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Acer Predator Helios 700 Laptop Review: Innovative gaming laptop with a lot of features

Switch it, baby. The brand-new Acer Predator Helios 700 is definitely one of the most exciting gaming notebooks of 2019. The positioning of its keyboard and touchpad can be changed thanks to a sliding mechanism, which gives the 17-inch device access to a lot of fresh air to cool its high-end hardware. Find out whether this idea actually works in our review.
Acer Predator Helios 700

The Predator Helios 700 is clearly directed at passionate gamers who don't want to make any compromises in terms of performance, connectivity and features. Depending on the configuration, it runs on either a GeForce RTX 2070 or an RTX 2080 as its graphics solution. The processor is either a Core i7-9750H (six cores) or a Core i9-9980HK (eight cores), both from Intel. It is equipped with between 32 and 64 GB of DDR4 RAM and between 512 GB and 4 TB of storage (SSD, SSD RAID, or a combination of SSD and HDD).

The display remains the same in all configurations: A matte 144-Hz IPS panel with G-Sync (which means that the device does not support the graphics-switching technology Optimus). Our test unit, which includes the Core i7-9750H, the GeForce RTX 2080, 32 GB of RAM and two 512-GB SSDs, is currently available for around $2500.  

The competitors of the Helios 700 are other 17-inch gamers equipped with Nvidia's strongest Turing GPU such as the MSI GE75 9SG, the MSI GT76 9SG, the HP Omen 17, the Schenker XMG Ultra 17 and the Alienware Area 51m. These devices have been included in our comparison tables.

Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M (Predator Helios 700 PH717 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-9750H 6 x 2.6 - 4.5 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1440 MHz, Memory: 1817 MHz, GDDR6, ForceWare 425.45
Memory
32 GB 
, SO-DIMM DDR4-2666, dual channel, 2 of 4 slots occupied
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AU Optronics B173HAN03.1 (AUO319D), IPS, Full-HD G-Sync, 144 Hz, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G-1014 (RAID 0), 1024 GB 
, slots: 2x M.2 2280 and 1x 2.5-inch
Soundcard
Realtek ALC1220 @ Intel Cannon Point PCH
Connections
5 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 1 headphone jack, 1 microphone jack
Networking
Killer E3000 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000/2500MBit/s), Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW) (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 42 x 430 x 299 ( = 1.65 x 16.93 x 11.77 in)
Battery
72 Wh, 4670 mAh Lithium-Polymer, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: 5.1, Keyboard: chiclet RGB, Keyboard Light: yes, 330-watt power supply, 2.5-inch cover, MagForce keys, Predator Sense, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
4.8 kg ( = 169.32 oz / 10.58 pounds), Power Supply: 1.3 kg ( = 45.86 oz / 2.87 pounds)
Price
3000 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

At first glance, the case of the Helios 700 looks quite similar to that of the Helios 500, which we tested with a Core i7-8750H and a GeForce GTX 1070 in 2018. But if you look a little closer, you will soon notice several differences. Apart from the many small changes, which are mainly cosmetic, we'd mainly like to mention the top of the base unit, which now has a sliding mechanism (see photos) that enables the user to slide the input devices (keyboard and touchpad) forward. This simultaneously looks good and improves cooling.

The sliding mechanism, which is fixed with a magnet, is very easy to use and we encountered no issues with it during testing. The Helios 700 generally has good workmanship - there were no overhanging edges or uneven gaps.

Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700

Acer could have chosen better material quality for its high-range gamer. At a price of $2500 some users might have expected metal surfaces. The Helios 700 is made entirely out of plastic. Its weight is considerable despite the missing aluminum surface: The 17-inch device weighs 4.8 kg. The competition, on the other hand, ranges from "only" 2.7 to 4.3 kg. The height of the device is average, although we consider 4.2 cm to be quite thick. We were rather disappointed by the device's general footprint at 43 x 29.2 cm. This is rather large even for a 17-inch notebook. As the Helios 700 does not have a modern slim-bezel design and instead has very wide screen bezels (reminiscent of older notebook models), it has a low screen-to-body ratio of only 65%.

On the whole, the case appears comparatively plump and unwieldy. We cannot give it top marks due to the strong creaking it produces when warping the rather unstable display lid. The pressure-resistant base unit does a lot better in terms of stability.

