptop, but I find it a bit overpriced

However, when the top config can easily get to $1500 right now in the US with some extra warranty options (which I would get on a business laptop), one must ask if that’s not actually too much. For the same kind of money or even less the competition offers better configs, with extra features as well. It’s true, those aren’t exactly laptops meant for Small Businesses like Dell claims about their Vostro line, but that doesn’t mean they won’t perform jut as well, if not better, when faced with various tasks.

So, as much as I like the Dell Vostro 3560 (and I do like it a lot), there’s no way I could recommend buying it right now. With some proper price drops, it could be a solid option, but I wouldn’t pay more than $1100-$1200 for the top available config, when for the same kind of money you could get an Asus N56 for instance, that looks better, offers way better graphics and that special audio system. And the Asus is just the first alternative I could think off, since I tested that one not that long ago, HP or Lenovo also have some serious offers of their own.

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The Asus G55VW however is one of those laptops that bring plenty of muscles, but in a slightly more compact body, so you can actually carry around the laptop if you have to.

Thus, if you’re one of those gamers traveling a lot to all kind of events and lan parties, or the one that just enjoys gathering with his friends for some good old computer fun, the G55, Asus’s 2012 iteration of their 15.6 inch gaming laptop, is going to be an option you must consider. Otherwise, if you’re just after the speed, the bigger Asus G75 is probably a more suitable bet, but there are other rigs you should look at, like the ones from MSI, Alienware or Clevo.

In this review we’re going to talk about the Asus G55, the one I’ve been testing in these last days. Overall, the G55 is a capable machine, with just a few outside changes from the previous G53/G54 lines, but a completely new hardware platform inside, that promises to be a lot faster and more efficient. Reading the rows below, you’ll find out how does this perform during daily use, where it excels and where it fails to meet the marks.

Asus G55 – the powerful and yet portable gaming laptop

The Asus G55VW specs

But first, let’s have a quick look at the specs.

So, my test unit seems to be close to what in Europe is called the Asus G55VW-IX060V and brings the 1366 x 768 px glare display, one that I’m not at all fond of, especially knowing how good those FHD 15.6 inch screens can be, after seeing one in action on the Asus N56 the other day.

Of course, in store configurations will be a bit different than the one I’ve tested here, merely because this is a pre-production model, and you’ll have a bunch of them to choose from, based on needs and budget.

The Asus G55 VW video review

The clip below will tell you a couple of things about this laptop, but for the detailed info you should also continue with the rest of this review, in the lines below.

Design and exterior

Compared to the Asus G53 line, the G55 is a bit changed in terms of design. Overall, like all the ROG members, the G55 is still dressed in smooth black plastic, with a soft matte finish, and brings sharp edges and cuts.

The G55 offers a different layout for the cooling grids on the back and two separated screen hinges, which also help reduce the overall thickness of the laptop, now getting to up to 5 cms. But while a tad slimmer, the G55 hasn’t lost weight, still going for about 8.5 pounds. So we don’t have a portable machine here, that’s for sure.

Slight design changes from the previous generation

The G55 in fact looks a lot like its bigger sibling, the G75, on the inside. Raising the lid, you’ll notice the rough plastic arm-rest area and the aluminum covered zone around the keys, with some grilled plastic on top, that hides beneath the two speakers.

The interior also saw some aethetic changes from the previous Asus G53 lines

All the ports are laid around the sides and the front, with the status LEDs also on the front edge, beneath the trackpad. You might also notice that the sides are now dressed in this dark silver plastic, that matches the metal around the keys for an overall pleasant aesthetic feeling.

Left side

Right side

As for the bottom, it’s made from durable plastic and allows access to the battery and to the storage drive and memory. And you’ll notice that the entire bottom layout is a lot like what it used to be on the G53 series.

The bottom

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard on the Asus G55 is a lot like the one on the G75, but I do feel that the keys on this test unit I got to play with are a bit firmer than the ones on the bigger Asus option I tested a while ago, thus my overall typing experience was slightly better. The keyboard is also backlit.

The arrow keys and the Numeric Pad are still slightly separated from the rest of the keys, but I did not like the fact that they are narrower, as they are not square like the letter keys, but rectangular, as the picture shows. Full-Size arrow keys would have been way better on a gaming machine, but I guess Asus had to made this compromise in order to squeeze this keyboard on the more compact body of the G55.

An overall good keyboard and trackpad

The trackpad was appreciated, with enough space to move around and perform gestures and with the accuracy you’d ask from one these days. One thing though: performing two-fingers scrolling was a bit slow, thus quickly going through a long web page wasn’t the most pleasant experience. But I did got to play with a test unit and perhaps that’s the cause of this issue.

The keyboar is also backlit

The screen

Well, having a good display is a must on a proper laptop these days, especially on a gaming unit, an the screen on the Asus G55 I tested is far from good. With a 1366 x 768 px resolution and a glossy finish, it spells trouble, translated in poor viewing angles and contrast.

The screen is however 3D capable and Asus bundles the G55 with a pair of those new Nvidia goggles we also saw on the G75, their newer generation, with slightly larger lenses and improved brightness.

All in all, the screen on this G55 I tested is just not good enough for such a computer. Luckily though, there won’t be a bunch of Asus G55 configs with this display, as most of them will sport a Full HD matte screen, probably close to the one I’ve seen and enjoyed on the N56. And there should be a 3D FHD option as well, also matte, with larger viewing angles and increased color gamut. So, as long as you’ll get one of these options on your G55, you’ll be alright. Just stay away from the Glossy HD-Ready pick, even if it’s a lot cheaper.

The glossy screen is bad, but in stores you’ll mostly find the G55 with a matte Full HD display

Hardware and performances

With an Intel Core i7-3610QM quad-core processor, hybrid storage (SSD + HDD), 16 GB of RAM and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M graphics, the Asus G55 is for sure a power horse.

It will cope with everything you might throw at it, from you daily apps, to more intesive programs like a video editor or a 3D rendering piece of software. This is not a workstation though, so don’t expect it to behave like one, but for a portable machine, I’d say it is very fast.

Below you’ll also find a bunch of synthetic tests I ran on the Asus G55 and the results are looking good.

Running some games

It would have been great if I could have compared the gaming abilities of the G55 with the ones of the G75 I tested a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately I cannot do this, since the smaller laptop only came with a 1366 x 768 px screen.

I did run a couple of games though and most of them were able to run smoothly on this resolution, with details set at maximum, even on 3D mode. Titles like Crysis 2, COD: Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, Diablo 3, Dirt 3, all were running smoothly on the tested Asus G55. I’ll get back with some fps numbers in the near future if you guys are interested in more details (leave me a comment if you do).

However, since in stores you’ll find the G55 with a FHD screen, if you’re planning to run those games on native 1920 x 1080 px resolution, you’ll probably going to have to trim down the details a bit, in some cases.

All in all, the GTX 660M graphics chip should be a bit slower than the GTX670M we saw on the Asus G75, but since it’s based on the Kepler architecture and not on Fermi (the 670M is in fact the older 570M, rebranded), it will run cooler and more efficient.

Compared to the older Asus G53 lines, the G55 does offer a roughly 20% boost in performances, which is actually quite and improvement.

Speakers

Unlike the Asus G75 the features a 2.1 sound system, the G55 only has two speakers, placed behind the grill on top of the keyboard.

They are pretty loud and I’d say that the sound ain’t bad. However, my test unit had an issue: loud sounds tended to interfere with the chassis, resulting in disturbing vibration, cracks and squeeks, and those were more obvious during games (for instance when something exploded). I do hope this was just an issue with my pre-release sample model, otherwise the Asus G55 has a serious problem here.

So be careful, read some other reviews as well before deciding for the G55 to see if other testers encountered the same problem or not.

Heat and noise

Like all powerful laptops, the Asus G55 has a potent cooling system which will get noisy under load, but nothing that the speakers can’t cover. Still, this is not a quiet machine and you’ll hear the fans roaring when playing some games in a completely silent room.

The internals can get a bit hot, but the upper exterior stays cool

All that is not in vain though, as the G55 manages to stay cool even when running the latest games for hours, with the internals going to about 70-75 degrees and the exterior getting only a little bit warm on the area above the keyboard, near the exhaust grills.

The palm rest and the keyboard areas remain cool though and that’s what matters.

Battery life

There’s an 8 Cell 74 wh battery inside this laptop, but there’s also powerful hardware and no Nvidia Optimus, thus in the end the Asus G55 will offer about two and a half hours of life on a charge, for daily average use. That can be squeezed to about 3 hours for light use, but if you plan to run games on battery mode, you shouldn’t expect to do that for longer than one hour.

