Acer through its gamer-focused brand, Acer Predator, is reportedly preparing custom-design AMD Radeon graphics cards for launch in 2023. The company already made an entry into the DIY gaming PC components space with Intel Arc "Alchemist" graphics cards, and Predator-branded high-end memory products, such as M.2 NVMe SSDs and memory kits. The company already showed off its engineering chops with custom-design graphics cards, such the likes of its Arc A770 Predator models, and it's expected that the Taiwanese PC giant will do the same with AMD Radeon cards. 2023 will see AMD ramp up its Radeon RX 7000 series graphics cards based on the RDNA3 graphics architecture, across several price-points.

Acer at the 2023 International CES showed off its latest lineup of memory and storage products targeting the DIY PC enthusiast market segment under its high-end Predator brand. Leading the booth is the Vesta II line of DDR5 memory modules featuring a high-end product design, and RGB LED lighting. The one shown to us featured a rather modest DDR5-5200 speed and 2x 16 GB density, but the company assured it is spreading the lineup to higher frequencies. The Pallas II line of performance-segment memory targeting creators, for example, does DDR5-6000.

A star attraction in the booth was the Predator GM7 M.2 NVMe SSD. Built in the M.2-2280 form-factor, the drive features a PCI-Express 4.0 x4 + NVMe 2.0 host interface, and combines a Maxiotech MAP1602 controller with YMTC 232-layer 3D TLC NAND flash based on the Xtacking 3.0 architecture. The drive offers sequential transfer speeds of up to 7400 MB/s reads, with up to 6300 MB/s writes, and comes in sizes of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB, priced at USD $49.90, $89.90, and $159.99, respectively. Acer is backing these drives with a 5-year warranty.

Acer announced two powerful Predator Helios gaming laptops and a pair of Predator gaming monitors. The laptops feature an all-new design with 16-inch and 18-inch display sizes, the latest 13th Gen Intel Core mobile processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, making them Acer's most powerful gaming laptops to date. The Predator X45 showcases a massive 800R curved monitor and has earned a CES Innovation Award in the "Computer Peripherals & Accessories" category. Along with the Predator X27U, both monitors include OLED technology with fast 240 Hz refresh rates.

Predator Helios 16, Predator Helios 18 Laptops
The all-new Predator Helios 16 (PH16-71) and Predator Helios 18 (PH18-71) bring the latest and greatest tech to Acer's most powerful gaming laptop series. Sporting a completely new design and upgraded thermals, they both offer models that include 13th Gen Intel Core i9 or i7 HX processors paired with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU (MGP up to 165 W) and a plethora of must-have top-of-the-line gaming features.

Acer today announced a major update to its SpatialLabs TrueGame, the glasses-free 3D gaming application, with the addition of a 3D Ultra mode. The new feature offers gamers the ultimate 3D gaming experience with its enhanced stereo rendering capabilities, projecting images with depth and life-like 3D geometry. SpatialLabs TrueGame was designed for gamers who love to explore and lose themselves in immersive gameplay, serving as a medium to explore and experience new realities when they set off on their quests for treasure and glory.

The new update also includes 3D Sense, a collection of 3D stereo effect configurations to match the players' preferences in terms of visual details, effects, and 3D depth intensity. TrueGame allows the game to be presented in a way that is tailored for different players and continues to support game titles with new profiles added every month, including today's list of AAA titles and former top classics that users can enjoy in their full 3D glory.

Acer has launched its Predator BiFrost Arc A770 graphics card in Taiwan and the official pricing appears to be NT$12,900 or US$404, local shops are already selling the card for far less. The BiFrost comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and an overclocking option that boosts the GPU speed from 2,200 MHz to 2,400 MHz. The latter also increases the TDP from 250 to 280 Watts. As seen in the launch announcement pictures, the card has a rather unusual fan design and Acer has even come up with some marketing names for the setup. The blower fan is referred to as Aeroblade 3D and the regular 92 mm fan as Frostblade 2.0. We're not sure how there's a version 2.0 when this is Acer's first retail graphics card.

