Acer Nitro 5 (Core i5-9300H, GeForce GTX 1650) Laptop Review
If you want to spend a maximum of 1,500 Euros (~$1,685) on a gaming laptop, then the Acer Aspire Nitro range could be a perfect fit for you. Acer has recently refreshed the series too with an upgraded case and a choice between the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti.
Moreover, Acer has eschewed 8th generation Intel Core processors on which many OEMs still rely for newer 9th generation chips. You can choose between the quad-core Core i5-9300H that powers our review unit or the more powerful, and hexacore, Core i7-9750H. Likewise, you have the option of equipping the Nitro with 8 or 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, although Acer currently only sells the series with a 512 GB SSD. Our test device is the AN515-54-53Z2 for reference, which costs just under 1,100 Euros (~$1,236) on notebooksbilliger.de at the time of writing. Incidentally, our review unit is also the base model of the series.
We have chosen to compare the Nitro 5 against other comparably priced 15.6-inch gaming laptops. Our comparison devices will include the Dell G5 15 5587, the Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH and the Medion Erazer X6805. We shall also compare the GeForce GTX 1650-powered Nitro 5 against its AMD-powered sibling. Please keep in mind that our review unit is the first that we have tested with the GeForce GTX 1650. Our Nvidia-powered comparison devices all have GTX 10-series GPUs for full disclosure.
Update 9.13.2019: Following multiple requests from readers, we have decided to put the Core i7-9750H SKU through our tests. Acer currently charges around €50 (~US$55) more than the Core i5-9300H model. We shall weave our new tests into our existing review, as the two models are identical save for their CPUs.
Case
Acer has given the Nitro 5 a major design overhaul. While the old model had wide bezels, Acer has jumped on board with the slim side display bezels for this year’s model. The reduction in bezels has also allowed the company to make the new Nitro 5 noticeably more compact than its predecessor. Our review unit is also around 3 cm narrower and 1 cm shorter than its AMD sibling, while it is 200 g lighter too. Overall, the Nitro 5 is comparatively light for a 15.6-inch gaming laptop; only the Legion Y730-15ICH matches our review unit out of our comparison devices here.
Discounting the slimmer bezels, the Nitro 5 looks remarkably like its predecessor. The device retains the red styling of yesteryear, which Acer continues to apply to the keyboard, the edging around the touchpad and the display hinge cover, the latter of which also has the NITRO branding.
There are some subtle changes though. Acer has changed the shape of the Nitro 5’s ventilation slots and has ditched the textured finish that it previously applied to the top case. The design of the display lid is also more restrained, most of which is plain black plastic. Acer has applied a textured finish to the left and right sides of the lid, but this does not stop the Nitro 5 from looking more discreet and less playful than its predecessor.
The plastic case is sturdy enough too, although not impressively so. The base unit only gives way under intense pressure, but we can temporarily deform the display lid using two hands with relative ease. The display also bounces around a bit, although it has a comparatively large opening angle of approximately 150°.
Connectivity
Ports
Unfortunately, the selection of ports has gotten worse rather than better. Acer has replaced one of the two USB 2.0 ports with a USB 3.0 port and has stuck to four USB ports overall, but it has also inexplicably removed the card reader. Likewise, Acer has persisted with a combined 3.5 mm jack rather than having dedicated headphone and microphone inputs. Also, there is only an HDMI 2.0 port for image output, while there is no USB 3.1 Gen2 or Thunderbolt 3 ports. We welcome the inclusion of an RJ45 port though, but it does not stop us from marking the Nitro 5 down here.
The distribution of ports is lacklustre too. Acer has moved the ventilation grille to the right-hand side of the frame and has brought the headphone jack along with the USB Type-A port forward. The positioning of these three means that you are likely to feel warm air blowing against your hand if you use an external mouse with your right hand, while the mouse will likely catch against any cables you have connected. In short, we do not understand why Acer has made these design decisions because they only serve to reduce the Nitro 5’s functionality.
