IFA 2017: Acer Expands Predator Gaming Lineup
Acer is expanding its Predator gaming brand with its most powerful gaming desktop yet, as well as a new HDR-supported monitor and a new range of accessories.
Along with a range of new PCs and other devices announced at the company’s IFA 2017 press conference, Acer unveiled its most powerful desktop gaming PC ever, which CEO and chairman Jason Chen described as “a true gamer’s dream come true”.
The new Predator Orion 9000 can be configured up to an Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition 18-core processor, up to 4-way graphics, up to 128GB of quad-channel DDR4 memory and up to 44TB of storage.
“The Predator Orion 9000 is the most powerful PC we’ve ever made,” said Jeff Lee, General Manager, Stationary Computing, IT Products Business, Acer.
“With 4-way graphics and 18-core processors, it is a platform that takes gamers and intense graphic users beyond their dreams,” Lee said.
A black and silver “spacecraft-like” case encompasses the powerful components of the Orion 9000, with customisable lighting integrated onto the front bezel and on the optional fans. A large side window panel also allows users to see inside while still ensuring electromagnetic interference levels are kept to a minimum.
Despite its size, Acer highlighted the Orion 9000’s ability to be moved between locations thanks to the inclusion of two handles and a set of wheels. The side panels of the PC can also be easily removed for upgrading components.
The Orion 9000 also features liquid cooling, as well as Acer’s IceTunnel 2.0, to keep temperatures down.
“IceTunnel 2.0 is an advanced airflow management solution that cleverly separates the system into several thermal zones, each with an individual airflow tunnel to expel heat. Huge metal mesh panels on the front and top allow more cold air in and the rising hot air of the liquid-cooled CPU out, while up to five 120 mm fans in the front, top, and back channel cool air through the chassis,” Acer said.
Four AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics cards are supported by the PC, or two NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080Ti cards in SLI. The Orion 9000’s processor can even be overclocked with a single press of a button.
A new curved gaming monitor with HDR support was also introduced by Acer. Gaming monitors are an important category for the company, which said it had seen 103% year-on-year growth in its Predator monitors.
Acer’s Predator X35 monitor features a 200Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA G-SYNC for smoother gameplay, as well as a quick 4ms response time. The 35-inch WQHD-resolution (3440×1440) display also supports Acer HDR Ultra and quantum dot technologies for what Acer said is “the best possible contrast quality with high dynamic range”.
A 1800R curve helps to improve immersion, particularly in simulation games, while Predator GameView allows the monitor to optimise visuals for different type of games and BlueLightShield reduces blue light emitted by the monitor.
Two new ‘Gadgets’ are set to expand Acer’s gaming accessory market: the Predator Galea 500 gaming headset, and the Predator Cestus 500 gaming mouse.
Featuring 7.1 virtual surround sound and Acer TrueHarmony 3D Soundscape Technology, the Predator Galea 500 is able to track the movement of the user’s head and adjust in-game sound based the orientation.
“Featuring a driver diaphragm made from bio-cellulose with rubber surround, the Predator Galea 500 headset delivers clear highs with resounding lows, and responds quickly to precisely reproduce vocals and mid-high range notes, while a unique acoustic cavity helps deliver punchy rhythmic bass,” Acer said.
A “unique dual switch design” is a key feature of the Predator Cestus 500 mouse, and allows its click resistance to be adjusted depending on the type of game being played. The mouse also features customisable RGB lighting, eight programmable buttons and five on-board profile settings.
Acer said the Predator Orion 9000 will be available from Harvey Norman in Q1 2018 with prices starting at $6,999. The Predator X35 monitor will be available in early 2018, while local availability for the new Predator accessories will be announced in early 2018.
