Acer ConceptD 7 Laptop in Review: Top-of-the-line Intel CPU with throttling behavior
The ConceptD series is a completely new product lineup by Acer. Thus, predecessors do not exist. The ConceptD 7 has a premium white design, strong hardware, a brilliant display and aims to appeal to power users such as designers as well as video, music and photo editors. As such, Acer markets the laptop as a mobile multimedia system.
Laptops with similar configurations are usually designed to be gaming machines rather than thin multimedia systems, which is why we will compare our test device with the Lenovo Legion Y540, MSI GL65 9SEK, Asus ROG Strix G GL531GV, Razer Blade Pro (17-inch) and the Razer Blade 15 GTX (GeForce 1660 Ti).
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
87.3 % | 11/2019 | Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.2 kg | 17.9 mm | 15.60" | 3840x2160 | |
85.7 % | 08/2019 | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.3 kg | 26 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
80.8 % | 10/2019 | MSI GL65 9SEK i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.3 kg | 27.5 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
84.4 % | 08/2019 | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.4 kg | 25.9 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | |
89.4 % | 08/2019 | Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | 2.8 kg | 19.9 mm | 17.30" | 1920x1080 | |
84.2 % | 09/2019 | Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile | 2.1 kg | 19.9 mm | 15.60" | 1920x1080 |
Case - Premium Acer ConceptD 7
The ConceptD looks to be of high quality. This is due to the small measurements, the aluminum chassis and the classy white color - a potent daily driver for designers and their peers has to be visually appealing after all. The fan exhausts on the back are decorated with patterns and the keyboard is slightly recessed into the base unit.
Only the slim bezels are made of plastic. Since the remainder of the base unit is a metal construction, the former is robust and does not yield while typing. The hinges hold the display firmly in place, although they could be even firmer still. The construction quality is good overall, even though the base unit can be slightly creaky when trying to twist it.
Among its direct competitors, only the Razer Blade 15 is smaller and lighter, making the ConceptD the second-smallest and second-most lightweight device in our comparison. While the MSI laptop is slightly smaller, it is significantly thicker and slightly heavier as well. The AC adapter weighs an additional 600 grams.
Connectivity - Thunderbolt, but no SD card reader
The ConceptD 7 does not leave a lot to be desired: There is Thunderbolt 3 and LAN, up to three external monitors can be connected and there are two dedicated audio ports. The only downside: An SD card reader is not available. Since the laptop was supposedly made to be an editing workstation and due to photo as well as video editors finding themselves in need of reading SD cards most often, this is a particularly disappointing omission.
A side effect of the long exhaust vents on the sides is the tightly packed inputs and outputs, which can lead to blocked ports; the USB Type-A ports, HDMI and the DisplayPort are particularly prone to this issue.
Communication
The Wi-Fi performance is average at best, rather inconsistent and the data transmission rates are even slightly below average. For near-field communication, Bluetooth 5.0 is also available.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Average of class Multimedia (285 - 1094, n=5, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Average of class Multimedia (625 - 1675, n=5, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
Security
On the right, the port closest to the display is a Kensington lock; there is also TPM 2.0. A fingerprint scanner or other security features are not included.
Accessories
The package only contains a quick-start guide, a setup guide and no further accessories.
Maintenance
The bottom plate is secured by 10 Torx screws, which are easy to remove. However, there are almost no spots that can be used to pry open the case afterwards, when the bottom plate is still attached fairly firmly to the base unit. The best course of action is to apply force to the palm rests from above, since it makes removing the bottom plate significantly easier.
On the inside, users should have access to all of the components - this is not the case, however. Almost everything is covered by black tape. Due to this, almost nothing except for the Wi-Fi module, the battery and the fans is accessible. We did not feel comfortable with removing the duct tape.
Warranty
According to the official web page, the device comes with two years of bring-in service and one year of international travelers' warranty (one-year product warranty and one-year Acer Advantage warranty extension; the latter does not require any registration formalities).