Communication
We have no cause for complaints with our review unit’s Wi-Fi performance though. Acer has equipped the device with an Intel Wireless-AC 9560 module, which achieved exceptional transfer speeds in our iperf3 Client Wi-Fi tests. We conducted these tests with the Nitro 5 approximately 1 m away from our Linksys EA8500 reference router, for reference.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Average of class Gaming (450 - 1412, n=14, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Average of class Gaming (423 - 1700, n=14, last 2 years) | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Dell G5 15 5587 |
Software
Acer preinstalled a few pieces of software along with Windows 10 Home 64-bit, which should please people who like to fine-tune their systems. The company’s Nitro Sense program manages the Nitro 5’s power plans and fan control. The software also displays an overview of system information like fan speed along with CPU and GPU temperatures. Acer has bundled its Care Center program too, which provides support information and allows you to download updates or recover the device. Windows Update still downloads other updates regardless though.
Accessories
Acer includes a quick-start guide, warranty booklet and an HDD adapter in the box. The latter allows you to retrofit a 2.5-inch drive should you wish to do so. There is a 135 W power supply too, although Acer bundles a higher capacity version with more-expensive and powerful models.
Maintenance
Maintenance is a bit more complicated than it was on the Nitro 5’s predecessor. Acer has not included any maintenance flaps this time around, so you must remove the bottom case to access any internal components. Fortunately, you only need a Phillips screwdriver and some brute force to pry the case from the chassis. You then have access to all main components including the battery, drive bays and RAM. You cannot swap the CPU or GPU, but this is common for most laptops, except for something like the Alienware Area-51m.
Warranty
The Nitro 5 comes with 24 months limited manufacturer’s warranty. The coverage includes a pickup & returns service, although Acer only extends this internationally for the first 12 months of the warranty period.
Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input Devices
Keyboard
Acer has made some minor changes to the keyboard between generations, but it still inherits the pros and cons of its predecessor. Typing on our review unit is an unspectacular yet pleasant enough experience, but we have mixed feelings about the keyboard layout. Some buttons are too close to each other for our liking despite the chiclet design, especially the # and Enter keys. The right arrow key also extends into the number pad, which could lead you to accidentally pressing the right arrow key initially instead of the 0 key. We still prefer full-size keys to half-size ones though. Acer has also outlined the arrow keys in red as it has with the WASD keys, a decision that will divide opinion. Aesthetically, they go against the Nitro 5’s relatively understated look, but they stand out nicely when gaming.
The positioning of the power button is an odd one too. Acer has decided to place it at the end of the function keys, which is not in itself a bad idea. However, it does not stand out from the other keys, so we sometimes found it hard to spot. The colour and lettering style of the keys is difficult to read in some lights too.
Trackpad
The trackpad is also a mixed bag. While it has a pleasantly smooth finish, its precision leaves something to be desired. Multi-touch gestures are easy to perform though, especially two-finger gestures such as scrolling or zooming. Acer has opted for an integrated rather than dedicated input device that allows the trackpad to be an enjoyably large 10.5 x 7.5 cm. Including dedicated mouse buttons would have made the trackpad feel a lot smaller, the effect of which would have been compounded by its imprecision.
Display
Acer has equipped our review unit with a 60 Hz 15.6-inch display, specifically the LG Philips LP156WFC-SPD1. We suspect that the company opted for a 60 Hz panel to save on costs. A 144 Hz display would have been a nice addition though.