Prices and comparison

The Asus G55 is available in a bunch of configuration, although their core is the same: an Intel Core i7 quad-core processor and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M graphics.

You can choose between different types of storage options, optical units and screens, plus different amounts of memory, and the prices are starting at about 1300 USD and can get to 1500 or more.

The tested unit, the G55VW-IX060V, is listed in Europe for about 1600 euros and I for one wouldn’t advise going for it, especially not for this kind of money.

The Asus G55 is going to start at about $1300 in the US

Wrap up

While not the most powerful gaming laptop out there, the Asus G55VW does pack a solid punch for the money, in a compact body.

Built on the new Intel Ivy Bridge and Nvidia Kepler architectures, it provides enough power to run even the latest games at ease, although in some cases you’ll have to trim down a bit the details. But like I said in the beginning, if you want the more portable option, there are compromises you’ll have to live with.

Otherwise, you have the faster, bulkier and more expensive options.

The Asus G55 is fast enough to deal with the latest apps and games, but yet compact enough so you can carry it around when needed

The Asus G55VW will have a strong competitor in the MSI GT60, and while the latter will be faster (it packs the GTX 670M graphics), the Asus is cheaper and I’d say overall better suited for transport, with its rougher matte plastic exterior. It’s up to you to decide which one fits your needs best though, as both are solid and capable machines.

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There are a bunch of changes over last year’s model, the N55, as the new N56 is completely revamped both on the exterior and on the inside. By reading the review below you’ll find out that most of the changes are beneficial, like the title also spoils it for you.

So all in all, the Asus N56 is a excellent laptop, despite having its lacks and a potential deal-breaker. But more about these in the review.

Asus N56 – one of the bst multimedia laptops of the year, for sure

The Specs

First though, let’s have a quick look at the specs.

My test unit only came with an Nvidia GT 630M graphics chip, but in stores you’ll be able to buy the N56 with the faster Nvidia GT 650M graphics, able to offer twice the performances of this test unit when it comes to dealing with the latest games. Still, the Asus N56 will be offered in a bunch of different configurations, as you’ll find out below in our review.

Asus N56VZ Video Review

The video will tell you most of the things you need to know about the N56 and also show you how it can deal with HD content and games. But you’d better read the written review as well, there are plenty of details included in here that are not a part of the clip.

Design and exterior

Back at CES, from the moment I laid my eyes on the new N series for 2012, I was sure people were going to compare it to the MacBook Pro. Cause, whether the guys at Asus like it or not, the N56 does look a lot like Apple’s laptop, especially with the lid cover raised.

Good looking and solid built

That’s doesn’t mean that the N56 is bad looking, not at all. I for one really dig the new aluminum finishing, as opposed to the glossy plastic used for the N55 last year. So, you have a textured aluminum foil on the hood and what looks like an aluminum unibody inside, although the bottom of the laptop is still covered in plastic.

The entire body does feel solid though and the attention Asus put on details, visible when you’re taking a look at those laser drilled holes on the top left and right parts of the interior, is really something.

Attention to details

So bravo Asus, this is for sure one of your most beautiful full-size laptops ever.

As for the practical aspect, all the needed ports are lined around the edges of this laptop, while the status LEDs are on the front, just beneath the trackpad.

Left side

Right side

On the bottom you can even easily access the battery and the guts of this laptop, if you’re looking to upgrade the storage unit or the memory.

The bottom

Keyboard and trackpad

Well, this is probably the best keyboard I’ve seen on an Asus laptop so far. Yes, it does look a lot like the one on the MBP as well, but what’s more important is that it actually feels almost as good. The keys are properly spaced and they feel just right, with their soft plastic finishing on top. They are also firm enough and provide enough travel, although I did find them a bit tall when I first started to use the N56.

Good keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard is also backlit and there are three different brightness levels to choose from. And yes, there’s a bit of bleeding beneath the keys, but I’ve seen a lot worse, that’s for sure.

The trackpad is also something you’ll like on the N56. It’s massive, smooth and accurate, even with multitouch gestures. The entire surface is clickable, but trying to press it on its upper part will make the case flex a bit too much. Thus, you’d better click the designated areas in the right and left lower corners. Of course, dedicated click buttons would have been better, but overall the trackpad on the Asus N56 is one of the best I’ve played with recently.

The keyboard is backlit

The screen

There will be a bunch of different screens options to choose from for the Asus N56, but my test unit got the top pick: the Full HD 1920 x 1080 px display, with a non-glare finish (and a matte bezel as well). We’re talking about a TN panel, but it’s not just the average TN panel, it’s an improved one, with better contrast, viewing angles and color reproduction abilities (increased color gamut).

Some of you guys asked me if this is the same screen as the one on the Asus G55 and I think it is, although I can’t confirm it. But be aware that this is just a regular 60 Hz display and not the 3D 120 Hz one you can find on the Asus gaming laptop.

All in all, I dig the screen. And I also like the fact that the hinges are pretty solid and allow you to lean the display on the back quite a bit, if needed.

One of the best screens I’ve seen on a 15.6 inch laptop

Hardware and performances

I did not get to play with the top Asus N56 config, but that’s not really an issue. In stores, you’ll find the N56 with the Nvidia GT 650M graphics chip built on the new Kepler architecture. My test unit came with the GT 630M chip, which puts up about half the performances of the 650M.

Even so, the laptop was snappy and managed to perform well in all my daily tasks. In fact, for daily use, the dedicated graphics will be switched OFF by Nvidia’s Optimus technology pretty much all of the time, even when dealing with Full HD multimedia content, that can be played at ease by this laptop.

You’ll need the graphics if you’re looking to run games, but even with the 630M I was able to run smoothly titles like Dirt 3 or Call of Duty: Black Ops on native resolution, with Medium details. The faster graphics will allow you to run even the latest titles, although the N56 is not really a gaming laptop and some times you might have to trim down the details in order to keep things rolling as they should.

I also ran some synthetic benchmarks on the Asus N56 and the results are available below.

Speakers

What sets the asus N series apart from most of the other laptop lines available out there are its speakers. Not only we have two integrated speakers with quite big chambers for a laptop on the N56, hidden beneath those drilled holes above the keyboard, but we also have a better sound processor and an external subwoofer included, that can be connected to the laptop via a 2.5 mm jack on the side.

Good speakers and an external subwoofer

So, without the woofer connected, the entire sound is output through the two speakers and the volume and quality are alright. However, with the woofer connected, the low frequency sound is directed towards it, while the speakers only take care of the medium and high frequency sound. As a result, the sound quality provided by the Asus N56 is above anything I’ve heard on a laptop before, comparable only to the N55 tested last year.

Asus also bundles the audio system, which btw is developed together with Bang & Olufsen, with this piece of software called Maxxaudio 3, that allows you to tweak the sound in order to better meet your acoustic requirements.

So, the speakers are really good on the N56. Just don’t expect wonders, , do not forget that we’re still talking about a laptop’s sound system here.

Noise and heat

The Asus N56 does not get excessively noisy even when pushed, although it’s not completely quiet either.

However, it tends to get hot when running games for a couple of hours. The components can get to about 80-85 degrees Celsius, which is quite high. More importantly though, the top part of the laptop tends to get hot, on the left side of the trackpad, beneath the Z X C keys, exactly the place where you’re going to hold your left hand. And that for me was annoying.

Internal temperatures

Luckily, that part merely gets warm during daily use, so if you’re not going to run that many games on the N56, you’re going to be fine with this issue. Otherwise though, if you’re planning to push the N56 hard and play games, the overheating surface can be a deal breaker if you’re as sensitive about this aspect as I am. Cause fine, laptops as powerful as this one are supposed to get hot, but not on the top, not where the user can feel it. I’m sorry, but that’s just unacceptable in my book.

Battery life

There’s a 6 cell battery inside this laptop and that’s enough to push the N56 to about 3 hours of daily use, which can get better or worse, based on what you’re doing on your laptop.

Thus, the N56 is not a road-warrior, it’s not the laptop you can easily grab along when traveling, but if need, it can still provide decent battery life.

Prices and availability

That’s the tricky part right now, as the Asus N56 is not yet available in stores in most countries. The only available configurations listed so far offer the Intel Core i7-3610QM quad-core processor and go for between 1000 and 1200 bucks, based on features.

However, in a month or two we should also see some configs built around Intel Ivy Bridge dual-core Core i5 processors and those should start at about $800. See this link for more up-to-date configurations.