Input Devices - CN715 with amber backlight
Keyboard
The most obvious eye-candy is the amber keyboard backlight, which is supposed to emit "gentle lighting that is reminiscent of a sunrise in nature" - okay. The backlight has four different intensity settings and can, of course, also be turned off. The lighting is indeed easier on the eyes than the bluish white of many competitors.
The 15-inch laptop does not integrate a numblock into the base unit and instead focuses on the standard keys of the keyboard. The keys are decently sized as a result and there is even some space in-between them. Key travel is decent and the pressure point comfortable, even though it is not quite as crisp as it could be. Fingers fly over the keyboard of the ConceptD for an overall good typing experience. Unfortunately, the power button is integrated into the keyboard (on the top right), which may cause some accidental presses when trying to delete characters (using the DEL key next to it) and activate sleep mode. The construction quality is solid and there is no rattling.
Touchpad
The touchpad is sufficiently large, embedded into the base unit and surrounded by a fancy silver border. It has good gliding properties and gestures are recognized reliably. There are no dedicated mouse keys. The click sounds of the Touchpad are slightly too loud for the advertised use case of working in a library.
Display - Acer 4K workstation
All variants of the Acer model share the same matte 4K IPS panel from AU Optronics. While the display is the brightest one in our comparison (357 cd/m²), the brightness distribution could be slightly better (84%). There is slight backlight bleeding around the (bottom) corners, although it is too weak to be noticeable during daily use.
|
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 370 cd/m²
Contrast: 1327:1 (Black: 0.275 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.99 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.01
ΔE Greyscale 1.29 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
88% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
99% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
85.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.2
Both the black value and the contrast ratio are among the best in this comparison, although the MSI and, in part, the Razer Blade 15 achieve similar results.
According to Acer, the display fully covers the AdobeRGB color space. While we measured only 88% ex-factory, the color-space coverage is still very good when compared to the competition, which achieves 59% at best, and, needless to say, the sRGB color space is covered completely.
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N AU Optronics AUO31EB, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60 | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH BOE NV156FHM-N4G (BOE084D), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | MSI GL65 9SEK AU Optronics B156HAN13.0, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 Panda LM156LF-GL02, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 AU Optronics B173HAN04.0, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30 | Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti BOE NV156FHM-N4K, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | -22% | -55% | -50% | -26% | -22% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 85.7 | 64.5 -25% | 36.63 -57% | 40.13 -53% | 61.1 -29% | 65.3 -24% |
sRGB Coverage | 100 | 91.6 -8% | 55 -45% | 60.3 -40% | 89.4 -11% | 91.8 -8% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 99 | 65.9 -33% | 37.85 -62% | 41.48 -58% | 62.5 -37% | 66.5 -33% |
Response Times | 75% | 23% | 31% | 79% | 70% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 49 ? | 8.8 ? 82% | 26.4 ? 46% | 26 ? 47% | 6.8 ? 86% | 13.6 ? 72% |
Response Time Black / White * | 30 ? | 10 ? 67% | 30 ? -0% | 25.6 ? 15% | 8.8 ? 71% | 10 ? 67% |
PWM Frequency | 200 ? | |||||
Screen | -78% | -181% | -195% | -51% | -102% | |
Brightness middle | 365 | 284 -22% | 277.3 -24% | 290.1 -21% | 300.4 -18% | 312.7 -14% |
Brightness | 357 | 277 -22% | 256 -28% | 274 -23% | 289 -19% | 305 -15% |
Brightness Distribution | 84 | 87 4% | 86 2% | 86 2% | 93 11% | 90 7% |
Black Level * | 0.275 | 0.3 -9% | 0.2 27% | 0.54 -96% | 0.32 -16% | 0.27 2% |
Contrast | 1327 | 947 -29% | 1387 5% | 537 -60% | 939 -29% | 1158 -13% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 0.99 | 3.53 -257% | 5.25 -430% | 5.16 -421% | 2.32 -134% | 4.57 -362% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 1.89 | 6.11 -223% | 19.43 -928% | 18.09 -857% | 3.81 -102% | 6.81 -260% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.01 | 1.81 -79% | 4.39 -335% | 4.35 -331% | 2.95 -192% | 2.91 -188% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.29 | 3.56 -176% | 3.5 -171% | 4.4 -241% | 1.5 -16% | 4.3 -233% |
Gamma | 2.2 100% | 2.47 89% | 2.1 105% | 2.1 105% | 2.3 96% | 2.29 96% |
CCT | 6548 99% | 7257 90% | 6895 94% | 7362 88% | 6764 96% | 7098 92% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 88 | 59 -33% | 35 -60% | 38.1 -57% | 57.4 -35% | 59.4 -32% |
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 100 | 91 -9% | 55 -45% | 60 -40% | 89 -11% | 91.3 -9% |
Total Average (Program / Settings) | -8% /
-48% | -71% /
-132% | -71% /
-140% | 1% /
-30% | -18% /
-65% |
* ... smaller is better
Thanks to a high brightness as well as a good contrast ratio and black value, nothing stands in the way of outdoor use. Additionally, the matte layer filters out reflections.