|
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 238 cd/m²
Contrast: 881:1 (Black: 0.27 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.11 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.76
ΔE Greyscale 1.78 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
57% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
36% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.23% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
57% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
37.97% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.41
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 LG LP156WFC-SPD1 (LGD0563), IPS, 1920x1080 | Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), IPS, 1920x1080 | Dell G5 15 5587 LGD053F, 156WF6, IPS, 1920x1080 | Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H BOE NV156FHM-N61, IPS, 1920x1080 | Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 AU Optronics B156HAN06.0 (AUO60ED), IPS, 1920x1080 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | 56% | 0% | 61% | 61% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 37.97 | 63.8 68% | 38.13 0% | 65.9 74% | 63.4 67% |
sRGB Coverage | 57 | 82.4 45% | 56.8 0% | 85.5 50% | 87.4 53% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 39.23 | 60.3 54% | 39.47 1% | 62.5 59% | 64 63% |
Response Times | 0% | 16% | -26% | -19% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 42 ? | 38.4 ? 9% | 33 ? 21% | 43.2 ? -3% | 48.4 ? -15% |
Response Time Black / White * | 26.8 ? | 29.2 ? -9% | 24 ? 10% | 40 ? -49% | 32.8 ? -22% |
PWM Frequency | 20490 ? | 21740 ? | |||
Screen | -6% | -38% | -18% | 3% | |
Brightness middle | 238 | 270 13% | 229 -4% | 286.5 20% | 299 26% |
Brightness | 226 | 269 19% | 224 -1% | 269 19% | 284 26% |
Brightness Distribution | 83 | 86 4% | 87 5% | 84 1% | 88 6% |
Black Level * | 0.27 | 0.32 -19% | 0.28 -4% | 0.33 -22% | 0.24 11% |
Contrast | 881 | 844 -4% | 818 -7% | 868 -1% | 1246 41% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.11 | 5.1 -24% | 6.1 -48% | 6.3 -53% | 4.98 -21% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.89 | 9.25 -34% | 12.2 -77% | 10.01 -45% | 7.67 -11% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 3.76 | 3.25 14% | 6.12 -63% | 4.17 -11% | 3.7 2% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.78 | 4.16 -134% | 5.68 -219% | 5.6 -215% | 4.58 -157% |
Gamma | 2.41 91% | 2.53 87% | 2.4 92% | 2.23 99% | 2.55 86% |
CCT | 6311 103% | 6860 95% | 6989 93% | 6822 95% | 6397 102% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 36 | 54 50% | 36 0% | 55.7 55% | 57 58% |
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 57 | 82 44% | 57 0% | 85.1 49% | 87 53% |
Total Average (Program / Settings) | 17% /
6% | -7% /
-24% | 6% /
-5% | 15% /
11% |
* ... smaller is better
In short, our review unit has a disappointing display. According to X-Rite i1Pro 2, the panel only has an average maximum brightness of 226 cd/m², which is much darker than the displays in most of our comparison devices. Its 57% sRGB and 36% AdobeRGB colour-space coverages are underwhelming too, especially for a gaming laptop.
The contrast ratio, reaction times and viewing angles are also below par. Most of our comparison devices do not have great contrast ratios either, but that is no excuse for Acer equipping the Nitro 5 with what is, basically, a bargain basement display.
Worse still, our review unit suffers from backlight bleeding. The panel is only 83% evenly lit, which leads to bright spots appearing in the top corners of the display when using the Nitro 5 in poorly lit rooms or at night.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
26.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 16 ms rise | |
↘ 10.8 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. » 62 % 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 | ||
42 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 20.8 ms rise | |
↘ 21.2 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. » 63 % 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. |
Performance
Our review unit with its Core i5-9300H processor and GeForce GTX 1650 GPU sits firmly in the midrange of modern gaming laptops. Its 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD is comparatively large for a gaming laptop at this price, particularly as there is a second M.2 2280 drive bay and a 2.5-inch bay too. 8 GB of RAM is standard though, and at least Acer has included two SO-DIMM modules so that the system runs in dual-channel mode. The only downside is that you must replace both modules if you ever want to upgrade to 16 GB or beyond, but that is a minor gripe.