All in all though, the Asus N56 is not a cheap laptop, but as a powerful multimedia machine, and given all the bundled features, I’d say the $1000 price tag is fair for the top configs.

Wrap-up

In the end, there are so many things Asus managed to get right with their N56 that you’re going to forget about the tiny details that are a bit OFF. In fact, if the body wouldn’t get hot when pushing the laptop, I’d have nothing to list as a serious down-side for this machine. But be aware that if you’re looking to play a lot of games and run intensive pieces of software most of the time, the heating issue can be a deal breaker.

There are just so many things to like about the Asus N56

Otherwise, the Asus N56 is probably the best you can get right now. It’s up there competing with the likes of the Dell XPS 15z, MSI GE60 or the HP Pavilion DV6T, owning them in most cases. And it can even be a match for the all mighty Macbook Pro as a multimedia laptop, despite being a lot cheaper.

All in all, Asus did a great job with the Asus N56 and I’m expecting this machine to become quite popular, as it’s got what it needs to satisfy most potential buyers out there. As long as you’re not getting it for gaming, in which case you’d better look somewhere else (hint: the Asus G55).

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The best gaming mouse needs to combine a wide variety of elements along with great ergonomics, solid build quality and tons of features. Making one of the best products in this sector means that you need to take into account the huge variety of titles available, but most companies nowadays know to opt for specialization.

These mice will then aim at a particular sector and try to offer the best performance for a specific genre. So let us find the best gaming mouse to fit your needs and your game preference!

Razer Deathadder – Wired high-end gaming mouse

The Razer Deathadder is a true gaming legend

The fanatics amongst the readers will easily recognize this model right here. Although it has quite a few years in its bag, the Razer Deathadder is still one of the best gaming mice out there. With a simple design, great features and excellent performance, this model will always deliver top notch precision.

Razer’s Deathadder takes a shot at becoming the best gaming mouse with its Razer Precision 3.5G infrared sensor. This goes up to 3500dpi and with 1ms response time, your actions will get to your game instantly. The large, non-slip buttons give it excellent grip, while the 15g of acceleration make its movements swift and precise. Thanks to the Zero-Acoustic Ultraslick Teflon feet, you can ensure that movements will be fluid and streamlined.

With a 7-foot braided cable, gold-plated USB connector and five programmable buttons, there is no stone left unturned by the folks at Razer. The Razer Deathadder costs around $60, but there are a number of different models available, so check Amazon at this link to find out more information on pricing.

Logitech G500 – Left or Right; it doesn’t matter!

Few ambidextrous mice look as good as the G500

Logitech claims that at a point or another, almost all computer users worldwide used one of their products. As soon as you get to see their excellent build quality, the top notch performance and the great features, it is easy to understand why. The Logitech G500 is one of the best gaming mice out there, so let us find out why.

Logitech’s G500 uses a gaming-grade laser sensor of up to 5700dpi sensitivity and the 10 programmable buttons give you tons of choices to get in control over your game. It comes with an added weight system that allows for up to 27 grams to be added to the mouse and onboard memory. The scroll wheel features a dual-mode for either click-to-click or infinite scroll operation.

With such great features, on-the-fly DPI switching and an ambidextrous design, the Logitech G500 is excellent for the FPS or MMO fan out there. The size makes it rather difficult to use if you prefer strategy games. With a price of roughly $70, this is a steal, but visit this link for more details on pricing.

SteelSeries World of Warcraft Cataclysm – MMO gaming mouse

If we would give awards for games with the longest names, then the SteelSeries World of Warcraft Cataclysm MMO gaming mouse, would come out on top. The mouse is SteelSeries’ take on an MMO centric gaming mouse. It ships with a huge array of different features and tons of goodies.

Although a bit heavy, the SteelSeries MMO Gaming Mouse has it all

You get over 130 predefined commands that you can access via the mouse’s software and creating macros was never easier. The company worked together with Blizzard on this mouse, so you end up with great integration in that aspect. SteelSeries’ World of Warcraft Cataclysm MMO gaming mouse can save up to 10 different profiles, give you access to 14 programmable buttons and PC and Mac compatibility.

The lighting can be chosen between 16 million colors, 4 intensity and pulsation levels. With huge amounts of customization at your disposal, the SteelSeries World of Warcraft Cataclysm is the perfect tool for the hardcore MMO player. For about $100 this mouse is good value for money, but for additional pricing details check this link.

Logitech G700 – The best wireless gaming mouse?

The G700 impresses with its excellent specs

The best wireless gaming mouse can make all the difference when it comes to removing those pesky cables from your desk and give you that edge in those prolonged gaming sessions. The Logitech G700 is here to fill that niche nicely with tons of cool features.

For starters, the Logitech G700 offers you a 5,700 dpi laser sensor, aimed at giving the best control and the most precise movements. With 13 customizable buttons to get your macro fix going and with a 1,000 reports per second wireless connection, all your clicks will go through as soon as you make them. The USB recharging/ data cable allows you to keep on owning when your battery is long done.

With exceptional looks and powerful specifications, the Logitech G700 aims to be the best gaming mouse out there, and if you don’t mind the charging, this baby sure impresses. The pricing for the Logitech G700 varies greatly, with a general region being the $100 mark, but head over to Amazon to find some more pricing details.

Cyborg RAT 7 – High-power laser gaming mouse

The Cyborg RAT 7 is the king of customization

As gamers, we like customization as much as we like high-end performance and specifications. The Cyborg RAT 7 is here to fill that need for customization while at the same time offer tons of goodies in one of the strangest and most innovative packages I have yet seen.

The 6,400 dpi laser sensor of the Cyborg RAT 7 will ensure the precision of your movements and each shot will go to that perfect spot. With a custom weight system, you can make the Cyborg RAT 7 as heavy or as light as you like. The precision aim mode slows the mouse down to a crawl for those very tricky shots while the 6 programmable buttons give you tons of control over your each individual action.

In terms of customization, the 3 pinkie grips and the 3 different palm rests make the Cyborg RAT 7 fit the users hand like no other mouse. Customization wise, the Cyborg RAT 7 is without a doubt the best gaming mouse. If you’re interested in pricing, check out Amazon but expect to pay around $100 for this little beast.

Logitech G9x – One of the best gaming mice

I always enjoyed Logitech’s products since they combine tons of customization along with very powerful features. The Logitech G9x is one of the best gaming mice out there for many reasons. You get a 5,700 dpi laser sensor that makes each movement as precise as you could possibly want it.

With simple and elegant lines, the G9x is a beast in performance

The Logitech G9x has 9 programmable buttons and offers on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment. The onboard memory provides storage for those settings and with the adjustable weight system you can make the Logitech G9x as heavy or as light as you like. The LED display will inform you on your current sensitivity setting.

With interchangeable grips, the Logitech G9x will fit your hand perfectly, giving you top control or speed for all your actions. The $100 price tag seems almost like theft considering the huge array of features, but for more details on pricing, check out this link and get yours today!

Cooler Master Storm Inferno – Twin laser sensor gaming mouse

The CM Storm Inferno is one of the best optical mice out there

Gaming mice have a general tendency of going for big and scary names, but the Cooler Master Storm Inferno is justified to do so. The 4000 dpi twin laser sensor gives this little device unbelievable accuracy and precision. No matter how swift or slow your movements are, the Cooler Master Storm Inferno will track them without any issues.

Thanks to the onboard Sentinel-X processor, you can store up to 3 different profiles. These can contain macros, scripts or other customization options. As a competitor to the G700 for the title of best wireless gaming mouse, the Cooler Master Storm Inferno a special macropro key that allows easy access to macros or pre-programmed commands. The rapid fire tactical key, storm tactics multiplier key and the 1 ms response time provide exceptional transition of your commands into the game.

With a total of 11 buttons out of which 9 are programmable, the Cooler Master Storm Inferno is one of the best gaming mice out there. For $70 this model is not that expensive either, but head over to Amazon to get detailed information on pricing.

Mionix Naos 5000 – The star of gaming mice?

The Naos 5000 looks and moves impeccably

I was pleasantly impressed by the folks at Mionix when I first got the chance to test out the Zibal 60 mechanical keyboard. Their Mionix Naos 5000 is here to go for the title of best gaming mouse and after the first looks, it has a valid shot.

With a 5,040 dpi laser sensor, this is one very precise mouse. The weight tuning system gives you the chance to ensure proper weight distribution no matter what conditions you are working in. SQAT is the name of the surface quality analyzer tool, allow you to get the best tracking on any surface. With 128k built-in memory, all your settings and customizations are saved directly on the mouse.

