Notebookcheck Logo

Acer Predator Helios 300 (7700HQ, GTX 1060, Full HD) Laptop Review

A slim gamer! Acer's Predator Helios 300 is a gaming notebook that weighs under 3 kg (~106 oz.). Can its cooling system keep up with the relatively compact build and supply the device with sufficient fresh air? Find out in our detailed review.

For the original German review, click here.

The Acer Predator series stands for uncompromising gaming laptops. Now, the manufacturer has presented the Acer Predator Helios 300 - a gaming notebook that is slimmer than other models of the Predator series. The Helios has its new cooling system to thank for this slim build. The revolutionary AeroBlade-3D cooling fans are supposed to effectively transport the heat out of the case.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is available both as a 17-inch and as a 15-inch device. Our test unit has a 17-inch screen with a fast Intel Core i7-7700HQ, which belongs to the current Kaby Lake generation. The device has a dedicated graphics card, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, with its own 6 GB of video RAM (VRAM). Furthermore, our test unit has a matte IPS screen with 1920x1080 pixels as well as a 512-GB SSD and 16 GB of DDR4 RAM. Acer is currently charging $1800 for the Helios 300 in our test configuration.

Alternatively, the device can also be equipped with different processors and graphics cards. If you are happy with an Intel Core i5-7300HQ and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, you can save quite a bit of money.

The relatively slim design and attractive pricing are supposed to appeal to customers - and it works. However, the competition has not been lazy either and we have chosen several up-to-date high-powered gaming laptops to act as comparison devices for our Acer Predator Helios 300. The following table will give you an overview of the devices we chose for this review. There are devices with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, but there are also some with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, as this is what the cheaper versions of the Helios 300 are equipped with.

Acer Aspire V17 Nitro Asus ROG GL753VE MSI GE72VR 6RF HP Omen 17 Gigabyte P57X Nexoc G739
CPU Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i7-6700HQ Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i7-7700HQ Intel Core i7-7700HQ
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
Panel 17.3 inch 3820 x 2160 17.3 inch 1920 x 1080 17.3 inch 1920 x 1080 17.3 inch 1920 x 1080 17.3 inch 3820 x 2160 17.3 inch 1920 x 1080
RAM 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB 32 GB 16 GB
Storage 512 GB SSD 512 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD
Rating 88% 85% 83% 85% 82% 82%
Acer Predator Helios 300 (Helios 300 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 4 x 2.8 - 3.8 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile - 6 GB VRAM, Core: 1455 MHz, Memory: 8000 MHz, GDDR5, ForceWare 384.94, Nvidia Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2400, 2 of 2 slots filled, max. 32 GB
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, LG LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D), AH-IPS, WLED, 262K, 60Hz, LCM, a-Si TFT-LCD, glossy: no
Mainboard
HM175
Storage
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7, 512 GB 
, M.2 2280
Soundcard
Realtek High Definition Audio
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 1x 3.5 mm audio jack, Card Reader: MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4 (a/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 29 x 432 x 290 ( = 1.14 x 17.01 x 11.42 in)
Battery
48 Wh, 3220 mAh Lithium-Polymer, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chicklet, Keyboard Light: yes, 180-Watt power supply, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.876 kg ( = 101.45 oz / 6.34 pounds), Power Supply: 584 g ( = 20.6 oz / 1.29 pounds)
Price
1800 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The looks of the Acer Predator Helios 300 fit perfectly to the design of the Predator series. As we are accustomed to from this gaming series, the predominant color is black with some nice red details. However, Acer has decided to leave out the fancy lights and the red details on the display case and around the touchpad are not illuminated. We find that this design is just as compelling as that of the Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL.

The main material is plastic with aluminum details on the top of the base unit. Unfortunately, fingerprints are easily visible on the black surfaces, although they can be easily removed with a cloth. The 17-inch device has good stability; there was a slight creaking when we tried to warp the base unit and the display cover twisted minimally but silently. The middle of the base unit gave way slightly under pressure, but the display efficiently protects the panel from pressure.

Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300
Acer Predator Helios 300

Size Comparison

The device is significantly wider than its competitors, but its depth is average. Only the Nexoc G739 (27 mm, ~1.06 in) is slimmer than our Helios 300 at 29 mm (~1.14 in). Our test unit weighs 2.9 kg, which is very good for a gaming laptop. 

432 mm / 17 inch 290 mm / 11.4 inch 29 mm / 1.142 inch 2.9 kg6.34 lbs423 mm / 16.7 inch 304 mm / 12 inch 33 mm / 1.299 inch 3.8 kg8.35 lbs420 mm / 16.5 inch 288 mm / 11.3 inch 32 mm / 1.26 inch 3 kg6.59 lbs423 mm / 16.7 inch 296 mm / 11.7 inch 27.62 mm / 1.087 inch 3.1 kg6.83 lbs418 mm / 16.5 inch 296 mm / 11.7 inch 31 mm / 1.22 inch 3.4 kg7.52 lbs414 mm / 16.3 inch 272 mm / 10.7 inch 33 mm / 1.299 inch 3 kg6.55 lbs419 mm / 16.5 inch 289 mm / 11.4 inch 27 mm / 1.063 inch 2.9 kg6.32 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Ports

The external ports of the Acer Predator Helios 300 are divided among its two sides. Although the device is not equipped with an optical drive, the free space has not been used for further ports. The ventilation slots are positioned at the back of the device and are made to transport warm air out of the case.