Size Comparison

430 mm / 16.9 inch 299 mm / 11.8 inch 42 mm / 1.654 inch 4.8 kg10.6 lbs418 mm / 16.5 inch 295 mm / 11.6 inch 41 mm / 1.614 inch 4.3 kg9.59 lbs402.6 mm / 15.9 inch 319.2 mm / 12.6 inch 42 mm / 1.654 inch 3.9 kg8.53 lbs397 mm / 15.6 inch 330 mm / 13 inch 42 mm / 1.654 inch 4.2 kg9.19 lbs405 mm / 15.9 inch 295 mm / 11.6 inch 27 mm / 1.063 inch 3.3 kg7.28 lbs397 mm / 15.6 inch 268.5 mm / 10.6 inch 27.5 mm / 1.083 inch 2.7 kg5.86 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Ports

We would like to praise Acer for its wide port selection. While the Helios 700 does not feature an SD card reader (why, we cannot say), it has everything else a gamer could desire, from two audio jacks and two digital video outputs (HDMI and DisplayPort) to an RJ45 port and a Kensington lock. The whole package is completed with five USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, two of which are in Type-C format (with one supporting Thunderbolt 3). 

The distribution of the ports is mixed. While positioning some ports along the back is a good idea to free up space for the use of a physical mouse, the connectors on the sides are very far to the front, basically counteracting this advantage. 

Left: RJ45-LAN, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen2, microphone, headphones
Left: RJ45-LAN, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen2, microphone, headphones
Right: USB-A 3.1 Gen2, USB-C 3.1 Gen2, Thunderbolt 3, Kensington lock
Right: USB-A 3.1 Gen2, USB-C 3.1 Gen2, Thunderbolt 3, Kensington lock
Back: DC-in, DisplayPort, HDMI
Back: DC-in, DisplayPort, HDMI

Communication

Wireless communication is taken care of by the very up-to-date Killer module Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x, which offers great speeds both when sending and when receiving data. It positions the Helios 700 on third place in our comparison field (only the MSI GT76 9SD and the HP Omen 17 are a little faster). The Killer Controller E3000 offers similar cable-based network speeds.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (865 - 1412, n=12, last 2 years)
1078 MBit/s +48%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
749 MBit/s +3%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
730 MBit/s 0%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
729 MBit/s
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
712 MBit/s -2%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S CNVi: WiFi
680 MBit/s -7%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
629 MBit/s -14%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (708 - 1700, n=12, last 2 years)
1310 MBit/s +89%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
692 MBit/s
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650x Wireless Network Adapter (200NGW)
690 MBit/s 0%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
675 MBit/s -2%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
673 MBit/s -3%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S CNVi: WiFi
661 MBit/s -4%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Wireless Network Adapter
652 MBit/s -6%

Maintenance

Acer has two maintenance levels. While users can access the battery, the secondary (currently empty) RAM slots and the storage bays (2x M.2 and 1x 2.5-inch) via a maintenance hatch, which only requires loosening two screws, they will have to remove the entire bottom cover to get to the remaining hardware. We decided not to try this out on the device that was provided to us for security reasons.

Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700

Accessories

Unlike most notebooks, which have a rather sparse scope of delivery, the Helios 700 includes some interesting accessories. Buyers will find four blue WASD keys, so-called MagForce keys, which can be inserted into the keyboard instead of the standard WASD keys and are supposed to imitate the pressure point and gradual pressure control of a gamepad's analog joystick. Gamers will have to decide for themselves whether this is a useful feature or an unnecessary gimmick.

Software

Tuning fans will be pleased to find that the Helios 700 not only features the exchangeable WASD keys but also includes the PredatorSense tool. This lets users make numerous changes to the software, hardware, and case settings as well as monitor the system (total of eight menus). We were particularly interested in the overclocking menu, which impacts the GPU's turbo. While we had the normal mode running for our idle tests, we changed the mode to "fast" for the load tests. This activates automatically as soon as you slide the input devices open, thereby improving the cooling solution. The cooling fan was always set to automatic.

Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense
Predator Sense

Warranty

The Helios 700 has a one year mail-in or carry-in warranty.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The Acer's keyboard can be considered good to very good. Except for the narrow row of function keys, all keys are decently dimensioned and even the arrow keys, which can be terribly small on many laptops, have a normal size. Frequent typists will be happy with the keyboard as well thanks to the full, clear pressure point and drop. The classic layout also means that users will get used to it quickly. The dedicated number pad and special keys above the keyboard will be appreciated by many users.

