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Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G (7300HQ, GTX 1060, FHD, Eye-Tracking) Laptop Review

Made for gaming. Acer’s current 17-inch series, known as Nitro, has received a CPU and GPU performance upgrade. The V17 Nitro thus performs very well while at the same time being moderately quiet. In addition, Acer has scrapped the optical drive but included nice gimmicks, such as Tobii eye-tracking.

For the original German review, see here.

A while ago, we had a pre-production model of Acer's Aspire V17 Nitro BE in our lab. Now, we were finally able to get our hands on a model powered by the Intel Core i5-7300HQ, and we can compare it to similarly equipped rivals. From the outside, the Acer notebook is very inconspicuous with the Acer logo embedded on the lid being the only cry for attention. Connoisseurs of Acer’s line-up will be aware of the fact that in addition to its Predator series the Aspire V Nitro series is also made for gaming.

Our review unit currently sells for around $1,800 (1,599 Euros) in Europe. In addition to the aforementioned processor, it is also equipped with Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1060, which should make for a smooth gaming experience, a 17-inch display running at a 1920x1080 (FHD) resolution, 16 GB of RAM, and a combination of SSD (256 GB) and HDD (1 TB). As a little extra gimmick, Acer has also included a Tobii eye-tracker.

Additional models are also available, for example a model powered by the Intel Core i7-7700HQ, or units equipped with a different graphics card, such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. A UHD panel is also available, and memory can be upgraded to 32 GB. The competition is comprised of current 17-inch laptops by Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, and HP. Most of those are equipped with the Intel Core i7-7700HQ but the GPUs differ, and both faster and slower models are lined up to compare against the Acer. The following table shows the most important technical specs.

Asus ROG Strix MSI GT72VR 7RE Gigabyte P57X v7 HP Pavilion 17 HP Omen 17
CPU Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i5-6300HQ
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
Panel 17,3-inch 1920 x 1080 17,3-inch 1920 x 1080 17,3-inch 3840 x 2160 17,3-inch 1920 x 1080 17,3-inch 1920 x 1080
RAM 16 GB DDR4-2400 16 GB DDR4-2400 32 GB DDR4-2400 16 GB DDR4-2400 8 GB DDR4-2400
Storage 256 GB + 1 TB 256 GB + 1 TB 256 GB + 1 TB 256 GB + 1 TB 128 GB + 1 TB
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN (Aspire V17 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7300HQ 4 x 2.5 - 3.5 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile - 6 GB VRAM, Core: 1671 MHz, Memory: 2002 MHz, GDDR5 (Micron), 382.05, Nvidia Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, 1x 16 GB DDR4-2400 single-channel, 1 of 2 slots used, max. 32 GB
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AUO B173HAN01.0, a-Si TFT-LCD, WLED, 16.2M (6-bit + FRC) , CIE1931 72%, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM175
Storage
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, 256 GB 
, + 1 TB HDD (ST1000LM035), 1100 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek High Definition Audio
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: audio in, line out / headphone jack, Card Reader: SD card reader, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Realtek Gaming GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4 (a/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 25 x 422 x 298 ( = 0.98 x 16.61 x 11.73 in)
Battery
69 Wh, 4605 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p webcam
Primary Camera: 1.3 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: 4x stereo speakers, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
3.131 kg ( = 110.44 oz / 6.9 pounds), Power Supply: 771 g ( = 27.2 oz / 1.7 pounds)
Price
1599 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

First things first: the case has been taken directly from the predecessor and has remained unchanged, which wasn’t the worst decision in the first place. Its simplicity and elegance are a big plus, and it refrains from any noticeable bling and light shows. The case is mostly made of plastic and aluminum, although the latter is restricted to the upper side of the base and the lid, which enhances the device’s overall appearance. The polished edge around the touchpad not only separates it visually from the base but also adds a touch of elegance.

The silver bottom rear part that stretches over the hinges has remained unchanged as well. Tobii’s eye-tracking module is located between the two hinges and makes itself noticeable with a small red light. The missing optical drive is not a big deal since the additional space gained by this omission has been fully used by Acer to fit a bigger battery. Also, external DVD burners can be purchased for as little as $20.

Overall, the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE’s case is solid and good. Gaps are consistent and we found no obvious manufacturing deficits. The laptop is very warp-resistant and reacted with minimal creaking to our tests. It flexes a little bit in the middle, albeit only under intense pressure. In terms of rigidity, the lid is on a par with the base, and the corrugated surface further strengthens the lid and prevents the notorious ripple effect that occurs when pressure is applied to the back of the display. Fingerprints can be easily removed with a damp cloth.

Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G

Size Comparison

Even though the V17 Nitro BE’s footprint is a staggering 422 x 298 mm (16.6 x 11.7 inches), it feels rather compact thanks to its meager 25 mm (0.98 inches) thickness. All in all, it was one of the more compact units in our test group, and its weight of 3.1 kg (6.8 lbs) is okay given its 17-inch display.

