All proper, that title is perhaps a slight exaggeration, however in an age of pretty slim gaming laptops like the brand new Razer Blade, Acer’s freshly-announced Predator Helios 500 remains to be very a lot within the ‘absolute unit’ class of those sort-of-but-not-really moveable gaming machines – a lot in order that Acer’s high man Jason Chen (pictured above, proper) wanted somewhat assist exhibiting it off onstage yesterday at his firm’s world press convention.
Weighing in at 4kg and measuring 428x298x38.7mm, this 17.3in laptop computer is positively monstrous in comparison with this yr’s svelte Razer Blade, however take one have a look at its specs and also you’ll perceive why. With fashions going all the best way as much as a six-core Intel Core i9+ 8950HK (the + signifying the presence of Intel’s incredi-fast Optane Memory), a 4K IPS Nvidia G-Sync show and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, this can be a laptop computer which means severe enterprise. Let’s have a look.
It will little question price an absolute bomb when Acer finally get spherical to launching it, however there might be cheaper Helios 500 fashions that begin with a Core i5-8300H, in addition to a Core i7-8750H model. For people who really need one of the best desktop substitute cash should buy, nonetheless, you then’ll most likely need to have a look at both the Core i9-8950HK model or the aforementioned + selection with Intel’s Optane Memory.
As with Intel’s desktop processors, the Ok in these Core i9 chips means they are often overclocked, which works a great distance in explaining why the Helios 500 is so huge – it wants that house for all of the further cooling mechanisms Acer’s put in place to assist stop it from throttling below load.
In this explicit case, Acer have employed their twin Aeroblade 3D fan expertise. There are 59 of those tremendous skinny, all-metal followers contained in the Helios 500, so they need to hopefully do a fairly first rate job at holding every little thing cool when the laptop computer’s being pushed to its limits.
There may also be fashions with as much as 16GB of RAM on provide, which could be upgraded to a ridiculous 64GB due to its 4 soDIMM modules, and also you’ll even have the choice of getting a 144Hz Full HD IPS show with Nvidia G-Sync help if the 4K model doesn’t take your fancy.
To be trustworthy, when the one graphics possibility is Nvidia’s GTX 1070 card, I’d say it’s most likely a greater companion for high-frame price 1080p gaming than it’s correct 4K, particularly for those who’re after the absolute best body charges on the highest high quality settings. The GTX 1070 can definitely do 4K – simply – however you’ll seemingly must compromise on graphical constancy for those who’re after a good, playable expertise.
Still, not less than you get loads of alternative with regards to the Helios 500’s storage choices. On the SSD aspect, there might be fashions with an ordinary 512GB SATA drive, or for those who fancy one thing a bit fancier you’ll have the ability to select from both a 512GB or 1TB NVMe SSD. There may also be HDD choices as much as 2TB as effectively.
The keyboard, in the meantime, is your typical gaming laptop computer affair, with blue-ringed WASD and arrow keys complementing the turquoise LEDs surrounding the big touchpad. You additionally get 5 programmable macro keys up the highest, and the P Predator key can change the color of mentioned macro keys so you’ll be able to have every little thing simply so.
In reality, whereas the keyboard appeared to have full RGB lighting beneath after I checked out it from an angle, the precise impact is fairly non-existent. Personally, this can be a good factor in my books, because it makes the laptop computer much less distracting. However, for individuals who are actually into their RGBs, this may occasionally come as one thing of a disappointment.
One factor we are able to all agree on, although, is that Acer’s alternative of font for the Helios 500’s keyboard is a GOOD THING that isn’t the slightest bit sci-fi or making an attempt to ape the ‘try-hard gamer’ nonsense that’s sadly so frequent on actually each different gaming laptop computer in existence.
You get a good variety of ports, too – which you’d hope can be the case given its large footprint. You’ll discover two USB Type-C ports on the left hand aspect subsequent to one among three USB3 ports and an Ethernet port, together with full-sized HDMI and DisplayPort outputs on the again, and separate headphone and microphone jacks on the correct subsequent to the opposite two USB3 ports.
The Predator Helios 500 is, to all intents and functions, nonetheless an enormous lump of plastic, however so far as desktop replacements go, it seems prefer it may very well be a reasonably cheap possibility if proudly owning a desktop isn’t sensible for you. There’s no phrase but on precisely how a lot it’ll price, after all, however I ought to hopefully have the ability to put one via its paces quickly to ship my full and ultimate verdict.
In the imply time, let’s simply breathe a sigh of aid that Acer didn’t additionally announce a particular white and gold particular version of the Helios 500 (full with matching equipment, I would add) like they did for its lesser sibling, the Helios 300, which I’ve included an image of under to your viewing pleasure.
Excuse me whereas I’m going and throw up in a bucket.