Acer still keeps its promises. With an AdobeRGB coverage of 88 %, the premium panel indeed has an average DeltaE of less than 2.0 ex-factory. We recommend against changing the AdobeRGB color profile, since instead of improving the display, trying to calibrate the panel with the help of our spectrophotometer would yield slightly worse results. In this case, the value for gray increaseed from 1.3 to 1.4 and the colors remained at an average of 1.0, while the maximum DeltaE rose from 1.9 to 2.5. Thus, users can expect excellent results with the default settings, which is rare even for high-end screens.
The response times are really poor and the Acer laptop has the slowest panel in the comparison by far.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 17 ms rise | |
↘ 13 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 77 % 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 | ||
49 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 24 ms rise | |
↘ 25 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. » 82 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms). |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
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. |
As per usual, the viewing angles of the IPS display are excellent and allow for reading the screen content, even when the display is not opened to an ideal angle.
Performance - Throttling ConceptD
The ConceptD was designed to be a multimedia system for digital creative tasks. In the realm of laptops, the CPU is a high-end chip and the graphics card combined with a generous 16 GB of RAM promises excellent performance. By contrast, 512 GB storage space is not a whole lot for creative users. Luckily, the Acer is also available with a 1-TB SSD.
Processor
The Intel Core i7-9750H is a powerful six-core processor that is based on the Coffee Lake refresh architecture. It is able to process up to 12 threads simultaneously with clock rates ranging from 2.6 to 4.5 GHz (4 GHz with all cores active). The integrated GPU UHD Graphics 630 is also included.
In Cinebench, the performance already drops by 9% after the first loop. While other laptops produce similar results, their initial performance level is substantially higher. In the multi-core test, the MSI and the Lenovo achieve a staggering 22% lead! Here, our Acer's scores are 12% below the expected results of a Core i7-9750H. In the multi-core test, the CPU can run at as little as 2.8 GHz, which is only slightly above the base clock, even though the maximum theoretical 4-core Turbo frequency is 4 GHz. In contrast, the single-core performance is excellent.
In battery mode, the performance is reduced further: In Cinebench, the ConceptD's CPU performance drops by 44%.
Cinebench R15 | |
CPU Single 64Bit | |
Average of class Multimedia (142.6 - 308, n=96, last 2 years) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H (170 - 194, n=82) | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Average of class Multimedia (580 - 4703, n=103, last 2 years) | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H (952 - 1306, n=85) | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti |
Cinebench R11.5 | |
CPU Single 64Bit | |
Average of class Multimedia (2.6 - 3.21, n=3, last 2 years) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H (1.96 - 2.19, n=10) | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Average of class Multimedia (19 - 31.6, n=3, last 2 years) | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H (11.3 - 14.1, n=10) | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
Cinebench R10 | |
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H (9069 - 9346, n=3) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H (37188 - 44238, n=3) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
System Performance
In PCMark, our test device comes in at one of the lower ranks as well. In PCMark 8, the difference is particularly apparent. Here, MSI and Lenovo take the top spots again and perform between 10 and 30% better than our Acer. These performance results are a moderate disappointment for the laptop that is marketed as a multimedia system. Not only are many competitors with the same hardware faster, they tend to be cheaper as well.