428 mm / 16.9 inch 294 mm / 11.6 inch 48 mm / 1.89 inch 3.8 kg8.44 lbs419 mm / 16.5 inch 288 mm / 11.3 inch 32 mm / 1.26 inch 3 kg6.51 lbs418 mm / 16.5 inch 296 mm / 11.7 inch 31 mm / 1.22 inch 3.4 kg7.52 lbs416 mm / 16.4 inch 279 mm / 11 inch 33 mm / 1.299 inch 3.2 kg7.12 lbs416 mm / 16.4 inch 274 mm / 10.8 inch 32 mm / 1.26 inch 2.9 kg6.48 lbs422 mm / 16.6 inch 298 mm / 11.7 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.1 kg6.9 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Thanks to the missing optical drive the ports are distributed evenly on both sides. The distribution is well thought-out and the ports, including USB-C, are all located towards the rear. Its 4 USB Ports (2x USB 2.0 on the left side and 2x USB 3.0 on the right side) offer sufficient expandability, although we would have preferred to see 4x USB 3.0. The power port is located on the right-hand side and is very unobtrusive thanks to its angled plug.

Left: Kensington lock, 2x USB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio, SPDIF, SD-card reader
Left: Kensington lock, 2x USB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio, SPDIF, SD-card reader
Right: 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.0 Type-C Gen.2 (Thunderbolt), 1x USB 3.0, HDMI, RJ45, power
Right: 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.0 Type-C Gen.2 (Thunderbolt), 1x USB 3.0, HDMI, RJ45, power
Front: status LEDs
Front: status LEDs
Rear: fan vents
Rear: fan vents

Tobii Eye-Tracker

Tobii eye-tracking tool
Tobii eye-tracking tool

Our review unit came equipped with an eye-tracking module by Tobii, which is located between the two hinges and makes itself noticeable with a small red light when activated. After a quick calibration, the basic functionality is explained by playing a game simulating a spacecraft flying through outer space. Your job is it to destroy the approaching asteroids not by clicking on them but instead by looking at them. Once we got used to it this worked surprisingly well. The tracking module is supported by a number of games covering pretty much all genres and not limited to shooters only.

Quick game demonstrating the Tobii eye-tracker
Quick game demonstrating the Tobii eye-tracker

SD-Card Reader

The SD-card reader is located on the left side and supports all common form factors. Unfortunately, SD cards do not sit flush when inserted but protrude noticeably. We would thus recommend removing SD cards from the slot during transport. The reader is connected via USB 2.0 and achieved around 25 MB/s using our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference card.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
 
125 MB/s +439%
Gigabyte P57X v7
 
78.2 MB/s +237%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
 
76.3 MB/s +229%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
 
73 MB/s +215%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
 
59.1 MB/s +155%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
 
23.2 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
 
205 MB/s +733%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
 
91.2 MB/s +271%
Gigabyte P57X v7
 
90.4 MB/s +267%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
 
87 MB/s +254%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
 
85.8 MB/s +249%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
 
24.6 MB/s

Communication

The Nitro's fast Wi-Fi module
The Nitro's fast Wi-Fi module

The Aspire V17 Nitro BE supports both LAN and Wi-Fi, the former with up to 1 GBit/s. The Wi-Fi module is made by Qualcomm, and it supports all common Wi-Fi standards (802.11 a, b, g, n, ac) and Bluetooth 4.2. In our test, the Nitro BE managed a good 599 MBit/s receiving and a very good 664 MBit/s transmitting data.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
664 MBit/s
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
618 MBit/s -7%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Intel Wireless-AC 7265
543 MBit/s -18%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
541 MBit/s -19%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
524 MBit/s -21%
iperf3 receive AX12
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
674 MBit/s +13%
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
672 MBit/s +12%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Intel Wireless-AC 7265
666 MBit/s +11%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
657 MBit/s +10%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
599 MBit/s

Security

The fingerprint reader is located in the top left corner of the ClickPad
The fingerprint reader is located in the top left corner of the ClickPad

Security is not entirely disregarded by Acer, and the Aspire V17 Nitro BE is equipped with a TPM 2.0 module and has a fingerprint reader installed. Its position is rather odd though: it is located in the touchpad’s upper left corner.

A trial version of Norton Security is also included.

Accessories

Included with the laptop is a charger as well as warranty and service booklets. An external DVD burner would have been a nice and welcome addition.

Maintenance

Acer has passed on dedicated maintenance flaps, which complicates upgrades and maintenance since these now require the removal of the bottom cover. Unfortunately, that is rather complicated, too. It’s important to remember the hidden screw near the eye-tracking module; all other screws are visible and trouble-free. We advise you to use a special spudger to remove the cover. Once opened, maintenance is fairly simple and all components are easily accessible. A dedicated maintenance flap would have been very welcome, though, and it would have made upgrading the device a lot easier.

The bottom cover can be removed with the proper tools
The bottom cover can be removed with the proper tools

Warranty

Our German review unit came with a two-year limited warranty with pickup & return service. For devices purchased in the United States, Acer offers its default one-year limited warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE keyboard
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE keyboard
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE keyboard (with backlight on)
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE keyboard (with backlight on)

Compared to its predecessor, the VN7-792G, the keyboard layout has been slightly modified, most notably around the now full-sized cursor keys. In return, the right shift key had to be shortened. Overall the chiclet keyboard left a good impression. The keys don’t have any horizontal play and don’t wiggle, and typing felt smooth and natural thanks to the key’s 2 mm travel. The actuation point is well defined and the noise level is decently low. Only the space bar was notably louder than all the other keys. The red keyboard backlight has remained unchanged, and its brightness cannot be adjusted – it is either on or off. Our only gripe is about the labels – they are rather delicate and can be hard to read at times.