Overall, the laptop has four USB ports, two of which are USB 2.0 ports. The device is also equipped with a USB 3.1 Type-C port, which is positioned between the HDMI output and the RJ-45 port. Port distribution is good, and there are no cables in the way when using a mouse. Even the cable for the power supply has an angled connector so it does not get in the way. It would have been even better, however, if the two USB ports on the right side also supported the faster 3.0 standard.

Left: Kensington lock, RJ45, USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI, USB 3.0, SD-card reader
Left: Kensington lock, RJ45, USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI, USB 3.0, SD-card reader
Right: combined audio jack (Mic-In, Line-Out), 2x USB 2.0, LED lights, power supply
Right: combined audio jack (Mic-In, Line-Out), 2x USB 2.0, LED lights, power supply
Front: no ports
Front: no ports
Back: no ports
Back: no ports

SD-card reader

The memory-card reader is placed in the center of the left side. It can read all usual formats such as MMC, SD, SDHC and SDXC. However, the memory cards stick out of the device which is not pretty and can be dangerous. We tested the memory-card reader's performance with our reference card (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II). The Helios 300 has an average transfer rate of 79 MB/s when copying JPG files and manages a sequential read rate of 84 MB/S with AS SSD. All devices that have a memory-card reader working at USB 3.0 speeds showed similar results. Only the Acer Aspire V17 and the MSI GE72VR were considerably worse off as their card readers work at USB 2.0 speeds only.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Acer Predator Helios 300
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
79 MB/s
Gigabyte P57X v7
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
78.2 MB/s -1%
Nexoc G739
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
78 MB/s -1%
HP Omen 17-an014ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
76 MB/s -4%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
66.1 MB/s -16%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23 MB/s -71%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
20 MB/s -75%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Asus GL753VE-DS74
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
92.3 MB/s +10%
Gigabyte P57X v7
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
90.4 MB/s +8%
Nexoc G739
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87 MB/s +4%
HP Omen 17-an014ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87 MB/s +4%
Acer Predator Helios 300
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
84 MB/s
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.3 MB/s -72%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
20 MB/s -76%

Communication

The Acer Predator Helios 300 supports both Wi-Fi and Gigabit-Ethernet connections. The former works with the IEE 802.11 ac standard and comes from Qualcomm. During our measurements the Helios 300 reached an average data transfer rate of 696 MBit/s (downstream) and a slightly lower upstream rate of 545 MBit/s. In the comparison our test unit manages a great second place. 

We did not notice any abnormalities during testing; both the Wi-Fi and LAN connections worked well.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
Qualcomm/Atheros QCA6174
626 MBit/s +15%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
545 MBit/s
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
497 MBit/s -9%
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
443 MBit/s -19%
Nexoc G739
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
388 MBit/s -29%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
299 MBit/s -45%
iperf3 receive AX12
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
702 MBit/s +1%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4
696 MBit/s
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
Qualcomm/Atheros QCA6174
638 MBit/s -8%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
618 MBit/s -11%
Nexoc G739
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
443 MBit/s -36%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
308 MBit/s -56%

Security

The Acer Predator Helios 300 does not offer many security features. It has a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM) and a Kensington lock. Unfortunately, the Helios is not equipped with a fingerprint scanner.

Software

PredatorSense
PredatorSense

Our test unit is equipped with its own manufacturer's tool "PredatorSense", but its features are a lot simpler than with the Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76D. The CPU and GPU can easily be monitored with this software and the three different modes support minimal overclocking of the dedicated graphics card. The device also comes with Acer's Care Center and offers system optimizations and other information. The Dolby audio software is installed in order to configure the speakers according to personal tastes.

Maintenance

The manufacturer has decided not to give the device one large maintenance hatch, but instead it opted for two smaller hatches. These let you access the two RAM slots from the one hatch and a 2.5-inch slot on the other, which you could use to add an additional storage device. As our test unit is equipped with only one M.2 SSD, the slot is empty. 

It was difficult to further dismantle our test unit. Even after removing a lot of screws we were not able to remove the bottom of the base unit. Countless plastic clips and hooks make it near impossible to take the device apart. Therefore, maintenance work is limited to a minimum and the cooling fans cannot be cleaned. The M.2 SSD is also not easy to change. As our test unit is on loan, we did not attempt to further dismantle the device to avoid any breakages.

Accessories & Operating System

The only accessories that come with the Acer Predator Helios 300 are a 180-Watt power supply and some service brochures. The Acer Predator Helios 300 is delivered with Windows 10 64-bit Home and the website of the manufacturer currently does not offer any other drivers for the device.