At an image processing speed of 10.6 megapixels per second, a 1 ms response time and 30G acceleration the Mionix Naos 5000 is both quick and precise. If this contender for the title of best gaming mouse appeals to you, then prepare roughly $90 to get it. For additional pricing information, head over to Amazon.

Razer Mamba Elite – Wireless precision

One of the best wireless gaming mice I had the fortune of using is the Razer Mamba Elite. The device is just unbelievable from every stand point and the 2012 model makes this excellent product stand out even more.

Just look at this shape; The Razer Mamba Elite 2012 is here to impress

The Razer Mamba Elite uses a 4G dual sensor system and has an excellent surface recognition software. The 2012 model has improved battery life and improvements made to the charging dock as well. The multi-colored lighting will give it that “extra” special gaming feeling and with a move speed of up to 200 inches per second and 50G acceleration, this thing can really shift.

With 6,400 dpi at your disposal and a battery life of approximately 16 hours for continuous gaming, the Razer Mamba Elite is one of the best gaming mice out there. If you are interested, prepare to pay up to $140 for it, but you might be lucky to find some good deals at this link.

SteelSeries Kana – Simple, yet efficient

When simplicity meets high-end gaming, then you are meeting with the SteelSeries Kana. I enjoy seeing SteelSeries stick to their strengths. Their products ship with simple designs, clean lines and a well determined purpose.

The SteelSeries Kana gaming mouse is a rather small gaming mouse, aimed at those who prefer those rapid movements. With an ambidextrous shape, you are ensured to get the most of it whether you are left or right handed. The optical sensor reaches 3,200 dpi and unlike many other companies, SteelSeries didn’t go into a button frenzy. You have just the bare essentials and those are aimed to give you the best control in all your games.

The SteelSeries Engine software is used for setting up your custom DPI settings, LED intensity based on DPI setting, record macros, program mouse buttons and so on. The SteelSeries Kana costs around $50, but for details on pricing head over to Amazon at this link.

Conclusion

Whether it is a swift and precise little monster like the Cooler Master Storm Inferno or the SteelSeries Kana, a big and bulky aimbot like the Mamba Elite or Logitech G700, a good gaming mouse will give you that very important edge.

If your movements need speed and they will keep on going day in and out, then opt for a small ambidextrous gaming mouse. When you need that added precision and slow movements, go for a bigger, ergonomically designed mouse like the RAT 7 or the G9x.

Irrespective of your choice, these are all contestants to the title of Best Gaming Mouse and if you consider them a winner or not, it is all up to your personal experience.

The post Best Gaming Mouse 2013 – top picks and advices appeared first on .

And I once again like it a lot. The new machine brings updated hardware, with Intel Ivy Bridge processors and Nvidia Keplar graphics, plus a couple of improvements and additions to its successor. All these while it keeps the parts that were appreciated on the G74SX, like the aggressive design and the matte body and screen.

I got to test the most powerful version of the Asus G75VW, one that’s going for 2000+ bucks in stores. Even so, this is not the most powerful gaming notebook you’ll be able to find in the next months, but brings good value for the money, making it one of the devices you should at least consider if planning for a new gaming laptop this year.

The review below will tell you a bit more about all the important aspects of the G75VW, so read along.

Asus G75 – the updated 2012 17.3 inch gaming machine

Specs sheet

First though, let’s have a look at the specs:

Once again, this is going to be the top config Asus is offering for their G75 line, at least for the first part of the year. Of course, the SSD, the 3D screen, the Blu-ray unit and those 16 GBs of memory don’t come cheap, but the base G75 is going to be decently priced at about $1500, while still offering a quad-core processor and the same Nvidia GTX 670M graphics chip.

Asus G75VW video review

The clip below will tell you a bunch of things about this Asus gaming machine, but you should read the rest of the post as well, there are details in here that weren’t actually included in the clip.

Design and exterior

Like a true member of the ROG (Republic of Gamers) family, the G75 inherits the aggressive design and the matte black body, with a ROG logo on the hood. However, the are subtle changes from the previous G74 family, as the new G75 is slightly slimmer, mainly a merit of the new screen hinges. There was one massive screen hinge on the G74, there are two smaller ones of the new line, but they are stiff and solid enough to keep the screen in place.

On the outside, you get the black rubbery plastic we found on the previous ROGs. It looks good and I definitely rather have that then the glossy finish of most other gaming laptops these days, but even so, it will catch smudges in time and once it does, cleaning them will be a pain.

Aggresive design and new screen hinges

The bottom is also covered in plastic and has panels that allow you to quickly access the memory, the two storage bays and as an addition, the cooling fans. The entire hardware architecture has been redesigned, the system now sucks fresh air from the front/underneath and spits it through those grills on the back, with the help of two big fans. Each of these fans now has a filter that will retain most of the dust, a filter you can easily access and clean periodically, keeping the entire cooling system in better shape.

As a slight downside for the G75, you no longer have a thumb-screw holding in place the back panel, and removing it will be a bit more difficult, like the clip below proves, but since you’re not going to open this that often, it’s definitely not a deal breaker.

The back of the G75, where the exhaust grills are placed, has also been redesigned, and the vents are now split on each side of the machine.

Redesigned back, with split exhaust grills

The side edges are now dressed in this silver plastic and the contrast with the rest of the black body is actually aesthetically pleasing. The ports and the features present here are more important though, and you can see them in the pics below. USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, HDMI are just some of the ports you’ll get on the the G75.

Left side

Right Side

There’s also an optical unit of course, a Blu-Ray Writer in our case, but the cheaper configs only get a DVD-Writer or a Blu-Ray Combo.

Blu-ray burner on this top config

Opening the lid, you’ll notice that almost nothing is changed from the previous generation. The rest pad is spacious and covered in this rugged plastic that feels good, but once again will be difficult to clean if it gets dirty.

The area around the keys is made from aluminum, ensuring that the entire keyboard does not flex, while on top there’s a grilled surface. In fact, there’s only one tiny aspect changed on the G75, and that’s the fact that the aluminum cover around the keyboard is a bit accentuated beneath the arrow keys, like you can see in the pictures included in this post.

Aggresive and beautiful, a true ROG member

Keyboard and Trackpad

On a first look, the keyboard and trackpad seem identical to the ones on the G74, with one exception: the keyboard is now backlit.

The white illumination can be adjusted (there are three levels) and I’m sure many will love this new feature. Of course, you still get light bleeding beneath the keys when watching the laptop from an angle, which I found a bit frustrating, thus using the laptop with it OFF for most of the time.

Backlit keyboard, but with light bleeding issues

However, I did feel like the keyboard was not as good as on the G74. I might be a bit biased here, as I’m used to the keyboard on my Lenovo X220 and expect a similar typing experience from all the other laptops i get to test, but the keys seem a bit flimsy and shaky on the G75, like with most other Asus keyboards tried in the past. And yes, you’re probably not going to use the keyboard for typing that much, but as a gamer, you need to be sure it is accurate and responsive enough.

Also, the backspace on this keyboard was flaky, noisy and didn’t react as expected when hit on its sides, but I think this is an issues with my test unit, as it saw some action lately and reviewers aren’t always that careful with the toys they get to play with.

The trackpad however is flawless. Spacious, accurate, smooth and with dedicated click buttons; if I was to choose the best trackpad I ever saw on a laptop, this is probably the one.

All in all, the keyboard and trackpad combo aren’t bad at all on the G75. I enjoyed the layout, the fact that the arrow keys are slightly separated from the rest of keys and the back-lightning is for sure something most of you would like. However, I was hopping for firmer keys and a better feedback, while the experience provided by the G75 is only average.

Overall good keyboard-trackpad combo

Screen

There are a bunch of display options you can choose for the G75, all with matte finishing. I got to play with the top option, the Full HD 120 Hz 3D capable screen. We’re talking about a TN panel, but with an extended color gamut, great contrast and decent viewing angles. Of course, you’re not going to get the viewing area of an IPS panel, but as long as you properly adjust the screen’s angle, you’ll have absolutely no problem with the G75.

An excellent non-glare display

The hinges are smaller, like I said above, but they are stiff enough to keep the massive display in place. The screen doesn’t bend back a lot on its back, but that’s not really an issue, as this is a laptop you’ll use on a desk 99% of the time.

With this 3D screen you also get a pair of Nvidia 3D glasses, the 2012 improved version, which are slightly larger than the ones I tried in the past and also significantly brighter, thanks to this piece of tech called 3D LightBoost.

