In a world dominated by high-speed internet and fast-paced gameplay, settling for a mediocre laptop just won't cut it. With gaming laptops advancing so rapidly, it doesn't sound like a good idea to settle for a small-sized display while the hardware is capable of providing real-life visuals in video games. This is where the 17-inch gaming laptops come into play, providing a large screen to observe every detail clearly and enjoy gaming world's hyperrealism.

Game Rant's definitive guide on the best 17-inch gaming laptops is carefully curated to meet the demands of casual gamers and hardcore enthusiasts alike. Size does matter when it comes to screen real estate, and these machines offer an immersive gaming experience like no other.

Game Rant's Picks for the Best 17-Inch Gaming Laptops in 2024

Earning the best 17-inch gaming laptop badge wasn't easy, but the ASUS ROG Strix G17 pulled it off with tons of gamer-friendly features. This laptop is more than just its AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX processor. It also includes a fast QHD 240Hz/3ms panel, which elevates the gaming laptop experience and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space for crisp, vibrant visuals.

The Strix G17 features a robust cooling solution, including Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal, ensuring that it maintains its performance over long gaming sessions. While this is a clear advantage for 17-inch gaming laptops, it's worth noting that this cooling mechanism might add some bulk to the laptop. Yet, when it comes to balanced power, speed, and thermal performance, this laptop sets the gold standard in the 17-inch overall category, making it the top choice for gamers looking for a new gaming laptop in 2024.

The Gigabyte Aorus 7 9KF is the best budget gaming laptop for competitive gaming, boasting a 17-inch display, running at 360Hz. It's unlikely that users will find another such laptop for $1000, particularly when there aren't a lot of options with the latest gen RTX 4060.

With the RTX 4060, most games will run flawlessly on its 1080p display on ultra settings and will reach the 200+ fps mark if the games are non-intensive, like Counter-Strike or Valorant. Fortunately, not only the system is capable of providing framerates in triple digits in these games, but it can go on for several hours before shutting down. Thanks to its power-efficient configuration and 99Wh battery to keep going.

If users are in search of a 17-inch portable gaming laptop that is also easier to carry, then the LG Gram will provide great portability as a result of its compact construction, which makes it measure only 0.7 inches in thickness. The laptop, even though it is quite large due to its screen size, still weighs just over 2 kg. Its minimalistic design is appealing and uses a military-grade exterior that has passed seven different durability tests to make sure it doesn't wear and tear easily.

The system boasts a highly power-efficient Core i7 CPU from the 13th gen family, which typically consumes around 30W of power but can reach over 60W when required. This makes sure that no task remains a challenge and its 12-cores, 16-threads are going to distribute the processes across all the threads according to the priority. However, the GPU is where it lacks the essential power for maxing out graphics settings in modern games. Even though the RTX 3050 is fine for the majority of games, users shouldn't expect it to deliver 60 fps in every title. Nonetheless, users who prioritize work over gaming should get this laptop as its display is superb at color reproduction and the laptop itself has a great battery life.

A 17-inch display typically results in a significant cost increase and therefore, it becomes challenging to find powerful hardware for $500-$800 as most of these laptops bring an older generation CPU or GPU. The Asus Tuf Gaming A17 is still much better than most sub-$800 17-inch gaming laptops as its display is an IPS panel and runs at a 144Hz refresh rate. The processor used is the Ryzen 5 4600H, which, although isn't meant to execute intensive tasks, has sufficient cores and threads to distribute the load evenly.

Paired with it is the Turing-based GTX 1650 GPU, bringing 4GB GDDR6 memory to provide a satisfactory gaming experience on medium settings. Users shouldn't expect it to deliver 60 fps in the latest titles, but when it comes to esports games such as Valorant, CS2, and Apex Legends, it gets the job done quite convincingly, maintaining the framerate above 60 consistently.

Our pick for the best premium 17-inch gaming laptop is the MSI Stealth 17 Studio. Maxing out modern titles such as RDR 2, Hogwarts Legacy, or Starfield while having the best visuals is possible is a breeze with this gaming laptop, which doesn't fall short in any area. From terrific hardware configuration to a flawless display, this is the 17-inch gaming laptop users should opt for if they don't want to compromise on their gaming performance. While the processor is from a more power-conservative family, it's still more than enough for carrying out complex CPU-oriented intensive tasks with the help of a 14-core, 20-thread configuration.

It's definitely on the more expensive side of the scale, but it's one of the best future-proof machines that will be able to play intensive games without breaking a sweat for several years. Its display is what makes it a worthy purchase, as not only does it bring a 240Hz refresh rate for highly fluid movements, but it features a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut for professional work. Moreover, there are plenty of the latest connectivity ports and features for high-bandwidth devices and internet.

The MSI Titan GT77 sets a new gold standard in high-end 17-inch gaming laptops. It harnesses the raw power of a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, designed to handle even the most resource-intensive tasks with ease through its 24 cores/32 threads configuration. Coupled with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, the graphics come to life in extraordinary detail, thanks to the Ada architecture and its ray-tracing capabilities. Now users won't have to worry about any stutters even on the highest graphical settings possible.

But it’s not just about the insides. The 17.3” 4K mini LED display renders every game in a jaw-droppingly vibrant color palette, supported by a 144Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. Add to that the Thunderbolt 4 and DDR5-4800 memory for lightning-fast data transfer and responsiveness, and it makes a high-end 17-inch laptop that is as comprehensive as it is groundbreaking. When choosing a device that can power passion while offering intuitive navigation and faster performance, the MSI Titan GT77 stands unmatched, thereby earning its badge as the best high-end gaming laptop.

How to Choose the Perfect 17-Inch Gaming Laptop

Navigating the labyrinth of 17-inch gaming laptops can be daunting, but a few key considerations can make the process less of a maze and more of a strategic game. Focusing on graphics capability, processing speed, and battery life can help buyers find a laptop that brings the gaming experience to the next level.

Graphics Capability

Graphics capability should never be overlooked. A high-end graphics card ensures crisp visuals and smooth frame rates, even during graphic-intensive gaming. Opting for a laptop equipped with a top-tier card like NVIDIA's RTX series or AMD's Radeon RX can significantly enhance the gaming experience.

Processing Speed

A fast processor is crucial for a seamless gaming adventure. Multicore processors, like AMD Ryzen 5000 or Intel Core i9, handle complex computations swiftly, keeping lag at bay during intense gaming marathons.

Battery Life

Nothing disrupts the flow of a game like a dying battery. Opting for a laptop with a powerful battery life keeps the action going, allowing for uninterrupted gaming sessions that last for hours.

FAQ

Q: Is a 17-inch laptop good for gaming?

Absolutely, 17-inch laptops offer an unparalleled visual experience for gamers. The large screen provides ample real estate for immersive gameplay, making every detail pop.

Q: Can a 17-inch laptop be used for tasks other than gaming?

Yes, 17-inch laptops are versatile machines. Many come equipped with hardware that can handle a variety of tasks – from video editing to 3D rendering.

Q: Are 17-inch laptops portable?

Certainly. Many 17-inch gaming laptops are highly portable and durable, and some feature slimmer sizes and lighter weights.