Warranty

The device comes with a 24-month warranty (Pick-Up & Return). Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Acer Predator Helios 300 keyboard
Acer Predator Helios 300 keyboard
Acer Predator Helios 300 keyboard (backlit)
Acer Predator Helios 300 keyboard (backlit)

Acer has given the Helios 300 a chiclet keyboard with the keys worked into the surface and flush with the wrist rest. The keys are comfortably large at 15 x 15 mm (~0.6 x 0.6 in) and the 3 mm (~0.11 in) gaps are not too wide. All the keys are firmly in position and there is no rattling. They have a comfortably short travel and clear pressure point. The keys make hardly any noise while typing and have a nice feeling; the keyboard is suitable for people who type a lot. The optical interplay of black and red is a nice highlight; the important keys (W, A, S, D), which serve as navigation keys in shooter games, are a different color. The red keyboard-backlighting can be turned on and off manually but cannot be dimmed.

Touchpad

Acer Predator Helios 300 touchpad
Acer Predator Helios 300 touchpad

The design of the touchpad (a ClickPad) is a continuation of the dominating color combination. The smooth black surface is emphasized by a red rim. Although Acer did not make full use of the available space beneath the keyboard, the touchpad is large enough at 10.7 x 7.8 cm (~4.2 x 3 in). Navigation is easy thanks to the highly reactive ClickPad. The input device reacts well even at the sides and in the corners, where inputs can often be more difficult to register. Inputs are confirmed by a quiet click, but this is not bothersome. Overall, the touchpad gave us a very good impression.

Display

Subpixel array
Subpixel array
Clearly visible clouding
Clearly visible clouding

Our Acer Predator Helios 300 has a 17-inch, Full HD IPS display from LG. Currently, the manufacturer does not offer any alternative displays such as a 4K panel. The matte panel managed a good average brightness of 373 cd/m² - only the Gigabyte P57X's screen is even brighter (408 cd/m²). We measured a black value of 0.35 cd/m², which results in a contrast of 1097:1. The results we got from the screen of the Acer Predator Helios 300 are typical for an IPS screen and the LG panel did a very great job in brightness distribution and reached 93%. Nonetheless, there is a little clouding visible on a completely black screen. In our case it was most visible in the corners. We also noticed some PWM-flickering for brightness regulation, but the frequency of 119,000 Hz is very high and should not be a problem even for sensitive users.

377
cd/m²
378
cd/m²
378
cd/m²
378
cd/m²
384
cd/m²
381
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
366
cd/m²
358
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 384 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 373.4 cd/m² Minimum: 33 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 384 cd/m²
Contrast: 1097:1 (Black: 0.35 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.81 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.33 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
86% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
56% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
85.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.45
Acer Predator Helios 300
LG LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D), 1920x1080, 17.30
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0, 3840x2160, 17.30
Asus GL753VE-DS74
LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF3, 1920x1080, 17.30
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
N173HHE-G32 (CMN1747), 1920x1080, 17.30
HP Omen 17-an014ng
AUO149D, 1920x1080, 17.30
Gigabyte P57X v7
SHP145E, 3840x2160, 17.30
Nexoc G739
CMN1738, 1920x1080, 17.30
Display
34%
28%
3%
35%
4%
Display P3 Coverage
66.8
85.4
28%
90.2
35%
64.6
-3%
87.8
31%
66.7
0%
sRGB Coverage
85.8
100
17%
99.8
16%
92.9
8%
100
17%
91
6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
62.8
97.8
56%
83.9
34%
66.1
5%
98.9
57%
66.4
6%
Response Times
-8%
-5%
41%
-39%
-96%
-55%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
36 ?(18, 18)
29 ?(14, 15)
19%
36 ?(18.4, 17.6)
-0%
28 ?(12, 16)
22%
45.2 ?(20.8, 24.4)
-26%
55.6 ?(18.4, 37.2)
-54%
45 ?(20, 25)
-25%
Response Time Black / White *
20 ?(8.4, 11.6)
27 ?(16, 11)
-35%
22 ?(12.4, 9.6)
-10%
8 ?(5, 3)
60%
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
-52%
46.8 ?(10.4, 36.4)
-134%
28 ?(7, 21)
-40%
PWM Frequency
119000 ?(85)
1000 ?(29)
-99%
450 ?(90)
-100%
Screen
7%
2%
10%
6%
5%
7%
Brightness middle
384
380
-1%
366
-5%
270
-30%
314
-18%
441.3
15%
312
-19%
Brightness
373
336
-10%
348
-7%
254
-32%
309
-17%
408
9%
304
-18%
Brightness Distribution
93
81
-13%
90
-3%
86
-8%
88
-5%
86
-8%
85
-9%
Black Level *
0.35
0.32
9%
0.35
-0%
0.26
26%
0.34
3%
0.44
-26%
0.23
34%
Contrast
1097
1188
8%
1046
-5%
1038
-5%
924
-16%
1003
-9%
1357
24%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.81
5.32
-11%
4.4
9%
3.33
31%
3.19
34%
5.1
-6%
4.19
13%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.69
7.63
12%
9.7
-12%
6.07
30%
6.1
30%
9.8
-13%
8.7
-0%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5.33
4.9
8%
3
44%
3.46
35%
3.49
35%
4.3
19%
3.72
30%
Gamma
2.45 90%
2.61 84%
2.1 105%
2.13 103%
2.34 94%
2.08 106%
2.29 96%
CCT
7137 91%
6558 99%
6362 102%
7419 88%
7261 90%
7345 88%
7104 91%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
56
87.2
56%
56
0%
75
34%
60
7%
87
55%
59
5%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
86
100
16%
86
0%
100
16%
93
8%
100
16%
91
6%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
11% / 11%
-2% / 1%
26% / 18%
-10% / -0%
-19% / -8%
-15% / -5%

