At its Next@Acer event, the company has just taken the wraps off new desktop computers in its Predator gaming line. The Orion 5000 and Orion 3000 are the new entrants in the series and bring Intel"s eighth-generation processors and Nvidia GTX 1080 GPUs along for the ride.
The Orion 5000 Series features up to Intel Core i7+ 8700K processors, up to two Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards in SLI, up to 32GB of Intel Optane memory, and up 64GB of RAM, all on an Intel Z370 chipset. For those unaware, i7+ is the branding used by Intel for the combination of its Core i7 processors with Optane memory. The branding scheme is also used for i5 and i9 models.
The device also features an easy-open side panel to facilitate component upgrades and IceTunnel 2.0 cooling technology. Prices start at $1,499 in the U.S., €1,699 in the EMEA region, and ¥15,999 in China. The latter two will welcome the device in June, while the United States will be waiting until July.
The Orion 3000 Series is not quite as powerful as the bigger brother, but it"s still got plenty to give, with up to Intel Core i7+ processors, Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU, and - just like the 5000 series - up to 32GB of Intel Optane memory and 64GB of DDR4-2666 RAM. Acer says the chassis follows a similar design language as the 5000, but the 3000 doesn"t seem to include the same IceTunnel cooling technology. This model will be available in EMEA and China, starting at €1,299 for the former and ¥6,999 for the latter. U.S. customers will have to wait until October, when they can buy it starting at $999.
The Acer Nitro 50 is a different kind of machine, but still offers a lot of power for gamers. It features up to Intel Core i7 processors and Nvidia GTX 1070 GPUs. Up to a 3TB HDD and a 512GB SSD should also give users more than enough storage space.
Included as well is Realtek Dragon LAN to "optimize network speed for gaming, browsing, and streaming". An interesting detail is the inclusion of a Qi charging deck, which can be used for charging mobile devices easily while using the computer. The Nitro 50 desktops will launch this month in the EMEA region, starting at €999. China and the U.S. will be waiting until July for the Nitro 50, where the computers will start at ¥5,999 and $799, respectively.
Alongside the Nitro 50, Acer announced a couple of new gaming monitors, the Nitro VG0 and RG0. Both are IPS panels with support for AMD FreeSync, with a response time of up to 1ms. Both monitors can be tilted, though the VG0 has a slightly wider range of angles (between -5 and 20 degrees) than the RG0, which can tilt between -5 and 15 degrees. Each monitor has two 2W speakers and features HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort inputs.
The Nitro VG0 will come in three sizes (21, 23.8, and 27 inches) with resolutions ranging from 1080p Full HD to 4K Ultra HD. It has a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and will set you back $129.99 for the smallest config when it launches in June. EMEA and China will receive it this month, starting at €129 and ¥999, respectively.
The RG0 is an "ultra-thin" monitor with Full HD resolution coming in either 23.8- or 27-inch models, and it has a refresh rate of 75Hz. EMEA customers can buy it in May for €139, while those in North America will get the device in July starting at $169. No availability details were made for China.
Acer has announced many new devices at its Next@Acer event, including new Predator Helios laptops. Stay tuned for our full coverage of the event.