Processor
The Core i5-9300H succeeds the Core i5-8300H, a popular CPU that found itself in the entry levels of most multimedia and gaming laptops released in the last year. The new processor is more of an upgrade in name only though. Intel has increased the clock speed by 100 MHz, but both CPUs have 8 MB of L3 cache and can process up to eight threads simultaneously. They both have a 45 W thermal design power (TDP) too.
We should point out that the Nitro 5 supports Nvidia Optimus. This allows the system to switch from its Nvidia GPU to its more-efficient Intel UHD Graphics 630 for undemanding tasks like video-streaming and web-browsing, which reduces power consumption and should help lengthen battery life.
We checked the clock speed behaviour of the Core i5-9300H using Cinebench R15. The quad-core chip reaches its maximum potential in the single-core benchmark where it averages 4.1 GHz, but it disappoints in the multi-core version. Our review unit briefly reaches 4.0 GHz before dropping to around 3.3 GHz, a level that it can consistently maintain.
Update 9.13.2019: The Core i7-9750H model achieves scores about 10% more in single-core benchmarks than our first review unit, and 29% more in multicore work. The Core i7-9750H has approximately a 10% higher single-core boost clock than the Core i5-9300H, for reference, which accounts for the uplift in single-core benchmark performance. The Core i7-9750H also has two additional cores and can execute four more threads, so a third better multicore performance is to be expected too.
Better still, the Core i7-9750H model can maintain its improved multicore performance under sustained load. By the end of our CB R15 Multi 64Bit loop, our new review unit still scored approximately 21% more than its Core i5-9300H powered sibling.
As you can see from the benchmark tables, the Nitro 5 cannot distinguish itself from its Core i5-8300H-powered competitors. What’s more, the Legion Y730 gets around 8% more peak multicore performance with its nominally weaker CPU than our review unit does. The Nitro 5 also only scored approximately 5% higher in CB R15 Multi 64Bit than the G5 15 5587. The Core i7-8750H destroyed the Core i5-9300H too, with the Medion Erazer X6805 scoring 58% more than the Nitro 5 in the same benchmark.
Cinebench R15 | |
CPU Single 64Bit | |
Average of class Gaming (79.2 - 318, n=247, last 2 years) | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-78TL | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 | |
CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Average of class Gaming (400 - 5663, n=248, last 2 years) | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-78TL | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 |
System Performance
Our review unit also sits in the midfield of our PCMark 10 comparison table. Its fast SSD allows Windows 10 to boot quickly and run without issue, but we would have expected a better showing in benchmarks with its comparatively newer CPU and GPU.
Update: 9.13.2019: System performance benchmarks only split the two models by 2%, with the Core i5-9300H model even taking the lead in some tests. Benchmarks like PCMark measure more than just CPU performance though, so it is unsurprising to see two devices that share the same SSD, RAM and GPU score roughly the same here.
PCMark 10 - Score | |
Average of class Gaming (4477 - 9852, n=208, last 2 years) | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-78TL | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 |
Storage Devices
Acer has equipped our review unit with a 512 GB WDC PC SN520 SSD that delivered excellent transfer speeds in benchmarks like AS SSD. The drive is considerably faster overall than those in our comparison devices, with only the Erazer X6805 and its Samsung PM961 coming close to the transfer speeds that the WDC PC SN520 achieves.