* ... smaller is better

The image quality is good despite the small deficiencies. The results from DeltaE 2000 showed that Acer did not calibrate the panel before shipment as the values are a little too high (ColorChecker 4.81 and grayscales 5.33). We measured considerably lower color space deviation from the sRGB color space after calibration (ColorChecker 2.73 and grayscales 0.74). We could also minimize the slight blue cast.

The LG display covers 86% of the sRGB color space and 56% of the AdobeRGB color space, which is still sufficient for leisure-time image-processing. Graphic designers might have to go for an external screen to use the device professionally.

CalMAN: grayscales
CalMAN: grayscales
CalMAN: grayscales (after calibration)
CalMAN: grayscales (after calibration)
CalMAN: color saturation
CalMAN: color saturation
CalMAN: color saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN: color saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker (after calibration)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (after calibration)
Acer Predator Helios 300 vs. sRGB (86%)
Acer Predator Helios 300 vs. sRGB (86%)
Acer Predator Helios 300 vs. AdobeRGB (56%)
Acer Predator Helios 300 vs. AdobeRGB (56%)

The properties of the display are good news for users who enjoy working outdoors. The matte surface prevents annoying reflections and the good screen brightness levels (373 cd/m²) mean that the screen can be read even in sunlight. We would nonetheless recommend finding a spot in the shade; as you can see from the images below, the screen is considerably easier to read in shade.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 in sunlight
The Acer Predator Helios 300 in sunlight
The Acer Predator Helios 300 in shade
The Acer Predator Helios 300 in 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
20 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 8.4 ms rise
↘ 11.6 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 37 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
36 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18 ms rise
↘ 18 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 detected 119000 Hz ≤ 85 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 119000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 85 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 119000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The LG panel has typical IPS viewing angles. The test image is very good to good from all nine positions. The familiar problems can be seen in the four corner images, which have slight color deviation. But this is the same with other devices, not only the Acer Predator Helios 300. You will not experience any real limitations in everyday use.

The viewing angles of the Acer Predator Helios 300
The viewing angles of the Acer Predator Helios 300

Performance

The version of the Acer Predator Helios 300 that we are currently testing is equipped with a very fast Intel Core i7-7700HQ that ensures good gaming performance in combination with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. If you are looking for a slightly cheaper option, the Helios 300 is also available with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or an Intel Core i5-7300HQ. Regarding performance, the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is about one-third below the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 and requires details to be reduced to ensure smooth gaming. If you are buying this device with mainly gaming in mind, we would recommend going for the version with a GeForce GTX 1060. 

RAM and storage devices can be expanded easily, compared to the other components. The 16 GB of DDR4 RAM is good as a basic configuration but can be expanded up to 32 GB. The storage device - a 512-GB M.2 SSD in our test unit - can be expanded by adding another SSD or HDD in 2.5-inch format.

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 Utility
Intel Extreme Utility (benchmark)
 

Processor

Although the processor does not call the tune in gaming devices, it should not be neglected either. Our test sample is equipped with a Kaby Lake-series processor and is called Intel Core i7-7700HQ. The native quad-core processor supports Hyper-Threading and has a base clock rate of 2.8 GHz. It can be increased to up to 3.8 GHz with the turbo.

The performance of the Acer Predator Helios 300's processor is good and is on a par with its competition. The MSI GE72VR  is equipped with the predecessor (Intel Core i7-6700HQ) and its performance is 10% below that of the new Intel Core i7-7700HQ.

You can find further benchmarks for the Intel Core i7-7700HQ here.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
GPU load
GPU load

The Cinebench R15 loop helps us test the performance of the processor under continuous load. The diagram showed no particular fluctuations and the performance of the Intel Core i7-7700HQ remained stable even under continuous load.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540550560570580590600610620630640650660670680690700710720730740Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points +1%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points +1%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159 Points 0%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159 Points
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
152 Points -4%
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
144 Points -9%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
140 Points -12%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
743 Points +1%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
738 Points 0%
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
736 Points 0%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
735 Points
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
735 Points 0%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
734 Points 0%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
676 Points -8%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.82 Points +1%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.81 Points
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.71 Points -6%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.61 Points -11%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
1.55 Points -14%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.15 Points 0%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.14 Points
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.06 Points -1%
Gigabyte P57X v7
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.04 Points -1%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
7.39 Points -9%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
272.1 Points +9%
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
268 Points +7%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
258.9 Points +3%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
250.7 Points
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
221.5 Points -12%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
213.9 Points -15%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
1179 ms * -22%
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1114 ms * -16%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
963 ms *
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
960 ms * -0%
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
919 ms * +5%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
41110 Points +13%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
40882 Points +12%
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
36449 Points
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
32512 Points -11%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
30722 Points -16%

