The RTX 4060 provided Acer Predator Helios 16 scored a complete 90 p.c in our overview in July. Now, we check out the 18-inch high-end fashion with an Intel HX processor, an RTX 4080 and a MiniLED show.
For comparability, we use different 18-inch avid gamers in addition to 17-inch avid gamers with identical specifications, because the Predator Helios 18 is the primary with an RTX 4080 amongst our opinions of 18-inch laptops. Competition come with the MSI Raider GE78 HX 13VH, the HP Omen 17, the Alienware m18 R1, the Asus ROG Strix G18 G814JI and the Razer Blade 18.
Acer designs the Helios 18 in darkish, almost-inconspicuous black. However the software makes no try to cover its gaming nature, characterised via the small Predator brand at the show lid and the sticking out cooling gadget on the again.
The workmanship leaves no room for complaint: gaps are unnoticeable. The rear air shops will also be custom designed – Acer comprises some other pair of air flow grilles, which will also be additional custom designed with a three-D printer.
The show lid and base are fabricated from aluminum, whilst the show edges, the rear cooling unit and the pc’s underside are fabricated from plastic. The steel supplies the Helios 18 with just right pressure and not anything creaks or cracks when topic to torsional pressure. On the other hand, fingerprints simply acquire right here, and the bottom’s higher aspect will also be pressed in a bit regardless of the steel, even if typing. However this stays inside of limits and is because of the massive floor.
In comparison to the 18-inch festival, the Helios 18 falls within the heart in the case of length. The Alienware m18 is somewhat better, the Asus ROG Strix G18 is smaller. The latter is a little thicker, whilst the Alienware m18 is thinner. On the subject of weight, the Alien is obviously heavier, the G18 somewhat lighter.
The 17-inch avid gamers are partially a lot smaller and in addition thinner.
The Helios 18 has all of the vital ports. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports within the type of USB-C are on board. Simplest PowerDelivery isn’t to be had. The SD card reader “best” accepts MicroSD playing cards.
The ports are unfold out over 3 aspects, despite the fact that the again nonetheless has room and can have simply accommodated one of the crucial many ports at the left. We’d have most popular the LAN port at the again and one of the crucial an increasing number of necessary USB-C ports at the aspect.
Inserted microSD playing cards slide into position and don’t protrude. Putting our AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60 proved a bit fiddly as it needed to be driven inwards a bit additional than flush to fasten it in and disengage.
The velocity is on an unremarkable, medium stage; card readers within the Blade 18 or the Alienware m18 are considerably quicker.
Acer makes use of the Killer WiFi 6E AX1675i WiFi module, which helps 6E in 6 GHz mode and guarantees just right switch charges of round 1.5 Mbps. Within the 5 GHz community it’s significantly slower, attaining round 900 Mbit/s.
The switch charges end up to be very strong.
The digital camera takes photos and movies in FullHD. High quality is appropriate: colour deviations stay inside of limits. The blue tones show the easiest deviations.
TPM is on board, as is a connection for a metal lock. On the other hand, there is not any fingerprint sensor.
On best of the pc, energy provide and the standard forms, a couple of other fan covers for the again of the Helios 18 are incorporated within the scope of supply.
Acer supplies a 24-month usual guaranty in Germany. This may increasingly vary in different international locations, so doable consumers will have to double test prior to buying.
Opening the Helios 18 isn’t rather as simple on account of the tight clamps and the inflexible aluminum base, however it’s nonetheless manageable. First, 14 Torx screws of the similar length should be loosened. Afterwards, it’s best to pry the bottom open from the entrance corners, ideally with a narrow-edged plastic software.
As soon as throughout the Acer Predator, customers have get entry to to the enthusiasts, the battery, the SSD (plus 2d slot), the RAM slots and the WiFi module.
The Predator has an overly tidy structure that incorporates full-size arrow keys, a bunch pad at the proper and further keys for calling up the Predator Sense tool and switching efficiency modes.
The keys are 1.5 x 1.5 mm, have a medium shuttle and noticeable comments, which generally is a little more impregnable. Typing noise is reasonable and typing velocity is fast.
Consistent with Acer, the RGB-per-key backlight purposes by means of MiniLEDs, identical to the show, and will also be adjusted in 4 ranges.
The 18-incher’s touchpad is downright large (approx. 15.2 x 9.1 cm) and gives excellent gliding houses that just about by no means motive stuttering.
The built-in click on buttons are very quiet and feature an especially brief shuttle, however cause reliably and supply just right comments.
The Helios 18 is optionally to be had with the improbable MiniLED show at 250 Hz, which could also be put in in our take a look at software. No halos are visual right here, the black is wealthy with none irritating mild artifacts, and the distinction is correspondingly just right.
In customary SDR mode, the AU Optronics panel achieves round 350 nits. On the other hand, the display produces much more brightness in HDR mode. Right here, we measured a top brightness of over 1,100 nits! The illumination is an excellent 92% in each instances.
We measured in opposition to the P3 colour house. The show covers sRGB and DisplayP3 practically totally. AdobeRGB has 92 p.c protection. Because of P3 particularly, the brilliant and high-contrast display could also be appropriate for symbol and video modifying.