PCMark 8 | |
Home Score Accelerated v2 | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Average of class Multimedia (4484 - 5525, n=9, last 2 years) | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (3533 - 5185, n=11) | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Work Score Accelerated v2 | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
Average Intel Core i7-9750H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (4450 - 5931, n=11) | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Average of class Multimedia (3115 - 6078, n=9, last 2 years) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3533 points | |
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4450 points | |
PCMark 10 Score | 5449 points | |
Help |
Storage Solution
Mass storage, which is provided by a 512-GB Western Digital SSD, does not disappoint. Only the model within the Lenovo Legion performs even better. The storage drive in our test device takes the 78th spot in our laptop HDD and SSD table and achieves good results. Note: The Acer laptop is also available with 1 TB of internal storage.
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR | MSI GL65 9SEK WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8 | Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ | Average WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | 3% | -12% | -21% | -6% | -6% | -12% | |
Write 4K | 109 | 131.7 21% | 150.2 38% | 121.9 12% | 124.1 14% | 135 24% | 110 ? 1% |
Read 4K | 41.33 | 48.06 16% | 43.46 5% | 53.6 30% | 44.75 8% | 41.1 -1% | 36.9 ? -11% |
Write Seq | 2535 | 1234 -51% | 1412 -44% | 967 -62% | 1292 -49% | 1427 -44% | 1976 ? -22% |
Read Seq | 1538 | 973 -37% | 1340 -13% | 1461 -5% | 1272 -17% | 1494 -3% | 1710 ? 11% |
Write 4K Q32T1 | 396.6 | 576 45% | 482.2 22% | 431.4 9% | 514 30% | 494.9 25% | 339 ? -15% |
Read 4K Q32T1 | 603 | 655 9% | 535 -11% | 337.3 -44% | 596 -1% | 578 -4% | 417 ? -31% |
Write Seq Q32T1 | 2542 | 3012 18% | 1454 -43% | 972 -62% | 1892 -26% | 1417 -44% | 2218 ? -13% |
Read Seq Q32T1 | 3324 | 3481 5% | 1744 -48% | 1727 -48% | 3209 -3% | 3251 -2% | 2940 ? -12% |
AS SSD | 19% | -31% | -24% | 2% | -23% | -12% | |
Seq Read | 2785 | 1954 -30% | 1315 -53% | 1280 -54% | 1810 -35% | 1829 -34% | 2544 ? -9% |
Seq Write | 2364 | 2484 5% | 1378 -42% | 905 -62% | 1797 -24% | 1315 -44% | 2034 ? -14% |
4K Read | 43.39 | 56.7 31% | 25.31 -42% | 48.73 12% | 48.43 12% | 51.3 18% | 36.5 ? -16% |
4K Write | 101.8 | 124.3 22% | 118.2 16% | 107 5% | 106 4% | 106 4% | 110.8 ? 9% |
4K-64 Read | 1257 | 1599 27% | 839 -33% | 321.1 -74% | 1156 -8% | 917 -27% | 1112 ? -12% |
4K-64 Write | 1473 | 1883 28% | 720 -51% | 761 -48% | 1748 19% | 1212 -18% | 1222 ? -17% |
Access Time Read * | 0.073 | 0.039 47% | 0.116 -59% | 0.058 21% | 0.057 22% | 0.063 14% | 0.0965 ? -32% |
Access Time Write * | 0.036 | 0.03 17% | 0.091 -153% | 0.046 -28% | 0.035 3% | 0.104 -189% | 0.04213 ? -17% |
Score Read | 1579 | 1851 17% | 996 -37% | 498 -68% | 1385 -12% | 1152 -27% | 1403 ? -11% |
Score Write | 1811 | 2256 25% | 976 -46% | 958 -47% | 2033 12% | 1450 -20% | 1536 ? -15% |
Score Total | 4181 | 5087 22% | 2485 -41% | 1711 -59% | 4135 -1% | 3177 -24% | 3633 ? -13% |
Copy ISO MB/s | 1592 | 1279 -20% | 1519 -5% | 1984 25% | 1539 -3% | 1506 ? -5% | |
Copy Program MB/s | 433.7 | 889 105% | 749 73% | 588 36% | 513 18% | 410 ? -5% | |
Copy Game MB/s | 1026 | 1218 19% | 943 -8% | 835 -19% | 1150 12% | 894 ? -13% | |
Total Average (Program / Settings) | 11% /
12% | -22% /
-24% | -23% /
-23% | -2% /
-0% | -15% /
-17% | -12% /
-12% |
* ... smaller is better
GPU Performance
Thanks to Optimus, the Acer can switch between the Intel UHD Graphics 630 and the dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, which reduces the energy consumption and heat development during office tasks and web browsing. The ConceptD is also available with an RTX 2080 Max-Q, although the higher-end configuration is substantially more expensive.