* ... 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
6821
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
22143
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5874
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
6821 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
28891 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
7651 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
8.14 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
66.1 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.81 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
735 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
159 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
99.9 fps
Help

System Performance

We used PCMark 8 to measure system performance, which benefits from the stable CPU performance. The comparison table is a little deceiving here, as the Acer Predator Helios 300 really is only 3% below the HP Omen 17. Our test unit cuts a good figure in direct comparison and subjectively, we felt that the device's performance was very good. 

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 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
HP Omen 17-an014ng
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4989 Points +2%
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
4874 Points
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4270 Points -12%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
3985 Points -18%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
3570 Points -27%
Gigabyte P57X v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
3569 Points -27%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
3444 Points -29%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP Omen 17-an014ng
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5289 Points +3%
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5243 Points +2%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
5171 Points +1%
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
5116 Points
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
4831 Points -6%
Gigabyte P57X v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
4218 Points -18%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
4207 Points -18%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4874 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
7411 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5116 points
PCMark 10 Score
4861 points
Help

Storage Devices

The device has a free 2.5-inch slot
The device has a free 2.5-inch slot

Acer has given our test unit an M.2 SSD with 512 GB of storage. The SSD comes from Intel and has a fast PCIe interface. We measured similar data transfer rates to the manufacturer's specifications (AS SSD): The SSD managed 1557 MB/s in sequential reading and 552 MB/s in sequential writing during our test. We were very happy with the result of the 4K read test, which was 29 MB/s.

512 GB will most probably not last very long in a gaming laptop. Therefore, we recommend adding an additional storage device; the Acer Predator Helios 300 has a free 2.5-inch slot after all.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
CrystalDiskInfo
CrystalDiskInfo
ATTO
ATTO
Acer Predator Helios 300
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
Asus GL753VE-DS74
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
HP Omen 17-an014ng
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Gigabyte P57X v7
Transcend MTS800 256GB M.2 (TS256GMTS800)
Nexoc G739
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-3%
-21%
-39%
66%
-36%
64%
Read Seq
899
880
-2%
1049
17%
510
-43%
1736
93%
517
-42%
1666
85%
Write Seq
569
581
2%
584
3%
274.6
-52%
1212
113%
305.7
-46%
1192
109%
Read 512
580
725
25%
583
1%
427.2
-26%
1044
80%
315
-46%
857
48%
Write 512
425.9
429.3
1%
458
8%
247.2
-42%
854
101%
306.1
-28%
827
94%
Read 4k
34.29
10.46
-69%
14.1
-59%
21.23
-38%
59.1
72%
26.04
-24%
60.7
77%
Write 4k
125.5
123.4
-2%
108
-14%
86.8
-31%
144.9
15%
82.3
-34%
154.5
23%
Read 4k QD32
457.7
459.2
0%
57.8
-87%
335.4
-27%
582
27%
281.3
-39%
636
39%
Write 4k QD32
404.5
496.9
23%
264
-35%
178.1
-56%
523
29%
296
-27%
544
34%
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7
Sequential Read: 899 MB/s
Sequential Write: 569 MB/s
512K Read: 580 MB/s
512K Write: 425.9 MB/s
4K Read: 34.29 MB/s
4K Write: 125.5 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 457.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 404.5 MB/s

Graphics

Our Acer Predator Helios 300 is equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, which has 6 GB of GDDR5 VRAM available. Although the GPU cannot keep up with the faster Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, our device does do a good job among our comparison devices that are equipped with a GeForce GTX 1060. It has a considerable lead on the two devices that are equipped with the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, which confirms that it is worth paying a little more money for a GeForce GTX 1060. The PredatorSense software offers a small margin for overclocking the GPU, but this does not really bring a noticeable improvement in performance.

In 2D, the Intel HD Graphics 630 takes care of image output and this means a considerably longer battery runtime. Switching graphics cards works perfectly with Nvidia Optimus and without the user noticing. 

You can find further information and benchmarks for both graphics adapters (Intel HD Graphics 630, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060) here.

