Asus claims quad-core gaming laptop 'world first'

17in monster

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

7th October 2008 11:34 GMT

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Asus has introduced what it claims is the world's first gaming notebook with a quad-core processor, beating the likes of Alienware and VoodooPC to the punch.

The G71 will incorporate Intel's four-core Core 2 Extreme QX9300, the same chip used in Dell's new Precision M6000 notebook, though that's aimed at serious usage rather than gaming.

Asus' G71 quad-core gaming laptop: first of its kind?

The Intel CPU is paired with an Nvidia GPU: the GeForce 9700M, which has 512MB of GDDR 3 video memory. The system's main memory is DDR 3 too, 4GB of it clocked to 1066MHz.

Asus said the G71 will be available with up to two hard drives for up to 1TB of storage capacity. The screen's a glossy 17-incher with a two-megapixel webcam in the bezel. The visuals are accompanied by sound pumped through two stereo drivers and a sub-woofer, all from speaker specialist Altec Lansing.

The G71 will come with 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. It's got all the usual ports, plus HDMI and eSATA. Optical disc options include a Blu-ray/DVD#177;R/RW combo drive.

Secondary IM-centric display panel included

Asus also touted the G71's secondary display panel, a readout intended to flash up IM messages received while your busy gaming.

What it didn't say, however, was when the quad-core G71 will go on sale over here, or how much it'll cost when it does. Perhaps there's room for Alienware to get in first, after all...

Asus G71 Photo Gallery

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