Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022) Assessment: Blazing Velocity, Scalding Chassis

The Acer Predator Triton 500 SE isn’t the cheap gaming pc via any stretch. It begins at $2,100, however the top-end configuration reviewed this is somewhat underneath $3,000. Whilst that is less expensive than with reference to any competition with its specifications, this is not an entry-level system. It is for a gamer who desires the uncooked chronic of a desktop system with the portability a pc supplies. And, as somebody who is a desktop PC gamer, I have been amazed at how properly it does in some spaces and stunned via how unhealthy it’s in others. 

Whilst the outdoor of the five hundred SE is somewhat simple, whilst you open the lid you might be welcomed via an attractive backlit RGB keyboard. The keys are well-spaced and typing on them is strangely great. I spent a few days the use of it as my paintings pc and I wasn’t dissatisfied via the revel in. The keys additionally really feel cushy and be offering nice commute, and the keyboard does not really feel rubbery as some do after some time. Acer even added devoted media controls and a PredatorSense button that brings up the overclocking machine every time you wish to have it. And the additions are not making the keyboard really feel cramped, which is able to incessantly occur whilst you shoehorn in further keys.

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Value as reviewed	$3,000
Show dimension/decision	16-inch 2,560×1,600 show (240Hz)
CPU	5GHz Intel Core i9-12900H
Reminiscence	32GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
Graphics	16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics
Garage	1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Networking	Killer Wi-fi Wi-Fi 6E AX1675, Killer Ethernet E3100 10/100/1000, Bluetooth 5.2
Running machine	Microsoft Home windows 11 House
Ports	SD 7.0 cardreader, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, DC-in, RJ45, Audio Jack

One in every of my largest bugbears relating to gaming laptops through the years is the touchpad. Whilst the five hundred SE has a glass-topped touchpad that feels easy underneath your fingers, the capability will not be there. The pad itself works superb if you happen to faucet the highest, however urgent it feels affordable and awkward. It pushes down too a long way and incessantly does not sign in the clicking after I do press it. After all, I finished the use of it and used my Razer Naga Professional gaming mouse as a substitute. The one sure with the touchpad is the integrated fingerprint reader, which makes it simple to log in for your pc securely the use of Home windows Hi.

The show is one thing of a pleasure, regardless that. The two,560×1,600-resolution show is 16:10 somewhat than 16:9, which I recognize. I comprehend it is not an enormous distinction, however the taller display screen we could it have compatibility within the backside bar with out sacrificing gaming actual property, so it is a welcome shift. Visuals are crisp and blank, as you may be expecting from a 240Hz panel with a max brightness of 500 nits. I discovered the brightness in this display screen held up in maximum lighting fixtures prerequisites in need of direct daylight.

In the case of gaming efficiency, the Triton 500 SE is just about the cream of the crop on this value vary. It is price bringing up that the five hundred SE has extra reminiscence and a greater processor than the remainder of the machines examined in our benchmarks, however the fee is the same as or less than different choices on this area. As an example, we lately reviewed the Razer Blade 15, and whilst it is dearer it failed to overcome the five hundred SE in any of our checks. This makes the five hundred SE one thing of a discount for a high-end gaming pc, even at $3,000. (The 2022 Triton 500 SE is not lately to be had in the United Kingdom or Australia, however the cost of my evaluation pc converts to more or less £2,525 or AU$4,450.)

All the video games I performed, from first-person shooters like Counter-Strike: International Offensive and Future 2 to technique video games like Civilization 6, labored fantastically. Graphically they seemed incredible in fact — with an Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card you may be expecting not anything much less — however even on excessive or extremely settings I skilled no lag or slowdown, even if the display screen was once full of enemies and particle results. Obviously, the five hundred SE was once born to play video games and it does it with the convenience and ability you may be expecting from a powerhouse like this.

Taking part in video games on battery chronic is a distinct revel in, regardless that. As you’ll see from our battery drain take a look at, the five hundred SE is not the most productive or worst, regardless that the battery will drain a lot sooner when gaming. That is customary and I controlled to get round 1 hour, 10 mins, ahead of the battery dropped to ten% and I used to be pressured to plug it again in. The Acer makes use of MUX switching era to change between the power-hungry RTX 3080 GPU and the extra energy-efficient built-in graphics. It really works nice if you are now not taking a look to play graphics-intensive video games on battery chronic, however the second you turn to the use of simplest the 3080 your gaming mins are numbered.

Whether or not you have got it on battery or working off its chronic brick, something is sure: The five hundred SE has a heating downside. Whilst Acer speaks of its “fifth-generation AeroBlade three-D enthusiasts” and “liquid steel thermal grease” I have by no means used a pc that runs this sizzling. After 3 hours of taking part in Civilization 6, the machine temperature reached 82 Celsius or a whopping 180 levels Fahrenheit — sufficient to make a tight cup of inexperienced tea.

All of the pc were given so sizzling that the use of the touchpad made my wrist uncomfortable to the purpose of ache. I dread to assume what it will be like with the lid closed and connected to a observe. If you will play video games in this for lengthy classes it would be best to stay it on a table and as cool as imaginable. Definitely do not play for lengthy classes with the pc to your exact lap. That can get uncomfortable in no time.

Heating problems apart, I have in point of fact loved my time with the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE gaming pc (regardless that I believe that identify is ridiculous). If I’ll spend $3,000 on a pc I need it to run the rest I will be able to throw at it with equivalent ease and the five hundred SE can just do that. Along with gaming, I used the pc for photograph enhancing and rendering three-D fashions that I have designed and it simply treated each duties, incessantly concurrently, one thing that even my custom-designed PC struggles to do.

Gaming at the 500 SE was once a very good revel in (excluding the over the top warmth and the touchpad, in fact). I used to be pleasantly stunned via how crisp the display screen was once, and even if I hooked it as much as my previous 70Hz observe the whole thing ran easy as butter. Whilst the battery existence is lovely deficient when the use of the discrete graphics card, having the technique to transfer between it and the onboard graphics at the fly is a big bonus. It approach you’ll use your pc for surfing and streaming and get reasonably just right battery existence, then plug it in when you are in a position for a large gaming consultation. Simply stay it at the desk or you may burn your biscuits.

Geekbench 5 (multicore)

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7610)

Cinebench R20 CPU (multicore)

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7610)

PCMark 10 Professional Version

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7610)

Streaming video playback battery drain take a look at (mins)

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7610)

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Device configurations

Razer Blade 15 (2022)	Microsoft Home windows 11 House; 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-12800H; 16GB DDR5 4,800MH; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070Ti; 1TB SSD
HP Victus 16	Microsoft Home windows 11 House; 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-11800H; 16GB DDR4 3,200MHz; 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060; 512GB SSD
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7610)	Microsoft Home windows 11 House; 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-11800H; 16GB DDR4 3,200MHz; 4GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050; 512GB SSD
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)	Microsoft Home windows 11 House; 2.9GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 32GB DDR5 4,800MHz; 16GB Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080Ti; 1TB SSD
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58	Microsoft Home windows 11 House; 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-12500H; 16GB DDR4 3,200MHz; 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060; 512GB SSD