The card measures 267 x 117.75 mm and has as we've also seen, a pair of 8-pin power connectors. The port configuration consists of three DP 2.0 ports and one HDMI 2.1 port. Local shops are offering the card on sale for US$372 to as little as US$313 (NT$9990), which is only US$13 more than Intel's own Arc A750 cards retail for in Taiwan. This price point makes it a fair bit more attractive, even taking potential driver related issues and hardware limitations into account.

Acer today announced support for the new 13th Gen Intel Core processors on the Predator Orion 7000 (PO7-650) series desktops, delivering serious power and further elevating users' PC gameplay. Engineered for hard-core gaming enthusiasts and creators, the upgradable gaming desktop pushes the limits of high-performance multi-tasking and next-level computing power.

"With the new 13th Gen Intel Core desktop processors, the Predator Orion 7000 powers extraordinary performance for even the most demanding game titles," said Jeff Lee, General Manager, Stationary Computing, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. "The Predator Orion 7000 continues to deliver best-in-class gameplay experiences beyond what gamers expect, and we're excited to be among the first to bring the new CPUs to market."

Acer today announced the Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition gaming laptop, bringing glasses-free, stereoscopic 3D to the world of gaming. Through the SpatialLabs TrueGame application, it will support over 50 popular games at launch, and support for additional titles will be added on a continuous basis moving forwards. Alongside the 3D gaming laptop, Acer also announced the Predator Triton 300 SE thin gaming laptop, and the Predator XB273K LV and Acer Nitro XV272U RV gaming monitors.

"We're excited to add a new dimension to gaming with the Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition, enabling industry-leading glasses-free stereoscopic 3D gaming," said Jerry Kao, Co-COO, Acer Inc. "By integrating our SpatialLabs technology with our Predator gaming laptops, we hope to create a new category of immersive gaming experiences."

Acer announced refreshes across its lines of Predator and Nitro gaming laptops, starting off the year with new models of the Predator Triton 500 SE, Predator Helios 300 and Acer Nitro 5. All of the laptops feature the latest 12th Gen Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs, while the Acer Nitro 5 also includes AMD Ryzen 6000 Series processor options. They also come with one month of Xbox Game Pass, giving gamers day-one access to popular titles and the ability to play with friends, whether they're on PC or console.

"Our most popular gaming laptops have been updated with the latest silicon announced at CES," said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. "Combine that with state-of-the-art cooling technology and high-refresh rate displays and you get exciting laptops that even the most demanding of players will love."

Acer today unveiled its refreshed Predator Orion 5000 series gaming desktops, designed for gamers who require supreme performance and the ability to upgrade down the road. Also unveiled today are the new mid-range Predator Orion 3000 series gaming desktops, an OLED Predator monitor, and an additional pair of IPS monitors that combine VESA DisplayHDR 1000-level visuals with high refresh rates. Acer also announced that the Predator X32 earned a CES Innovation Award in the "Computer Peripherals & Accessories" category.

Acer today announced a refresh to its gaming desktop portfolio that brings updates and enhancements to the series of Predator Orion 3000 and Nitro 50 gaming desktops. Both ranges have been updated to include the latest 11th Gen Intel Core or AMD Ryzen 5000 Series desktop processors, as well as NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs, plus a range of improvements across the board.

The Predator Orion 3000 (P03-630) is designed for gamers who are seeking the best-in-class hardware experience that a mid-tower rig can deliver. With an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and up to 64 GB of 3200 Hz DDR4 memory, users can do it all—game, stream and edit. This performance is further enhanced by the new Intel Core i7 processor core architecture which transforms hardware and software efficiency, delivers smooth game play, high frame rates, and immersive realism.

Acer today announced several additions to its gaming portfolio with Predator notebooks, a mouse and a new 5G CPE router. The all-new Predator Triton 500 SE and the Predator Helios 500 notebooks have been updated to include up to the new 11th Gen Intel Core i9 processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs, plus a hoard of premium features like Acer's 5th Generation AeroBlade 3D Fan Technology for better cooling, DTS:X Ultra audio, Intel Killer E3100 Ethernet Controller, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650, and the PredatorSense device management software.