3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
HP Omen 17-an014ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
108657 Points +31%
Acer Predator Helios 300
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
82678 Points
Gigabyte P57X v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
75190 Points -9%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
66406 Points -20%
Nexoc G739
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
51987 Points -37%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
47807 Points -42%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
HP Omen 17-an014ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17289 Points +44%
Gigabyte P57X v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17170 Points +43%
Acer Predator Helios 300
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
12009 Points
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11617 Points -3%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11546 Points -4%
Nexoc G739
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
8027 Points -33%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
7531 Points -37%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Gigabyte P57X v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
23243 Points +49%
HP Omen 17-an014ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
21918 Points +40%
Acer Predator Helios 300
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
15607 Points
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
15019 Points -4%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
14556 Points -7%
Nexoc G739
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
10008 Points -36%
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 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 11
3DMark 11
3DMark 11 Performance
12812 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
135605 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
26341 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
10144 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
5349 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
3854 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, combined with the Intel Core i7-7700HQ, makes for good gaming performance, which is sufficient for playing current games smoothly in native resolution with high details. Games will often run smoothly even when set to "ultra preset". With the weaker Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, which the Acer Predator Helios 300 is also available with, you will more often than not have to go for "medium preset".

If you connect the Acer Predator Helios 300 to an external display that supports 4K resolution, you will find that the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 quickly reaches its limits. None of the current games can be played smoothly in such high resolution with this GPU. For 4K, you would need an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 at least.

01234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra

Our test with the game The Witcher 3 showed a stable frame rate. The results remained between 40 and 37 fps, which suggests that the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 can keep up its clock rate even under continuous maximum load. Were its performance to fluctuate due to high temperatures, you would notice strong frame drops (down to 10 or 15 fps).

The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
HP Omen 17-an014ng
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
58 fps +49%
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
38.9 (31min - 45max) fps
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
37.2 (25min - 45max) fps -4%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
32 fps -18%
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
27.6 fps -29%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Gigabyte P57X v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
130 fps +49%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
108 fps +23%
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
98 (11.6min - 188.3max) fps +12%
Asus GL753VE-DS74
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
97 fps +11%
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
87.5 fps
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
72.5 fps -17%
Ghost Recon Wildlands - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
38.4 (33.5min - 42.9max) fps
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
36.2 fps -6%
Battlefield 1 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
83.6 (75min - 89max) fps
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
50.8 fps -39%
Far Cry Primal - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:SM
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
62 (50min - 75max) fps
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
62 (50min - 75max) fps 0%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
58 fps -6%
Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:2xMS AF:8x
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
31.2 (24.4min - 39.8max) fps
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
30.1 (23.4min - 38.6max) fps -4%
For Honor - 1920x1080 Extreme Preset AA:T AF:16x
Acer Predator Helios 300
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
72.3 (54.3min - 99.8max) fps
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
71.3 fps -1%
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
46.1 fps -36%
low med. high ultra4K
BioShock Infinite (2013) 255.5 204.6 194.7 87.5
Battlefield 4 (2013) 199.9 198.6 195.9 106 49.8
The Witcher 3 (2015) 198.3 135 71.7 38.9 26.1
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 203.1 135.3 77.8 65.7 27.2
Far Cry Primal (2016) 122 92 82 62 26
The Division (2016) 217.3 146.3 73.3 57.4 26.9
Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) 140.4 109.1 59.9 31.2 19.1
Battlefield 1 (2016) 177.8 142.5 93.2 83.6 32.8
For Honor (2017) 226 107.1 101.1 72.3 30.2
Ghost Recon Wildlands (2017) 140 73.6 67.2 38.4 25.3
Mass Effect Andromeda (2017) 131.4 85.7 59.3 53.8 21.5

Emissions

System Noise

Gaming laptops usually are not the quietest of devices. The Acer Predator Helios 300, too, is quite audible. However, the cooling fans do not run while idling and the device is silent. The opposite is the case when the device is under load. As soon as a 3D application is started, the two AeroBlade 3D cooling fans start running. Their rotation speed increases after a while and the two fans create 50 dB(A) under maximum load, which is clearly audible. What bothered us, however, was the high-frequency noise that the fans started emitting at partial load.

From the comparison table below, you can see that the HP Omen 17 is even louder at 55 dB(A), while the Acer Aspire V17 - also equipped with a GeForce GTX 1060 - has a lower maximum of 44.3 dB(A).

System noise idle
System noise idle
System noise load
System noise load
System noise speaker
System noise speaker

Noise Level

Idle
31 / 32 / 33 dB(A)
Load
44 / 50 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: 31 dB(A)
Acer Predator Helios 300
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus GL753VE-DS74
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
HP Omen 17-an014ng
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Noise
5%
0%
-4%
-6%
1%
-2%
off / environment *
31
30.8
1%
29.1
6%
31
-0%
30
3%
29
6%
30
3%
Idle Minimum *
31
31.4
-1%
33.3
-7%
34
-10%
30
3%
30.4
2%
31
-0%
Idle Average *
32
31.4
2%
33.3
-4%
35
-9%
37
-16%
32.1
-0%
32
-0%
Idle Maximum *
33
31.4
5%
33.4
-1%
36
-9%
39
-18%
32.1
3%
38
-15%
Load Average *
44
38.6
12%
42.6
3%
40
9%
44
-0%
45.6
-4%
44
-0%
Witcher 3 ultra *
46
46.8
-2%
47
-2%
Load Maximum *
50
44.3
11%
46.8
6%
51
-2%
55
-10%
51.5
-3%
50
-0%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

3DMark 11 after stress test
3DMark 11 after stress test

Although the cooling system did not attract any attention during the performance tests, we did notice some shortcomings in the temperature development after taking a closer look. Of course, gaming notebooks can sometimes heat up a lot more than simple office devices, but the Acer Predator Helios 300 is a lot hotter than its competition with a maximum case temperature of 59 °C (~138.2 °F). As this hot spot is at the bottom of the base unit, gaming on your lap can quickly become uncomfortable.

