Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725 Gaming Notebook

In terms of performance, the Qosmio X305-Q725 did what was expected from a notebook with its specifications. In several benchmark tests, the Qosmio X305-Q725 performed as well or better than some desktop systems. Even though the Qosmio X305-Q725 won’t compete with today’s highest-end gaming desktops, it achieves very respectable scores for a mobile platform, thanks to its fast NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX GPU, quad-core CPU, and SSD. There are higher-end Qosmio X305 systems out there, but for the price, the Qosmio X305-Q725 strikes a good balance.


 


Recognizing that gamers want performance, as well as good looks, Toshiba incorporated some aesthetic touches into the X305-Q725 that are sure to catch your eye. The notebook doesn’t have as many brightly lit LEDs as some other gaming notebooks we’ve seen in the past, but because lighting is more of a personal preference than anything else, we won’t criticize the notebook for this. The Qosmio X305-Q725’s paint job isn’t quite as elaborate as some systems from gaming boutiques, but you’re not paying for a custom paint job either, which helps keep the price in check. Overall, the system is visually appealing and sounds good too thanks to four Harman Kardon speakers and a subwoofer.

Although the system doesn’t offer a WUXGA 1,920 x 1,200 resolution screen or a Blu-ray drive, it does pack a number of top-shelf components such as a quad-core Intel processor, dual hard drives (SATA and SSD), 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTX graphics. All of this in a mobile platform that run relatively cool and quiet is impressive.

While high-end, powerful, desktop replacement gaming notebooks are never cheap, the Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725’s $2,699.99 price tag is more affordable than many comparable laptops from boutique builders. The components used in this machine compliment each other well and strike a great balance between price and performance.

 

     
  • Excellent Performance
  • NVIDIA 9800 GTX GPU w/ PhysX
  • Quad-core CPU
  • Good sounding speakers
  • Bulky
  • No Blu-ray Drive
  • Display resolution maxes out at 1,680 x 1,050


Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer grew up around technology. From an early age, she was curious about all things related to computers. As a child, Jennifer remembers spending nights with her dad programming in BASIC and taking apart hard drives to see what was inside. In high school, she wrote her senior term paper on her experiences with building custom computers.

Jennifer graduated from the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After college, she began writing full-time for various PC and technology magazines. Later, she transitioned to the Web. In these roles, Jennifer has covered a variety of topics including laptops, desktops, smartphones, cameras, tablets, and various consumer electronics devices. When she's not playing with or writing about the latest gadget, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family, capture memories with her camera, and scrapbook.

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