Another highlight is the even RGB backlighting with several brightness levels, which can be customized by the user (including a colorful disco mode). A small drawback: The keys' secondary functions aren't backlit. Not only the keyboard, but also the touchpad, the glass surface between the ventilation slots and the logo on the back have backlighting, which improves orientation.

Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700
Acer Predator Helios 700

Touchpad

The overall impression we got of the touchpad was not quite as good as that of the keyboard. Its largest weakness is that it is let too far into the base unit, an issue we already criticized on older Acer notebooks because it makes it unnecessarily difficult to reach and use the dedicated mouse keys.

The touchpad is quite ordinary otherwise. It has a surface of 10.5 x 6.2 cm, which is acceptable for a 17-inch device. Gliding is good thanks to the smooth finish and, of course, the touchpad supports several multi-touch gestures. The touchpad responded smoothly and reliably to our two-finger gestures for zooming and scrolling.

Display

Not surprisingly, Acer has equipped the Helios 700 with a Full HD display with IPS technology. Thanks to 144 Hz and Nvidia's image optimization technology G-Sync, the panel can display 3D content smoothly - provided the GPU has sufficient power available.

255
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
269
cd/m²
276
cd/m²
288
cd/m²
291
cd/m²
265
cd/m²
248
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B173HAN03.1 (AUO319D) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 291 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 271.1 cd/m² Minimum: 17 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Center on Battery: 288 cd/m²
Contrast: 1440:1 (Black: 0.2 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.79 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.89
ΔE Greyscale 6.92 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
92% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.46
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
AU Optronics B173HAN03.1 (AUO319D), IPS, 1920x1080
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
CMN175D, IPS, 1920x1080
MSI GE75 9SG
Chi Mei N173HCE-G33, AHVA, 1920x1080
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Chi Mei N173HCE-G33 (CMN175C), IPS, 1920x1080
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0 (AUO109B), IPS, 3840x2160
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
LG Philips 173WFG, IPS, 1920x1080
Display
1%
-3%
-1%
31%
3%
Display P3 Coverage
64.4
63.7
-1%
61.5
-5%
62.3
-3%
86.3
34%
66.3
3%
sRGB Coverage
92.1
96
4%
92
0%
93.4
1%
100
9%
96.9
5%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
65.5
65.8
0%
63.5
-3%
64.3
-2%
99.1
51%
66.5
2%
Response Times
-1%
50%
33%
-117%
14%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
16.8 ?(8.4, 8.4)
17.6 ?(8.4, 9.2)
-5%
7.2 ?(3.8, 3.4)
57%
8 ?(4.4, 3.6)
52%
41.6 ?(20.4, 21.2)
-148%
13.2 ?(8, 5.2)
21%
Response Time Black / White *
11.6 ?(6, 5.6)
11.2 ?(6, 5.2)
3%
6.6 ?(3.2, 3.4)
43%
10 ?(5.2, 4.8)
14%
21.6 ?(9.6, 12)
-86%
10.8 ?(6, 4.8)
7%
PWM Frequency
25510 ?(44)
26040 ?(10)
26040 ?(20)
Screen
26%
22%
23%
11%
-6%
Brightness middle
288
360
25%
400.7
39%
396
38%
343
19%
335.2
16%
Brightness
271
342
26%
372
37%
373
38%
328
21%
297
10%
Brightness Distribution
85
91
7%
89
5%
89
5%
82
-4%
82
-4%
Black Level *
0.2
0.26
-30%
0.34
-70%
0.33
-65%
0.31
-55%
0.66
-230%
Contrast
1440
1385
-4%
1179
-18%
1200
-17%
1106
-23%
508
-65%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.79
1.91
67%
1.33
77%
2.04
65%
5.03
13%
2.02
65%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
11.89
4.08
66%
3.51
70%
3.85
68%
7.91
33%
7.23
39%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.89
0.78
59%
1.39
26%
0.82
57%
0.86
54%
1.17
38%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.92
2.72
61%
1.3
81%
2.83
59%
6.29
9%
3.2
54%
Gamma
2.46 89%
2.37 93%
2.24 98%
2.49 88%
2.38 92%
2.16 102%
CCT
8433 77%
6692 97%
6735 97%
7113 91%
6389 102%
6746 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
60
60
0%
58.2
-3%
59
-2%
88
47%
61.3
2%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
92
96
4%
92.1
0%
94
2%
100
9%
96.9
5%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
9% / 18%
23% / 21%
18% / 19%
-25% / -1%
4% / -2%

* ... smaller is better

The other aspects of our panel (AU Optronics B173HAN03.1) are mixed. While its brightness is lower than those of its competition at around 271 cd/m², the low black value of 0.2 cd/m² ensures an above-average contrast ratio of 1440:1 and positions our panel at the top of our comparison field. 

