November 10th marks the release of Fallout 4 – a game so highly anticipated many gamers are expected to upgrade their existing desktops or buy an all new laptop just for the occasion. With Intel’s 6th generation “Skylake” processors getting added to laptop configurations at major manufacturers for the first time this month, now might make sense to jump on a new gaming laptop.
What should you be looking for in a gaming laptop in 2015? Fallout 4 is going to be demanding, so you’ll need something like a Quad Core processor 3rd generation or later. (The minimum CPU to run is a 2nd Gen Core i5-2300.) Also, while integrated graphics have come a long way in recent years, you’re going to need a discrete mobile GPU like a GTX 950M or better — otherwise you’ll be stuck on low resolution settings at best. Furthermore, you’ll need a minimum of 8GB RAM and 30GB of hard drive space – it’s not a small game.
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Use Coupon: SEPTEMBER20
- Quad Core i5-6300HQ Skylake
- GeForce GTX 950M
- 8GB RAM
- 1TB HDD
This is about as cheap as you can go and still run Fallout 4 on better than low resolution settings. The “Pavilion” title at HP normally means an Everyman laptop, but since this is the most expensive Pavilion laptop HP sells, it’s more or less an Everyman gaming laptop (when you add in the GPU). The Pavilion is not going to satisfy the elite gamer crowd, and my guess is you’ll need a cooling pad underneath to prevent excessive heat issues, but the price point is unbeatable after an October-running coupon code. One final note: the display is only 720p, but for $50 more ($40 more after coupon), you can upgrade to 1080p.
Use Coupon: SEPTEMBER25
- Upgrade to Quad Core i7-6500HQ Skylake
- Upgrade to GeForce GTX 950M
- 8GB RAM
- 1TB HDD
- 1080p Display
I almost want to say to get this laptop just because of the coupon code. If you want a big screen 17.3-inch gaming laptop for less than $800, you’re not going to find it anywhere else. Excellent value on the Envy 17t after a 25% off coupon running this October. When you arrive at HP you’ll need to manually customize to the Core i7/GTX 950M graphics option in order to use the coupon (one extra click), but for a big-screened choice, this is an impressive offer.
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Use Coupon: SEPTEMBER30
- Upgrade to Core i7-6700U Skylake
- Upgrade to GeForce GTX 950M
- Upgrade to 256GB SSD
- Upgrade to 1080p IPS Display
- Upgrade to Intel AC WLAND
Like the Envy 17t, this Envy 15t requires a few upgrades in order to get full use out of the 30% off coupon code. That said, it’s a great buy for the spec to dollar ratio you get. To get an Intel Skylake Core i7 laptop with a discrete graphics card and a 256GB SSD under $1,000 is impressive, and all the more so for under $850.
Use Coupon: USPY54108
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- Quad Core i7-4720HQ
- GeForce GTX 960M 4GB
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB HDD
- 1080p Display
We mentioned earlier in this post that you want some of the latest specs to keep up with the times. This Lenovo Y50 isn’t the latest Intel 6th gen Skylake processor — in fact it’s only 4th gen — BUT the specs/savings ratio is so high we have to recommend it. This week Lenovo has a massive $641 off coupon code running, making this a historic low price by a lot. Also the Lenovo Y50 has a great reputation among Dealzon users, with some even swearing you don’t need a cooling pad underneath to run modern video games.
- Quad Core i5-6300HQ Skylake
- GeForce GTX 960M
- 8GB RAM
- 1TB HDD
- 4K 2160p Touch Display
It’s 2015. Better resolution is the trend of our time, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the cheapest 4K gaming option to run Fallout 4. This Dell Inspiron 15 7000 series 4K Touch laptop released just last week at Dell and still has a $150 instant savings discount. It might be the cheapest 4K laptop out there right now rocking a Quad Core Intel 6th gen “Skylake” processor. There is a cheaper Inspiron 15 7000 Series with similar specs and only a 1080p display for $799, but as of right now, you’re better off getting the HP Pavilion 15 and upgrading to 1080p.
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- Quad Core i5-6300HQ Skylake
- GeForce GTX 965M
- 8GB RAM
- 1TB HDD
- 1080p IPS Display
Looking to run Fallout 4 on Max settings? Now you need to start beefing up to the $1,200+ mark. At 7.07 lbs, the Alienware 15 is a bit of a beast for a 15.6-inch laptop, but it’s Alienware, and they don’t skimp on the little things like a quality cooling system. There are no savings on this base configuration, but if you’re willing to spend a bit more cash and upgrade to a Quad Core i7 Skylake CPU and GTX 970M GPU, there’s a $169 off discount on this higher end configuration, now $1,449.99.
What did you think of our list? Did we miss any good deals in the ~$1,000 price range? Let us know in the comments below.