Acer Predator Helios 500 Review

Introduction

In the world of gaming laptops, the Acer Predator Helios 500 is one of the most powerful machines on the market. This laptop is designed to cater to the needs of serious gamers who demand high performance, speed, and quality graphics. In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at the features, performance, and design of the Acer Predator Helios 500.

Design and Build

The Acer Predator Helios 500 has a sleek and modern design, with a black and red color scheme that is common among gaming laptops. It features a 17.3-inch Full HD IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which delivers sharp and clear visuals. The laptop is made of high-quality materials, and the build quality is excellent. It has a sturdy keyboard and touchpad, with excellent feedback and response.

Performance

The Acer Predator Helios 500 is powered by an 8th generation Intel Core i9 processor with a base clock speed of 2.9 GHz, which can be turbo-boosted to 4.8 GHz. This processor is paired with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card with 8GB of dedicated VRAM, which makes it a powerful machine for gaming and other intensive tasks. The laptop comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is upgradable up to 64GB. It also has a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, which provides fast and reliable storage.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard on the Acer Predator Helios 500 is backlit with RGB lighting, which is customizable through the PredatorSense software. The keys are well-spaced and offer good feedback, making it comfortable to type on for long periods of time. The touchpad is large and responsive, with multi-touch support and gesture recognition.

Connectivity

The Acer Predator Helios 500 has a good selection of ports, including three USB 3.1 Type-A ports, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a DisplayPort 1.4, an Ethernet port, and an audio jack. It also has Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity.

Battery Life

The battery life on the Acer Predator Helios 500 is average for a gaming laptop, with up to 3 hours of battery life under normal usage. However, it is important to note that the high performance of this machine requires a lot of power, so it’s recommended to keep it plugged in while gaming or performing intensive tasks.

Cooling System

The Acer Predator Helios 500 has a robust cooling system that includes two fans and five heat pipes, which effectively dissipate heat and keep the machine running cool even under heavy loads. The fans are also relatively quiet, which is a plus for gamers who prefer a quiet gaming experience.

Price

The Acer Predator Helios 500 is priced at around $2,000, which is on the higher end of the spectrum for gaming laptops. However, the price is justified considering the high-end components and excellent build quality that this machine offers.

Pros:

1. Powerful performance: The Acer Predator Helios 500 comes equipped with a powerful Intel Core i9 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM, making it a top performer in terms of speed and graphics rendering.
2. Large display: The laptop features a 17.3-inch display with a resolution of 1920×1080, providing a large and clear viewing experience.
3. Gaming features: The PredatorSense software allows users to customize the laptop’s performance and cooling settings to optimize the gaming experience. It also has a backlit keyboard and customizable RGB lighting.
4. Ample storage: With a 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD, the Helios 500 has plenty of space to store games, media, and other files.
5. Upgradeable components: The laptop’s components can be easily upgraded, allowing users to improve performance and increase storage capacity as needed.

Cons:

1. Heavy and bulky: The Helios 500 is a large and heavy laptop, weighing in at 8.8 pounds, which can make it difficult to travel with.
2. Poor battery life: Due to its high-performance components, the laptop has a short battery life of only a few hours, making it necessary to stay close to a power source.
3. Expensive: The high-end components and gaming features make the Helios 500 a pricey option for those on a budget.
4. Loud fans: The laptop’s fans can be noisy, particularly when running high-performance applications or games.
5. Limited portability: Due to its size and weight, the Helios 500 is not a practical option for those who need a laptop for on-the-go use.

Table:

Conclusion

Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 500 is a top-performing gaming laptop that offers high-end components, excellent build quality, and a sleek design. Its powerful processor, graphics card, and storage make it an excellent choice for gamers and other power users who demand high performance. While the battery life is average, the cooling system is robust, and the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable and responsive. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, the Acer Predator Helios 500 is definitely worth considering.

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