The laptop RTX 2060 performs about as well as we would expect in 3DMark with the exception of the Cloud Gate benchmark: Here, the score is consistently very low. The scores of the competition are very tightly packed, and only the larger chassis of the Razer Blade 17 gives the RTX 2060 more breathing room.
In battery mode, 3D performance is severely limited and the 3DMark 11 score is a full 60% lower.
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (19143 - 24662, n=40) | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
Average of class Multimedia (3408 - 60250, n=87, last 2 years) |
3DMark | |
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (55324 - 116593, n=36) | |
Average of class Multimedia (14679 - 150699, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | |
Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 | |
MSI GL65 9SEK | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (14768 - 18358, n=43) | |
Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti | |
Average of class Multimedia (1835 - 46022, n=87, last 2 years) |
3DMark 11 Performance | 16394 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 25480 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 13724 points | |
Help |
Gaming Performance
At resolutions up to Full HD, the laptop barely has any issues when it comes to gaming. Playing demanding titles in the native 4K resolution does bring the laptop to its limits, however. 39 FPS in Rise of the Tomb Raider (or The Witcher 3) is not a lot and the game was released three years ago. Thus, modern games in 4K may be too much for the ConceptD, whereas Full HD gaming is no problem.
Rise of the Tomb Raider | |
1366x768 Medium Preset AF:2x | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (124 - 160, n=2) | |
1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX AF:4x | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | |
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (83.9 - 88, n=3) | |
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH | |
3840x2160 High Preset AA:FX AF:4x | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile |
Doom | |
1920x1080 Medium Preset | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | |
1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (125 - 159, n=2) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:SM | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (117 - 151, n=2) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N | |
3840x2160 High Preset AA:FX | |
Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile (50 - 55.7, n=2) | |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N |
In our The Witcher 3 loop test the frame rate remains rather consistent. The laptop outputs 55 FPS on average at Full HD and ultra settings.
low | med. | high | ultra | 4K | |
The Witcher 3 (2015) | 251 | 182 | 107 | 57 | 38 |
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 144 | 131 | 123 | 117 | |
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) | 202 | 160 | 107 | 88 | 39 |
Doom (2016) | 138 | 134 | 125 | 117 | 50 |
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 89.4 | 83.4 | 67.2 |
Emissions - Acer laptop is quiet & cool
System Noise
The nominal measurements indicate that our Acer is the quietest device in our test and even the larger Razer Blade 17 is louder under load, although it also offers more performance in return. Subjectively, the irregular whirring sounds of the mass storage can become annoying. However, they are only audible occasionally and during office use in a quiet environment. When the fans are slightly louder, the SSD noise is no longer noticeable.