The Helios 700 doesn't do quite as well in terms of color accuracy. Our CalMAN results show that the screen's colors are rather imprecise and suffer from a blue cast. Only the Schenker XMG Ultra 17's display has similarly bad results ex-works. Fortunately, our calibration significantly improved the results (the ICC file is available for download above).

CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Saturation
CalMAN: Saturation
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)

The color-space coverage is decent: 92% of the sRGB and 60% of the AdobeRGB color spaces are typical for a gaming notebook. What is somewhat annoying, however, is that our 17-inch notebook has quite a lot of backlight bleeding along the top and bottom edge.

Predator Helios 700 vs. sRGB (92%)
Predator Helios 700 vs. sRGB (92%)
Predator Helios 700 vs. AdobeRGB (60%)
Predator Helios 700 vs. AdobeRGB (60%)

We did not measure any PWM flickering. The response time should be sufficient for most gamers: 11.6 ms black-to-white and 16.8 ms gray-to-gray should almost always guarantee a clean image.

Subpixel
Subpixel
Backlight bleeding
Backlight bleeding
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

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
11.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 5.6 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. » 26 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
16.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 8.4 ms rise
↘ 8.4 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 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 25 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

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

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

Performance

The price of the Helios 700 is a strong indicator that we are dealing with a high-end device. The configuration of our test unit with a six-core CPU, 32 GB of RAM, and SSD RAID should provide sufficient stamina now and for years to come. Nvidia's GeForce RTX 2080 only reaches its limits with a QHD or 4K display.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
AS SSD Benchmark
CrystalDiskMark
LatencyMon

Processor

If you would like to save some money, you would be better off choosing the Helios 700 configuration with the Core i7-9750H instead of the Core i9-9980HK. While the former Coffee Lake CPU "only" has six cores (and 12 instead of 16 threads), this will hardly make a difference in everyday use since most 3D applications are limited by the GPU. At least currently.

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

The i7-9750H, manufactured using the 14-nm process, has a 12-MP L3 cache. Its TDP is specified as 45 watts and the base clock rate is 2.6 GHz. Intel's turbo boost feature enables the CPU to significantly increase its clock rate - provided there is sufficient cooling. We measured a clock rate of 4.1 to 4.2 GHz in our CineBench R15 single-core test; the CPU settled at around 3.7 to 3.8 GHz in the multi-core test after reaching 4.0 GHz at first. That's quite decent for an i7-9750H.

09018027036045054063072081090099010801170126013501440153016201710Tooltip
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M Intel Core i7-9750H, Intel Core i7-9750H: Ø1224 (1159.08-1279)
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng Intel Core i9-9880H, Intel Core i9-9880H: Ø1291 (1278.24-1450)
MSI GE75 9SG Intel Core i9-9880H, Intel Core i9-9880H: Ø1619 (1602.44-1728.31)

This clocking behavior places the Helios 700 almost on par with the HP Omen 17 in our CineBench loop (see graph) as this device only manages to make limited use of its eight CPU cores. The Core i9-9880H in the MSI GE75 9SG, on the other hand, is significantly faster. Overall, the Core i7-9750H in our Helios 700 reaches the expected performance level.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (79.2 - 318, n=245, last 2 years)
265 Points +43%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Intel Core i9-9900K
212 Points +15%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Intel Core i9-9900K
207 Points +12%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
Intel Core i9-9900K
207 Points +12%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
Intel Core i9-9880H
197 Points +6%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
189 Points +2%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
Intel Core i7-9750H
185 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (400 - 5663, n=246, last 2 years)
2988 Points +134%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
Intel Core i9-9900K
2022 Points +58%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Intel Core i9-9900K
1979 Points +55%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
Intel Core i9-9900K
1944 Points +52%
MSI GE75 9SG
Intel Core i9-9880H
1721 Points +35%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
Intel Core i9-9880H
1450 Points +13%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
Intel Core i7-9750H
1279 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
185 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1279 Points
Help

System Performance

The Helios 700 continues to do what it's supposed to when it comes to system performance. While it only makes second to last place with 6453 points in PCMark 10, we would subjectively describe the system performance as very fast with a great overall performance (boot performance, startup and loading times etc.). In the end, the difference to the competitors' benchmark results isn't particularly big.

PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (4477 - 9852, n=206, last 2 years)
7542 Points +17%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB
7050 Points +9%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
7006 Points +9%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K, 2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
6599 Points +2%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, 2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ (RAID 0)
6558 Points +2%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-9750H, 2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G-1014 (RAID 0)
6453 Points
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
6306 Points -2%

Storage Devices

Like most competitors, our Helios 700 test unit uses an SSD RAID consisting of two 512-GB PCIe drives from Western Digital (PC SN720). The sequential read and write rates of over 2000 MB/s place this RAID system towards the top of our comparison field. Users wishing to expand storage capacity can use the free 2.5-inch bay (below the battery), for which Acer has provided a suitable cover. Other Helios 700 configurations are already equipped with an HDD in addition to the SSD.

Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G-1014 (RAID 0)
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
2x Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ (RAID 0)
MSI GE75 9SG
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
2x Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP (RAID 0)
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
2x SK Hynix PC400 512GB (RAID 0)
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-4%
-17%
-15%
6%
1%
Write 4K
115.3
103.8
-10%
116.1
1%
101.4
-12%
183.2
59%
111.1
-4%
Read 4K
41.79
41.67
0%
44.98
8%
40.57
-3%
52.4
25%
45.47
9%
Write Seq
2841
2639
-7%
2370
-17%
2229
-22%
1790
-37%
2454
-14%
Read Seq
2547
2702
6%
1465
-42%
2528
-1%
1743
-32%
2212
-13%
Write 4K Q32T1
498.6
487.3
-2%
337.5
-32%
379.6
-24%
550
10%
622
25%
Read 4K Q32T1
555
555
0%
453.6
-18%
421.9
-24%
648
17%
695
25%
Write Seq Q32T1
3123
2967
-5%
2399
-23%
2439
-22%
3236
4%
2675
-14%
Read Seq Q32T1
3476
3102
-11%
3087
-11%
3199
-8%
3538
2%
3184
-8%
2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G-1014 (RAID 0)
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3476 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 3123 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 555 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 498.6 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2547 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 2841 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 41.79 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 115.3 MB/s

Graphics

No matter which Nvidia chip you choose: The preinstalled PredatorSense tools let you overclock it significantly. It provides four modes ranging from "normal" to "extreme". Our 3D tests were done at "fast". This increases the RTX 2080's memory clock rate to 1817 MHz (from 1750 MHz). The GPU clock rate, meanwhile, increases from 1380 to 1440 MHz. 

3DMark 11 Performance
26029 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
42055 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
21258 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
9875 points
Help

The GPU boost (automatic overclocking similar to Intel's turbo boost) can reach significantly higher values in everyday use. The GPU-Z tool, for example, measured up to 2025 MHz during the render test. This is a brilliant result. Users can expect around 1800 MHz while gaming, as shown by our tests with the Unigine Heaven 4.0 benchmark and The Witcher 3.  

The 3DMark results confirm that it's definitely worth overclocking the GPU with PredatorSense. The Helios 700 can even beat the Alienware Area 51m, which up until now was considered the best RTX 2080 device, albeit narrowly.

3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=248, last 2 years)
29013 Points +6%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
27319 Points
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
27080 Points -1%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
25126 Points -8%
MSI GE75 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
24623 Points -10%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
23089 Points -15%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
22820 Points -16%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (224 - 22547, n=246, last 2 years)
11809 Points +11%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
10720 Points +1%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
10607 Points
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
10243 Points -3%
MSI GE75 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
9754 Points -8%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
9480 Points -11%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72070, n=244, last 2 years)
39642 Points +5%
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
38485 Points +2%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
37768 Points
MSI GE75 9SG
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
34050 Points -10%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
33396 Points -12%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
31826 Points -16%

We tried to find out whether this high performance could be kept up over a longer period of time by running The Witcher 3 for 60 minutes. The graph clearly shows that the frame rate remains impressively linear.

05101520253035404550556065707580859095100105110Tooltip
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-9750H, 2x WDC PC SN720 SDAPNTW-512G-1014 (RAID 0): Ø106.6 (99-112)

Gaming Performance

Apart from games that rely heavily on the CPU, such as Anno 1800, the Helios 700 manages to overtake most of its competition in our gaming benchmarks. It's between 4 and 15% faster in The Witcher 3, although the difference between 92 and 105 fps is hardly noticeable in practice (1920x1080, maximum details). 

