Acer has pumped the most eye-popping features and capabilities currently possible into a new range of gaming machines launched in New York yesterday.
The company announced the latest additions to the Predator Helios and Nitro gaming laptop series at the company’s annual next@acer global press conference in the up-and-coming Brooklyn suburb.
“Brooklyn has become more and more diverse, it’s an area that is up and coming, and it represents new lifestyles,” said Acer CEO Jason Chen. “Our theme this year is turning a new chapter for creativity.”
The highpoint of the event was the unveiling of a new sub-brand, ConceptD, geared towards professional creatives. However, the gaming devices earned the biggest oohs and aahs.
Acer unveiled two new Predator Helios gaming notebooks, both running on Windows 10. The new Predator Helios 700 includes a HyperDrift keyboard that slides forward, allowing increased airflow directly through the top of the notebook, enabling gamers to push the powerful components to their highest potential. The redesigned Predator Helios 300 includes a sleek modern look and is powered by either up to an NVIDIA GeForce RT 2070 with Max-Q Design, or the latest GeForce GTX GPUs, yet still retains its budget-friendly price tag. It’s well-suited for task-heavy computing, as its high-end hardware provides the performance needed for gaming, streaming, and video and photo editing.
“Continuing to deliver best-in-class performance, gamers can look to Acer’s Predator Helios line for powerful and affordable gaming notebooks,” said James Lin, General Manager for the Notebooks and IT Product Business. “They are innovative, future-proof and reliable thanks to advanced thermal technologies that keep them cool during intense gaming sessions.”
“With the new 9th Gen Intel Core processors we have taken another big step forward in delivering premium performance and platform features powering the world’s best gaming laptops,” said Steven Long, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group and General Manager, Client Computing Group sales, Intel. “The new Predator Helios laptops are a great example of the years of close collaboration between Acer and Intel to help raise the bar on the capabilities gamers and creators should expect in a laptop.”
“It’s great to see Acer bring such a wide portfolio of gaming devices designed to meet the needs of so many different types of gamers with their new Predator and Nitro series offerings,” said Mark Linton, General Manager, Consumer and Device Sales, Microsoft Corp. “Acer continues to innovate and bring great gaming experiences to market for consumers.”
Click here for detailed specs of the new Predator Helios and Nitro machines.
Acer provided the following information on the Predator Helios and Nitro devices:
Predator Helios 700 – Extreme Performance and Unconventional Design
Powering the uniquely designed Predator Helios 700 notebook is an army of the latest and greatest technologies ready to battle, including up to an all new 9th Gen Intel Core i9 processor for top of the line overclockable performance, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 or 2070 GPU, up to 64GB of DDR4 memory, and Killer DoubleShot Pro with Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650 and E3000 — delivering up to four times more network capacity in dense environments than previous generation wireless AC networks — while plenty of high speed storage keeps load times short. All that power makes games roar to life on the notebook’s 17-inch 144Hz FHD IPS[1] display with 3ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. Five speakers and a subwoofer keep the games immersive and engaging with full and realistic audio.
Introducing HyperDrift for Enhanced Cooling and Ergonomics
One of the Helios 700’s most interesting features is also incredibly useful. Its HyperDrift keyboard is part of the notebook’s thermal architecture, which consists of two of Acer’s custom-engineered 4th Gen AeroBlade 3D Fans, five copper heat pipes, a vapor chamber and Acer CoolBoost Technology. By simply sliding the keyboard forward, two additional air intakes are uncovered above the keyboard and below the display, giving the powerful heat-generating components extra air flow for maximum cooling and unleashed overclocking. The glass panel also provides a view of the notebook’s heat pipes.
The HyperDrift keyboard improves ergonomics; with the keyboard closer now, gamers can keep a good distance to the 17-inch screen without over extending hands. It provides desktop comfort in a notebook form factor. The keyboard also features per-key RGB lighting, anti-ghosting and MagForce WASD keys. The MagForce Keys use analog-like linear switches that trigger actuation immediately upon the initial press, and increase up to 100 percent to give players more control over precise movements in the game. A Precision Touchpad is outlined with blue lighting and features two discrete mouse buttons below the pad for easy clicking.
