The Helios 700’s keyboard deck slides out to offer titling wrist rests, revealing twin followers that allow the laptop computer’s Extreme CPU and GPU overclocking modes.
Sarah Tew/CNET
If you are searching for a gaming laptop computer that can blow your socks off, the Acer Predator Helios 700 is it — on a number of ranges. From its progressive sliding keyboard to its class-leading efficiency or its back-breaking weight, to its vacuum-loud followers when maxed out, the Helios 700 undoubtedly makes a giant impression. Just not sufficiently big to scream “buy me!”
LikeInnovative slide-out keyboard.Fast.
Don’t LikeHeavy.Bad battery life even for a gaming laptop computer.Open hinge space permits mud in
Acer does not provide loads of configuration choices for the Helios 700. There are three fashions, all of which have the identical 17-inch 1080p 144Hz G-sync display screen. The $2,200 base mannequin has an Intel Core i7-9750H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD and an Intel Core i9-9980HK processor, and one other $300 bumps you to an RTX 2080. The high mannequin — which is $1,000 greater than the center baby — jumps to an overclockable Intel Core i9-9980HK CPU, 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD.In the UK, the configurations all have extra storage, supplementing the identical capability SSDs with 1TB or 2TB arduous drives; costs there begin at £2,500 and run by means of £3,500. The solely 17-inch Predator laptop computer out there in Australia appears to be the Triton 900.
The center mannequin is basically the candy spot for this laptop computer. Yes, the i9 will carry out higher than the i7, and it has extra reminiscence and storage, nevertheless it’s not essentially value the additional $1,000 (or £1,000) for the efficiency enchancment, except you play loads of video games that successfully steadiness CPU and GPU hundreds (equivalent to Shadow of the Tomb Raider).Acer Predator Helios 700
Price as reviewed
$3,499.99; £3,499.99
Display
17.3-inch 1,920×1,080 144Hz
PC CPU
2.4GHz Intel Core i9-9980HK
PC Memory
32GB 2,666MHz DDR4
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
Storage
1TB SSD
Ports
2 x USB-C (1 x Thunderbolt), 3 x USB-A, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, headphone, mic
Networking
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x , Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet
Operating system
Microsoft Windows Home (1909)
Weight
10.6 lbs./4.8 kg
In most methods it is a generic Predator design, with one large exception: your complete keyboard deck slides towards you, tilting the wrist relaxation/touchpad part down and revealing the twin followers. That permits the system to take away much more warmth from contained in the system and is important for the Extreme CPU and GPU overclocking modes. Exposing the followers additionally means they get loud when maxxing out. Really loud. The loudest followers I feel I’ve ever heard, necessitating that I elevate the amount in my headphones to listen to dialog.On one hand, pulling out the keyboard makes it really feel much more like an actual standalone mannequin with a slanted wrist wrest, which makes it extra snug than most laptops for lengthy typing classes. It additionally signifies that when it is working scorching, it isn’t transmitting warmth up by means of the keyboard, though the Predator’s rubbery keycaps forestall them from getting scorching as nicely.
But to me, it feels prefer it’s arduous to discover a snug method to prepare the laptop computer and a mouse with mousepad for gaming with the built-in show, as a result of that part will get in the best way. And it is just a little odd feeling as a result of when the wrist relaxation is tilted, the touchpad can be tilted, whereas the keyboard deck stays degree.
The design additionally makes this a thick, heavy laptop computer — heavier even than the Alienware Area-51m and the Origin PC Eon17-X, each of which have sooner desktop i9-9900Ok processors in them. The Predator weighs 10.6 kilos, however you possibly can’t actually use it unplugged for greater than a few hours, so you need to schlep the two.4 lb. (1.1kg) AC adapter as nicely.There’s additionally a spot under the show when the laptop computer’s closed, which permits loads of mud for those who’re in a significantly particle-ridden setting (like mine). On the upside, although, it has an illuminated border across the touchpad, a still-too-uncommon characteristic that is vital for these of us who spend loads of time at the hours of darkness.For a giant, heavy 17-inch laptop computer with a equally progressive design, I favor the Predator Triton 900 ($3,000 at Amazon) extra; its rotating show is much more versatile, to not point out higher (this one’s a run-of-the-mill 144Hz IPS G-sync mannequin with a sub-sRGB shade gamut). It’s additionally much more putting trying, compensating a bit for the old school huge bezels that make the Helios 700 look dated and clunky. Unfortunately, that one tops out at an i7-9750H and is not fairly as quick for those who additionally want the pace.Speaking of pace, the Helios 700 is the zippiest we have examined apart from i9-9900Ok-based fashions; no shock provided that the laptop computer H sequence processors have a decrease energy envelope than their desktop analogs. (At its most overclocking within the Helios, the processor attracts about 107 watts.) But you do not actually achieve a lot by working in Extreme mode for gaming — the most important increase appears to be on RTX ray tracing (as measured by 3DMark Port Royal), and that is solely about 10%. You do have the choice of utilizing totally different overclocking settings for the CPU and GPU.Geekbench 4 (multi-core)
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Cinebench R15 CPU (multi-core)
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
3DMark Port Royal (RTX)
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency
Shadow of the Tomb Raider gaming check
Note:
Longer bars point out higher efficiency (FPS)
System configurations
Acer Predator Helios 700 (PH717-71)
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); 2.4GHz Intel Core i9-9980HK; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,666MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 2080; 1TB SSD
Acer Predator Triton 900
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,666MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080; 1TB SSD
Alienware Area-51m
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 3.2GHz Intel Core i9-9900Ok; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,400MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080; 1TB SSD + 1TB HDD 5,200 RPM
Asus ROG Zephyrus GX701
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64-bit); 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H; 24GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,666MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design; 1TB SSD
MSI GS75 Stealth (8SG)
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,666MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 2080 with Max-Q Design; 512GB SSD
Origin PC EON17-X (2019)
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 3.6GHz Intel Core i9-9900Ok; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM3GHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080; 500GB SSD + 2TB HDD
Razer Blade Pro 17
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-7750H; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,666MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design; 512GB SSD