Sometimes, one just isn’t enough. Where sibling variations and sub-models used to be a foreign concept, it has now become common practice to release accompanying builds under a primary line, with terms like “Pro”, “Lite”, ‘Plus”, and the like, blending it all into everyday lexicon. Local hardware manufacturer Aftershock spares no exception for their latest member, launching the Forge 15 alongside the Forge 15 Elite and Pro versions to form an affordable trifecta of gaming laptops for gaming enthusiasts.
And while value doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with performance, the Forge 15 series has been specially crafted to deliver on that front, with each one surpassing the capabilities of the last.
So what makes one machine superior to another within the same series? It’s easy to put it down to pricing and specifications but by sharing the same DNA strand, the Forge series sets itself apart from the competition, while working off a base premise for gamers out there. Consistency in design and technology might be easier for the bigger companies, but Aftershock shows that it knows its customers and what they want, and are committed to the baseline.
As a comparison, similar models by HP (OMEN 15″ w/ 1660ti GPU: S$2,199), ASUS (ROG STRIX SCAR II 15″ w/ 2060 GPU: S$2,998), and Lenovo (Legion Y740 15″ w/ 2060 GPU: S$2,849), are priced above a certain threshold.
Decked out in a compact alloy design, the laptops sport an elegant, futuristic cut that accompanies a 15.6-inch display for increased immersiveness. The keyboard, meanwhile, swaps out the usual design for a softer, more tactile touch, featuring a fine blend of linear feedback and 2mm key depth for greater accuracy. With fewer misclicks and reduced actuation force, the gaming experience should prove to be a pleasant one, especially when you’re trying to clock that APM in StarCraft, or manoeuvring around the vast expanse of King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.
Under the hood, the Forge 15 family is outfitted with the latest 9th Gen Intel Core processor that promises to unleash maximum performance and speed. Say goodbye to everyone’s greatest enemy in the online arena – lag – and expect peak gaming capabilities; content creators will stand to benefit as well, with it allowing for more heavy lifting support.
All of the above features are then packed into a 2.2kg chassis – a more-than-reasonable weight for a power-packed, well-rounded machine. There’s more to the trio than baseline features and functions, though, with each performance-value marriage catering to the demands of various user types.
AFTERSHOCK FORGE 15
The base model of the series, the Aftershock Forge 15 sets the bar with a deadly S$1,151 and GTX 1050 graphics card combo that offers the highest upgradable option to GTX 1650. Accompanying the graphical prowess is a fluid 120Hz display for a smooth gaming experience, which can be further enhanced by the 144Hz wide colour gamut selection.
Essentially, the ultra-fast refresh rate is set to push gaming enthusiasts to stay on their, well, game at all times, while enjoying visual fidelity. It’s bound to be quite the exciting affair – after all, what’s more satisfying than watching the opponent die is watching them die in higher definition, especially after snagging a team kill with McCree’s Deadeye in Overwatch.
Apart from gaming, the Forge 15 is also designed to process creative applications efficiently. Users who regularly work with graphically-demanding software like Premiere Pro, After Effects, Maya, and the like would appreciate the extra horsepower, which makes it quite the versatile pick for both work and play.
Straddling the fine line between impressive base performance and welcome affordability, Aftershock’s Forge 15 is well-suited for content creators looking for that extra oomph of heavy-lifting productivity, and the resident gamer who seeks to dive into the beautiful world of gaming titles – even while on the go.