Touchpad

Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE touchpad
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE touchpad

Our review unit contained a fingerprint reader in the upper left corner of the touchpad. The area around the fingerprint reader can thus not be used for navigation. At 10.7 x 7.9 cm (4.2 x 3.1 inches), the ClickPad is not the largest but still large enough to not feel cramped. We’ve had no issues using it during our tests. The two buttons are located at the bottom of the pad, and they click softly and quietly when pressed. Travel is shallow but the actuation resistance is pretty high, which prevents accidental clicks. Overall, we liked the touchpad with its smooth surface and good slippage. In addition, the ClickPad is nicely highlighted by the surrounding chamfered chromium edge.

Display


Subpixel matrix
Subpixel matrix
Slight clouding at the edges
Slight clouding at the edges

Our review unit’s 1920x1080 IPS panel was made by AU Optronics, and it had a pixel density of 127 ppi. Medial brightness was a good 307 nits, which among its competitors puts it right in the middle. No device was able to compete with the Gigabyte P57X's 408 nits. Unfortunately, brightness distribution is only at 84%, which puts it in last place together with the HP Omen 17. Its low black level (0.26) and high contrast (1,331:1) were very good, and they were better than on most competitors. Our review unit suffered from slight clouding at the edges when displaying all black, which should not matter in real-life scenarios. A big plus is the fact that we found no signs of PWM-flickering.

292
cd/m²
303
cd/m²
301
cd/m²
291
cd/m²
346
cd/m²
307
cd/m²
312
cd/m²
317
cd/m²
297
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B173HAN01.0 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 346 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 307.3 cd/m² Minimum: 19 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 346 cd/m²
Contrast: 1331:1 (Black: 0.26 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.32 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.76 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
90% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
90.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.35
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
a-Si TFT-LCD, WLED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
LED IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
TN LED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Gigabyte P57X v7
IPS, 3840x2160, 17.30
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
HP Omen 17-w100ng
IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Display
-2%
0%
33%
-1%
-1%
Display P3 Coverage
64
67.1
5%
68.3
7%
87.8
37%
65.2
2%
67.2
5%
sRGB Coverage
90.2
84.8
-6%
86.7
-4%
100
11%
87.6
-3%
86.6
-4%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
65.4
62
-5%
63.4
-3%
98.9
51%
64.1
-2%
63.3
-3%
Response Times
-2%
46%
-67%
-5%
4%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
36 ?(20, 16)
33.2 ?(14.4, 18.8)
8%
29 ?(13, 16)
19%
55.6 ?(18.4, 37.2)
-54%
36.8
-2%
35 ?(14, 21)
3%
Response Time Black / White *
26 ?(15, 11)
28.8 ?(7.6, 21.2)
-11%
7 ?(4, 3)
73%
46.8 ?(10.4, 36.4)
-80%
28
-8%
25 ?(4, 21)
4%
PWM Frequency
1000 ?(29)
Screen
-17%
-29%
1%
-17%
-2%
Brightness middle
346
349
1%
299
-14%
441.3
28%
278.8
-19%
342
-1%
Brightness
307
337
10%
277
-10%
408
33%
265
-14%
331
8%
Brightness Distribution
84
91
8%
87
4%
86
2%
91
8%
84
0%
Black Level *
0.26
0.58
-123%
0.27
-4%
0.44
-69%
0.28
-8%
0.32
-23%
Contrast
1331
602
-55%
1107
-17%
1003
-25%
996
-25%
1069
-20%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.32
4.5
-4%
9.65
-123%
5.1
-18%
5.8
-34%
4.35
-1%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.05
10.2
-27%
15.43
-92%
9.8
-22%
10.6
-32%
9.24
-15%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5.76
3.3
43%
9.68
-68%
4.3
25%
8.3
-44%
3.73
35%
Gamma
2.35 94%
2.15 102%
1.89 116%
2.08 106%
2.1 105%
2.23 99%
CCT
6447 101%
6103 107%
11652 56%
7345 88%
5723 114%
6801 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59
55.7
-6%
75
27%
87
47%
57
-3%
57
-3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
90
75.7
-16%
100
11%
100
11%
87
-3%
86
-4%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-7% / -12%
6% / -13%
-11% / -2%
-8% / -12%
0% / -1%

* ... smaller is better

sRGB coverage: 90%
sRGB coverage: 90%
AdobeRGB coverage: 59%
AdobeRGB coverage: 59%

Our tests showed that Acer does not calibrate the display, and DeltaE-2000 deviations of 5.7 and 4.3 for colors and grayscales were too high. We were able to improve on this massively through calibration. Overall, display quality can be considered decent. The combination of low black levels (0.26) and high contrast (1,331:1) makes for a nice color representation.