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G | Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Dell G5 15 5587 SK hynix SC311 M.2 | Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H Intel Optane 16 GB MEMPEK1J016GAL + HGST ST1000LM049 1 TB HDD | Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 SK Hynix HFS128G39TND | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AS SSD | -7% | -70% | -48% | -73% | |
Seq Read | 1572 | 1653 5% | 511 -67% | 736 -53% | 470.8 -70% |
Seq Write | 1374 | 1262 -8% | 243.7 -82% | 156.1 -89% | 126.8 -91% |
4K Read | 45.59 | 44.29 -3% | 24.44 -46% | 94.2 107% | 23.64 -48% |
4K Write | 115.1 | 100.9 -12% | 62.2 -46% | 45.63 -60% | 54.5 -53% |
Score Read | 1240 | 1565 26% | 240 -81% | 290 -77% | 274 -78% |
Score Write | 1550 | 762 -51% | 199 -87% | 239 -85% | 194 -87% |
Score Total | 3423 | 3113 -9% | 557 -84% | 692 -80% | 600 -82% |
Graphics Card
One of the most exciting things about the Nitro 5 is its GPU. The device is the first that we have tested with the GeForce GTX 1650, which succeeds the popular GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. Nvidia has delivered a decent performance boost between generations, which it has achieved by increasing the shader count from 768 to 1,024 among other improvements. The GeForce GTX 1650 theoretically has around a 100 MHz lower base clock and a 60 MHz lower boost clock than the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. However, the speeds that individual cards can reach in practice depend largely on the cooling system with which they are paired.
3DMark 11 Performance | 11828 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 8073 points | |
Help |
In short, the Nitro 5 manages its GPU clock speeds well. The GeForce GTX 1650 averaged 1,710 MHz during Unigine Heaven 4.0 and 1,650 MHz in The Witcher 3 when set to Full HD and ultra-graphics, both of which are respectable. Our review unit also maintained peak frame rates throughout an hour-long play-through of The Witcher 3 with no disturbing peaks or troughs.
Update 9.13.2019: Most modern games are GPU heavy, so upgrading your CPU will only yield performance improvements if it is bottlenecking your system. Even CPU-intensive games like The Witcher 3 cannot make use of the additional performance that the Core i7-9750H brings, with our new review unit averaging the same FPS on the High and Ultra presets as its Core i5-9300H sibling. Both CPUs maintain roughly the same clock speeds during our The Witcher 3 loop too.
The GPU performed well in synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark 11 too. The GeForce GTX 1650 scored over 30% more than the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti here, while the Nitro 5 almost reached the levels of the G5 15 5587 and its GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q. Our review unit loses ground in 3DMark Fire Strike though, but it still performs well considering its price.
3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | |
Average of class Gaming (781 - 53059, n=250, last 2 years) | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-78TL | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 |
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
Average of class Gaming (1029 - 72070, n=246, last 2 years) | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 |
Gaming Performance
The GeForce GTX 1650 is powerful enough to play most modern triple-A games in 1080p at high or maximum graphics. In short, you should have no issues with gaming in the Nitro 5's native display resolution.
The Witcher 3 | |
1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off) | |
Average of class Gaming (17.5 - 449, n=177, last 2 years) | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-78TL | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 | |
1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+) | |
Average of class Gaming (8.61 - 216, n=245, last 2 years) | |
Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-78TL | |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 | |
Dell G5 15 5587 | |
Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H | |
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 |
However, we would recommend stepping up to the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti for gaming in QHD and at least a GeForce RTX 2070 for UHD. Please see our gaming benchmarks page and our GeForce GTX 1650 review for more information about the GPU and how it performs in other games.
low | med. | high | ultra | |
The Witcher 3 (2015) | 61.1 | 35.4 | ||
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) | 48 | 44 | ||
Far Cry New Dawn (2019) | 57 | 53 |
Emissions
Fan Noise
Acer has equipped the Nitro 5 with two fans, which are pleasantly quiet at idle. If you are not pushing the machine hard, then the fans will either stay quiet or whir at between 31 dB(A) and 33 dB(A). We also could not hear any annoying electrical interference like coil whine during our tests.
The fans reach intrusively loud levels during CPU and GPU-intensive tasks like gaming though. We recorded the fans in our review unit peaking at 46 dB(A) while playing The Witcher 3, but our stress test pushed them up to a maximum of 49 dB(A).