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR | MSI GL65 9SEK GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8 | Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | -6% | -10% | -5% | 0% | -2% | |
off / environment * | 30.4 | 30 1% | 28.1 8% | 28.2 7% | 28.2 7% | 28.5 6% |
Idle Minimum * | 30.6 | 30 2% | 31.4 -3% | 28.8 6% | 28.2 8% | 30.3 1% |
Idle Average * | 30.6 | 32 -5% | 31.5 -3% | 31.4 -3% | 28.2 8% | 30.5 -0% |
Idle Maximum * | 30.6 | 34 -11% | 33.5 -9% | 33.3 -9% | 28.2 8% | 30.5 -0% |
Load Average * | 44 | 44 -0% | 49.3 -12% | 46.2 -5% | 43 2% | 41 7% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 43.9 | 48 -9% | 51.3 -17% | 50.5 -15% | 48.4 -10% | 48 -9% |
Load Maximum * | 44.2 | 52 -18% | 58 -31% | 51.3 -16% | 53.4 -21% | 51.9 -17% |
* ... smaller is better
Noise Level
Idle |
| 30.6 / 30.6 / 30.6 dB(A) |
Load |
| 44 / 44.2 dB(A) |
| ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min: , med: , max: Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 30.4 dB(A) |
Temperature
On the top, the surface temperatures are moderate, even under load. The bottom of the laptop, on the other hand, can reach up to 57 °C under high load. That said, only the Razer Blade Pro 17, which comes with a significantly larger chassis, remains slightly cooler and all of the other competitors reach similar temperatures. The surface temperatures of the ConceptD are even some of the lowest overall. The hot spots are located predominantly in the center and on the right, whereas the palm rests remain relatively cool.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.6 °C / 112 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 57.2 °C / 135 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.5 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 38.5 °C / 101 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(-) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 41 °C / 105.8 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-12.2 °C / -22 F).
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR | MSI GL65 9SEK GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8 | Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i7-9750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heat | -24% | -24% | -5% | 2% | -23% | |
Maximum Upper Side * | 44.6 | 47 -5% | 49 -10% | 43.4 3% | 40.6 9% | 52 -17% |
Maximum Bottom * | 57.2 | 60 -5% | 54.2 5% | 49.2 14% | 45.4 21% | 52.2 9% |
Idle Upper Side * | 27.4 | 37 -35% | 40.4 -47% | 30.8 -12% | 30 -9% | 38 -39% |
Idle Bottom * | 27.6 | 41 -49% | 40 -45% | 34 -23% | 31 -12% | 40.4 -46% |
* ... smaller is better
Immediately after starting our stress test, the CPU already reduces its clock rate to 2.9 GHz. This value decreases even further and stabilizes in the 2.4- to 2.6-GHz range after 10 minutes, meaning it sometimes falls below the base clock rate. The clock frequency may drop even further and we measured around 1.8 GHz at the end of the test.
Due to the thin chassis, the core temperatures reach their respective limits fairly quickly, causing reduced clock speeds and temperatures that stabilize at just above 80 °C.
The GPU performance remains fairly consistent, on the other hand and it is defined by clock rates of between 1.3 and 1.5 GHz.
When running 3DMark 11 again after the stress test, a performance deficit of about 26% can be observed.
Speakers
Due to the compact form factor, there is little room for great sound reproduction. The speakers are slightly too quiet and, of course, lack bass. However, the mid and the high tones have a clear sound signature.
Acer promises 360-degree surround sound with any pair of headphones. While this feature highlights the details of mid and high tones, it unfortunately also creates a mushy and indistinct bass. At least the included software offers a lot of customization.
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (68.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.3% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (17% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.2% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 42% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 27% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Energy Management - CN715 is energy-efficient and long-lasting
Energy Consumption
The Acer ConceptD is the most economical laptop in our comparison, regardless of the system load. Even the Razer Blade 15, which is equipped with a nominally weaker GeForce 1660 Ti, can consume more power, although it is slightly more economical on average. Particularly during idle, our Acer consumes a surprisingly low amount of power, which is even more impressive in light of the 4K display that is likely to be fairly demanding.
In our stress test, the ConceptD consumes up to 183 watts. While this more than exhausts the capabilities of the 180-W AC adapter, this scenario is an exception. While playing The Witcher 3 on ultra settings, 144 watts was consumed, which means that the AC adapter should be well-suited to almost any situation.
