Top 12 laptops for less than £599

MSI VR705

Powerful multimedia credentials, but lacks the quality of its rivals here

With a 17-inch screen, spacious controls and a dedicated graphics card, the MSI VR705 (£509 inc. VAT) is a multimedia centre aimed at the home user.

The 17-inch screen is this machine's best point, proving bright and sharp. The glossy coating helps to add vibrancy to colours, although it does also result in more prominent reflections.

The resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels creates plenty of space onscreen, so you'll be able to easily work with multiple windows open. Being one of the largest screens here, it's also ideal for movie playback or photo editing.

The Nvidia GeForce 8200M G graphics card offers better 3D performance than most of the laptops here, even proving powerful enough to play entry-level games. It also copes fine with demanding multimedia applications and tasks, and is more than capable for everyday use.

Read more: MSI VR07-046UK review

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James Rivington

James was part of the TechRadar editorial team for eight years up until 2015 and now works in a senior position for TR's parent company Future. An experienced Content Director with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. Skilled in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), E-commerce Optimization, Journalism, Digital Marketing, and Social Media. James can do it all.