Predator Triton 500 SE Gaming Notebook
The Predator Triton 500 SE (PT516-51s) is a "special edition" notebook designed for gamers who want a machine capable of getting through both the latest AAA games and the work day. Powered by up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i9 Processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU and up to 64 GB of 3200 MHz DDR4 memory, the notebook offers more than enough gaming power—but at just 19.9 mm (0.78 in) thin with up to 12 hours of battery life[1] and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus technology, gamers can easily slip it into a backpack or squeeze in a bit of work between matches. The notebook's sleek, clean appearance means that it could even double as a work laptop for professionals that enjoy gaming, and with up to 4 TB of high speed PCIe Gen4 storage, it has plenty of space for games, footage and the odd spreadsheet or two.

BIWIN, a leading chip manufacturer for flash storage, reached an agreement with Acer to bring Predator-branded memory and personal SSD storage products to customers in the United States and Canada. The product offerings will take advantage of BIWIN's manufacturing capabilities and Predator's global brand recognition to provide the latest memory and storage solutions for both casual and professional gamers.

The Predator brand is known for providing hardcore PC gamers and esports professionals with high-end gaming solutions that give them a competitive edge. The new high-end flagship memory and storage portfolio under the Predator brand begins with state-of-the-art memory modules and blazing fast solid-state drives. With a powerful "cyberpunk inspired" design to match the power of its performance, the new Predator Apollo memory module series offers speed, style and special lighting. Its ultra-high frequency, ultra-low timing, and overclocking capabilities will satisfy even the most speed-thirsty gamers.

Today Acer announced updates and refreshes to several gaming notebooks in its portfolio, including the Predator Triton 300 SE, Predator Helios 300 and Acer Nitro 5. The Predator Triton 300 SE and Acer Nitro 5 notebooks have been updated to include new 11th Gen Intel Core H35-series processors for ultraportable gaming, while the Predator Triton 300 SE and Predator Helios 300 have been refreshed with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs—plus a suite of upgrades such as increased display refresh rates and better cooling technology across the board.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs, powered by the NVIDIA Ampere architecture, increase energy efficiency by up to 2x, accelerate performance dramatically and introduce third-generation Max-Q technologies for thin and lightweight designs. GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs deliver stunning ray-traced gaming experiences in Cyberpunk 2077 and other top titles, and enable creators to produce incredible content using hundreds of GPU-accelerated apps.

Acer today unveiled a host of new products in its expanding Predator and Nitro portfolios with three gaming monitors suited to a wide range of gamers, from elite professionals requiring top-of-the line technology to casual gamers who play for fun. Additionally, Acer is the first to deliver TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe -certified gaming monitors that have been specially designed to emit less high-energy blue light than industry-standard LCDs.

"Our newest gaming monitors feature the industry's latest technology to give gamers smooth performance and comfortable ergonomics," said Victor Chien, President, Digital Display Business, Acer Inc. "Designed to appeal to the most power-hungry gamers, our Predator gaming monitors have proven their quality and reliability as a top choice of pro-gamers as well as those who just want to have fun. The new Predator and Acer Nitro monitors are available in a variety of designs and sizes to support just about anyone in the market for a gaming monitor."

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, Inc., today announced the release of new and updated speeds and capacities for HyperX Predator DDR4 RGB and HyperX FURY DDR4 RGB memory modules and kits. Featuring memory kits up 256 GB and speeds up to 4600MHz1, the Predator DDR4 RGB and FURY DDR4 RGB memory modules are designed to pass rigorous certification test procedures and are Intel XMP certified and AMD certified Ready for Ryzen.

HyperX Predator DDR4 delivers fast frequencies and low latencies with speeds up to 4800MHz1 and latencies from CL12 to CL19. Predator DDR4 utilizes a black aluminium heat spreader and matching black PCB to complement the look of the latest PC builds. Predator memory is available in 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB single modules and in kits of two, four, and eight.

Acer today announced one of the world's highest refresh-rate monitors in the form of the Predator X25. Joining in the likes of Alienware and ASUS, who have already announced their own 360 Hz in the form of the AW2521H and ROG Swift 360, respectively. The Predator X25's über-high refresh rate will leave players out of any excuses so as to why they weren't able to react in time to a threat.

