The backlit keyboard, which uses Lenovo's typical cupped keys, is responsive and makes a satisfying click-clack when typing. The 15-inch machine has a number pad and full-size arrow keys, but the keyboard is a little cramped and the right Shift key is only half as long as usual â itâs quite frustrating at first, but I got used to it after a full dayâs use. The Y580âs palmrest doesnât taper, which leaves a pretty vicious edge that really dug into my wrists after a few minutes of gameplay or regular computer use.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y580âs dark, brushed aluminum lid and palmrest make for a surprisingly angular and attractive laptop that isnât as ostentatious as most gaming rigs. Though itâs not as solid as the durable Razer Blade, the Y580 certainly doesnât feel flimsy or cheap. It weighs 6.2 pounds â almost half a pound less than the Blade â but is nearly twice as thick at 1.4 inches.

Editor markup for Lenovo Ideapad Y580 review photos. This is only visible in the story editor.

The entire touchpad dips a little when pressure is applied and it reverberates oddly on tap-to-click, but itâs smooth, responsive, and works well for most gestures. However, the palm rejection software prevents the trackpad from working at the same time as the keyboard â for example, I couldnât hold down the W key to run and use the trackpad to turn my camera simultaneously. The majority of gamers will be using a mouse most of the time, but you can take the annoying step of disabling palm rejection for the few situations in which trackpad gaming is the only option. Aside from some horrendous glare in direct sunlight, the 15.6-inch screen is sharp and bright, and is generally pleasant to look at. The Y580âs JBL speakers made my Mord Fustang playlist sound great, pumping out deep lows and clear highs.

Razer Blade (late 2012) Lenovo Ideapad Y580 Max Payne 3 1080p, high 1080p, very high Borderlands 2 N/A 1080p, high Battlefield 3 1080p, low to medium 1080p, medium The Witcher 2 1600 x 900, medium 1600 x 900, medium

The IdeaPad Y580âs hardware configuration is nearly identical to that of the Razer Blade â which is impressive, considering that at $1,299 it's only about half the price â with the exception of a slightly more powerful 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-3630QM processor and a smaller (16GB) solid state drive. (The Y580 also has a 1TB HDD to cover your other storage needs.) As a result, both machines are roughly equal in gaming performance, with a slight edge to the Y580. The Lenovo runs Borderlands 2 at 1080p on high settings and can play Battlefield 3 at 1080p on medium; it can also handle The Witcher 2 on medium at 1600 x 900, but struggled with the demanding game at 1080p, averaging just 28fps on low settings. The Y580âs fans ramp up during heavy gaming, and the machine gets uncomfortably warm in the middle of the keyboard â right under the WASD keys.

Thanks to the 16GB SSD, the machine boots in 23 seconds and wakes in two, and will likely be even faster on Windows 8. The laptop lasted for a respectable 4 hours and 45 minutes during the Verge Battery Test, outstripping the other machines in this roundup by about half an hour. Youâll need to remain tethered to an outlet in order to play most games, though, since the Y580 throttles its graphics performance when running on battery.

The Verdict

If youâre in the market for an affordable laptop that can double as a daily driver and a gaming PC, the Y580 is probably your best bet. But it isnât without flaws: itâs not going to run every game at full settings, and the palmrest can get extremely uncomfortable for both ordinary browsing and long gaming sessions. However, itâs the lightest of the bunch, has the best battery life, and is also the least expensive. When compared with the Razer Blade, the Y580 isnât quite as good-looking or durable, has a smaller screen, and doesnât have the Bladeâs customizable LCD touchpad. However, with a better keyboard and similar â if not slightly better â performance for about half the price, Lenovoâs offering is a well-made machine thatâs definitely gaming-capable.

as tested: $1,299