Far from the couch-potato stereotype, today's gamers are a mobile bunch. You can find them carting their rigs to LAN tournaments, back and forth between home and school, or logging into World of Warcraft via mobile broadband on morning commutes. Being tied to a desk or weighed down by a heavy system aren't very attractive options; gamers want systems that are portable yet have enough power to handle the latest PC games. Lucky for them, it's possible to find such a notebook, though they don't come cheap, and there are a few essential guidelines you should be aware of before making your purchase.

Gaming enthusiasts agree that graphics power is ranked at the top of the component list when choosing the right notebook. When it comes to graphics, it's important to understand the pros and cons of multi-GPU solutions such as Nvidia's SLI technology and ATI's Crossfire. With two graphics cards, the computer effectively divides the graphical workload between the cards to improve performance. Multiple graphics cards, however, can be expensive; instead of one card, you're essentially paying for two, and this can add up to $400 to the price of your system. Also, the inclusion of SLI doesn't necessarily mean you get double the performance boost; sometimes the performance increase is minimal. Another drawback of choosing SLI is that it consumes greater power, requiring multiple cooling fans that sometimes buzz loudly.

 

Whether you decide to go with dual graphics cards or a single high-end graphics card, you'll definitely want to get Windows Vista with DirectX 10 support to make the most of your graphics choice. Earlier this year, Microsoft made a big splash with the Vista OS, and one of the main selling points was exclusive support for DirectX 10, a new API designed to take advantage of the horsepower of top-end cards and SLI setup. DirectX 10 enhances 3D graphics rendering and multimedia capabilities. 

Networking is also a major concern for gamers. In lightning-fast, first-person shooter titles, a one-second lag time can mean the difference between fragging and being fragged. Gamers often prefer wired connections, although wireless technologies have come a long way. Most gaming notebooks come with blazing-fast gigabit Ethernet and built-in wireless a/b/g receivers.  Some notebooks also include the faster and more reliable draft N technology, which will be finalized as a new standard later this year. Mobile broadband is another networking option. You can look for a system that includes it, or keep your mobile-broadband options open and purchase a PCI Express Card from your carrier of choice. 

Gaming systems, as expensive as they are, can do more than just play games. Aside from having top-end components, many gaming notebooks come preloaded with a robust array of multimedia features, including built-in stereo speakers and subwoofers, TV tuners, remote controls, and integrated webcams. These features ensure that no matter what type of media you want to enjoy, your gaming notebook will be up to the task now, and two years from now. Similarly, if you're dropping lots of cash on a state-of-the-art-gaming rig, you're going to want to show it off. That's where the flashy paint job comes in.

 

So whether you're amped up to rocket-blast your friends in Unreal Tournament 3, guide the course of evolution in Sid Meier's latest creation Spore, or hunt monsters in Age of Conan, we've got your picks here for a powerful gaming notebook.