The 360 Hz refresh rates comes with compromises (resolution is only 1080p), and there will be NVIDIA's G-Sync on-board (but a graphics card and CPU combo that can push those 360 FPS to really make use of this refresh rate... Hmm. That's a tougher deal). Alienware has confirmed their AW2521H monitor uses IPS panel technology, and it would thus seem likely that Acer also makes use of that particular panel technology on the Predator X25. However, we'll have to wait and see. The monitor brings some quality of life technologies, such as ergonomics tilting (25 degrees backward, 5 degrees forward), swivel (30 degrees) and height adjustment (4.7 inches). The monitor also features an RGB lighting on the back of the monitor that can light up according to scenes being rendered or according to music you're playing, there's automatic brightness exposure, and a friendly reminder schedule that pops up a warning for users who have been using the monitor for too long, reminding them to take a little walk. No pricing or release date were available at time of writing.

Acer today announced its new Predator Triton 500 and Acer Nitro 5 gaming notebooks. Alongside significant developments in thermal performance, both devices come with the latest 10th Gen Intel Core processors and newly announced NVIDIA GeForce RTX SUPER and GTX GPUs.

"In addition to the latest processors and GPUs, we've made exciting across-the-board updates to the Predator Triton 500 and Acer Nitro 5 this year," said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer. "Most importantly we've applied new thermal technology which keeps the devices cool so gamers can enjoy the performance improvements from the latest silicon technology."

Acer Japan has today launched two predator monitors based on IPS technology. The two monitors in question are 24.5-inch and 27-inch IPS panels based on 1080p resolution named XB253QGXbmiiprzx (the 24.5-inch model) and XB273GXbmiiprzx (27-inch model), which is not a typo and are the actual name of the models. Both of them feature Display HDR400 certifications, meaning that their maximum brightness is 400 nits. Other specifications include a maximum supported refresh rate of 240 Hz with 1 ms GtG response time that can be reduced to 0.5 ms response time with override mode. There are two options of frame syncing, where one is NVIDIA's G-SYNC, and the other is VESA's Adaptive-Sync. Both of them support up to 240 Hz refresh rate, meaning that you can use any card to get syncing at a high refresh rate. The IPS screen covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut.

For connectivity, Acer has equipped these monitors with one DisplayPort 1.2a, and two HDMI 2.0b ports used for input. There is a USB hub with four USB 3.0 ports and one 3.5 mm headphone jack output. The monitor is rocking two 2 W integrated stereo speakers. When it comes to the pricing, the smaller 24.5-inch model is priced at around ¥46,000 ($430 in the United States) and ¥55,000 (around $500 in the US).

CES might be over, but our coverage from the event continues. TechPowerUp prides itself on visiting a lot of brands, big and small, and bringing to you our first-hand account of everything new. EK Waterblocks, or simply EKWB henceforth, had a large room in the Mandalay Bay with a big open window spanning the room, which made for challenging photography, but a well-laid out open plan made it easy for us to go over the various product segments they had to display. This post will go briefly over them, but keep in mind that nearly all products showcased do not have set retail availability info just yet.

The very first thing that caught our eyes was their new line of AIO cooling solutions, now simply called EK-AIO. These are the successors to the EK-MLC Phoenix, and the EK-Predator from before, both of which did not really change the status quo of the pre-filled AIO CPU cooling market. EK hopes that the new series, of which again they are working to finalizing the design before committing to a release window and pricing information, will change this. As with most of their new products, the EK-AIO coolers integrate RGB support with 9 dRGB LEDs in the pump/block and more on the EK-Vardar RGB fans that are used on the radiator itself. The EK-AIO series is planned to come in 120/240/360 mm radiator size options, with 1/2/3 fans respectively. Read past the break for more from the Slovenian watercooling brand.

(UPDATE: Acer has now launched the monitor) Acer at a special event unveiled their upcoming monitor that blurs the line between a television and a PC monitor. The Predator CG437KP makes use of a 43" VA panel (90% DCI-P3 coverage and low Delta E<1 color accuracy) with a 4K resolution. As if the size wasn't an impressive spec alone, Acer really have gone out of their way to make this a veritable Predator monitor, with 144 Hz refresh rates. The monitor also comes with Adaptive Sync support for both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync and over HDMI for compatibility with current and future consoles. There's a maximum 1000 nits brightness, which brings VESA's DisplayHDR 1000 certification to the table.