Color-space coverage was fairly good, at 90% sRGB and 59% AdobeRGB. This renders the panel suitable for moderate non-professional photo-editing.

Grayscales (uncalibrated)
Grayscales (uncalibrated)
Color accuracy (uncalibrated)
Color accuracy (uncalibrated)
Saturation (uncalibrated)
Saturation (uncalibrated)
Grayscales (calibrated)
Grayscales (calibrated)
Color accuracy (calibrated)
Color accuracy (calibrated)
Saturation (calibrated)
Saturation (calibrated)

Thanks to its high brightness and the matte panel the laptop is usable outdoors. Readability is somewhat reduced in direct sunlight but superb in the shade. Reflections are all but nonexistent thanks to the matte panel surface.

Acer Aspire V17 in direct sunlight
Acer Aspire V17 in direct sunlight
Acer Aspire V17 in the shade
Acer Aspire V17 in the shade

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15 ms rise
↘ 11 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 57 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
36 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20 ms rise
↘ 16 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 44 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Against our expectations, the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE surprised us with good viewing angles. When viewed at acute angles from the corners our reference image was covered by a slight bloom, which is not uncommon for IPS displays. In real-world scenarios, you will barely ever notice this effect since it only occurs at extreme angles.

Acer Aspire V17 viewing angles
Acer Aspire V17 viewing angles

Performance

While it is not the fastest model available the Intel Core i5-7300HQ is a full-fledged quad-core processor. 3D acceleration is handed over to an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of GDDR5 VRAM. 16 GB of RAM and a combination of SSD (256 GB) and HDD (1 TB) are on board as well. However, the Nitro is also available in other configurations, with the cheapest entry-level model selling for around $1,250 (1,100 Euros). Our review unit will leave a $1,800 (1,599 Euros) hole in your pocket.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
DPC latencies
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (Benchmark)

Processor

Intel’s Core i5-7300HQ is a full-fledged quad-core processor from Intel’s current Kaby Lake series. Unfortunately, it lacks Hyper-Threading, which is limited to the more expensive i7 processors. With its base frequency of 2.5 GHz it is capable of a 3.5 GHz turbo boost on one core, or up to 3.1 GHz on all four cores. In our tests, the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE was able to outperform the HP Omen 17, although we have to note that the latter was equipped with the i5-7300HQ’s Skylake predecessor, the Intel Core i5-6300HQ. The largest gap between the two was in multi-core performance; single-core performance was comparable for both. All other competitors were powered by Intel’s much faster Core i7-7700HQ processor.

Additional Core i5-7300HQ benchmarks can be found here.

The Nitro passed our 30-minute Cinebench R15 loop with flying colors. Performance was consistent throughout the entire loop, and thermal throttling did not occur during these tests. Detailed information in regard to temperatures can be found in the emissions section.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159 Points +20%
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
152 Points +14%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
151 Points +14%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
151 Points +14%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
133 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
132 Points -1%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
741 Points +47%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
740 Points +47%
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
736 Points +46%
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
736 Points +46%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
503 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
464 Points -8%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.81 Points +20%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.72 Points +14%
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.71 Points +13%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.71 Points +13%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
1.51 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
1.49 Points -1%
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.17 Points +41%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.15 Points +40%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.14 Points +40%
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.04 Points +38%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5.81 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
5.32 Points -8%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
256.8 Points +9%
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
255.5 Points +8%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
236.4 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
220.4 Points -7%
Octane V2 - Total Score
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
39136 Points +17%
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
38782 Points +15%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
33589 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
32794 Points -2%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
1162 ms * -11%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
1044 ms *
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
998 ms * +4%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
954 ms * +9%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10
Cinebench R10
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
Jetstream 1.1
Jetstream 1.1
Octane V2
Octane V2
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6791
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
17618
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4920
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
6800 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
21912 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6594 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
5.81 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
52.4 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.51 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
503 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
133 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
87.8 fps
Help

System Performance

Subjectively, the Nitro made a good impression in overall system performance, and Intel's Core i5-7300HQ and the rest of the hardware work well together. Thanks to its SSD, the system feels smooth without suffering from any unnecessary delays, and the single-channel 16 GB of RAM is adequate. Performance can thus be improved slightly by adding a second memory module. In PCMark 8, the Nitro ranks in the middle of our test group dominated by the MSI GT72VR.

PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Creative
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 7
PCMark 7
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
5009 Points +28%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ, 2300 MHz, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
4711 Points +21%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Samsung CM871a MZNTY128HDHP
4212 Points +8%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
4088 Points +5%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ, 2500 MHz, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3899 Points
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
3569 Points -8%
Work Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
5404 Points +9%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ, 2300 MHz, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
5252 Points +6%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Samsung CM871a MZNTY128HDHP
5214 Points +6%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ, 2500 MHz, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4940 Points
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
4218 Points -15%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
7765 Points +63%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ, 2300 MHz, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
6858 Points +44%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Samsung CM871a MZNTY128HDHP
5310 Points +11%
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
5161 Points +8%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ, 2500 MHz, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4777 Points
PCMark 7
Productivity
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
4911 Points +5%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ, 2500 MHz, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4665 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ, 2300 MHz, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
4189 Points -10%
Score
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Intel Core i7-7700HQ, 2800 MHz, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
6618 Points +19%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ, 2300 MHz, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
5990 Points +8%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ, 2500 MHz, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
5565 Points
PCMark 7 Score
5565 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3899 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4777 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4940 points
Help

Storage Devices

Flexible SSD mount
Flexible SSD mount

Our review unit was equipped with a combination of fast SSD and large HDD storage, with the operating system installed on the Samsung M.2 2280 SSD. It is connected via SATA and scored 502 MB/s and 252 MB/s reading and writing, respectively. The SSD can be upgraded for a faster PCIe model.

