Best gaming laptop under $1,200?

Looking for a gaming laptop with a budget of up to $2667 (I can stretch it by a few hundred bucks if 😁). I need something that can handle modern titles at a decent level for a portable machine. I’ve been eyeing the Dell Inspiron, which seems alright, but is that actually a solid move or am I missing better options? Also, is there a massive performance gap between an Intel Core i5 and an Intel Core i7?
P.S. Battery life isn't a priority since it'll basically be plugged in all the time...
Thanks!

I don't know what specs you were looking at or what price that Lenovo was listed for, so I can't really give you an opinion on it...

But, I can tell you to check out these options instead:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/example_link...sort=4a&page=7
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/example_link...sort=4a&page=8

There are plenty of solid, affordable choices there. If gaming is your only priority, stop obsessing over the processor. Just make sure the resolution isn't higher than 1080p and focus on getting the strongest GPU possible—something like a GTX960. If you're on a tight budget, a GTX950 will work, but the first one is definitely better.

Why does the GPU and resolution matter so much? Because that's what actually dictates your gaming experience. A faster CPU, more RAM, and an SSD definitely help, but if you're trying to push a massive resolution through a weak graphics card, you're dead in the water.

If you want to see the actual numbers, you can look up FPS benchmarks for various games here. Just search for the specific GPU you're eyeing, like a GTX960m, and match it against the resolution of the laptop you're planning to buy:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-....138006.0.html

You'll see that a card like that handles modern titles pretty well at 1080p on high settings. But once you try to crank everything to Ultra, even it starts to struggle because that resolution is demanding...