Also look at the key layout. Models with an isolated cluster of arrow keys or well-defined WASD keys get bonus points, in our book. Also, because most budget gaming laptops are 15.6-inch models, check for a dedicated number pad to the right of the main key area, if you prefer to have one—or not, for that matter. Some machines of this screen size will have one, some won't. (A 17-inch laptop almost invariably will, however.)In our chart at the top of this article and in our list below, we've mapped out our top-rated models to investigate. Note that a few of the configurations sent to us for testing were a bit above $1,000; some remain so, while others have fallen below the one-grand line since. Also, note that most of these models are a single machine in a varied line. So use the linked reviews as guidelines, not absolutes, when assessing each laptop family. You may not get quite the level of performance we did, if key components were downgraded in the march below $1,000. But you should get a solid idea of the laptops' screen, build, and input quality from our reviews.
In addition to poring over our reviews and checking out the vendors' sites, using the price filters at a reseller like Newegg.com can help you see different configurations at different price points. Some manufacturers offer lots of differently weighted versions of the same laptop (say, more storage in one config, a better GPU in another). Playing with the filters on these sites can be an illuminating exercise in give-and-take.Want to round out your PC gaming experience? Also check out our picks for the best gaming mice and top gaming headsets, as well as our picks for the best gaming laptops overall, price aside.SEOUL -- For laptops and other small gadgets, LG Chem, the world's top battery maker, will produce a new type of battery that contains less expensive material and is more cost-effective than conventional ones.
Cobalt is a rare-earth element which is widely used in batteries like lithium-ion batteries as cathodes. Because cobalt is rare and requires a complicated refining process, it is very costly and is vulnerable to sudden price fluctuations.Last year, a total of about 50,000 tons of cobalt was used in battery production around the world, and about 60 percent of the total was used for making batteries for portable devices such as laptops, smartphones and other equipment. According to data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a global mineral market research company, the global battery industry will need about 127,000 tons of cobalt for production in 2025.LG Chem said in a statement on Monday that it will mass produce "High-Nickel" batteries, which have a low cobalt content level of less than five percent and an increased nickel content of up to 90 percent, by 2020. The current cobalt composition share in lithium-ion batteries differs by types of batteries, ranging from 10 percent to 55 percent. Nickel is also a key material used in making batteries but it is cheaper than cobalt.
"We will reduce the proportion of cobalt in batteries even more and apply the technology to many other IT devices," an LG Chem official was quoted as saying. The battery maker said its High-Nickel batteries take up less space, ideal for smart devices which require small-sized and power efficient batteries.LG Chem introduced its first reduced cobalt battery for electric vehicles (EV) last year. "NCM 8211" is a pouch type battery named after three chemicals -- nickel, cobalt and manganese. According to the battery maker, the proportion of nickel in NCM 811 is high so that EV battery producers can save costs and extend the driving range.
As part of its aggressive plan to target various battery markets including global markets for EVs and smart devices, LG Chem invested $2 billion to build a second battery plant in China despite a policy of excluding electric vehicles equipped with South Korean batteries from a list of eco-friendly cars eligible for subsidies.LG Chem has established a stable supply network of raw materials. The company signed a deal with Huayou Cobalt, a major cobalt supplier in China, in April to jointly produce key materials for lithium-ion batteries, followed by a five-year contract with Nemaska Lithium of Canada in May to receive 7,000 tons of battery grade lithium hydroxide per year.
If you need the most powerful laptop around, regardless of price or size, look no further than the Precision 7730. This workstation has blazing-fast performance and an alluring 4K display that bursts with color. Factor in a comfortable keyboard, premium design and rugged build quality, and this beastly machine hits (almost) all the right notes.
Unfortunately, disappointing battery life and poor heat management are notable pain points. And the Precision 7730's high, $5,534 price isn't for everyone. But if you're an engineer or creative who needs a powerful workstation, take the plunge; you won't regret emptying your pockets for a Precision 7730.Do your wrists a favor and use both arms when lifting the Dell Precision 7730. Better yet, if you have a good chiropractor, carry this system around in a backpack. At 7.5 pounds, the laptop weighs more than the HP ZBook 17 G4 (7.1 pounds), but it's lighter than the sumo-size ThinkPad P71 (8 pounds).While the Dell machine is slimmer than its predecessor, the Precision 7730's 16.3 x 10.8 x 1.2-inch frame is best kept dormant on a desk. Its competitor, the Lenovo ThinkPad P71, is about the same size (16.4 x 10.4 x 1.2 inches), while the HP ZBook 17 G4 is longer on each end (16.5 x 11 x 1.3 inches).
With premium, durable materials -- a carbon-fiber lid, a soft-touch deck and a metal frame -- the Precision 7730 exudes class. People will notice the machine for its sheer size, but its industrial black-and-silver design is easy on the eyes.Aggressive dual vents, a shiny metal trim around the deck and a thin LED battery indicator on the front lip are all welcome additions. I just wish the lid weren't such a fingerprint magnet and that the display bezels were trimmed down.Don't worry about your arms giving out when you hold the Precision 7730; this tank can survive a fall. The business laptop passed 15 MIL-SPEC durability tests, including those for high altitudes, extreme temperatures, dirt, shock and drop, according to Dell.
The Precision 7730 also has safeguards to protect your sensitive data. You have the option to add a FIPS fingerprint sensor in the palm rest to go along with a standard smart-card reader and an NFC sensor for contactless smart cards. The Precision 7730's 17-inch display gives you a theater-like viewing experience. Its bright 4K panel is incredibly detailed, and the colors it produces are exceptionally vivid and rich.When I watched a trailer for the upcoming autobiographical film Green Book, I could make out the tiniest details in the set design, like individual records in Mahershala Ali's house during a wide shot of his chic living room and wisps of smoke rising from Viggo Mortensen's cigarette. The turquoise paint on the pianist's Chevy popped, as if the car had just driven off the show floor.