On the other hand, out of the field, the show shoots above the necessary DeltaE price of three for colours and grayscale. Our guide calibration improves the colour deviations and pushes the DeltaE values under the brink. Reducing the brightness to 160 nits too can deliver additional growth. Our calibrated icc document will also be downloaded totally free above.
PWM is used for brightness keep watch over within the show. At minimal brightness, the frequency is lowest at round 2.5 kHz, however nonetheless excessive sufficient to not motive issues for delicate folks.
Outdoor, it can be profitable atmosphere the display to HDR to make it even brighter. Within the color, content material can nonetheless be observed rather well.
Supplied with an Intel Core i9-13900HX and a GeForce RTX 4080 Computer GPU, plus 32 GB of RAM and an 18-inch MiniLED show, we now have an especially tough desktop alternative and high-end gamer that are supposed to render all present video games easily, even within the local WQXGA solution.
Because of the great show, the pc too can function a workstation for ingenious other folks.
Acer installs, amongst different issues, Predator Sense tool on its gaming pc. 4 efficiency modes (Eco, Balanced, Efficiency, Turbo) in addition to different choices (e.g. for keyboard lighting fixtures) will also be custom designed right here. The tool is rather transparent, however does now not be offering just about as many (guide) settings as competing gadgets. For instance, we lack an choice for GPU switching in addition to settings for manually adjusting the efficiency parameters.
Sadly, Acer additionally installs different tool corresponding to McAfee or Acer Care, which is extra about strengthen. Moreover, we won unsolicited promoting from Acer. After we even won an unsolicited request to put in the Opera browser. Such compelled promoting by means of obligatory producer tool is an actual nuisance and is sadly turning into an increasing number of widespread, as an example via Lenovo within the LOQ 16. Clicking at the “Planet9” video games hub in Sense triggers a cookie request that incorporates irritating, more than a few “respectable hobby” buttons, which all should be in my view deselected if customers need to decide out.
We basically used Turbo mode for the most efficient benchmark effects, however we additionally listing details about the opposite modes.
The Intel Core i9-13900HX is a real high-end CPU from the Raptor-Lake collection. It could run 32 threads with 8 P-cores (together with hyperthreading) and 16 E-cores. Its cores have a base clock of one.6 (E cores) and a couple of.2 GHz (P cores) and achieve a single-core turbo of three.9 – 5.4 GHz.
Within the Cinebench R15 loop (CB15 loop), the Helios delivers robust and, above all, constant efficiency, which is, then again, minimally outperformed via the MSI GE78HX and the Alienware m18 R1 with a somewhat extra tough CPU (i9-13950HX und i9-13980HX). The HP Omen with the similar CPU simply outperforms the Helios, as do competing gadgets with H as an alternative of HX CPUs.
We have now indexed all TDP values completed for each and every efficiency mode throughout the CB15 loops in a desk under. In battery mode, you continue to have the selection between the Balanced and Eco modes. In each modes, the TDP remains to be 25 W and the CB15 rating round 1,300 issues, a drop of over 70%! So there is not any actual efficiency distinction between the 2 modes.
Similar to CPU efficiency, the Helios is best marginally in the back of the MSI GE78HX and the Alienware m18 R1.
Maximum packages subjectively really feel clean. Simplest the graphics switching (Complicated Optimus) is a continuing drawback for the pc. Extra about this and latency problems within the following sections.
Within the present motive force state, the pc has acute latency issues, as LatencyMon finds. In Balanced mode, delays happen when opening the browser or transferring a desktop window. Those build up when opening a couple of browser tabs on our web site, or even enjoying a 4K/60 fps YouTube video leads to a complete 18 skipped frames. Acer must give a boost to the driving force right here. On the other hand, rival laptops even have identical issues.
The Helios 18 is supplied with the Samsung PM9A1, one of the crucial quickest SSDs in our SSD very best listing. Sadly, this does not carry out effectively within the Predator and its efficiency is in no time throttled, as our graph under presentations. We repeated the similar take a look at later and were given the similar end result as a result of we had been shocked via the speedy and robust drop. Identical SSD throttling habits was once additionally seen within the in the past reviewed Predator Helios 16.
The RTX 4080 is a high-end GPU that was once presented in early 2023. Within the Helios 18, it might probably draw at the most 175 W, together with Dynamic Spice up.
Within the artificial 3DMark assessments, the Helios narrowly overtakes the MSI GE78HX with the similar GPU for the primary time. The efficiency of the RTX 4080 is ready 10% upper than the typical of all laptops with the similar GPU in our database.
Clear of the socket, the Predator nonetheless manages 6,897 graphics issues in Fireplace Strike, a drop of 84 p.c!
The Helios 18 additionally narrowly surpasses the MSI GE78HX in gaming, however each are in the long run on par. The Alienware m18 R1 with its RTX 4090 is round 7% quicker; the adaptation is biggest in Witcher 3 at +22%, and our Predator even leads in GTA V.
Over the process an hour, the body price in Witcher 3 stays rather strong; the slight fluctuations are because of the everyday day/evening cycle within the recreation.
