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Gaming monsters coming for you
As eSports takes off professionally and gaming becomes more serious for young and old, new machines from Acer take performance to new levels, writes ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK.
The Predator range is also differentiated by its accessories. Acer last week unveiled these four beauties:
- Predator Cestus 510: customisable high-performance gaming mouse with a precise optical sensor that supports up to 16,000 DPI;
- Predator Gaming Chair: includes detachable cushions and lumbar spine support to give players an edge during marathon gaming sessions;
- Predator Hard Case: protects the machine with a hard outer shell and customizable foam inserts that fit exactly around the PC;
- Predator Aethon 500 extra-durable mechanical keyboard with a lifespan of 70 million strokes per key, customizable with 16.8 million colors;
The Predator laptops
As gamers increasingly opt for the portability of laptops, Acer has come to the party with the Predator Helios range.
“We’ve expanded our Predator Helios gaming notebook line in response to popular demand from gamers seeking extreme performance on the go,” said Jerry Kao, president of IT Products at Acer.
The high-end Predator laptop, the Helios 500, can also be configured according to budget. The “junior” Helios 300 Special Edition has been upgraded from its predecessor.
“The Predator Helios 500 and Helios 300 gaming notebooks feature Acer’s proprietary thermal technologies and powerful components that, coupled with our award-winning software, deliver unparalleled gaming experiences,” said Kao.
The stand-out feature of the Helios 500, however, is its overclocking capability. This means that the settings of the processors can be tuned to deliver faster performance, a capability usually only open to gaming hardware specialists.
The overclocking features of the 8th Gen Intel Core i9+ processors and GeForce GTX 1070 graphics cards can be accessed from a control panel included in the software on the machine.
The insane performance also generates insane heat, which is managed by two Acer AeroBlade 3D metal fans and five heat pipes that release hot air and circulate cool air through the machine.
An RGB backlit keyboard on the Helios 500 and the red backlight on the 300 give the feeling of piloting a spacecraft. Where will it go next?
Kao, who has been with Acer for 23 years, told Gadget that he expected the next breakthrough in computing to revolve around artificial intelligence.
“Computing power is getting stronger and stronger, handling things that were not doable in past, including mixed reality and AI. In 20 years we will still be using a device similar to what we are using right now, but the interface will be different. By that time there will be no keyboard. Maybe voice control, or even just think and you’ll see something automatically appear.”