| Processor Support | – 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H Processor (4 Cores Up to 4.1 GHZ) – 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H Processor (6 Core, Up to 4.5 GHZ) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 – 3GB GDDR5 Video RAM – Support PCIe x8 – Microsoft DirectX 12 compatible – GeForce CUDA Technology – Battery Boost Technology NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 – 4GB GDDR5 Video RAM – Support PCIe x8 – Microsoft DirectX®12 compatible – GeForce CUDA Technology – Battery Boost Technology Intel UHD Graphics 630 – Dynamic frequency – Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology – Microsoft DirectX 12 compatible 3 Active Display Support |
| Storage | – One changeable 2.5” 7 mm (H) HDD/SSD, SATA interface – 2 PCI-E Gen 3 X4 M.2 Bays |
| Audio System | – High Definition Audio – Built-in array microphone – Built-in two speakers – Sound Blaster Cinema 5 |
| Pointing Devices | Built-in touch pad with Microsoft PTP multi-gesture and scrolling function |
| Keyboard | RGB tactile hybrid silent keyboard with Macro support. – 15 CoLor Options – Single Zone |
| IG Ports | 1 x USB 2.0 port 1 x USB 3.0 (USB3.1 Gen 1) port 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (Type-A) 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (Type-C) 1 x Mini Display 1.4 port 1 x HDMI™ 1.4B output port (with HDCP) 1 x 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone / Microphone) 1 x Microphone Jack 1 x RJ-45 LAN port 1 x DC-in jack |
| Slots | 6-in-1 Push-Push card reader – MMC / RSMMC – SD / mini SD / SDHC / SDXC Two M.2 card slots – 1st for WLAN Combo M.2 2230 Card with PCIe and USB interface – 2nd for SSD M.2 2280 Card with SATA / PCIe Gen2 x2/x4 interface |
| Power | – Full Range AC 120W adapter, AC in 100~240V, 50~60Hz, DC output 19.5V, 6.15A – Removable 6 cells Smart Lithium-Ion battery pack, 47WH |
| Dimensions | 361mm (W) x 258mm (D) x 24.9mm (H) |
| Weight | 2.2kg including 41WHr battery |
AFTERSHOCK FORGE 15 ELITE
Where the Forge 15 serves as a delightful entry to the series, the Forge 15 Elite takes it up a notch by swapping out the GTX 1650 graphics card (at its best) for a GTX 1660Ti boost. With a 32% performance increase from its GTX 1660 counterpart, users can most certainly look forward to a richer, more enhanced gaming experience. Fancy playing gorgeously-designed AAA titles on Ultra settings? The dream’s soon to become reality.
Gaming ecstasy is further elevated with the laptop’s 120Hz refresh rate feature that’s been carried over from its base model. Much like the Forge 15, the Elite iteration also offers an additional 144Hz option, ensuring that its frame rates can continue to run smoothly without compromise to performance.
The Forge 15 Elite retails from an attractive S$1,601, cementing its position as a highly viable choice for the more enthusiastic gamers with a leaner wallet – in particular, those who are more acquainted with the technical specifications.
| Processor Support | 9th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-9750H Processor (6 Core, Up to 4.5 GHZ) |
| Chipset | Intel 300 series Express Chipset |
| Memory | – Dual channel DDR4 – Two 204 pins SODIMM sockets, support DDR4 2666mhz (Real operation frequency depends on processor), Up to 64GB |
| Display | 15.6″ 120HZ FHD (1920X1080) Matte Display – Wide Viewing Angle – 16:9 display Slim Bezel Design |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 1660ti 6GB GDDR5 – 6GB GDDR6 Video RAM – Support PCIe x8 – Microsoft DirectX 12 compatible – GeForce CUDA Technology – Battery Boost Technology Intel UHD Graphics 630 – Dynamic frequency – Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology – Microsoft DirectX® 12 compatible – 4 Active Display Support |
| Storage | – One changeable 2.5” 7 mm (H) HDD/SSD, SATA interface – 2 PCI-E Gen 3 X4 M.2 Bays |
| Audio System | – High Definition Audio – Built-in array microphone – Built-in two speakers – Sound Blaster Cinema 5 |
| Pointing Devices | Built-in touch pad with Microsoft PTP multi-gesture and scrolling function |
| Keyboard | RGB tactile hybrid silent keyboard with Macro support. – 15 CoLor Options – Single Zone |
| IG Ports | 1 x USB 2.0 port 1 x USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1) port 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (Type A) 1 x DisplayPort 1.3 over USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Type-C) 1 x Mini Display 1.2 port 1 x HDMI 2.0 output port (with HDCP) 1 x 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone / Microphone) 1 x Microphone jack 1 x RJ-45 LAN port 1 x DC-in jack |
| Slots | 6-in-1 Push-Push card reader – MMC / RSMMC – SD / mini SD / SDHC / SDXC Two M.2 card slots – 1st for WLAN Combo M.2 2230 Card with PCIe and USB interface – 2nd for SSD M.2 2280 Card with SATA / PCIe Gen2 x2/x4 interface |
| Power | – Full Range AC adapter, AC in 100~240V, 50~60Hz, DC output 19.5V, 6.15A, 120W – Removable 6 cells Smart Lithium-Ion battery pack, 47WH |
| Dimensions | 361mm (W) x 258mm (D) x 27.9mm (H) |
| Weight | 2.2kg including 48.96WHr battery |
AFTERSHOCK FORGE 15 PRO
The last, but not the least. The apex of gaming is presented in the form of the Forge 15 Pro, which comes outfitted with a whopping RTX 2060 graphics card and 240Hz refresh rate duo. Its most noteworthy feature, however, is definitely the sub-$2,000 price point; being tagged to a starting price of S$1,831 is quite the steal for a beastly gaming machine of such.
