Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL Review and Specs. our favorite Acer Predator Helios 300 gets back at better. For several years currently, the Helios 300 has actually been the best mid-tier video gaming laptop of choice, yet its design was obtaining too familiar. After upgrading the Helios 500, Acer have actually decided to upgrade not just the layout, yet also the hardware and parts in the all-souped up Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL.
Acer has ultimately occurred to spread out the love in a 5-inch laptop that includes a 9th-Gen intel Core i7-9750H processor, a 256GB strong state drive and 16GB of RAM. In tow are a super-fast 144 Hz refresh rate as well as a Turing-based Nvidia GeForce 1660 Ti graphics card. Does it have what it takes to fight the most effective midrange pc gaming laptops you can acquire?
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL Performance
Our testimonial unit is a relatively high-specced arrangement of the newer Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL, loading some new hardware by both Intel and also Nvidia.
It boasts a Coffee Lake ‘9th Gen.’ Intel Core i7-9750H processor, Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, 16GB of RAM as well as 256SSD for storage. While the GeForce 1660 Ti is the much shorter person in the schedule of ‘large children’ consisting of the Turing GeForce RTX 2080 and also RTX 2080 Ti, the released-in-April GTX 1660 Ti and also it similarly brand-new sibling, the GeForce GTX 1650, inhabit a spot between the last-generation 10-Series “Pascal” GPUs, and also the existing top-tier RTX 20-Series “Turing” GPUs.
Being the first time, we’re examining a laptop with both a GTX 1660 Ti as well as Core i7-9750H, our evaluation area will certainly be setting the benchmark, if it does issue, for the components’ efficiency going forward.
For general efficiency, the incorporation of the six-core (12-threads) processor and also sufficient memory matter for a lot, particularly in a laptop that can be utilized for pc gaming at 1080p and similarly provide on media development tasks. When piled against systems released in mid-2018 that make use of previous-gen cpus and GTX 1050 Ti GPUs, the most up to date iteration of the Helios 300 loads a strike.
Gaming Performance
In theory, and thinking about the GTX 1660 Ti’s area in the power structure, its efficiency needs to be equivalent to a GTX 1070, or a little far better, but still listed below that of a GeForce RTX 1060. Both the GTX 1660 Ti as well as GTX 1650 become part of the brand-new Nvidia Turing design, which is bested by the RTX Line (2060, 2070, 2080, and also 2080 Ti), yet they still birth the GeForce monikers, much like last year’s Pascal GPUs.
That calling series is based upon the consideration that, in spite of using Turing design, both GTX 1660 Ti and also GTX 1650 don’t readily supplies gamers the advanced ray-tracing modern technology or have Tensor cores, required for the anti-aliasing DLSS attribute we’re seeing in a few top-tier games. The principle was for Nvidia developing a much more economical alternative with great performance, even if it will not consist of these prime features, which becomes part of the factor the Helios 300 comes at an excellent price than competitors.
You’ll get away with excellent structure prices on a lot of contemporary video games dipped into indigenous 1080p resolutions. With a 144 Hz refresh rate and a refreshed GPU, the Helios PH315-52-78VL delivers 159 frame rates per second (FPS) on the 2018 version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, played at optimum settings, however drops to 134 FPS in Ultra predetermined. It additionally puts a solid proving on various other titles including Fortnite (129 FPS) as well as Organization of Legends (174 FPS) in the very same maximum detail setups. In all these video games, the system provides smooth frame prices.
Design
The 2019 Predator Helios is a totally brand-new laptop computers that shares really little with the previous variations, save for some trademark Predator body lines as well as branding. This one gets thinners bezels around the screen, though not extremely slim, they are smaller sized than previous Helios versions. In the very same scope, it is relatively smaller than its primary rivals consisting of the Lenovo Legion Y740 or the MSI GE63 Raider. Weighing 5.3 extra pounds, it isn’t the lightest gaming about, neither is it the thinnest at 0.9 inches thick.
With the added weight, the laptop computer gets a better construct quality. The main deck is tough and doesn’t lump under anxiety, suggesting you’re obtaining a strong arm rest-rest and key-board deck. The screen, nonetheless, bends a little, however the shock isn’t activated from the thick items of metal utilized for the lid cover. For aesthetics, Acer chose a Blue and black theme, with a dark inside.
On the cover, there’s a lit up Predator logo which can not be switched off, as well as a set of dark-blue accents that aren’t lit. For colleges with strict laptop computer policies, this laptop will have a hard time to obtain approved in such work/school settings.