Some laptop fans exceed 50 dB(A), but we would still recommend using headphones when gaming with the Nitro 5. Its fans will drown out its speakers even if you max out the volume.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 30 / 31 / 33 dB(A) |
Load |
| 46 / 49 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 dB(A) |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i5-9300H | Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H | Dell G5 15 5587 GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-8300H | Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H | Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R7 2700U | Average of class Gaming | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | -2% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 9% | |
off / environment * | 30 | 29 3% | 30.3 -1% | 28.9 4% | 29 3% | 24.1 ? 20% |
Idle Minimum * | 30 | 29 3% | 31.1 -4% | 32.2 -7% | 29 3% | 25.6 ? 15% |
Idle Average * | 31 | 32 -3% | 31.1 -0% | 32.5 -5% | 31 -0% | 27.4 ? 12% |
Idle Maximum * | 33 | 35 -6% | 34.2 -4% | 32.7 1% | 32 3% | 30.7 ? 7% |
Load Average * | 46 | 45 2% | 34.9 24% | 33.2 28% | 36 22% | 43.2 ? 6% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 46 | 47 -2% | 42.7 7% | 43.1 6% | 44 4% | |
Load Maximum * | 49 | 56 -14% | 44 10% | 45 8% | 46 6% | 53.2 ? -9% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
Some parts of the Nitro 5 get hot to the touch too under load too, but not dangerously so. Most of the case exceeds 40 °C under maximum load, while one area reaches 50 °C, but the palm rest remains a pleasantly cool sub-30 °C.
Likewise, case temperatures do not exceed 25 °C when the system is idling. Overall, the Nitro 5 should only ever feel hot to the touch when you are pushing it hard.
It is a different story under the hood though. GPU core temperatures only reached a maximum of 72 °C during our stress test, but the CPU peaked at 94 °C, which is only a few degrees short of its maximum operating temperature. However, we designed our combined FurMark and Prime95 stress test to push systems to their limits, so you should not experience these high internal temperatures even when enjoying prolonged gaming sessions.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 50 °C / 122 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.9 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 36 °C / 97 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27 °C / 80.6 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (+1.9 °C / 3.4 F).
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i5-9300H | Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H | Dell G5 15 5587 GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-8300H | Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H | Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R7 2700U | Average of class Gaming | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heat | -10% | -14% | 11% | -6% | -15% | |
Maximum Upper Side * | 47 | 43 9% | 50.2 -7% | 30 36% | 47 -0% | 46.3 ? 1% |
Maximum Bottom * | 50 | 55 -10% | 57 -14% | 40.8 18% | 44 12% | 49.7 ? 1% |
Idle Upper Side * | 24 | 28 -17% | 28.6 -19% | 23.4 2% | 30 -25% | 31.5 ? -31% |
Idle Bottom * | 25 | 30 -20% | 28.9 -16% | 27.8 -11% | 28 -12% | 32.7 ? -31% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The Nitro 5 has stereo speakers like many laptops. The speakers reproduce high-pitched tones comparatively accurately but at the expense of mid and low-end frequencies. Overall, the speakers are good enough for occasionally listening to music or watching videos. However, we would recommend using external speakers or headphones where possible for a better listening experience.
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 71% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 24% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 50% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 42% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.5% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 29% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 16% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 80% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Power Management
Power Consumption
The Nitro 5 has surprisingly low power consumption at idle, during which it consumes between 5 W and 11 W. By contrast, only the G5 15 5587 of our comparison devices can better our review unit here, with the other candidates consuming considerably more than the Nitro 5.
Moreover, the system consumed a maximum of just 90 W while playing The Witcher 3, which underlines the extent to which Nvidia has optimised its Turing architecture compared to its older Pascal-based chips. The Nitro 5 even consumes less than its AMD-powered sibling too. Overall, it is an impressive showing for Acer and the GeForce GTX 1650 here.