Our stress test showed that the heat produced by the CPU and GPU is not transported out of the case fast enough. We measured a maximum CPU temperature of 97 °C (~206.6 °F). Nonetheless, the CPU managed to keep up the core clock rate over the entire one-hour test period. The maximum temperature we measured on the GPU was 84 °C (~183.2 °F). It has no thermal throttling. Despite the high temperatures, the test unit reached identical results in 3DMark 11 as before (cold start).

Stress test: Prime95 only
Stress test: Prime95 only
Stress test: FurMark only
Stress test: FurMark only
Stress test: FurMark + Prime95
Stress test: FurMark + Prime95


Full load top (Optris PI 640)
Full load top (Optris PI 640)
Full load bottom (Optris PI 640)
Full load bottom (Optris PI 640)
Max. Load
 56 °C
133 F
57 °C
135 F
50 °C
122 F
 
 56 °C
133 F
56 °C
133 F
36 °C
97 F
 
 35 °C
95 F
32 °C
90 F
28 °C
82 F
 
Maximum: 57 °C = 135 F
Average: 45.1 °C = 113 F
59 °C
138 F
55 °C
131 F
53 °C
127 F
33 °C
91 F
50 °C
122 F
52 °C
126 F
28 °C
82 F
30 °C
86 F
30 °C
86 F
Maximum: 59 °C = 138 F
Average: 43.3 °C = 110 F
Power Supply (max.)  50 °C = 122 F | Room Temperature 24 °C = 75 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 45.1 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 57 °C / 135 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 59 °C / 138 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.6 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 42.2 °C / 108 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (35 °C / 95 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-6.1 °C / -11 F).
Acer Predator Helios 300
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus GL753VE-DS74
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
HP Omen 17-an014ng
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Heat
9%
35%
13%
2%
10%
15%
Maximum Upper Side *
57
56
2%
35.8
37%
48.8
14%
48
16%
51.2
10%
50.6
11%
Maximum Bottom *
59
48.7
17%
36.4
38%
48.2
18%
54
8%
56.8
4%
50.8
14%
Idle Upper Side *
36
30.9
14%
22.2
38%
30.1
16%
35
3%
29.2
19%
28.7
20%
Idle Bottom *
31
30.6
1%
22.2
28%
30.4
2%
37
-19%
29.2
6%
27.1
13%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

Dolby audio software
Dolby audio software

The Acer Predator Helios 300's sound system was disappointing. One stereo sound system without a subwoofer is not enough for a gaming laptop. Additionally, the sound of the speakers comes out of the bottom of the device, so the sound is noticeably muted on a soft surface. Although music and spoken words can be understood perfectly at maximum volume, the small speakers lack capacity. There is no trace of bass frequencies and there is nothing the Dolby audio software can do about it. Playback is good via the 3.5-mm audio jack and we would recommend using an external sound system.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.542.22535.737.73132.530.24031.735.2502829.16328.330.78029.730.310026.938.312524.440.716022.436.920022.351.825022.462.731520.869.340019.970.750019.871.663018.975.880018.476.4100018.473.6125018.268.4160018.367.5200018.565.3250018.862.8315019.360.6400019.860.8500020.366.9630021.162.8800021.6601000022.261.9125002367.11600023.763SPL3281.3N1.650.5median 20.3median 63Delta25.442.636.242.640.432.240.443.931.743.945.22945.246.428.846.45030.85051.428.351.453.428.953.454.824.554.857.62457.658.724.658.761.222.161.265.32265.363.720.863.765.820.365.870.819.370.870.118.670.168.517.968.570.317.770.371.81771.86417.16466.116.966.163.31763.360.616.960.657.616.957.663.11763.168.617.268.66717.16754.717.254.751.317.451.379.53079.5481.448median 63.7median 17.7median 63.75.525.5hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Predator Helios 300Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
Acer Predator Helios 300 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.1% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (18.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 61% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 40% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J 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
» 13% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
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%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be turned on/off)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power supply weighs about 600 g (~21 oz)
The power supply weighs...
The power supply weighs about 600 g (~21 oz)
...about 600 g (~21 oz)