Display
On the Helios PH315-52-78VL, Acer selected a matte IPS FHD 144 Hz panel made by AU Optronics, precisely, the prominent B156HAN08.2 version that we’ve seen in many other mid-tier gaming note pads, including the bigger Acer Predator Triton 500 and also the Asus GL504 MARK designs.
Having actually examined laptops with the exact same panel, the 144 Hz display is pretty good for everyday usage and also a phenomenal selection for pc gaming, thanks to the brief reaction times and also high refresh price, even if GSync is not supported on this laptop (you will not really need it on a 144Hz panel and GTX 1660 Ti setup, anyway).
Various other display aspects consisting of shade comparison, coverage as well as peak-brightness are only above average, so you need to use the notebook inside your home and also hook-up an external display screen if you require to service a color-accurate task. That stated, the panel is well-calibrated out of package, and doesn’t suffer from any type of obvious light-bleeding or significant color-uniformity discrepancies.
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL Ports
The Predator PH315-52-78VL gets a decent array of ports consisting of: Gigabit Ethernet, one USB Type C, 3 USB 3.1 (one with Power-off charging), an HDMI port, a Mini Displayport as well as an earphone jack. For players, an Ethernet port is perhaps the most effective aspect of connectivity, providing a system for expedited online pc gaming as well as rating sharing as contrasted to cordless alternatives.
Wireless connection comes through Predator Dual Shot Pro Wireless-AC 1550 802.11 a/c Wi-Fi, along with an HD Webcam (1280 x 720) with Super High Dynamic Range (SHDR) assistance.
Key-board And Also Touchpad
Acer uses a chiclet style key-board with wonderful traveling, as well as consists of a specialized numerical keyboard, something you rarely find on a 15-inch laptop computer. It is spacious, with 4-zone RGB backlighting and a main deck of 15 x 15 mm keys. The Power button is still part of the key-board, in the top-right edge, yet Acer disables it by default in Windows, so pressing it won’t place your laptop computer in rest mode by accident.
For the individual keys, Acer utilizes 4-zone controlled RGB LEDs with 4 strength levels, and also you can quickly establish a few impacts in the Lighting subsection of the Predator Sense application. When allowed, the tricks obtain intense, as well as the white/clear boundaries of the keycaps permit the light to beam through.
The clickpad hasn’t changed over the generations, it stays to be an averagely sized plastic surface area with Synaptics equipment and Precision drivers, thus handles daily use smoothly as well as dependably. The individual clicks are peaceful and fairly tight, but that might vary between implementations. There’s a blue trim around the touchpad, offering it a premium look.
That apart, the 2019 Acer predator Helios 300 lineup skimps on a finger-sensor, and does not include other biometric login options.
Battery Life
Except for the brand-new plant of pc gaming ultrabooks, including the Asus Zephyrus S and Razer Blade 15 that supply pretty good battery life, the rest of the group an ordinary entertainer. Its not also typical, some are merely worse. Take the Predator Helios 300, for example, that provides only 5 hrs 13 mins of battery life when streaming videos, but can drop to as low as 3 hr 29 minutes during actual game play.
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We’re not grumbling, though, that’s how pc gaming laptops are reduced to drink battery juice in order to fuel your video gaming sessions. If you’ll be doing intense pc gaming, far better be near a power outlet.
Our Opinion
The Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL is a gaming laptop that does stand out rather as high as it carried out in the past, with a far better CPU and a vivacious Turing GPU for players. With an excellent screen, a refreshed look and also great video gaming efficiency, it still has specific toughness over its seasonal competitors. It gets on the reduced end of the midrange video gaming prices range, though it still provides a different to the spendiest devices form Acer.
Is there a far better option?
Unless you’re looking for something petite. If true, the Asus ROG Zephyrus S, a high-end gaming laptop we can suggest, boasting an Intel Core i7-9750H (6-core) CPU, a GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card, 16GB of memory and also a 512GB SSD. For laid-back players, that sounds like an excessive, of which the Helios 300 emerges as a much better choice at a lower price factor.
Should you buy it?
Yes. The Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL has a few flaws, compensates with a lot of power for the expert creatives and midrange gamers.
Judgment
The Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-78VL is a video gaming laptop computer that does attract attention quite as long as it was carried out in the past, with a much better CPU and also a vivacious Turing GPU for players.
PROS.
- Tough construct quality.
- Outstanding 144 Hz matte display.
- Easy to upgrade.
- Affordable rates.
CONS.
- No SD card viewers or Thunderbolt 3.
- Small 58 Wh battery.