Ample storage is provided by the 1 TB hard drive, which according to HD Tune was able to transfer up to 106 MB/s. Considering the hard drive’s speed of only 5400 rpm it performed as expected.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark 3.0 (SSD)
CrystalDiskMark 3.0 (SSD)
CrystalDiskInfo (SSD)
CrystalDiskInfo (SSD)
ATTO
ATTO
CrystalDiskMark 3.0 (HDD)
CrystalDiskMark 3.0 (HDD)
HD Tune
HD Tune
CrystalDiskInfo (HDD)
CrystalDiskInfo (HDD)
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
Gigabyte P57X v7
Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
Samsung CM871a MZNTY128HDHP
HP Omen 17-w100ng
SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
4%
18%
3%
-2%
-25%
Read Seq
493.1
475.7
-4%
521
6%
517
5%
520
5%
495
0%
Write Seq
270.2
419.1
55%
311.8
15%
305.7
13%
353.6
31%
180.2
-33%
Read 512
325.8
336.1
3%
403.1
24%
315
-3%
376.2
15%
315.5
-3%
Write 512
267.8
346.6
29%
332.3
24%
306.1
14%
118.5
-56%
172.4
-36%
Read 4k
28.4
24.7
-13%
33.35
17%
26.04
-8%
32.7
15%
20.25
-29%
Write 4k
76.2
76.8
1%
111.1
46%
82.3
8%
85.3
12%
76.1
0%
Read 4k QD32
344.6
247.6
-28%
331.1
-4%
281.3
-18%
399
16%
141.6
-59%
Write 4k QD32
267
234.9
-12%
318.3
19%
296
11%
132.5
-50%
170.8
-36%
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Transfer Rate Minimum: 61 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 137.2 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 106.4 MB/s
Access Time: 19.4 ms
Burst Rate: 123.3 MB/s
CPU Usage: 6.5 %

Graphics Card

2D graphics and videos are rendered by the Intel HD Graphics 630; 3D graphics are handed over to the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. GPU-switching (Optimus) worked flawlessly and imperceptibly. In synthetic benchmarks, the devices in our test group arranged themselves according to their respective GPUs. The benchmarks were led by devices equipped with Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1070, followed by the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 devices bringing up the rear despite their faster processors. Thus, the Core i5 can easily keep up with potentially faster devices, at least in synthetic 3DMark benchmarks.

Additional GeForce GTX 1060 benchmarks can be found here.

3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Sky Diver (stress test)
3DMark Sky Diver (stress test)
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark Time Spy
3DMark Time Spy
3DMark Time Spy (stress test)
3DMark Time Spy (stress test)
3DMark 11
3DMark 11
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
108027 Points +80%
Gigabyte P57X v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
75190 Points +26%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Intel Core i5-6300HQ
74982 Points +25%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Intel Core i5-7300HQ
59879 Points
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
37573 Points -37%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
35884 Points -40%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
17625 Points +60%
Gigabyte P57X v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
17170 Points +56%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Intel Core i5-6300HQ
11326 Points +3%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Intel Core i5-7300HQ
10984 Points
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5961 Points -46%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5784 Points -47%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5421 Points -51%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Gigabyte P57X v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
23243 Points +57%
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
23170 Points +57%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Intel Core i5-7300HQ
14785 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Intel Core i5-6300HQ
14642 Points -1%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7649 Points -48%
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7360 Points -50%
3DMark 11 Performance
10386 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
64333 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
16238 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
8563 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
4687 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
3375 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Real-world gaming benchmark results were similar to our synthetic benchmark results. Dominated by the MSI GT72VR and the Gigabyte P57X with a lead of roughly 40%, the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE was also bested by the HP Omen 17. Despite the exact same GPU, the latter consistently produced higher frame rates than the Nitro. Still, the Nitro’s performance was certainly sufficient enough to run current games at acceptable frame rates. We expect the laptop to be fast enough for the next two to three years on FHD resolution and, occasionally, high details. However, 4k gaming clearly requires a GeForce GTX 1070.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 187 164.6 154.7 92.5
Battlefield 4 (2013) 182.6 169.5 153.1 98
The Witcher 3 (2015) 130.2 118.1 65.9 37.5
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 115.4 111.4 68.7 58.4
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
133.2 fps +44%
Gigabyte P57X v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
130 fps +41%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6300HQ, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
99.1 fps +7%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
92.5 fps
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung CM871a MZNTY128HDHP
59 fps -36%
Battlefield 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5
144.8 fps +48%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6300HQ, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
101.5 fps +4%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
98 fps
Rise of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
58.4 fps
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
31.2 fps -47%
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung CM871a MZNTY128HDHP
27 fps -54%
The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
37.5 fps
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
19.7 fps -47%
The Witcher 3 soundscape
The Witcher 3 soundscape

Our 60-minute The Witcher 3 loop showed no abnormalities worth mentioning. Frame rates during the test varied between 35 and 40 (FHD/ultra), and we found no evidence of thermal throttling during the test.