Now, I can’t say I noticed massive improvements, but I’m not a big fan of 3D goggles anyway, as tears tend to burst out of my eyes after just minutes of using them. The same happened with all the 3D laptops I’ve tested in the past, so I don’t know, probably 3D on small screens isn’t something my eyes are comfortable with.

Improved Nvidia 3D Goggles are included for the top config

Hardware and performances

The G75VW I’m testing is the top config Asus will have in stores at least in the first part of the year, with a quad-core Intel Core i7-3720QM processor clocked at 2.6 GHz, 16 GB of DDR3 memory, Nvidia GTX 670M graphics with 3 GB of dedicated memory and 256 GB SSD + 750 GB 7200 rpm HDD storage. So it’s a beast!

All these allow it to fly through everything you’re going to push at it, including all sorts of multimedia content, video or photo editing software, 3D rendering programs or virtual machines.

I’ve run a bunch of synthetic tests and the results are below. One thing to consider though is that this device isn’t yet running on completely mature drivers, so in a month or so, the scores might get even better.

All in all, when compared to last year’s G74, the G75 is way faster. Plus, that SATA III LiteON SSD is also a massive hit, with very good write and read speeds in our tests. Now, I don’t know how much Asus is going to charge for it and how reliable LiteON SSDs will be in time, but in terms of speed it’s definitely top notch.

Running games

This is of course a gaming laptop and by the scores above, it’s a damn fast one. The new hardware platform provides 20-25% improvements over the old platform on the G74SX I tested last year, although those synthetic tests aren’t really on par, since the G75 uses a SSD drive for storage and the G74 did not.

Thus, what really matters is how fast this machine performs in games. I’ve tested a bunch of them, all running in native 1920 x 1080 px resolution, all with details set to the highest possible levels. The results are in this picture below. Once again, the drivers aren’t really mature right now, I was running Nvidia 290.69 drivers on this test unit, the latest available right now, when this review is being put together.

Runnign games

Basically, all the tested games managed to run smoothly as long as 3D was OFF. With 3D ON, fps dropped to unplayable levels in some cases, but don’t forget, all these results are registered with Fraps, and this piece of software alone causes the games to drop a couple of frames.

The clip below will also show you some benchmark results and a small part of my gaming experience with the Asus G75VW.

Noise and heat

There are a bunch of fans inside this laptop, so there’s always a constant roaring you’ll have to accept, even when the computer is idling. When running games or any other types of intense apps, the fans will get a bit louder, but overall the noise levels will never become an issue, as long as you understand that you can’t really have a nearly silent gaming machine these days.

And while decently quiet, the cooling system is also effective. Hot air goes out of the exhausts on the back and the bottom back part gets quite hot when pushing the machine. The top middle area above the keys also gets warm, but those are all outside the “working zone”. The palm-rest and the entire keyboard area stay cool all the time and that’s what really matters.

The G75 runs cool: left is on idle, right after playing some games

Also, the components inside don’t get that hot. After a couple of hours of gaming, the average temperatures registered for the CPU and graphics settled at about 60 degrees Celsius, which is actually very good for a gaming laptop. However, since this is a test unit, I could not conduct more robust Full-load tests to see how hot the platform is going to get when both the CPU and GPU are working at 100%.

Speakers

The speakers are alright and Asus decided to bring back the 2.1 audio system on their G series, after they dropped the subwoofer on the previous G74. Now, there is one of the bottom and two speakers placed towards the back.

An integrated Subwoofer beneath

Still, do not expect wonders. My ears are not a standard for sure and you’d better go and listen to the G75 yourself, but I can’t say I was impressed.

The sound coming out of this machine is definitely alright for a laptop, but there’s only so much you can get from an integrated woofer. So, you’ll have to connect a pair of external speakers for improved sound quality or a set of good headphones and Asus claims that their G75 offers 5.1 audio output via the 3.5 mm jack. Couldn’t test it though as I lacked an appropriate sound system around the house.

Battery life

There’s an 8 Cell 74 Wh battery inside this machine and that’s enough to push the Asus G75 for about two and a half hours, during average daily use, with Quiet Office mode selected and the screen dimmed to 50%. Of course, you can stretch the battery life to up to 4 hours for very light use, but on the other hand, when running games, the G75 will run out of juice after about one hour.

The battery takes about 3 hours to fully charge and the power brick is massive, but I was expecting that from a beast like this gaming laptop.

A massive charing brick

Connectivity, Webcam and other aspects

Connectivity wise, there’s little you might ask from this laptop and it can’t provide. From Bluetooth, Wireless N and Gigabit Lan, to USB 3.0, HDMI and Thunderbolt ports, they are all present on the G75. And in fact, DisplayPort seems to be the only connector that’s missing, but I doubt that’s going to be an issue for most of you guys.

There’s an HD webcam on this machine, according to Asus, but I didn’t get to test it too much. Will do fine for chatting on Skype, Google Talk and similar programs, although the overall image quality gets a bit poor in dim light.

As for the Software, Asus bundles this laptop with a decent amount of crapware and its own programs, most of them actually things you should uninstall, but there are some that might be useful, like Power4Gear or Asus’s WebStorage app.

Prices and availability

The Asus G75VW is going to be available in a bunch of different configs and it’s already present in stores in the US and Western Europe.

The base version starts at $1499 in the States and for that you’re getting a Core i7-3610QM processor, 16 GB of RAM, Nvidia GTX 660M graphics, 750 GB HDD and the standard Full HD display.

For the GTX 670M version you’ll have to pay around $100 extra, while for the top config listed here, with the faster processor, Blu-ray Burner and 3D screen you’ll pay $2000+ .

Of course, prices might drop with time. See this link for up-to-date prices for the Asus G75VW line.

The top config goes for $2000+

Wrap up

In the end, the Asus G75 is for sure an impressive laptop, especially the G75VW top-config I got to test here. When compared to last year’s G74, it’s significantly faster, while still running cool and quiet. Asus also made a couple of changes, making the whole thing slimmer, adding a backlit keyboard, a 2.1 sound system and a Thunderbolt port. However, I do feel that some aspects could still be improved and I’m looking especially at that keyboard.

The Asus G75VW is going to have some tough competition, with the MSI GT70 as its main rival, especially since that one has a SteelSeries keyboard and very good speakers (can’t say that they are better than the ones on the G75 though). The two are pretty much on par though and since I did not get to test the GT70 yet, I can’t say which one of the two I would pick (still, I’m definitely not a fan of the shinny body boosted by that MSI).

Of course, if you want even more power from your gaming machine, there will be faster options available from the likes of Alienware, Sager or Clevo, but not in the same price range.

Asus G75 offers good value for money and that’s what most buyers are looking for

Cause all in all, that’s where the Asus G75 wins the game: it provides excellent value for the money, while being an overall solid and powerful machine. And for most gaming enthusiasts out there that are looking for a portable rig, that might be just enough.

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First of all, this is a freshly launched laptop that’s not yet available in stores, so I did test a pre-release unit, which means that benchmark results might get even better as drivers mature. Except for that though, this unit is identical to what you’ll be able to buy in store. The new Asus K55 series will house a bunch of different laptops built on different configs, but all have an Intel Ivy Bridge processor and an Nvidia 6XX graphics chip as a foundation.

The K55VM is going to be the most powerful config and it’s still going to be quite affordable. Our test unit comes with a quad-core Core i7 processor and good graphics, and these make the K55VM much faster than last year’s Asus K53SV, which we also reviewed here on this site.

Overall, this is a solid machine. Of course, it still has its drawbacks and most of you guys might not really appreciate the bulky body and the poor screen, but hey, you can’t have performances, silhouette and a good price together. Not yet at least.

If you’re interested in buying a good all-round laptop with a bit of extra power, the Asus K55VM is definitely a device you should at least consider. Read the review below to find more about it.

Asus K55 – the powerful all-round laptop we could all afford

The specs

Video review

Design and exterior

One thing is for sure, the K55VM is a solid laptop. On the other side, it is quite massive and bulky, plus a bit heavy, or at least that’s how i feel. But it may be because I haven’t touched a 15.6 incher in a while. Still, keep in mind that this is not really the kind of laptop to log around.

The case is made from textured plastic and it feels good. The bottom is also covered in plastic and you get an easy to access bay for upgrading memory and HDD.

Opening the lid, you’ll notice some silver aluminum on the palm rest (haven’t seen it in this price range in the past) and matte plastic around the keys and the screen. Overall, while the entire thing isn’t exactly stylish, it’s not bad either, and the entire case screams reliable, which in the end is actually more important than looks.

