Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 15.6" LED Notebook Computer, Intel Core i5-3230M 2.6 GHz, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 8 64-Bit

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 15.6" LED Notebook Computer sets itself apart from other laptops in an increasingly crowded field by including dual nVIDIA GT650M graphics cards with 2GB of RAM on each card via the laptop's UltraBay interchangeable slot.

Two separate cards means double the graphics capabilities, which also means you'll need serious processing power under the hood. The Y500 provides that with a 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5-3230M dual core processor (which can be overclocked to 3.2GHz) and 6GB of PC3-12800 1600 MHZ RAM. That adds muscle to an already amped machine that's perfect for hardcore gaming or graphics-intensive applications. It also includes a 1TB hard drive.

With such powerful graphics, the display has to stand out. The 15.6" Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution backlit LED display features a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is perfect for watching movies or playing games. The display is a VibrantView (glossy) TFT with a brightness of 220 nits for increased sharpness and contrast.

Other amenities include networking via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or Gigabit Ethernet connections, USB 3.0 and HDMI connectivity and integrated JBL 3W stereo speakers (1.5 watt x 2) that are Dolby Home Theater v4 certified. Although there is no optical drive, it does include a 6-in-1 card reader with MultiMedia Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, SD, SDXC and xD-Picture Card support.

Even the keyboard is geared toward a high-end user, featuring a full-size LED-backlit 6-row layout and a numeric keypad. There's also a touchpad with 4-point multitouch support. If gaming is your passion, this notebook, with its unique dual-card feature, is one to consider.