Powered by NVIDIA’s RTX20- series of GPUs, the laptop is set to boast support for ray-tracing technology, bringing to the table enhanced graphical performance alongside the added touch of realism. Users, as such, can look forward to more realistic effects, such as reflections on a water surface, varying shadow lengths cast by a light source, and brighter flames from a bonfire.
While both the Forge 15 and Forge 15 Elite come with a 144Hz refresh rate in tow, the Pro build has that stacked on top of a 240Hz display for the ultimate gaming experience. Fans of fast-paced titles, in particular, will stand to benefit from the ultra-fast, fluid response, especially where competitive shooters are concerned.
Value and performance – that’s what the Aftershock Forge 15 Pro lives up to.
| Processor Support | 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H Processor (6 Core, Up to 4.5 GHZ) |
| Chipset | Intel 300 series Express Chipset |
| Memory | – Dual channel DDR4 – Two 204 pins SODIMM sockets, support DDR4 2666mhz (Real operation frequency depends on processor), Up to 32GB |
| Display | 15.6″ 144HZ FHD (1920X1080) Matte Display – 100% SRGB Wide Color Wide Viewing Angle – 16:9 display Slim Bezel Design |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR5 – 6GB GDDR6 Video RAM – Support PCIe x8 – Microsoft DirectX® 12 compatible – GeForce CUDA™ Technology – Battery Boost™ Technology Intel UHD Graphics 630 – Dynamic frequency – Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology – Microsoft DirectX 12 compatible 4 Active Display Support |
| Storage | – One changeable 2.5” 7 mm (H) HDD/SSD, SATA interface – 2 PCI-E Gen 3 X4 M.2 Bays |
| Audio System | – High Definition Audio – Built-in array microphone – Built-in two speakers – Sound Blaster Cinema 5 |
| Pointing Devices | Built-in touch pad with Microsoft PTP multi-gesture and scrolling function |
| Keyboard | RGB tactile hybrid silent keyboard with Macro support. – 15 CoLor Options – Single Zone |
| IG Ports | 1 x USB 2.0 port 1 x USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1) port 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (Type A) 1 x DisplayPort 1.3 over USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Type-C) 1 x Mini Display 1.2 port 1 x HDMI 2.0 output port (with HDCP) 1 x 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone / Microphone) 1 x Microphone jack 1 x RJ-45 LAN port 1 x DC-in jack |
| Slots | 6-in-1 Push-Push card reader – MMC / RSMMC – SD / mini SD / SDHC / SDXC Two M.2 card slots – 1st for WLAN Combo M.2 2230 Card with PCIe and USB interface – 2nd for SSD M.2 2280 Card with SATA / PCIe Gen2 x2/x4 interface |
| Power | – Full Range AC adapter, AC in 100~240V, 50~60Hz, DC output 19.5V, 6.15A, 120W – Removable 6 cells Smart Lithium-Ion battery pack, 47WH |
| Dimensions | 361mm (W) x 258mm (D) x 27.9mm (H) |
| Weight | 2.2kg including 48.96WHr battery |
The Forge 15, the Forge 15 Elite, and the Forge 15 Pro. With the trio in place, Aftershock continues to uphold their commitment of delivering value and performance, executing a fine balancing act between the two. The three builds may be designed with similar traits and purpose in mind, but each serve a different type of user best – the fact that none of them has hit the S$2,000 mark is but a tempting bonus.
A life of affordable gaming is the true life to lead, it seems, and the Forge 15 series may very well be a good starting point for that.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
