Update 10/5/15: We updated the Envy 17t options as it became cheaper and only cost about $12 (after coupon) to get a Quad Core plus a GTX 950M upgrade.
Broadwell, we hardly knew ye! Intel’s 6th generation Skylake processor are now releasing in dove at major OEMs such as HP’s Envy 15t and Dell’s mainstream Inspiron 15. This is good news for gamers looking for a new gaming laptop as you’ll be able to secure the latest processor/technology, securing some longevity to your gaming investment.
Released earlier this week, we’ve rounded up all the gaming capable laptops from HP and Dell that are sporting the latest Skylake CPUs. The best part is most of these will be accompanied with a strong mid-range mobile GPU, notably the GeForce GTX 950M and beyond (the Alienware 17 has a mid/high-end GTX 970M but it’ll cost a pretty penny).
For typical gamers with a budget constraint, we recommend the Envy 14t with Quad Core i7 and GTX 950M for only $840 after the hefty 30% off coupon listed below. The Envy 15t is similarly priced too, and in lieu of a quad-core, you’ll be getting a 256GB SSD in return. All HP laptop deals listed below are valid thru October 31st, 2015.
HP Skylake Gaming Laptop Deals
HP Envy 15t Core i7-6700U Skylake, GeForce GTX 950M 4GB, Full HD 1080p IPS, 256GB SSD — $839.99
Use coupon: SEPTEMBER30
Components to upgrade:
- Core i7-6500U + GeForce GTX 950M ($100)
- Full HD 1080p IPS Display ($50)
- 256GB SSD ($190)
- Intel AC WLAN Bluetooth 2×2 ($30)
HP Envy 14t Quad Core i7-6700HQ Skylake, GeForce GTX 950M, Full HD 1080p IPS — $839.99
Use coupon: SEPTEMBER30
Components to upgrade:
- Core i7-6700HQ Skylake + GeForce GTX 950M ($310)
- 12GB DDR3 RAM ($40)
- Full HD IPS 1080p Display ($50)
- 2TB 5400rpm HDD ($100)
HP Envy 17t Core i7-6500HQ Skylake, GeForce GTX 950M, Full HD 1080p IPS — $772.49
Use coupon: SEPTEMBER25
Components to upgrade:
- Core i7-6700HQ Skylake + GeForce GTX 950M ($80)
- At only $80, this is a great upgrade option for a faster Quad Core plus GPU
- This will also allow you to use the 25% off code vs the 20% code
Dell Skylake Gaming Laptop Deals
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series Touch, Core i7-6500U Skylake, Radeon R5 M335 4GB, Full HD 1080p — $749.99
Use coupon: X4V2HWDGX1B9SC
Alienware 13 R2 Core i5-6200U Skylake, GeForce GTX 960M — $949.99
Use coupon: PDP9BD58Z$9Z09
Alienware 15 R2 Quad Core i5-6300HQ Skylake, GeForce GTX 965M, Full HD IPS 1080p — $1,149.99
Use coupon: PDP9BD58Z$9Z09
Alienware 17 R3 Quad Core i7-6820HK Skylake, GeForce GTX 970M, Full HD IPS 1080p — $1,449.99
Use coupon: PDP9BD58Z$9Z09
Components Choices in Gaming Laptops
For the HP Envy laptops listed above, the components you’ll be choosing are extremely important in securing a decent gaming-capable laptop. Unlike the Dell models, HP’s are customizable to your specific needs. The “components to upgrade” list are our recommended picks both in terms of price/performance ratio and its requirement in meeting coupon threshold eligibility. The TL:DR; of it is that you need the laptop to be above a certain threshold before the 30% off coupon can work.
The most important component to upgrade will of course be the CPU + GPU combo that allows you to have a discrete GPU. While HP allows for lower clock speed GPUs to be picked, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you pick anything less than the top model. This is because GPU is one of those components that you simply can’t upgrade after the fact.
For things such as RAM and hard drive, you’ll have a bit more flexibility. So if you don’t need the 256GB SSD we’ve picked in the option, just make sure you choose other components that will add to the $190 value.
Over at Dell’s side of things, all laptops are pre-configured to a the specification listed above. You can still add more customization such as more RAM or other accessories, but we think you’ll get the best value if you purchase the upgrades via third-party retailer – which can be significantly cheaper.