We’ll be honest here. Now that NVIDIA’s new 10-series Pascal graphics cards have appeared in various gaming notebooks, there’s really no reason to buy a laptop with an older 9-series mobile GPU (or desktop system for that matter). While only the GeForce GTX 980 had a desktop-class mobile variant before, all the new mobile Pascal cards are the same as their desktop counterparts, albeit with certain minor tweaks to make them suitable for notebooks. In other words, they are fast, very fast, indeed.
For those looking for an affordable Pascal-powered gaming desktop, the Aftershock Zeal will be right up your alley. It is powered by an Intel Core i5-6500 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a Zotac GeForce GTX 1060 3GB card. You’ll also get a free upgrade to a 120GB SSD and 1TB Toshiba HDD, and a copy of anti-virus software. It is selling at just $1,376 (U.P. $1,475)
The Aftershock S-15 is one of the company’s most popular options, and for good reason. The S-15 has been updated with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, and features an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 120GB SSD and 1TB HDD. The 15.6-inch IPS display has a modest resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, which is hardly a challenge for the GeForce GTX 1070. It can be yours for just S$2,665 (U.P. S$3,033).
Then there’s the workstation-class Aftershock W-17s, which will tear through pretty much anything you throw at it. It features a desktop Intel Core i7-6700K processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU. For storage, it has a 120GB SSD and 1TB HDD. The 17.3-inch 1,920 x 1,080-pixel IPS display even supports NVIDIA G-Sync for a smoother gaming experience. You can get it for S$3,980, or over $300 off its usual $4,338 price tag.
The starting configuration on the Alienware Aurora R5 comes with an Intel Core i7-6700 processor, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, and a 1TB HDD. It comes with a pre-installed one-year subscription to McAfee LiveSafe as well. It costs S$2,699, but for S$3,999 and S$4,999, you’ll be able to upgrade to either an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or 1080 SLI respectively (and also 32GB of RAM and more storage).
Clad in striking neon orange highlights, the 15.6-inch ASUS ROG Strix GL502 is one of the slimmer gaming notebooks out there and packs an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB graphics card, and up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM. For storage, you get a 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD. It can be yours for S$2,498. Alternatively, a more powerful version equipped with a GeForce GTX 1070 can be had at $2,698.
For something a little larger and powerful, there’s always the ASUS ROG G752, a 17.3-inch beast that now comes with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU. It is equipped with an overclockable Intel Core i7-6820HK processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 3,840 x 2,160-pixel IPS display. You can get it at S$4,298, together with a free upgrade to 32GB of RAM.
If you’ve got your eye on a compact gaming desktop, there’s always the ASUS ROG G20, which comes equipped with NVIDIA’s new GeForce GTX 1070 Pascal GPU. It features an Intel Core i7-6700 processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD and 2TB HDD. That’s plenty of power in a 9.5L chassis, and for S$2,598, you can get it bundled with a backlit keyboard and mouse.
The 15.6-inch Gigabyte P55W has been updated with NVIDIA’s 10-series cards as well. It utilizes an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD. Graphics processing is handled by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB card. It is selling for S$2,499 now, down from a usual price of S$2,699. Again, if you’re a GameProSG member, you can slash the price further to S$2,299.
For more power, you can look to the Gigabyte P57X, a 17.3-inch notebook with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070. Other specifications include an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD and 1TB SSD. It can be yours for S$2,999, compared to S$3,399 outside the show. And if you’re a GameProSG member, the price falls to just S$2,799.
The futuristic-looking IdeaCentre Y710 Cube is a nifty VR-ready machine that boasts an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, which actually rivals the old Titan X card in performance. It is equipped with an Intel Core i7-6700 processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD and 2TB HDD. You can get it for $2,499, and a more powerful version with a GeForce GTX 1080 and 32GB of RAM is available at $3,099.
The MSI GS63VR 6RF Stealth Pro features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB graphics card, along with an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD. Finally, you’ll also find an RGB backlit keyboard by SteelSeries on this 15.6-inch machine. It is available now for S$3,099, $100 off its usual price.
Gamers who want more power and a larger screen can consider the 17.3-inch MSI GT72VR 6RE Dominator Pro, a Pascal-powered laptop with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070. Other specifications include an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD. It comes with a SteelSeries multi-color backlit keyboard as well. It is going for S$3,699 now, $100 off its regular price.
The MSI GT83VR 6RF Titan SLI (a renewed GT80 Titan) is one of those over-the-top machines with far more performance than you actually need. It packs 2 x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080s in SLI, along with an overclockable Intel Core i7-6820HK processor, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, a 512GB SSD and 1TB HDD. Its SteelSeries keyboard has mechanical Cherry MX switches, and is lit by a single-color red backlight. It costs S$7,199, or $200 off its usual price.