MSI and Alienware continue to lead in the world of gaming laptops.  Each of these computers are thin, light gaming notebooks that are also popular because they feel solid and steady when put on a hard surface.  If you or the gamer in your life like to get a lot of body motion into some of your games, these computers can stand up to the stress caused in the heat of the moment.  As laptops, each of these computers can be hauled around town to the place you and your friends like to meet and play games without sacrificing quality.  These laptops are the best of both worlds for people who like to play games, but who want good visuals and good graphics with their portability.

Power

Both Alienware and the MSI have plenty of processing power in their machines. Top-shelf Alienware has the Intel Core i7 4900 processor, while the MSI has a Core i7 4700.  Both are bigger and faster than most competitors, which should be attractive to gamers and explains why each of these machines rates near the top of laptops for gaming and are frequently requested by game-makers for demos at gaming conventions.

Display

The displays on both computers are the same, and they are as good as can be expected.  Each machine comes with 17.3 omcj screens that are 1920 x 1080 anti-glare.   Most gamers will find these machines almost as good as playing on that big screen television back home.  In this case, it is quality rather than quantity, when quantity refers to the size of the screen.

Graphics

Gamers love good graphics, and many will scrimp on the screen size, or the processor size to ensure they have really good graphics.  No scrimping is required for either these machines.  Each computer has NVIDIA GeForce 780M cards with 4GB of GDDR5 memory.  Some evaluators often compare this configuration with desktop computers, which is rarefied air for laptop computers.  Most people using either of these machines will find the graphics to be more than satisfactory for their gaming needs.

RAM 

Alienware had slightly better processor than MSI, although both were very good. However, in a bit of a tradeoff, MSI has better RAM.  Alienware has 16 GB of RAM while MSI has 24 GB.  This should make a positive difference for MSI users with the number of frame rates.  Both computers are in good standing with the amount of RAM they have to offer.

Ports

Both Alienware and MSI have plenty of ports, though they vary somewhat in the ports that are available.

Ports for the Alienware

• Four USB 3.0 ports
• Card reader port
• Microphone port
• Two audio out 1/8” ports
• RJ45 Ethernet port
• Kensington lock
• Mini Display port
• HDMI port

Ports for MSI

• Three USB 3.0 ports
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• Card reader
• Headphone and microphone ports
• Line in and line out ports
• RJ45 Ethernet port
• Kinsington lock
• Mini Display Port
• VGA
• HDMI

Some people prefer having access to a VGA port, and some don’t care.  Each of these gaming machines have several ports for users and it is up to each individual to determine if one machine offers ports more important to them than the other.

Battery

Battery capacity is important for almost everyone who wants to use a laptop, and maybe especially so for gamers who are looking for the convenience of mobility to play where they want.  The MSI model has great battery power, with a 87Wh battery compared to the 86Wh battery on the Alienware machine.  The difference is slight and both will probably need to have access to an outlet before too much usage if you’re playing a lot of games while it’s not plugged in.

Each computer is somewhat large compared to many laptops on the market.  That is because as a gamer, most people want something that provides some mobility, but also a great visual experience while playing a game.  Anyone who has hauled a smaller laptop around town, then seen someone play the same game on a bigger screen knows the importance of screen size.  MSI is less concerned about how their computer looks when it isn’t used.  Although some people would worry about the design of their gaming laptop, MSI is probably more for people who are focused on gaming rather than making a statement with the machine they’re carrying around.  As such, the MSI costs $500 less than the Alienware.

Users can compare the two computers to determine which is better for them.  However, there is one thing that few can argue with:  Each of these computers is better than most of the competition when determining what laptops are best for gamers.  Better graphics, relatively easy to move around, and a good screen.  Most gamers will enjoy either of these machines.