Off / Standby | 0.2 / 0.4 Watt |
Idle | 5 / 7 / 11 Watt |
Load |
89 / 132 Watt |
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i5-9300H | Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H | Dell G5 15 5587 GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-8300H | Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H | Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R7 2700U | Average of class Gaming | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -61% | -6% | -29% | -24% | -120% | |
Idle Minimum * | 5 | 10 -100% | 4.9 2% | 8 -60% | 7 -40% | 13.7 ? -174% |
Idle Average * | 7 | 13 -86% | 8.5 -21% | 11.8 -69% | 10 -43% | 18.9 ? -170% |
Idle Maximum * | 11 | 21 -91% | 9.1 17% | 13.1 -19% | 18 -64% | 26.5 ? -141% |
Load Average * | 89 | 101 -13% | 90.7 -2% | 90.2 -1% | 79 11% | 111.7 ? -26% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 90 | 126 -40% | 110 -22% | 107.8 -20% | 98 -9% | |
Load Maximum * | 132 | 176 -33% | 144 -9% | 136.2 -3% | 128 3% | 249 ? -89% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
After those impressive power consumption values, it should come as no surprise to see the Nitro 5 at the top of our battery life table too. Acer equips the device with a 57 Wh battery, a capacity that is on par with the batteries in our comparison devices, and which allows it to achieve excellent runtimes.
Our review unit lasted about 8 hours in our practical Wi-Fi battery life test, during which we reduce display brightness to around 150 cd/m² and turn all power-saving features off. Predictably, the device needs recharging much sooner if you are pushing it hard.
We should also point out that the Nitro 5 maintains approximately 80% of its peak CPU and GPU performance when running on battery. This 20% reduction should not affect frame rates significantly, for reference.
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i5-9300H, 57 Wh | Medion Erazer X6805-MD61085 GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-8750H, 46.7 Wh | Dell G5 15 5587 GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-8300H, 56 Wh | Lenovo Legion Y730-15ICH i5-8300H GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H, 57 Wh | Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R6V0 Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R7 2700U, 48 Wh | Average of class Gaming | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | -28% | -0% | -37% | -30% | -25% | |
Reader / Idle | 1044 | 503 -52% | 705 -32% | 577 -45% | 548 ? -48% | |
WiFi v1.3 | 486 | 270 -44% | 391 -20% | 315 -35% | 340 -30% | 366 ? -25% |
Load | 88 | 98 11% | 133 51% | 60 -32% | 86 ? -2% | |
H.264 | 325 | 392 ? |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
The Acer Aspire Nitro 5 is a balanced package at a fair price. The combination of a Coffee Lake CPU with a Turing GPU breezes through almost all applications, unless you overdo it with QHD or UHD resolutions and extremely high graphics settings. We also liked the inclusion of a fast PCIe SSD too.
By far the biggest highlight of the Nitro 5 is, however, its battery life. The device is perfect for those who want to game on the move. Likewise, it is even better for those who want to do more general tasks like responding to emails and browsing the web without being chained to a power outlet.
The Acer Aspire Nitro 5 is great value for money even though it suffers from a few compromises and weaknesses.
The more compact design and the quality of input devices are decent for the money too. However, Acer would need to improve a plethora of things for the Nitro 5 to get a higher overall rating. Firstly, the speakers are not the best, and neither is the display. Moreover, the selection of ports is rather meagre and outdated; we would have expected to see at least one Thunderbolt 3 port and a card reader in 2019.
However, do not let these weaknesses put you off. The Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2 is a great gaming laptop for the money. You will struggle to find anything more powerful or offering a better overall package for around 1,100 Euros (~$1,236).
Update: 9.13.2019: At €50 (~US$55), the Core i7-9750H is a worthwhile upgrade. The model, which Acer calls the AN515-54-78TL, offers considerably better single and multicore performance and does not reach the limits of the Nitro 5's cooling system. However, the additional cores and higher clock speeds have no effect in games like The Witcher 3, so we would recommend saving your money if you only plan to use the Nitro 5 for gaming.
Acer Aspire Nitro 5 AN515-54-53Z2
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05/11/2019 v6(old)
Florian Glaser