Acer Predator Helios 300 (7700HQ, GTX 1060, Full HD) Laptop 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% |
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.
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.
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.
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) | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Nexoc G739 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| HP Omen 17-an014ng (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Nexoc G739 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| HP Omen 17-an014ng (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
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.
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
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 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
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
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.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 5.33 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
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, 17.3" | Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0, 3840x2160, 17.3" | Asus GL753VE-DS74 LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF3, 1920x1080, 17.3" | MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 N173HHE-G32 (CMN1747), 1920x1080, 17.3" | HP Omen 17-an014ng AUO149D, 1920x1080, 17.3" | Gigabyte P57X v7 SHP145E, 3840x2160, 17.3" | Nexoc G739 CMN1738, 1920x1080, 17.3" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | -94% | -33% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 36 ? | 29 ? 19% | 36 ? -0% | 28 ? 22% | 45.2 ? -26% | 55.6 ? -54% | 45 ? -25% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 20 ? | 27 ? -35% | 22 ? -10% | 8 ? 60% | 30.4 ? -52% | 46.8 ? -134% | 28 ? -40% |
| PWM Frequency | 119000 ? | 1000 ? | 450 ? | ||||
| 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% | -18% /
-2% | -7% /
1% |
* ... 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.
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.
Display 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. » 41 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (20.7 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 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 47 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.3 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| 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 8437 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) 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.
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.
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.
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.
| Cinebench R11.5 | |
| CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| HP Omen 17-an014ng | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| HP Omen 17-an014ng | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| HP Omen 17-an014ng | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
* ... smaller is better
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 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
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.
| 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% |
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 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | |
| HP Omen 17-an014ng | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| 3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 | |
| HP Omen 17-an014ng | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| 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.
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 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) | |
| Gigabyte P57X v7 | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| Asus GL753VE-DS74 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Ghost Recon Wildlands - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J | |
| Battlefield 1 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| Far Cry Primal - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:SM | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J | |
| Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:2xMS AF:8x | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| MSI GE72VR-6RF16H21 | |
| For Honor - 1920x1080 Extreme Preset AA:T AF:16x | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | |
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793-738J | |
| Nexoc G739 | |
| low | med. | high | ultra | 4K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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).
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 31 / 32 / 33 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 44 / 50 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  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
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).
(-) 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 43.3 °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 33.9 °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 33.9 °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
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.
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
» 63% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 30% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 43% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, 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
» 15% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 82% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 10% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 88% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be turned on/off)
Energy Management
Power Consumption
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.
| Off / Standby | 0.3 / 0.6 Watt |
| Idle | 7 / 13 / 20 Watt |
| Load |
81 / 162 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| 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
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.
| 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
Cons
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
Price comparison