Keyboard and trackpad

Asus changed the keyboard on their new mainstream laptop. It wasn’t bad before but it is actually better now, as the keys are softer and the overall feedback is decent. Still, they are not stiff enough to ensure that perfect feedback and there’s no click that could tell you if the hit was indeed registered or not. However, I had no problem writing a couple of thousands of words using this keyboard and the experience was alright, once I got used to the overall feel.

A decent keyboard

The trackpad is new as well and it’s massive and slightly positioned towards the left part of the laptop, like it should be. You’ll notice from the picture that we have one of those clickbale trackpads in here and unlike many other I’ve tried, this actually works.

It’s not a MacBook like experience, but it’s close. Plus, you’ll hardly going to have to click the touchpad anyway, since multitouch gestures and taps are working just the way they should.

The trackpad is accurate and comfortable to use

Screen

The screen is probably the only thing I resent on this laptop. It’s not awful, but we’re talking about a rather poor 15.6 inch 1366 x 768 px panel with average viewing angles. And I don’t know about you, but 720p resolution on a 15.6 incher, that’s not something I’d go for these days.

However, there isn’t any option for a higher res display on the K55 line. If you’ll want that, you’ll have to go for the next laptop in Asus’s line, the N56.

Rather poor screen: HD ready resolution and narrow viewing angles

Hardware and performances

The Asus K55VM is going to be available in a bunch of different configs, I got to test the fastest one, with a Core i7-3610QM quad-core processor and Nvidia GT 630M graphics.

Overall, the new platform is 20-25% faster than the previous platform on the K53SV, as this post comparing the i7-3610QM and i7-2630QM benchmark results proves.

The scores are also available below and as you can see, those are some high numbers, especially since the 750 GB HDD inside this laptop is a bottleneck, as it’s a slow 5400 rpm unit.

The system is snappy in everyday use, can handle multitasking, can play all kinds of video content at ease and can also handle games. Of course, since it has hybrid graphics, there’s also Nvidia’s Optimus on board, switching seamlessly between the integrated and dedicated graphics chips when needed, thus preserving battery life.

As for the games, I couldn’t actually test many of them, but this laptop can handle titles like Battlefield 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Fifa 2012 or even Crysis 2, all on native 1366 x 768 px resolution, with details set around medium. Should handle high details in most cases as well, but I’d rather have some extra fps for a smoother gameplay. The video review will show you a bit of the gaming experience you can get with this machine.

Overall though, this is fast. Faster than most of you guys will actually need and if you’re after a powerful machine on a budget, you’re probably at the right door.

Noise, heat, speakers and others

There is a fan and a spinning hard-drive inside this unit, so this is not a noiseless machine. However, most of the time the fan is pretty quiet. Once you start to push the system (like playing some games), it will become active and a bit loud, but as long as you’re playing a game or watching some movies, the speakers should be able to cover the noise. If you’re using the laptop in a quiet room though, the fan blow will be a bit annoying.

As for the heat, the bottom-left side gets warm when playing games, but it doesn’t get hot. That massive cooling fan on the left edge probably helps and overall this is going to be cool enough to use on your lap or on your bed (you know, not the recommended flat surface) if you want to.

The speakers are loud enough, but I was actually expecting a bit more in terms of overall sound quality, knowing that Asus laptops tend to impress on this front. It’s not the case here, at least that’s what my ears are telling me, as the sound quality is just average.

There’s an Altec lansing mark-up on the speakers, but the sound quality ain’t impressive

Battery life

With the new hardware from Intel and Nvidia, we should expect decent battery life out of the K55 line. The K55VM features a 50 Wh battery and that allows nearly 3 hours of daily use, with Wi-Fi, screen at 50% and Balanced mode selected.

If you’ll try to run games, you’ll only going to be able to do it for a little over an hour, but for watching a 720p clip the K55VM can stretch to about 4 hours of life on a single charge.

And all these numbers are actually quite good, considering the battery ain’t huge and inside there’s a quad-core Core i7 processor and dedicated graphics.

Pricing and availability

The K55 is a mainstream series and as a result these laptops need to be affordable, so everyone should could buy one. And that’s indeed the case.

This test config, with the Core i7-3610QM quad-core processor, 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB HDD and Nvidia GT 630M graphics should go for about 750 euros over here in Europe, so about 800-850 bucks in the States.

But less powerful configs part of the Asus K55VD series are going to start at about 550-600 dollars, which is actually very good, considering all the K55 laptops are built on the latest Intel Ivy Bridge and Nvidia 6XX hardware.

Wrap up

In these last years, I’ve tested many Asus devices and I got to see how they evolved year after year. The K55VM is as well a significant improvement over the K53SV line, bringing a solid and decent looking case, good keyboard and trackpad, plus excellent performances and battery life.

The speakers are a bit under what I was expecting and the screen is limited at HD Ready resolution, but I’m pretty sure the average laptop buyer can live with these slight issues. Especially since the Asus K55 series is aggressively priced.

Asus K55VM – a solid pick if you’re looking for an affordable, powerful and sturdy laptop

Of course, the K55VM will face some proper competition, coming from Acer, HP, Dell and the other big brands, with some devices perhaps better priced than the K55 for the same config. We’ll know more in a couple of months, but judging by previous years experience, the Asus machines have a good chance of becoming popular, as they usually offer a good price/features ratio. And that’s actually what most buyers are looking for in this class.

That’s about it with our review of the Asus K55VM, the most powerful config in the new K55 Asus line. If you have any questions though, feel free to add them below, I’ll do my best to answer if I can.

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Till then, since the NDA has now expired, I’m going to show you some benchmarks for the Intel Core i7-3610QM processor and I’m going to compare them with what I got on the Asus K53SV I tested last year, with an Intel Core i7-2630QM .

In both cases we also have Nvidia dedicated graphics on board, with the 630M chip for the new K55 and the 540M chip for the older K53, but if you’ll put the two one next to the other, you’ll notice that they are not that different in the end.

So, I’ve ran a couple of synthetic tests, plus tried a bunch of programs, games and types of multimedia content on these devices. Both were fast, but the 2012 Asus K55 is quite a major step forward over last year’s model, as in fact the Ivy Bridge line seem to offer significant performance improvements.

First though, let’s have a quick look at the two platforms compared:

And now, here are those results I was talking about, for the Intel Core i7-3610QM powered K55 (plus Nvidia GeForce 630M graphics, 6 GB RAM and 750 GB 5400 rpm HDD), in the pictures below:

So we get two very similar CPUs, but the new Ivy Bridge Line is built on the 22 nm Lithography and as a result, can run at a higher frequency, while eating basically the same amount of energy.

As for the comparison with last year’s Core i7-2630QM Sandy Bridge processor, here are the scores below:

Quad Core i7 Sandy Bridge vs Ivy Bridge

So, we’re seeing 20-25% better scores for the 2012 K55 over the 2011 K53 and that’s a massive year-over-year improvement.

Still, these are just synthetic tests and what’s more important is how the two platforms perform during daily use. I’d say both are fast enough, with the new one on the K55 slightly better for games. However, the K55 runs cooler than the older K53, thus will be more comfortable to use. Plus it tends to run for a bit longer, which means that the new platform is slightly more efficient; the gap is small though.

All in all, Intel seems to have done a great job with their Ivy Bridge processors, at least when comparing top options like these two quad-core Core i7 CPUs. Seeing these results just leave me wondering about AMD and their future, cause while this year’s Intel line might be top-notch, the lack of real competition is never a good news.

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The answer is quite simple actually: dress it up with a brand new iPod Touch case from this collection bellow, that contains some of the nicest iPod covers I could find online. They’re gathered during my own search for a suitable cover that would fit the iPod Touch and i guarantee they are all top notch picks.

You will see a couple of black or brown leather classy iPod touch cases, but also some more everyday usage covers, like the Invisible Shield or the Belkin silicone cases. All of them will provide protection for your iPod Touch and won’t dig you a hole in your wallet either, as these iPod cases are quite affordable. After all, if you spent $300 – $400 for your MP3 player, you should definitely buy a suitable case for a mere 20 or 30 bucks, right?

I updated this post with some of the best cases available for the latest Apple iPod Touch and you are going to find a couple of things about those in the next paragraphs. However, I still kept a couple of good cover options for the older 2G/3G iPod Touch models as well, and you can see those towards the end of this post.

Cases and covers for the latest Apple iPod Touch

The protection accessories below are designed especially for the new 4th generation Touch and they will not work with the older versions, as the new one is slimmer. So please pay attention to descriptions before buying anything.