012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2046.936.246.92537.832.237.83137.231.737.24034.72934.75034.728.834.76335.730.835.78033.928.333.910032.928.932.912529.324.529.316029.82429.820029.224.629.225029.522.129.531529.42229.440028.520.828.550026.620.326.663026.919.326.980028.518.628.510003017.930125029.517.729.5160032.21732.2200033.117.133.1250035.616.935.6315031.81731.8400031.416.931.4500028.216.928.2630025.31725.3800022.117.222.11000021.317.121.31250023.317.223.31600023.517.423.5SPL42.83042.8N4.11.44.1median 29.3median 17.7median 29.3Delta2.722.7hearing rangehide median Fan Noise The Witcher 3 ultraAcer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (42.8 dB)
Analysis not possible as maximum curve is missing or too high

Emissions

System Noise

Soundscape
Soundscape
Cooling system: two heat-pipes and two fans
Cooling system: two heat-pipes and two fans

Noise levels of 50 dB(A) and more are not uncommon for gaming notebooks, yet Acer is out to prove that black is white: compared to all other devices in our test group the Nitro was the quietest. When idle the fans are not completely off but so slow that the device is practically inaudible. Even the hard drive can only be heard with one’s ear placed directly on top of the device. Medium load resulted in a slight increase to 32 dB(A), and the maximum at high load was 42.8 dB(A). This renders the device audible yet far from annoying. The fans work very well and only produce a slight hum lacking high frequencies altogether. We found no evidence of pulsating fans during our tests.

Noise Level

Idle
30.7 / 30.7 / 31.4 dB(A)
HDD
30.7 dB(A)
Load
32.1 / 42.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.7 dB(A)
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
HP Omen 17-w100ng
6300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Noise
-13%
-10%
-10%
-18%
-19%
off / environment *
30.7
28.8
6%
31
-1%
29
6%
30.8
-0%
31
-1%
Idle Minimum *
30.7
33.9
-10%
34
-11%
30.4
1%
35.3
-15%
35
-14%
Idle Average *
30.7
33.9
-10%
35
-14%
32.1
-5%
35.4
-15%
36
-17%
Idle Maximum *
31.4
37.8
-20%
37
-18%
32.1
-2%
35.4
-13%
37
-18%
Load Average *
32.1
42.7
-33%
37
-15%
45.6
-42%
48.6
-51%
44
-37%
Witcher 3 ultra *
42.8
Load Maximum *
42.8
47.4
-11%
44
-3%
51.5
-20%
49.8
-16%
54
-26%

* ... smaller is better

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.136.533.136.232.12531.532.53232.231.53130.530.832.231.730.5403032.63229305031.631.531.328.831.66330.328.830.330.830.38030.230.529.728.330.210030.231.230.428.930.212526.62724.224.526.616025.827.225.32425.820024.72725.524.624.725023.328.122.922.123.331523.228.824.32223.240021.327.622.420.821.350021.125.621.820.321.16302025.820.519.32080019.428.320.518.619.410001929.820.417.919125018.529.320.117.718.5160018.732.220.91718.7200018.433.521.317.118.4250017.735.420.616.917.7315017.332.318.11717.3400017.131.917.816.917.1500017.228.717.916.917.2630017.225.717.71717.2800017.321.617.717.217.31000017.320.518.417.117.31250017.619.620.817.217.61600017.719.520.917.417.7SPL30.842.832.13030.8N1.541.71.41.5median 18.7median 28.1median 20.8median 17.7median 18.7Delta2.72.82.622.734.734.136.134.434.735.736.832.431.329.432.831.632.931.132.431.730.229.83028.530.831.430.731.229.930.829.228.129.829.529.528.429.729.829.231.928.229.828.63030.631.529.531.428.128.428.129.943.132.133.536.42732.426.942.933.533.534.337.426.433.125.13427.327.42727.225.324.824.227.131.726.125.325.824.323.823.332.828.226.124.424.423.223.722.528.528.725.325.124.522.822.121.628.429.225.525.222.72222.220.829.731.326.424.724.42322.419.931.529.626.524.623.821.420.919.629.633.429.527.125.721.621.518.932.234.731.929.728.526.225.618.235.135.63129.126.425.424.117.935.634.131.43028.325.624.517.734.238.735.633.631.525.625.517.138.337.533.931.127.722.621.717.137.639.634.531.426.623.620.4174033.227.624.520.419.517.91733.630.324.221.318.717.817.51730.52721.219.117.617.41717.327.223.719.218.217.517.517.31723.920.918.317.917.317.517.317.320.919.917.817.917.417.417.117.619.917.917.617.817.217.317.317.517.917.517.417.517.217.217.217.517.446.742.740.43834.733.829.946.85.23.63.12.621.91.35.2median 30.3median 26.4median 25.1median 24.4median 22.6median 21.7median 17.7median 30.55.15.454.33.53.51.94.2hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAcer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XNAsus Strix GL753VD-GC045T

Temperature

3DMark 11 immediately after the stress test
3DMark 11 immediately after the stress test

When idle, temperatures of less than 30 °C (86 °F) are a very good result. Under intense load we were able to locate a hot spot of 48 °C (104 °F) above the keyboard. Surface temperatures of 35 °C (95 °F) on average are okay overall.