A Turbo hotkey quickly engages overclocking while the new PredatorSense hotkey provides immediate access to CPU and GPU temperatures, fan control, RGB lighting, and more. Per-key RGB lighting also enhances online gaming with Predator RGB Assault-League of Legends (LoL) by tying in the keyboard’s lighting to the action on the screen while battling in LoL.
Click here for full details of the Predator Helios 300 and Nitro machines.
Predator Helios 300 — Raising the Bar for Midrange Gaming Notebooks
The best-selling Predator Helios 300 gaming notebook just got better with the addition of powerful technologies and features, along with a new sophisticated design. Gamers will be most excited about the combination of up to the newest 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processors for premium performance of with the addition of the latest of a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with Max-Q Design supported by a Turbo key for one-punch overclocking and Killer DoubleShot Pro for fast and lag-free networking. With up to 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory and up to two PCIe NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 plus a hard drive, it’s the powerhouse gamers crave for playing today’s AAA games.
But most noticeable is the notebook’s new look. Its metal chassis now rocks the stylish teal blue accents and keyboard backlighting found on other Predator notebooks. A narrow bezel around the display and a redesigned keyboard with contemporary looking Predator fonts give it a hip and edgy look.
Praised for being one of the first notebooks in its class to feature a 144Hz display, the new Helios 300’s bright 15.6-inch or 17.3-inch Full HD IPS1 display is now framed by a narrow border and includes 3ms overdrive response times for a tear-free, seamless gaming experience.
Cooling Technology Inspired by Nature
Keeping the notebook running cool and at peak performance is an advanced and efficient thermal design that unlocks the true potential of the Helios’s powerful hardware. Most critical to keeping temperature low is a dual-fan cooling system that includes one of Acer’s 4th Gen AeroBlade 3D Fans. This latest generation fan design was inspired by bionic silent owl flight mechanics that maximize airflow and minimize noise. The new 0.1mm-thin fan blades include a serrated edge, winglets along the top and bottom, as well as a curved fin along the inner portion of each blade. This results in up to a 45 percent improvement in airflow. Coupled with strategically placed intake and exhaust vents and Acer CoolBoost technology, the Helios 300 stays calm under pressure and handles intense overclocked gaming sessions with ease.
Last but not least is a completely new keyboard featuring distinctive Predator fonts and 4-zone RGB lighting. Usability and functionality are improved with new PredatorSense and Turbo hotkeys, an enlarged spacebar, and concave-shaped, highlighted WASD keys, arrow keys, and hotkeys.
The Predator Helios 700 and 500 gaming notebooks will be available in South Africa in September, pricing has not been confirmed
Click here for full details of the Nitro 7 and Nitro 5 gaming laptops.
The new Nitro 7 laptop is for casual gamers looking to boost their gaming performance as they connect with friends online. In addition, Acer has updated the Nitro 5 series laptop with the latest NVIDIA GeForce® GTX graphics, a new display with a 144Hz1 refresh rate, and a low-latency response time of only 3ms3.
“The new Nitro 7 and Nitro 5 gaming notebooks prove that performance gaming doesn’t need to break the bank,” said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Product Business, AcerInc. “Gamers now have more features packed in sleek designs to elevate their gaming experiences.”
“It’s great to see Acer bring such a wide portfolio of gaming devices designed to meet the needs of so many different types of gamers with their new Predator and Nitro series offerings,” said Mark Linton, General Manager, Consumer and Device Sales, Microsoft Corp. “Acer continues to innovate and bring great gaming experiences to market for consumers.”
Nitro 7: A Striking New Metal Chassis
Acer’s new Nitro 7 is for casual gamers looking for the best in both design and performance. It has a brand-new sleek metal chassis measuring just 19.9 mm (0.78 inches). Its high-resolution 15.6-inch display reproduces lifelike colors at a 144Hz refresh rate with a 3 ms response time for a tear-free gaming experience — crucial while in the throes of battle. A 9thGen Intel Core processor and the latest NVIDIA GPUs power the Nitro 7 to ensure a seamless gaming experience. It also has ample storage, with two slots available for M.2 Gen 3×4 PCIe SSDs using NVMe technology in RAID 0, and up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM with up to 2TB of HDD storage.
