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Acer reveals new Predator gaming desktop, notebook and display
The Predator G1 desktop, Predator 17X laptop and Predator Z1 monitor are the latest entries in the series.
Acer is made a truckload of PC announcements at its NYC event today, and new gaming gear was part of the news. The company pulled the wraps off of a trio of Predator series devices, including the Predator 17X gaming notebook, Predator G1 gaming desktop and Predator Z1 monitors. The trio joins Acer's gaming line that already includes a pair of gaming laptops, desktops, displays and even an 8-inch tablet. Let's take a closer look at each of the new machines, shall we?
For those who prefer to do their gaming on a desktop, Predator G1 remains compact enough to take with you, should the need arise. The G1 supports NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan X graphics alongside 6th-gen Intel Core processors and can employ up to 64GB of RAM. Acer says its taken the internals from its previous Predator G6 desktops and crammed them into a much smaller enclosure. Best of all? The G1 is ready to handle VR, and it does so without taking up a ton of space.
The Predator 17X gaming notebook follows the Predator 17 that Acer trotted out at IFA last year. As the number suggests, this laptop keeps its 17-inch display and a similar design to last year's model. That 17-inch panel comes in HD IPS (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K UHD IPS (3,840 x 2,160) options, depending on how high-res you want the visuals to be. Inside, there's an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 GPU, bringing desktop-level graphics to Acer's new gaming notebook.
To keep things cool, the company developed a three-fan setup. In addition to the usual two fans, there's a third in the front of the laptop that pulls in air from the that side of the machine and blasts it directly over those components that get hot in the midst of battle. Acer's Predator 17X is also VR-ready, and the company says the new notebook and the Predator G1 desktop are the only machines that support four VR standards, including both Oculus Rift and HTC Vive in addition to OSVR and StarVR. Both gaming machines also include Killer DoubleShot Pro which allows you to use Ethernet for gaming and a Wi-Fi connection for streaming music and the like -- at the same time.
Last but not least, Predator Z1 series of monitors includes curved gaming displays at 31.5-, 30- and 27-inches. Most notably, it supports NVIDIA's G-Sync technology that improves graphics performance to remedy screen tearing and skipping problems. What's more, that 30-inch Z1 display also sports a 21:9 aspect ration for ultra-wide views. Acer's new monitors aren't the first to include the NVIDIA tech, but the feature will certainly be a welcome addition.
In terms of pricing and availability, all three of the new devices will be available in the US and Europe in June. The Predator 17X notebook and Z1 displays will arrive in China in May, while the G1 will go on sale there in July. Acer's new gaming laptop starts at $2,799/€2,499/¥39,999 and gets pricier depending on the configuration. That compact G1 desktop pricing starts at $2,300/€1,199/¥10,999, again increasing in cost as you upgrade the internals. Lastly, the Z1 curved displays begin at $600/€599/¥4,999 and vary depending on size. Unfortunately, Acer didn't specify pricing for each model.
Update: Here are hands-on pictures of the Predator G1 desktop and 17x laptop. As you'll notice right away, the G1 is much smaller than the G6, which was introduced last year. But that doesn't mean Acer's new gaming rig isn't powerful. It comes with the latest Intel 6th-gen core processors and support for up to Titan X NVIDIA graphics. That's good enough to make it compatible with a few virtual reality headsets, including the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
And, because why not, Acer is throwing in a suitcase (pictured below) if you're one of the first 1,000 people to order a Predator G1.
Meanwhile, the Predator 17x looks the same as its predecessor, the 17, but Acer did make some changes internally. The gaming laptop now features desktop-grade NVIDIA GTX 980 graphics, making it capable of supporting the same VR platforms as the G1. This is good news for those of you who have, or plan on having, a consumer Rift or Vive virtual reality headset in the near future.
Edgar Alvarez and Chris Velazco contributed to this report.