The CPU and GPU reached a maximum of 99 °C (210 °F) and 89 °C (192 °F) during our stress test (Prime95 + Furmark), respectively. Thus, the CPU reached its specified thermal limit and, accordingly, throttled down to 2.5 GHz. Running only one of those two programs the CPU stayed at a maximum of 94 °C (201 °F) and was able to retain its full turbo boost speed of 3.1 GHz throughout the entire test.

We ran 3DMark 11 immediately after performing the aforementioned stress test in order to find out whether or not high temperatures have a negative effect on real-world performance, and we can report that this is not the case: the scores coincided with the ones noted beforehand.

Stress test: Prime95 solo
Stress test: Prime95 solo
Stress test: Furmark solo
Stress test: Furmark solo
Stress test: Furmark+Prime95
Stress test: Furmark+Prime95
Max. Load
 37.4 °C
99 F
48.4 °C
119 F
47.9 °C
118 F
 
 29.7 °C
85 F
43.1 °C
110 F
43.6 °C
110 F
 
 21.4 °C
71 F
26.5 °C
80 F
26.5 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 48.4 °C = 119 F
Average: 36.1 °C = 97 F
44.2 °C
112 F
40.5 °C
105 F
39.4 °C
103 F
36.5 °C
98 F
37.8 °C
100 F
30.1 °C
86 F
23.6 °C
74 F
22.7 °C
73 F
20.9 °C
70 F
Maximum: 44.2 °C = 112 F
Average: 32.9 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  42 °C = 108 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.1 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.4 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.2 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.2 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 36.3 °C / 97 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.7 °C / 83.7 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (+0.1 °C / 0.1 F).
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
HP Omen 17-w100ng
6300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Heat
11%
-1%
-16%
10%
-7%
Maximum Upper Side *
48.4
37.7
22%
41.5
14%
51.2
-6%
45.8
5%
41.5
14%
Maximum Bottom *
44.2
36.3
18%
50.6
-14%
56.8
-29%
37
16%
45.5
-3%
Idle Upper Side *
25.8
25.7
-0%
26.4
-2%
29.2
-13%
24
7%
31.8
-23%
Idle Bottom *
25.5
24.4
4%
25.4
-0%
29.2
-15%
23
10%
29.6
-16%

* ... smaller is better

Heat-map top (load)
Heat-map top (load)
Heat-map bottom (load)
Heat-map bottom (load)
Heat-map top (idle)
Heat-map top (idle)
Heat-map bottom (idle)
Heat-map bottom (idle)

Speakers

sound scape
sound scape
Dolby audio software
Dolby audio software

The two double speakers are located on the sides in the front and offered ample performance. Far from perfect but at 79 dB(A) certainly loud enough without producing any distortions. A hint of bass can be detected but mids and highs clearly dominate the soundscape. Overall, sound quality benefits from hard surfaces. External speakers can be connected either via a 3.5 mm headphone jack or an optical output (SPDIF).

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2042.636.242.62540.432.240.43143.931.743.94045.22945.25046.428.846.4635030.8508051.428.351.410053.428.953.412554.824.554.816057.62457.620058.724.658.725061.222.161.231565.32265.340063.720.863.750065.820.365.863070.819.370.880070.118.670.1100068.517.968.5125070.317.770.3160071.81771.820006417.164250066.116.966.1315063.31763.3400060.616.960.6500057.616.957.6630063.11763.1800068.617.268.6100006717.1671250054.717.254.71600051.317.451.3SPL79.53079.5N481.448median 63.7median 17.7median 63.7Delta5.525.536.839.132.432.930.731.229.530.328.630.628.13126.932.425.132.624.231.323.347.122.557.521.661.720.859.819.95919.660.218.971.718.268.817.964.117.764.617.162.917.165.81767.51768.11768.517.371.41775.617.373.817.667.917.560.317.561.229.981.51.352.1median 17.7median 64.11.95.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XNAsus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (72 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 5.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 16% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 8% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.1% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 44% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 45% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 26% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 66% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency comparison (checkboxes selectable/deselectable!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

"Outstanding" is the word that describes the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE’s power consumption best. While the Asus Strix and the HP Pavilion 17 were even more efficient this can be attributed to their significantly less-powerful GeForce GTX 1050 GPUs. When idle, the Nitro only draws between 7.8 and 16.6 W and distances itself from its competition. An average of only 73 W under medium load was even more impressive given that it bested the GeForce GTX 1050-equipped competition, and a maximum of 140 W is on a par with the similarly equipped HP Omen 17.