Click here for full details of the Nitro Nitro 5 gaming laptops, and the Nitro Stream PC for streaming.
Nitro 5: Designed for Domination
Acer’s updated Nitro 5 laptop allows users to enjoy their favorite games in exceptional detail with a Full HD IPS display in either a 17.3-inch narrow bezel display, or 15.6-inch with animpressive 80 percent screen-to-body ratio.
The Nitro 5 combines a 9th Gen Intel Core processor1, the latest NVIDIA GPUs, two M.2 Gen 3 x4 PCIe SSDs using NVMe technology in RAID 01, and up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM for superior gaming performance at a value. It effortlessly streams gameplay with Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 with 2×2 MU-MIMO technology. Users can also connect supporting gadgets with an array of ports such as HDMI 2.0, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1, and more.
Cool Under Fire
Both the Nitro 7 and Nitro 5 feature dual fans, plus Acer Cool Boost technology and a dual exhaust port designed to keep the Nitro 7 chilled out during extended gaming sessions. Cool Boost increases fan speed by 10 percent and CPU and GPU cooling by 9 percent compared to auto mode.
Hotkey Control with Nitro Sense
Users can monitor and manage the Nitro 7 and 5 with Nitro Sense — an app that’s accessible with one touch of the Nitro Sense hot key. Once enabled, users can instantly visualize component temperature, loading performance, power usage, and more. It also allows for fan speed monitoring and adjusting in real time, so gamers can customize their speed or set fans to max when the heat is on. Additionally, users can set up a power plan to achieve optimal power usage in different scenarios, or access Acer True Harmony’s six sound modes, turn sticky keys on or off, and activate the LCD overdrive to bring the display response time down to 3ms3.
Prioritize Gameplay with Killer™ Ethernet and Acer Network Optimizer
Both the Nitro 7 and Nitro 5 adopt Killer Ethernet E2500 or Acer’s Network Optimizer to prioritise gameplay. Gamers no longer need to worry about video freezes as overall latency performance is improved by up to 25 percent in single application usages, and more than 10x when multitasking. The Ethernet controller automatically detects game, video and chat streams to deliver prioritized bandwidth for a virtually lag-free user experience. When selecting Auto Mode, Acer’s Network Optimizer is able to categorize high-demand programs to dramatically reduce connectivity issues. Alternatively, users can manually determine priority programs, change the bandwidth allocation for each application, or even block specific applications to tune their connection for optimal performance.
Premium Nitro Sound
The new Nitro 7 and updated Nitro 5 have stepped up their audio quality, providing a truly multidimensional experience to gamers by adopting Waves MaxxAudio advanced sound optimization technologies. MaxxBass intelligently boosts tones to deliver thundering lows that users can hear and feel, even on small speakers or headsets. MaxxDialog is an intelligent speech booster helping separate game dialog from music and sound effects. Meanwhile, MaxxVolume® delivers maximum volume and clarity without distortion and heightens even the most subtle sonic detail in each game.
Click here to read about Nitro Stream, a plug-and-play streaming PC.
Nitro Stream
Acer’s Nitro Stream is a dedicated, plug-and-play Personal Streaming PC (PSPC) for PC and console game broadcasters. Users can enjoy a hassle-free solution for high-quality Full HD streaming, share gameplay, and interact with friends and the gaming community thanks to its integrated hardware and software built from the ground up for livestreaming. Users can optimize streaming performance with an 8th Gen Intel® Core i7 processor, up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD and an integrated capture card. It delivers a 4Kp60 gaming experience while streaming at 1080p with the capture card’s Pass-Through feature. The integrated card does the heavy-lifting to capture, record, and stream high-quality content without lag between gaming and streaming displays. Streamers can free up valuable desk space with this single compact device that can even attach to the back of a display with a VESA mount.
Price and Availability
The Predator Helios 700 and 500 and Nitro 7 and 5 gaming notebooks will be available in South Africa in September. Pricing has not been confirmed.