Acer Predator G9-793 Review
The Acer Predator 17 G9-793 improves upon previous Predators by including Nvidia GTX 1070 graphics, GSync compatibility, and a Thunderbolt 3 port in a reasonably priced 17-inch laptop. It’s pricing, however, will be the deciding factor for you because its features, design, and performance are not nearly on pace with some of the alternatives on the market today.
Read On…
Acer Predator G9-793 Specifications
| Screen | 17.3 inch, 3840 x 2160 px resolution |
| Processor | Intel Skylake Core i7-6700HQ CPU |
| Video | Nvidia GTX 1070 8GB |
| Memory | 32 GB DDR4 2133Mhz |
| Storage | 512 GB NVMe SSD + 2 TB 2.5″ HDD |
| Connectivity | Wireless AC Qualcomm Atheros |
| Ports | 4x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1 with Thunderbolt 3 support |
| Battery | 90 Wh |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Weight | 4.25 kg or 9.36 lb |
PROS:
- Good deal.
- Swappable fan part.
- There are many ways to store things and connect to the outside world.
- The battery life is better than normal.
CONS:
- Heavy, bulky form.
- Fans can get noisy.
Design
You may have seen older Asus ROG laptops from 2013 to 2015, which are still in widespread use today, and the Acer Predator 17 is similar in size and thickness to those, with a soft plastic covering. The finish is pleasant to the touch and durable over time, but it shows fingerprints and hand oils terribly. This is especially true of the palm rest, which will be in constant contact with your hands. The laptop’s design emphasizes black with several red details. The unit’s rear has undergone a subtle modification that makes it appear more sophisticated, but I’m unable to determine whether or not this is merely cosmetic.
However, I still have some aesthetic complaints, such as the oversized logo on the hood and the permanent light bars. They can be turned off inadvertently by turning off the keyboard’s backlighting, which in turn turns off the lid’s LEDs. This is, of course, not the intended behavior. Likewise, the power button and macro keys are almost permanently illuminated by light. These are incredibly distracting when trying to watch a film in a dark room, and the disc’s illuminated cover effectively kills the Predator for anyone hoping to bring it into a business setting.
Price
Since the Predator 17 G9-793 has yet to be commercially available, I will update this post when it becomes available, or you can click here for the most up-to-date pricing and specifications. The base model should start at roughly $2,000, and the higher-end variants to sell for $2,300 to $2,500 at launch, with discounts later.
Both models will feature an Nvidia GTX 1070 processor, a Full HD display, 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of SSD storage. Acer also sells the Predator 15 G9-593, a laptop with a 15.6-inch display and nearly identical specifications and price (beginning at roughly $2,000 for GTX 1070 versions).
Display
The screen layout is also unique. The 17.3-inch IPS display on the 17 needs to have the sharpness of the 4K resolution found on the 17.3-inch IPS display of the 17 X. That’s not necessarily a step-down, though, because this is still the optimal resolution for gaming even with more powerful The rear ventilation fans have also undergone a minor redesign. Instead of a simple vertical grille, the Predator 17 X features intricate triangular venting.
The Predator 17, like the similar but somewhat smaller Acer Predator 15, has a Cooler Controller fan module that can be swapped in place of the optical drive to keep the laptop cool during extended gaming sessions. There’s a simple release latch on the base of the system that you may use to make the change. However, it can’t be swapped out mid-game, so you’ll have to decide if you need the extra cooling before you start your epic gaming session.
Ports
The optical drive, microphone jack, headphone jack, and power port are on the right side, while the left features two USB 3.0 ports. The remaining two USB 3.0 ports, one USB-C port, a DisplayPort connector, an Ethernet jack, an HDMI port, and a Kensington lock slot are all on the right side. The top bezel houses a high-definition webcam with a 1,280 by 720 pixels resolution.
There’s also a lot of space, thanks to the combination of the 256GB SSD and the 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive. The Predator 17 features dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless networking. In addition, you may use Killer DoubleShot Pro to speed up your gaming by combining your Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections. Finally, Acer provides a dedicated Predator support line and a limited two-year warranty on the Predator 17.
Keyboard
The G9-793 has a keyboard quite comparable to that of the G9-791. However, I could not replicate my positive typing experience with the G9-791 sample. The keys still feel pleasant and travel 2 mm into the frame. However, the resistance is too light for my liking. They were too simple to press and actuate on this test sample, leading to many instances of me accidentally activating the wrong ones.
However, the low resistance allowed me to type quickly, and the rattling was pleasant. However, you should be aware that this is not a silent typist. The design is also solid, with a dedicated NumPad area and the arrow keys visually and physically isolated from the rest of the keyboard by a red border.
Conclusion
The laptop is for gamers who don’t mind showing off their strong, bold, red-and-black gamer style, but don’t want to take out a second mortgage to get a system that can handle a VR headset and offer high-quality gaming. It costs $2,000 and comes with some cool extras, like a fan that can be swapped out, which should appeal to gamers who want more than just the basics.