The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (8.61 - 216, n=243, last 2 years)
114.3 fps +9%
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i7-9750H
105 (86min) fps
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
101.1 fps -4%
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
100 fps -5%
MSI GE75 9SG
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H
95.3 fps -9%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9900K
94.5 fps -10%
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, i9-9880H
91.7 (76min) fps -13%

 In general, the GeForce RTX 2080 manages to display all current games at maximum settings. Ten out of 14 tested titles were even displayed at over 100 fps, which the 144-Hz screen benefits from.

low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 187 105
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 108
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 117 78.6
Monster Hunter World (2018) 138 112
FIFA 19 (2018) 301 256
Apex Legends (2019) 144 144
Far Cry New Dawn (2019) 106 94
Metro Exodus (2019) 93.4 77.4
Anthem (2019) 108 104
Dirt Rally 2.0 (2019) 171 114
The Division 2 (2019) 134 108
Anno 1800 (2019) 74.8 43.6
Rage 2 (2019) 125 124
F1 2019 (2019) 155 152

Emissions

System Noise

One of the biggest disadvantages of the 17-inch device is its meager fan control. While idling, we encountered regular short-lived but strong increases in fan RPM at every GPU mode. This behavior is occasionally connected to light background activities such as Windows updates, but on other occasions it seems to occur randomly.

System noise idle
System noise idle
System noise load
System noise load
System noise speakers
System noise speakers

The system noise could also be improved under load. While the fan runs quite steadily in "normal" mode, it varies extremely in "fast" mode. For example, we measured between 40 and 50 dB(A) during the 3DMark06 test and between 47 and 57 dB(A) during The Witcher 3. This makes it quite difficult to compare the Helios 700's system noise with those of its competition. But generally speaking, gaming sessions aren't enjoyable without headphones on any RTX 2080 laptop. 60 dB(A) under maximum load is quite significant. Therefore, we would recommend users who don't need maximum performance to run the Helios 700 in "normal" mode.

Noise Level

Idle
30 / 34 / 45 dB(A)
Load
40 / 60 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30 dB(A)
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
MSI GE75 9SG
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Noise
1%
9%
-2%
3%
2%
15%
off / environment *
30
30
-0%
28.2
6%
30
-0%
30
-0%
28.1
6%
24.1 ?(19.5 - 29.9, n=192, last 2 years)
20%
Idle Minimum *
30
34
-13%
30.4
-1%
33
-10%
30
-0%
28.1
6%
25.6 ?(21.9 - 41.6, n=193, last 2 years)
15%
Idle Average *
34
35
-3%
30.4
11%
34
-0%
33
3%
28.6
16%
27.4 ?(21.9 - 42.1, n=193, last 2 years)
19%
Idle Maximum *
45
36
20%
33.4
26%
44
2%
35
22%
51
-13%
30.8 ?(21.9 - 47, n=193, last 2 years)
32%
Load Average *
40
51
-28%
37.1
7%
47
-18%
44
-10%
51
-28%
43.2 ?(25.2 - 62.9, n=193, last 2 years)
-8%
Witcher 3 ultra *
57
47
18%
54.2
5%
53
7%
55
4%
51
11%
Load Maximum *
60
51
15%
56.4
6%
59
2%
58
3%
51
15%
53.3 ?(42.1 - 68.2, n=193, last 2 years)
11%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

The advantage of this subpar system noise situation is that the surface temperatures remain very cool. We measured a maximum of 40 °C on the bottom and 37 °C on the top of the base unit (we only measured the areas around the input devices, not the ventilation slots) - this is surprisingly low for a high-end notebook.

Maximum load top
Maximum load top
Maximum load bottom
Maximum load bottom

The CPU and GPU temperatures are particularly interesting. The screenshots show that the GPU mode primarily impacts the clock rates and fan noise and not the temperatures, both when running The Witcher 3 and during the stress test (an hour of Prime95 and FurMark).

The Witcher 3 (GPU on "fast")
The Witcher 3 (GPU on "fast")
The Witcher 3 (GPU on "normal")
The Witcher 3 (GPU on "normal")
Stress test (GPU on "fast")
Stress test (GPU on "fast")
Stress test (GPU on "normal")
Stress test (GPU on "normal")

While the Core i7-9750H is about 300 MHz slower in "normal" mode than in "fast" mode, the performance of the RTX 2080 drops by 165 MHz. The temperature change is limited to a maximum of 10 °C.

