Gaming on a notebook? The idea seemed nuts a couple of years ago. Gaming, especially 3D gaming, makes crushing demands on hardware. Just a short while ago, the idea of playing Tomb Raider, Quake or even the sedate Sims on anything but a desktop seemed ludicrous.

Today, however, as many of us replace our desktops with notebooks, we look for machines that can work as well as play. And with new-generation portable hardware just as punchy as desktop gear, users can have it all, with only the tiniest of compromises.

At the heart of a gaming notebook is the processor: Nothing less that a Pentium 4 is called for. Smooth, jerk-free action requires a CPU that can calculate enemy AI and a myriad other processes without strain.

Next is the screen. An LCD panel with at least 14 inches viewable is needed. Resolution has to be at least 1024x768 or higher. Today's breed of active TFT LCD, even on the cheapest notebooks, is bright and high-contrast enough for easy viewing, unlike the panels of three years ago.

A powerful graphics processor is key. An integrated SiS or Intel graphics video chip won't cut it. An ATI Mobility Radeon or nVidia Geforce is the minimum. Shared video memory? Forget it. The graphics processor needs it own dedicated memory; at least 16MB of it; 32MB would be better and 64MB, heavenly.The more video memory you have, the more space there is to store 3D textures without the video processor needing to fetch them from the slow hard disk.

Having loads of main memory doesn't hurt either. 128MB is the bare minimum. Mousing one a trackpad or pointing stick is out of the question, so arm yourself with a good USB optical mouse.

There are some things to note with a gaming portable: They tend to be huge and heavy, and more expensive. Also, when running on batteries, these machines throttle back speed to conserve power, so don't expect on-the-go gaming to be as smooth as the at-home experience.

Compare all notebooks

	Dell Inspiron 8200 The Inspiron 8200 range is aimed at power users who don't mind carting bulk. A fast nVidia GeForce4 440 Go will make short work of 3D processing, while a bright 15-inch screen rounds off the package.
	Sony Vaio PCG-GRZ10 A powerful desktop 2.4GHz Pentium 4, coupled with an ATI Radeon Mobility 7500, should make mincemeat of any game. Those with deeper pockets and a yen for large-screen action should also check this machine's big brother, the 16-inch LCD-equipped Vaio GRX3P.
	Toshiba Satellite 1950-A740 The ultimate in portable gaming satisfaction awaits anyone with the money to take this home. A vast 16-inch screen, a desktop Pentium 4 2.2GHz, an nVidia GeForce4 440 Go graphics processor and a detachable radio keyboard makes the Satellite 1950-A740 the mother of all gaming notebooks.
	Compaq Presario 1500 Beneath the bland exterior is a machine capable of furious 3D frame rates, thanks to a desktop Pentium 4 2.2GHz processor and an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics chipset.
	Dell Inspiron 2650 Gamers on a budget can opt for this little screamer. It has a smaller 14.1-inch screen compared with the 15-inch panels of the others on this list, but makes up for it with an nVidia GeForce 2 Go graphics chipset and a Pentium 4 1.5GHz processor.

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