I/O stands at 3x HDMI (likely to support all of those consoles users that are looking at this diagonal size might have), 2x DisplayPort 1.4 for actual Active Sync users, 1x USB 3.1-C, 2xUSB 3.0 and 2xUSB 2.0. There's even a remote control. The Acer Predator CG437KP is now available in the US at $1,499.99 MSRP.

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced it has sold over 10 million gaming headsets as it begins shipping its newest lifestyle headset, the Cloud MIX Rose Gold Edition. Since developing the first HyperX Cloud gaming headset in 2014, HyperX has produced 30 headset models, establishing itself as a leading PC and console gaming headset brand and moving into the lifestyle market with its Cloud MIX line of headsets. In addition, HyperX leads market share for PC compatible headsets according to latest NPD data.

HyperX also achieved milestones in two additional categories by shipping over one million gaming keyboards and 65 million memory modules. HyperX Alloy mechanical gaming keyboards launched with Cherry MX switches and now HyperX continues to build its gaming keyboard lineup with the release of the HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical gaming keyboard, including proprietary mechanical key switches. HyperX memory products include FURY and Predator DDR4 branded memory modules and include RGB modules with customizable LED lighting using NGENUITY software.

Acer America has announced the new Predator XN253Q X monitor, which boasts up to an incredibly fast 0.4 ms response time for amazingly accurate gameplay even in the fastest action scenes.

Featuring a rapid 240Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA G-Sync that syncs in a way few technologies can rival, the Predator XN253Q X delivers stunningly clear and fluid visuals. A high 400 nit cd/m^2 brightness supports crisp, clear and brilliant images, so no important details are missed.

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology, Inc., today announced the release of two new high speed Predator DDR4 memory kits in 4266 MHz and 4600 MHz frequency versions. The new frequency options will be available as 8GB modules in kits of two and include a black aluminum heat spreader and black PCB to complement the look of the latest PC builds by system builders and DIY PC enthusiasts.

"The HyperX team is excited to offer Predator DDR4 for the next generation of PC enthusiasts who want the best performance from their systems," said Kristy Ernt, DRAM business manager, HyperX. "As HyperX continues to support the world of gaming and esports, the community sees us as a trusted leader for high speed memory in the gaming hardware industry."

Acer today unveiled two new Windows 10 gaming notebooks, the Predator Triton 900, a 17-inch performance notebook featuring a slim design and convertible 4K display - and the Predator Triton 500 - a 15-inch all-metal gaming powerhouse measuring just 17.9 mm (0.70 inches) thin. Both gaming notebooks combine new, functional designs with powerful internals that rival gaming desktops.

"We are pushing the envelope on what a gaming notebook can be with designs that offer more uses while still packing in the computing power," said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business at Acer. "The Predator Triton 900's one-of-a-kind flipping screen allows for multiple gaming scenarios and better ergonomics, while the Triton 500 offers superb gaming performance in a slimmer, all-metal body for gamers on the go."

Acer announced the release of another FreeSync monitor to their lineup. The Predator XR343CKP offers a 34", ultrawide, curved IPS panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution. Being an IPS panel, the 1 ms response time (with MPRT, so, an added blur reduction mode is taken into account for this response time) is a premium specification. It features an up to 100 Hz refresh rate with FreeSync technology enabling variable refreshes without screen tearing.

The panel offers a typical 1,000:1 contrast ratio with a relatively low 350 cd/m² typical brightness, 172/178 viewing angles, 1.07 billion color depth and standard sRGB color gamut. Display Inputs include HDMI, DisplayPort, and 5x USB ports. All of this can be available for the modest amount of $1799... Which isn't at all the number I expected to be quitting based on the specs alone, and looking at other market offerings. But that's what's being shown on Acer's page - though some retailers, such as Amazon Germany, are offering this for some €893 (~$1000), which is much more realistic.