ZAGG Invisible Shield for Touch 4G – get the full body protection for only $24.99

The ZAGG Invisible Shield is not quite an iPod Touch case, but a thin film layer in which your iPod gets wrapped, that is durable and virtually scratch-proof. The unique thing about the Invisible Shield is that it is so thin that it’s almost invisible, thus protecting your gadget without adding any bulky extra layer to its sleek body.

Zagg Invisible Shield – invisible protection with lifetime warranty

Of course, it won’t protect your iPod from shocks like a rubber case will do, but it won’t be as bulky as one. And that’s why i like it: it’s a fancier and better looking way of protecting the iPod Touch.

The ZAGG Shield is not the most affordable of all such types of protections, but it is by far the most popular and the best. It’s made out of a military grade scratch-proof patented film and comes with lifetime warranty from the producer. So it must be good, ay?

Now, the ZAGG Shield actually comes in two parts to form a full body armor, with protection for the back and the front of your device. This one sells for $24.99 on Zagg.com (for the 4th generation Touch). But if you want to save some bucks, you can get only the protection for the display, for $14.99 (although i wouldn’t recommend it). Click the link for more details on this product, including a demo video to show you how tough this skin actually is.

Zagg’s InvisibleShield is still available for the older 2G/3G generation as well, and goes for similar prices as the new versions: $24.99 for the entire body protection, or $14.99 for only one of the two pieces. Details via this link.

The fancy Brown LeatherSkin from Zagg

Oh, and if you want an even fancier method of protecting you iPod Touch, there’s the Zagg LeatherSkin . This is a newer product and like the thin film above, it adheres to the device. But it looks a lot better, being made out of genuine leather (available in black or brown).

If you want another interesting protection option for the new Ipod Touch, i can also suggest the Zagg Skins, that can be easily customized with tons of graphic designs, including your own. Paired with a screen Shield, they can be very strong, and only cost $19.99 . See this link for the available designs and customization options.

And one more thing: you’ve noticed that all these Zagg accessories stick to the body of your iPod, so you might be worried they peel off (I know I was before buying them). Well, don’t, if you get them on properly, that will not happen (and there are videos on Zagg’s site to show you exactly how you should get these skins on). And it’s not just me telling that (based on my experience), but also thousands of others who bought them.

Splash Flip leather case with Clip for Touch 4G – discounted price

Splash Flip leather folio

Not that many options for solid quality leather folios for the new Touch available on the market right now, but this is probably the best. You probably heard of Splash before, they are famous for their leather accessories, and this case manages to bring looks and quality together.

Of course, it’s not ultra fancy: just soft Napa black leather for the exterior and a soft interior, plus a belt clip and easy access to all ports and connectors on your player.

All these for a decent price of around 40 bucks, but the good news is that you can find it with a nice discount on Amazon, for only $14.95. No wonder the case its quite popular there, and also considering the nice reviews it scored with those who already own it, I consider it a worthy option these days.

Otterbox Defender rugged case for iPod Touch 4G – 40% price cut

If you’re looking for a solid case for your iPod Touch 4G, one rougher add tougher than most protection accessories out there, you’ll hardly find anything better than the Otterbox Defender.

This one will protect you player from bumps, shocks, dust and scratches. Exterior is in fact a 3-layer silicone plate, while the screen is covered by a thin-film protector which is actually included in the pack. Plus, you get unrestricted access to all buttons and connectors, but this case does not come with covers for those as it is not meant to defend your iPod Touch from water damage. So be careful about that.

All this protection makes the Defender a little bulky, but you can probably get passed this aspect when you’ll find the amazing price available for this case online, starting at $24.99 with Shipping included. And you get to choose from a bunch of different color options.

Also, if you can’t get along with the bulkiness, there’s the Commuter case from Otterbox you should also check out, which offers also solid protection, but in a slightly slimmer body. And it’s a bit cheaper as well.

Otterbox Defender – the ultimate protector for your iPod Touch

Tuneband for the new iPod Touch – click for details

Tuneband for iPod Touch

If you like to listen to music or podcasts when jogging, like I do, than you should have a proper armband case for your iPod Touch. One of the most appreciated these days, if not the most, is the Tuneband from Grantwood Technology.

On a first looks, there’s nothing special about this iPod accessory, but unlike most such units on the market, this one is slightly different designed. What you get is a standard silicone case you can use everyday, with a thin film protector included as well. But you also get an adjustable armband with a velcro closing system and you can securely attach the case to this band when you want to. So you can consider the Tuneband a multipurpose iPod Touch case.

That, its reliability and the good price tag make this one so popular and appreciated, and for good reasons we can say. See this link for more pictures, reviews from buyers and the option to buy one if you want to.

Incipio DermaSHOT for the newest iPod Touch – available in a bunch of colors

Incipio dermaSHOT for iPod Touch 4G

The DermaSHOT is one of the most famous rubber cases for the iPhone and it is now available for the new Touch as well. It fits the device snugly and protects it from drops and shocks, without adding to much to its sleek shape.

It is available in a couple of different colors, with prices starting from around 13 bucks, all with decent discounts. And it also managed to score high marks with previous buyers, so as long as you know what to expect from such a cover, you will be for sure satisfied with it.

Of course, it does not offer screen protection, so it will be wise to pair it with a display guard as well.

Accessories bundle for the new Touch – good value for money

Accessories Bundle from Digital On Demand

If you need a bunch of accessories for you 4G iPod Touch but don’t feel like spending hundreds of bucks on them, this bundle from Digital On Demand might be what you need.

You get 15 different pieces, including 4 cases (clear, silicone, rubber and faux leather), screen protector, a carrying pouch , a couple of different cables and adapters and other useful stuff. See this link for the complete description.

I do have to add that this bundle only costs 30 bucks, which is the same as a premium case. So, do not expect top quality, although those who already bought this bundle gave it good reviews and marks, and that’s what made me include it in here.

That’s it for now, but expect more cases to pop up soon. In the meantime, you can also check out this collection of iPod Touch covers from Amazon.com, as they usually have the best prices for such accessories.

Protection options for the older 2G/3G iPod Touch players

The covers below are designed for the older generation 2G or 3G Touch and will be too loose for the new 4G Touch, thus not recommended for it.

DLO HipCase premium leather folio

This one is a fancy, fashion-inspired leather case that suits perfectly your iPod Touch’s interior, with a flippable front cover. Protects the device from scratches, dust and even minor shocks, and you can wear it in your bag or in your pocket. Plus, it looks astonishing in the meantime.

This iPod Touch case even has slots for easier access to controls and dock connectors, and comes in a black genuine leather finish.

At the moment, the DLO HipCase Folio is one of the most successful cases for the iPod Touch, being present on the market since the first generation appeared and then updated and improved for the later ones. It usually retails for around $30, and that’s a great price considering the looks and the quality if offers.

DLO HipCase Folio – fancy and reliable, but with a good price also

Otterbox Defender for iPod Touch – available for iPod Touch 2G/3G

If you’d ask me, Otterbox is the best cases manufacturer at the moment, simply because they make the the most sturdy and reliable such protection accessories. And yes, they might be a little bit more expensive than others, but all the good marks and reviews received from owners prove that the extra bucks spent are well worth it.

The Otterbox Defender is what they have to offer for the iPod Touch family and I absolutely love it, as it manages to provide very good protection against shocks, drops, dust and scratches, without being bulky or bad looking.

The front part consists of a durable thin film meant to protect the screen and the rest is made out of black silicone with extra toughened corners. Of course this case allows aces to all the functions and buttons of your Touch, so once you get it on, you will never have to get it off. Pay attention to one thing though: this is not a waterproof case, so be careful in rainy or wet conditions.

As extra proof of how good this cover actually is, Otterbox offers for the Defender lifetime warranty.

Otterbox Defender case with lifetime warranty – pricey, but just the best

Also, if you found none of the above good enough, you should also check out these other protection iPod Touch 2G/3G options i find pretty interesting:

• Belkin Fastfit Sports Armband - suitable for sports and outdoor activities, it is one of the best Armbands on the market. Made by Belkin, thus a testimony to its quality, it comfortable attaches to your arm with a VELCRO band (thus will fit different arm sizes) and snugly holds the iPod Touch inside, protecting it from sweat, shocks and dust. Also comes with a special pocket for storing headphones when not using them.
• 14 items Bundle from CrazyOnDigital – comes with 15 different accessories, including 5 different cases (made ot leather, plastic or silicone), USB cable, car/wall charger, screen protectors, FM transmitter and others. Click the link for more details.
• Speck CandyShell case for iPod Touch 2G/3G – available in many colors – with a rubberized exterior and a thin film screen protector, the Speck CandyShell is one of the most popular covers for the iPod Touch, with excellent reviews and marks from other buyers. And now it is also discounted, so you’d better check it out.