Max. Load
 35 °C
95 F
37 °C
99 F
33 °C
91 F
 
 30 °C
86 F
30 °C
86 F
30 °C
86 F
 
 29 °C
84 F
29 °C
84 F
27 °C
81 F
 
Maximum: 37 °C = 99 F
Average: 31.1 °C = 88 F
39 °C
102 F
40 °C
104 F
39 °C
102 F
34 °C
93 F
40 °C
104 F
39 °C
102 F
28 °C
82 F
31 °C
88 F
28 °C
82 F
Maximum: 40 °C = 104 F
Average: 35.3 °C = 96 F
Power Supply (max.)  52 °C = 126 F | Room Temperature 24 °C = 75 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 31.1 °C / 88 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 37 °C / 99 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 40 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.1 °C / 88 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.4 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 30 °C / 86 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-1.1 °C / -2 F).
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
MSI GE75 9SG
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Heat
-10%
-23%
-9%
-8%
-16%
-8%
Maximum Upper Side *
37
47
-27%
48.8
-32%
51
-38%
45
-22%
47
-27%
46.3 ?(28.2 - 61, n=192, last 2 years)
-25%
Maximum Bottom *
40
54
-35%
52
-30%
57
-43%
45
-13%
58.8
-47%
49.7 ?(30 - 66.3, n=192, last 2 years)
-24%
Idle Upper Side *
34
32
6%
36.2
-6%
26
24%
36
-6%
31
9%
31.5 ?(21.2 - 43, n=192, last 2 years)
7%
Idle Bottom *
36
30
17%
44.4
-23%
28
22%
33
8%
35
3%
32.7 ?(22.6 - 45, n=192, last 2 years)
9%

* ... smaller is better

Speaker

The audio quality of the Helios 700 can easily keep up with those of its competition. Although the bass could still be a little stronger, mids and highs are reproduced well according to our audio analysis, resulting in a good rating for this category. According to Acer, the Helios 700 is equipped with a 5.1 system with five speakers (top) and a subwoofer (bottom).

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2036.336.22538.942.1313231.84029.529.85028.730.16327.532.68026.731.910025.636.312524.248.316028.257.620024.654.825023.560.93152262.440020.767.550019.265.863018.570.680017.973.2100017.868.8125019.171.7160018.170.4200017.471.1250017.469.2315017.369.7400017.573.2500017.467.5630017.270.7800017.373.21000017.470.11250017.265.51600017.256.3SPL30.482.6N1.459median 17.9median 68.8Delta1.75.739.84237.338.137.635.736.436.833.736.136.44432.935.1324232.754.230.966.230.46930.373.930.675.728.471.228.370.827.682.327.880.127.574.727.376.9277526.87626.47426.270.626.475.826.369.326.267.826.276.22672.425.97125.871.239.187.63.579.7median 27.3median 73.913.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785MAlienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 15% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 9% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 89% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 10% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 86% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 6% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Due to the missing graphics-switching option, the Helios 700 is significantly more power-hungry while idling than the MSI competitors GE75 and GT76, which both support Nvidia's Optimus technology. The 17-inch device requires between 28 and 45 watts in this scenario, which does not look promising in terms of battery life. The Acer notebook consumes between 98 and 307 watts under load. Again, this is above average for a gaming notebook, although the RTX 2080 competition equipped with a desktop CPU (Core i9-9900K) consumes even more.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 5.7 / 6.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 28 / 34 / 45 Watt
Load midlight 98 / 307 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 700 PH717-71-785M
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
MSI GE75 9SG
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Power Consumption
8%
24%
13%
-21%
-12%
28%
Idle Minimum *
28
26
7%
13.9
50%
14
50%
39
-39%
23.3
17%
13.8 ?(2 - 64, n=189, last 2 years)
51%
Idle Average *
34
29
15%
18.8
45%
18
47%
45
-32%
33.5
1%
19 ?(6.5 - 67, n=189, last 2 years)
44%
Idle Maximum *
45
38
16%
23.1
49%
23
49%
55
-22%
38.4
15%
26.6 ?(9 - 101.1, n=189, last 2 years)
41%
Load Average *
98
106
-8%
112.3
-15%
114
-16%
122
-24%
114.1
-16%
112 ?(32.1 - 202, n=189, last 2 years)
-14%
Witcher 3 ultra *
263
228
13%
231
12%
283
-8%
259
2%
339.5
-29%
Load Maximum *
307
287
7%
291.5
5%
443
-44%
346
-13%
485.1
-58%
250 ?(64.5 - 418, n=188, last 2 years)
19%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The Helios 700's battery life cannot be considered one of its strengths. The combination of high energy consumption and mediocre battery capacity (72 Wh is very low for a notebook of this size and price) prevents long sessions away from a socket. Our test unit managed between 1 hour and a maximum of 3.5 hours on battery.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
3h 33min
WiFi Websurfing
2h 48min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 03min
Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M
i7-9750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 72 Wh
HP Omen 17-cb0020ng
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 70 Wh
MSI GE75 9SG
i9-9880H, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 65 Wh
MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 90 Wh
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 Turing
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 82 Wh
Alienware Area-51m i9-9900K RTX 2080
i9-9900K, GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile, 90 Wh
Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
11%
75%
52%
-13%
-15%
103%
Reader / Idle
213
250
17%
409
92%
165
-23%
155
-27%
548 ?(57 - 1290, n=90, last 2 years)
157%
WiFi v1.3
168
196
17%
294
75%
302
80%
135
-20%
127
-24%
365 ?(57 - 745, n=190, last 2 years)
117%
Load
63
63
0%
52
-17%
65
3%
66
5%
85.5 ?(36 - 173, n=153, last 2 years)
36%
H.264
135
392 ?(56 - 747, n=97, last 2 years)