Off / Standby | 0.03 / 0.26 Watt |
Idle | 7.6 / 13.6 / 18.2 Watt |
Load |
102 / 183 Watt |
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60 | MSI GL65 9SEK i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30 | Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB256HAHQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile | Average of class Multimedia | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -141% | -27% | -42% | -61% | -36% | -23% | 19% | |
Idle Minimum * | 7.6 | 41 -439% | 10.9 -43% | 16 -111% | 18.7 -146% | 15 -97% | 11.5 ? -51% | 7.28 ? 4% |
Idle Average * | 13.6 | 45.3 -233% | 14.7 -8% | 21.7 -60% | 30.7 -126% | 20 -47% | 16.5 ? -21% | 11.8 ? 13% |
Idle Maximum * | 18.2 | 47.1 -159% | 32.4 -78% | 26.1 -43% | 33.9 -86% | 33 -81% | 23.7 ? -30% | 14.6 ? 20% |
Load Average * | 102 | 94.9 7% | 121.9 -20% | 105.6 -4% | 93.4 8% | 88 14% | 107.5 ? -5% | 77.3 ? 24% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 144 | 149.4 -4% | 143.5 -0% | 161.8 -12% | 158.9 -10% | 128 11% | ||
Load Maximum * | 183 | 214.2 -17% | 209.6 -15% | 225.3 -23% | 195.3 -7% | 213 -16% | 199.7 ? -9% | 119.3 ? 35% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
With a capacity of 84 Wh, our test model contains the largest battery of the devices in our comparison. On the flipside, the 4K display is decidedly more demanding than the screens of most Full HD competitors. While the ConceptD 7 lasts for a surprisingly long time, it at least partially owes this result to its lower performance.
In our Wi-Fi test, the Razer Blade Pro 15 is closest to our test device in terms of runtime, although it, too, runs out of steam three hours before our Acer laptop. Compared to the Lenovo model, which is considered weak in this discipline, the difference is more than five hours!
Overall, the competition's battery life is around 30 to 60% shorter. Thus, the ConceptD is fairly mobile for its device class.
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, 84 Wh | MSI GL65 9SEK i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, 51 Wh | Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, 57 Wh | Asus Strix GL531GV-PB74 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, 66 Wh | Razer Blade Pro 17 RTX 2060 i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, 70 Wh | Razer Blade 15 GTX 1660 Ti i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, 65 Wh | Average of class Multimedia | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | -54% | -55% | -78% | -47% | -36% | 25% | |
Reader / Idle | 822 | 262 -68% | 233 -72% | 933 ? 14% | |||
H.264 | 388 | 680 ? 75% | |||||
WiFi v1.3 | 518 | 230 -56% | 192 -63% | 112 -78% | 272 -47% | 330 -36% | 560 ? 8% |
Load | 96 | 60 -37% | 67 -30% | 96.9 ? 1% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Great display, poor performance
Acer's ConceptD is advertised as a high-performance multimedia system for creators. The results of our review only partially back up this claim, since Acer cuts some corners. For more than 2,000 Euros (~$2,204), less price-sensitive buyers receive a sleek multimedia laptop with premium looks that, in light of its strong features, is fairly compact and lightweight. Furthermore, it mostly remains cool, quiet and the energy consumption is more than reasonable as well.
However, the latter stems from fairly poor-performing components. The CPU in particular throttles heavily, the heat development further reduces the performance due to the small chassis and in battery mode, and the computing power takes another large hit.
Those who choose their multimedia system purely based on the hardware's prowess are better served by less-expensive competitors. With its bright 4K display, which offers a good contrast ratio and very good color-space coverage as well as a low color deviation, the ConceptD still has one ace up its sleeve, since most other multimedia laptops cannot compete in this regard. Here, tradeoffs have to be made.
The ConceptD7 is sleek, quiet, cool, economical and it offers a premium look and feel. The 4K display, which offers accurate colors and a high color-space coverage, may be a deciding factor in the purchase decision of creators. However, the performance of the Acer is disappointing with heavy CPU throttling leading to a significantly slower system compared to competitors.
Acer ConceptD 7 CN715-71-743N
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05/21/2020 v7
Christian Hintze