The Acer Predator Helios 300 has decent power consumption. Especially while idling, the test unit scored important points with its low consumption rates (7 to 20 watts). It has significantly better results than its two competitors that are also equipped with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060. Naturally, the devices with the GeForce GTX 1070 consume considerably more power. We measured a maximum consumption of 162 watts on our test unit, with a good average of 81 watts. The power supply has a maximum of 180 watts. We did not notice any abnormalities when using the battery under maximum load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.3 / 0.6 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 7 / 13 / 20 Watt
Load midlight 81 / 162 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 Predator Helios 300
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Asus GL753VE-DS74
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
HP Omen 17-an014ng
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Power Consumption
-25%
16%
-35%
-79%
-79%
-5%
Idle Minimum *
7
10.5
-50%
7.5
-7%
13
-86%
22
-214%
15.7
-124%
7
-0%
Idle Average *
13
20.5
-58%
11.3
13%
20
-54%
28
-115%
23.4
-80%
14
-8%
Idle Maximum *
20
22
-10%
11.8
41%
26
-30%
35
-75%
23.5
-18%
23
-15%
Load Average *
81
91
-12%
82.1
-1%
83
-2%
93
-15%
184.6
-128%
82
-1%
Witcher 3 ultra *
127
96.3
24%
157
-24%
Load Maximum *
162
155
4%
116.6
28%
169
-4%
208
-28%
233.1
-44%
163
-1%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

3DMark 11 on battery
3DMark 11 on battery

The 48-Wh lithium-ion battery is not removable and is supposed to run for 7 hours according to the manufacturer. We tested the battery runtime in different scenarios. Under load, the battery runs out of power after only 54 minutes. The more practical Wi-Fi test, which accesses a new website every 30 seconds, still did not reach the specified runtime and we had to recharge after 4:39 hours. Only while idling did the device manage a good 10:11 hours. However, this scenario is not realistic; the idle test is only supposed to give us an idea of what is possible theoretically. 

If you want to use the Acer Predator Helios 300 for gaming in battery mode, you can. But be aware that the performance of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 will be considerably reduced, as you can see from the results of a rerun of the 3DMark 11 on battery. The results are noticeably lower than on power supply.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
10h 11min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 40.15063.0.0)
4h 39min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
4h 41min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 54min
Maximum battery runtime
Maximum battery runtime
Minimum battery runtime
Minimum battery runtime
Wi-Fi battery runtime
Wi-Fi battery runtime
H.264 battery runtime
H.264 battery runtime
Time needed for recharging
Time needed for recharging
Acer Predator Helios 300
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 48 Wh
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 69 Wh
Asus GL753VE-DS74
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 48 Wh
MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 51 Wh
HP Omen 17-an014ng
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 86 Wh
Gigabyte P57X v7
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 75.81 Wh
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 62 Wh
Battery Runtime
-1%
-15%
-48%
0%
-7%
39%
Reader / Idle
611
520
-15%
196
-68%
349
-43%
256
-58%
613
0%
H.264
281
140
-50%
255
-9%
322
15%
WiFi v1.3
279
277
-1%
235
-16%
142
-49%
267
-4%
155
-44%
288
3%
Load
54
47
-13%
40
-26%
84
56%
98
81%
128
137%

Verdict

Pros

+ easily recognizable
+ light weight
+ slim design
+ GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB VRAM
+ fast Intel Core i7-7700HQ
+ good input devices
+ 512 GB SSD
+ matte display with good viewing angles
+ high system performance
+ low power consumption
+ great port distribution
+ fair pricing

Cons

- sound system is below expectations
- high temperatures under load
- cooling fans make high-frequency noise under load
- cooling fans difficult to clean
- only one free 2.5-inch slot available
- could offer more ports
The Acer Predator Helios 300, provided by Acer Germany
The Acer Predator Helios 300, provided by Acer Germany

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a great entry-level device for gamers. The 17-inch device is equipped with a fast Intel Core i7-7700HQ, and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 is a solid foundation for playing current games in the native resolution of 1080p. The framerates are still fine even at maximum details. The $1800 model is also equipped with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM as well as a fast 512-GB NVMe SSD. The Acer Predator Helios fulfills all requirements for a gaming laptop.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a solid gaming performance for its price. However, the manufacturer has squandered some important points with the sound system, which is not suitable for a gaming laptop.

Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 300 has given us a good impression. The case is very stable despite its flat design and the color combination makes the device recognizable as a Predator even from afar. We really liked the input devices which we had hardly anything to criticize about and Acer also chose the screen well.

We were a little disappointed by the sound system, which we would have expected to find in a mid-range office device, not in a gamer. Maintenance can be a little difficult due to the small maintenance hatches. A larger hatch would have been more customer-friendly.

Buyers of the Acer Predator Helios 300 will be rewarded with good performance for a fair price.

Acer Predator Helios 300 - 06/01/2018 v6(old)
Sebastian Bade

Chassis
79 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
79%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
53 / 81 → 65%
Weight
57 / 10-66 → 84%
Battery
79%
Display
86%
Games Performance
94%
Application Performance
95%
Temperature
79 / 95 → 83%
Noise
77 / 90 → 85%
Audio
55%
Camera
47 / 85 → 56%
Average
74%
82%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 8 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Predator Helios 300 (7700HQ, GTX 1060, Full HD) Laptop Review
Sebastian Bade, 2017-08-22 (Update: 2020-05-19)