In contrast to within the CPU benchmark, there’s now a transparent distinction between the Balanced and Silent modes when gaming. The latter is, true to its namesake, very silent and in addition makes use of much less energy. Tables for fps, intake and quantity of the person efficiency modes for Witcher 3 Extremely will also be discovered within the following Emissions/Temperature sections.
Apparently, the GPU clocks somewhat upper in Silent mode than in Balanced, however the reminiscence clock is considerably decrease and the facility intake could also be decrease.
The fan noise naturally is dependent closely at the selected efficiency mode. In Turbo mode, background noise could be very excessive beneath load; we measured a most of slightly below 60 dB, making it the loudest software within the comparability box. The Alienware with its RTX 4090 stays quieter; best the MSI is in a similar way loud. At most quantity, the chassis even begins to vibrate somewhat. We thus suggest Efficiency mode or decrease. Within the former, you best forego 3 to five p.c of efficiency in Witcher 3, however the quantity drops via practically 10 dB!
A minimum of the Helios 18 regulates its enthusiasts effectively relying at the load and does not in an instant unharness complete quantity on customers beneath medium quite a bit. On the other hand, the fan spin does now not stay consistent whilst gaming, however fluctuates cyclically, once in a while extra and once in a while much less loudly (Witcher 3).
The opposite efficiency modes can cut back the noise stage significantly, see desk under.
The outside temperatures display that loud enthusiasts actually have a certain side. The Helios 18 best heats up very selectively (underside centrally and to the left of the show), however another way stays practically strangely cool. For instance, the left palm leisure feels downright chilly after an hour of gaming. This presentations that, at the one hand, the loud enthusiasts are too aggressively configured and, then again, the warmth isn’t allotted rather well.
After launching our pressure take a look at, the CPU efficiency of the Predator stays moderately consistent, with the cores persistently clocking between 3.4 and three.6 GHz. There are at all times minor fluctuations which are mirrored within the energy intake and in addition the core temperature. CPU core temperatures stand up to 98 °C, however moderate at 89 °C. CPU energy intake peaks at 156 W and averages 137 W.
The GPU is far much less constant and reveals a efficiency wave curve. The clock price reaches a cyclically ordinary most of two.5 GHz and the curve valleys are round 1.2 GHz. On the similar time, we measured very spontaneous drops down to simply 200 MHz for fractions of a 2d within the another way consistent reminiscence clock of two.3 GHz. The GPU temperature fluctuates as effectively, however is best 64 °C on moderate, most 76 °C. Energy intake fluctuates between 25 W and 90 to 100 W.
The audio system will also be rather loud, however that is about it for the certain information. The sound is tinny, bass is just about non-existent or even the mids and trebles aren’t in particular balanced. We anticipated higher sound high quality, particularly from this kind of large pc.
Exterior audio gadgets will also be hooked up by means of the mixed headset jack, amongst different issues. Headphones are a should anyway when enjoying in loud Turbo mode.
No person expects frugality from an HX CPU and an RTX 4080, and so the Helios 18 isn’t a surprise. It is rather frugal when idle, but if gaming it wishes practically up to the more or less similarly tough MSI GE78HX. Simplest the non permanent most intake of 319 W is upper than the MSI. The massive and heavy Chicony energy provide is rated at 330 W and will have to have the ability to provide the Predator with sufficient energy always, even in challenging eventualities.
Acer installs a 90 Wh battery, whilst the MSI and Alienware have 99 and 97 Wh, respectively. Customers will have to undoubtedly use SDR mode for the show in battery mode, another way the 1000 HDR nits will drain the battery a lot quicker.
The Helios 18 lasts for 4.5 to just about 5 hours within the WiFi and video take a look at at a discounted brightness of 150 nits. The MSI is somewhat extra enduring, and the Alienware lasts in a similar way lengthy within the WiFi take a look at.
The gamer finds 0 weaknesses in the case of efficiency. Each the CPU and GPU carry out somewhat higher than the typical pc with the similar configuration from our database. There could also be the brilliant and high-contrast MiniLED show, whilst workmanship and contours also are spectacular.
Against this to the well-tuned Helios 16 with its RTX 4060, the weaknesses of the Helios 18 with a extra challenging RTX 4080 turn out to be obvious: the cooling gadget could be very loud in Turbo mode and does now not appear to be optimized in different spaces. Whilst maximum spaces of the pc stay strangely cool, the new spot remains to be one among the freshest within the elegance. On the similar time, the theoretically robust SSD fashion is throttled in no time. We advise working the pc within the quieter Efficiency mode.
The Acer Predator Helios 18 is a behemoth with robust efficiency, however the loud cooling gadget wishes optimization.
We have now best reviewed 18-inch competition with weaker GPUs thus far, which is why recommending choices isn’t really easy. On the subject of efficiency, the 17-inch MSI Raider GE78HX can stay up, however has a weaker show.
In the United States, the RTX 4080 configuration of the Acer Predator Helios 18 seems to be in brief provide. Perfect Purchase has the RTX 4070 and 4060 configurations on be offering for US$1999.99 and US$1699.99, respectively.
Costs are as of 27.10.2023 and are topic to modify.
Allow 48h for review and removal.