The comparatively compact 180 W charger is amply dimensioned, and the battery does not discharge even during prolonged periods of high load.

Acer Aspire V17 compact charger
Acer Aspire V17 compact charger
Acer Aspire V17 charger: technical specifications
Acer Aspire V17 charger: technical specifications
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.28 / 0.6 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 7.8 / 13.3 / 16.6 Watt
Load midlight 73 / 140 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, a-Si TFT-LCD, WLED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN), LED IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Kingston RBU-SNS8152S3256GG5, TN LED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800), IPS, 3840x2160, 17.30
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Samsung CM871a MZNTY128HDHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
HP Omen 17-w100ng
6300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Power Consumption
8%
-79%
-88%
11%
-52%
Idle Minimum *
7.8
6.2
21%
20
-156%
15.7
-101%
8.2
-5%
17
-118%
Idle Average *
13.3
12.2
8%
27
-103%
23.4
-76%
11
17%
22
-65%
Idle Maximum *
16.6
14.8
11%
31
-87%
23.5
-42%
11.1
33%
29
-75%
Load Average *
73
84.9
-16%
86
-18%
184.6
-153%
77
-5%
72
1%
Witcher 3 ultra *
118
Load Maximum *
140
120.7
14%
184
-31%
233.1
-67%
116.9
16%
141
-1%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

3DMark 11 on battery
3DMark 11 on battery

Battery life is decent thanks to the laptop’s superb efficiency. The non-replaceable 69 Wh battery lasted for a decent 10:18 hours in our idle test, and an impressive 130 minutes under load. While the HP Omen 17 managed to outperform the Nitro by 15 minutes in this scenario it was also equipped with the largest battery in our test group: a whopping 95.8 Wh. In our real-world Wi-Fi test - during which various websites are opened by a script every 30 seconds, the energy profile is set to “Balanced”, and display brightness is normalized to 150 nits (66% in this case) - the Nitro ran out of power after 6:14 hours. Video playback ran for five hours, and thus two full-length feature films. Charging took around two hours, which is decent.

However, we also have to add that the Nitro performed significantly worse on battery. In 3DMark 11 it scored 4000 points less than before, which means that while gaming on battery is possible, it might necessitate reduced details.

69 Wh lithium-ion battery
69 Wh lithium-ion battery
Maximum battery life
Maximum battery life
Minimum battery life
Minimum battery life
Wi-Fi battery life
Wi-Fi battery life
H.264 battery life
H.264 battery life
Charging time
Charging time
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
10h 18min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 40.15063.0.0)
6h 14min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 15min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 10min
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 69 Wh
Asus Strix GL753VD-GC045T
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 48 Wh
MSI GT72VR 7RE-433
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 83 Wh
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 75.81 Wh
HP Pavilion 17t-ab200
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 62 Wh
HP Omen 17-w100ng
6300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 95.8 Wh
Battery Runtime
-37%
-37%
-48%
-0%
-1%
Reader / Idle
618
515
-17%
316
-49%
256
-59%
691
12%
543
-12%
H.264
315
228
-28%
313
-1%
WiFi v1.3
374
261
-30%
230
-39%
155
-59%
409
9%
363
-3%
Load
130
45
-65%
91
-30%
98
-25%
102
-22%
145
12%

Verdict

Pros

+ plain yet functional design
+ rigid case
+ Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB VRAM
+ SSD + HDD
+ decent input devices
+ USB Type-C + Thunderbolt
+ good battery life
+ low power consumption
+ well thought-out port distribution
+ very quiet (even under load)
+ Tobii eye-tracking module
+ decent display with good viewing angles
+ fingerprint reader

Cons

- no maintenance flaps
- key labels can be hard to read
- awkward fingerprint-reader positioning
- very slow SD-card reader

All things considered the Nitro - when viewed from a gaming perspective - performed very well. Acer effectively refutes the bias that Core i5 processors are not suitable for gaming and proves that the graphics card is much more important. The Intel Core i5-7300HQ is a 45 W quad-core processor and thus not the most efficient of its kind. However, when combined with a generous amount of RAM and a reasonably dimensioned storage (SSD + HDD) it offers ample performance.

The Acer Aspire Nitro convinces with a good overall performance and is fast enough even for demanding games. Tobii’s eye-tracking module is a welcome addition, and it contributes to an entirely new gaming experience.

We liked the device’s inconspicuous design concealing its powerful hardware. The high-quality case is rigid, and the lack of an optical drive is acceptable given that the space gained was used to fit a larger battery. All things considered, the Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE fits its intended use and its price of currently around $1,800 (in Europe) is justified.

Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN - 06/30/2017 v6(old)
Sebastian Bade

Chassis
87 / 98 → 89%
Keyboard
86%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
65 / 81 → 80%
Weight
56 / 20-67 → 76%
Battery
85%
Display
88%
Games Performance
91 / 85 → 100%
Application Performance
89 / 92 → 97%
Temperature
89%
Noise
89 / 95 → 94%
Audio
71%
Camera
56 / 85 → 66%
Average
80%
87%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G (7300HQ, GTX 1060, FHD, Eye-Tracking) Laptop Review
Sebastian Bade, 2017-05-29 (Update: 2019-04- 5)