Speck CandyShell – glossy candy looks, in many flavors

Final words

Of course, there are other cases for your iPod Touch also, but these are the ones I found most interesting. I’ve tried to pick cases from different classes, which could cover the needs and budget of most people. Also, I’ve tried covering only cases that would fit the latest generations of the Apple player. Once again, this is not a top, but a list of devices i looked at when i had to choose my iPod Case. In the end, i went for the Zagg Shields and the DLO Hip Case, but also got a Defender i use when going hiking or snowboarding.

Of course, if you haven’t found anything you liked here or have an older Apple Touch, you might find something interesting in this big collection of cases, all with pictures, reviews and good prices.

With the 4G iPod fresh on the market, other cases should pop up in the next weeks and months, so stay tuned for updates of this post.

We also have other posts about great iPod cases, accessories and covers and with things you will need for your iPhone too, so if you found our collection of iPod Touch cases useful, you might want to check them out also. You can find them via the links bellow.

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But what defines such a product to earn the title of best gaming monitor? Well there is connectivity for one, there is response time, contrast ratio and obviously enough, the resolution. You cannot play your games in 1024 x 768 now can you?

Some of the best gaming monitors offer a huge array of features aimed specifically at the gaming sector. They thrive on excellent color reproduction, great response time and obviously size. Not only that, but one thing that you should keep in mind before purchasing one of these models is the price tag, since such models do not usually come in cheap.

However, let us skip to the good part and see what the best gaming monitors have to offer.

30-inch Dell UltraSharp U3011

The Dell UltraSharp U3011 is simply impressive

Dell is taking a shot at making the best gaming monitor with this “little” display. When it comes to sheer size, the Dell UltraSharp U3011 takes the cake with a 30-inch diagonal, offering a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels (16:10 aspect ratio) and giving you control over multitasking as well as putting more content on a single display.

The Dell UltraSharp U3011 has support for HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI-D as well as USB ports. When you wish to connect this monster, then you know that you will not be running out of ports too soon. Not only that, but thanks to the in-plan switching technology, one of the best gaming monitors will deliver exceptional viewing angles.

With a 7-millisecond response type (for gray-to-gray) and a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, the Dell UltraSharp U3011 delivers exceptional performance. If Dell managed to grab your attention with this one, then prepare your wallet, as the Dell UltraSharp U3011 30” monitor will cost around $1,300. Head over to this link for more pricing information.

27-inch HP 2711x

Sleek and stylish – the HP 2711x

If you need a gaming monitor that will perform great not only in your favorite title, but also when you are enjoying a movie, then the 27-inch HP 2711x should be on the top of your list. This display will bring performance to your doorstep with excellent features and technical specifications.

You get a 27-inch LED backlit LCD panel with an ultra-slim profile. The resolution goes up to 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is more than sufficient to give you the best quality for both gaming and multimedia. With a 3,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, colors and dark areas are display in great detail. The 5 millisecond response time means that no action will lag behind with this device.

For connectivity, the 27-inch HP 2711x gaming monitor offers you VGA, DVI-D and HDMI with HDCT ports. Measuring in at 18.54 x 25.75 x 7.26 inches this is one of the best gaming monitors out there, with a huge array of cool features. The HP 2711x gaming monitor goes for $400. For more details on retailer specific deals, check the pricing on the following link.

27 inch – Acer HN274H BMIIID 3D

The rounded shapes might put you off, but the specs won’t

Gaming is something that we all do from time to time, but why not do it with more style. The 27 inch – Acer HN274H BMIIID 3D is here to give us that edge over our opponents while offering an exceptional multimedia session.

The 27 inch – Acer HN274H BMIIID 3D gaming monitor uses a 27-inch LED backlit LCD panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The 120Hz refresh rate is due to the 3D capabilities of this display. The included NVIDIA 3D glasses will give you a perfect view on what is going on in every game or movie!

With a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 3D capabilities, the 27 inch – Acer HN274H BMIIID 3D is a true competitor for the best gaming monitor title. In case you are interested, then this display will cost you around $700, but head over to this link on Amazon for details regarding prices.

24 inch – BenQ XL2420TX

If you are like me and watch modern gaming competitions, then there is no way you could have missed out on the 24 inch – BenQ XL2420TX gaming monitor. The display is used mostly by the Electronic Sports League in their tournaments and BenQ is also one of their main sponsors.

If raw performance is what you aim for, then the BenQ XL2420TX is your winner

The 24 inch – BenQ XL2420TX gaming monitor focuses heavily on those first person shooters. This monitor was developed alongside members of the SK.CS team and it does show. You get a 24-inch LED backlit display, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a 2 millisecond gray-to-gray response time and a 12,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The display is also 3D ready with its 120Hz refresh rate – just get some glasses and you are good to go.

With features such as Black eQualizer, S-Switch and FPS mode, the 24 inch – BenQ XL2420TX is probably the best gaming monitor in its class. Measuring in at 5.9 x 22.5 x 20.4 inches, it will fit perfectly on any desk and for $550, you gets tons of features. If the pricing is too high, check this link for additional pricing information.

23 inch – Asus VG236H

Simple and precise gaming with the VG236H from Asus

As gamers we have high expectations when it comes to performance. The 23 inch – Asus VG236H is here to give us just that and if you think that a display cannot give you that edge, then keep on reading.

The 23 inch – Asus VG236H ships with a 23-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The display has a refresh rate of 120Hz and comes bundled with the NVIDIA 3D Vision kit. That is right folks, if you want 3D on your desk, this model should do just fine. Thanks to the 2 millisecond response time and the dual-side LCD technology, you will not a miss a single frame during your chases.

With a 400cd/m2 luminosity, 100,000:1 contrast ratio and VGA, dual-link DVI and tons of other goodies bundled into the package, this model will be worth every penny. If you want a true contestant for the title of best gaming monitor, then the 23 inch – Asus VG236H will set you back an acceptable $400. This link will provide additional pricing details.

22 inch – ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED

Saving money on power bills, one frag at a time

When you are looking for a new monitor, you might be suffocated by the sheer amount of available products. However, the 22 inch – ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED is here to help you and the best part is that it will not cost your monthly rent.

The 22 inch – ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED is coming with a 21.5-inch LED backlit LCD panel. It has a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and with DVI and VGA inputs, you cannot go wrong on this one. With a 5 millisecond response time, this is not the quickest display to act on changes, but us mere mortals, either way don’t notice these things. The 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio however, does come in handy, offering full and rich colors.

Measuring in at 20.5 x 15.9 x 7.5 inches and with the compatibility to VESA wall-mounts, the 22 inch – ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED will not take up space that heavily on your desk. If you wish to get your HD fix on, then you can buy the 22 inch – ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED for about $220. However, pricing greatly varies from retailer to retailers, so head over to Amazon and maybe you get a lucky deal!

21 inch – ASUS ML228H

Gaming and gaming computers are not all about raw “POWER” (to quote the great Jeremy Clarkson), but also about looks. The 21 inch – ASUS ML228H gaming monitor is a nice take on that in terms of sheer style and looks.

Without a doubt, the best design in this lineup goes to the Asus ML228H

This model ships in with a 21.5-inch LED backlit LCD panel offering a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The best part about it is the 0.65-inch profile, making this one of the slimmest monitors I had the chance to drool at. The 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio will make those opponents shine up like flares in dark corners and with HDMI input, you get entertainment in full HD brought straight to your desk.

With a 2 millisecond response time, those who wish to get that first bullet off, will be glad to have the 21 inch – ASUS ML228H gaming monitor on their side. The touch sensitive controls can greatly improve on your interaction with the display as well. If you need one of the best gaming monitors on a budget, then the 21 inch – ASUS ML228H can be yours for roughly $160, but you could pick up on better pricing by checking the full prices listed here.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a gaming monitor, then you will be pleased by the sheer amount of available products in the sector. Not only will these devices give you the edge in every single virtual battle you are about to embark in, but they will also provide a great viewing experience for your multimedia collection.

Some products are right the tip of raw gaming performance, but their price tags usually reflect that as well. However, with such a large variety to choose from, you can easily get something that will fit every budget and you do not need to sell your cat to buy one of these.

Irrespective of your choice, each one of the above displays gets to call itself the best gaming monitor in its own class as far as I’m concerned!

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