Pros

+ moderate temperature development
+ a lot of backlighting options
+ excellent performance
+ optional overclocking
+ well-made keyboard
+ innovative ideas
+ powerful tools
+ Thunderbolt 3
+ great audio
+ SSD RAID
+ G-Sync
+ 144 Hz

Cons

- high system noise during 3D applications
- annoying boot sound (can be deactivated)
- thick and heavy chassis
- bad screen-to-body ratio
- fluctuating fan RPM
- touchpad let in too far into the base unit
- high power consumption
- short battery runtime
- no card reader

Verdict

Acer Predator Helios 700. Test unit provided by Cyberport.
Acer Predator Helios 700. Test unit provided by Cyberport.

The Predator Helios 700 is a very interesting gaming notebook from Acer that features plenty of ideas and innovations - from exchangeable WASD keys to a sliding mechanism for the input devices - although Acer doesn't use this improved cooling system to limit the noise emissions but to improve performance.

The manufacturer overclocks its GeForce GPU in order to get the most out of it. The device remains comfortably cool even while overclocking but instead becomes very loud. It wasn't so much the general noise level that bothered us but more the fluctuating RPM rates, which were often unfounded. In short: Acer should definitely work on its cooling system.

Further weaknesses are the fact that the touchpad is let into the base unit too far, the missing card reader, and the bad battery life. The case gave us a mixed impression. While gamers will be pleased by the many ports, the good keyboard, the strong speakers, and the many backlighting options, the heavy build (no slim bezel) and the high weight are not really up to date anymore for 2019. We were pleased with the high-contrast 144-Hz display despite certain weaknesses (color accuracy, brightness, and brightness distribution).

All in all, Acer fans who are interested in playing every modern game at high details and have the necessary cash available should definitely take a closer look at this 17-inch device. Anybody else might prefer a more classic (and probably cheaper) high-end notebook without all the bells and whistles of the Predator Helios 700 (e.g. Helios 300 or Triton 500).

Caution: The Predator Helios 700 is one of the first gaming notebooks that was evaluated based on the extended (and more difficult) v7 ratings and therefore appears to have worse results than its recently tested high-end competition. In future, all new gamers will have to pass v7 rating.

Acer Predator Helios 700 PH717-71-785M - 05/14/2020 v7
Florian Glaser

Chassis
72 / 98 → 73%
Keyboard
87%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
66 / 80 → 82%
Weight
40 / 10-66 → 54%
Battery
51 / 95 → 53%
Display
80%
Games Performance
97%
Application Performance
94%
Temperature
91 / 95 → 96%
Noise
52 / 90 → 58%
Audio
79%
Camera
43 / 85 → 50%
Average
72%
83%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Predator Helios 700 Laptop Review: Innovative gaming laptop with a lot of features
Florian Glaser, 2019-09- 5 (Update: 2019-09- 6)