Acer Nitro 5 overview: A grand-display disguise disguise RTX 3080 laptop with screaming payment

Supreme Costs At the present time

With the 15.6-paddle Acer Nitro 5 model we reviewed earlier this yr, Acer pushed its dilapidated Nitro 5 funds gaming laptop line into midrange gaming laptop territory by outfitting the $1,700 configuration with RTX 3070 graphics and a QHD panel. With this Nitro 5 (model AN517-41-R3NX), Acer further extends into the midrange category by bumping up the graphics to an RTX 3080 GPU and stretching the show off to 17.3 inches — albeit with a decrease, 1080p resolution. These upgrades push the payment north of $2,000.

The plump, plastic chassis doesn’t sob “top fee gaming laptop” and even remark with mighty self perception “midrange gaming laptop.” In case your purpose is to purchase the most strength and the biggest show off on your gaming dollars, then the 17.3-paddle Nitro, which is powered by GeForce RTX 3080 graphics and AMD’s stellar Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, is grand of your consideration.

This overview is piece of our ongoing roundup of among the finest laptops. Race there for files on competing merchandise and the scheme we examined them.

Specifications

At $2,099.99, this explicit model (AN517-41-R3NX) is the absolute best configuration of the 17.3-paddle Nitro 5 line. It pairs the AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU with GeForce RTX 3080 graphics. Right here’s the plump spec checklist for our overview unit:

• CPU: Octo-core AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
• Reminiscence: 16GB
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 with 100 TGP rating
• Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• Mark: 17.3-paddle, 1920×1280 IPS
• Webcam: 720p
• Connectivity: Exact facet: 1 x USB SuperSpeed 10Gbps Form-C,1 x USB SuperSpeed 5Gbps Form-A, HDMI 2.0. Left facet: 2 x USB SuperSpeed 10Gbps Form-A (one with strength-off charging), ethernet, combo audio jack.
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
• Biometrics: None
• Battery ability: 57.5 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 15.9 x 11.0 x 0.98 inches
• Measured weight: 5.9 kilos (laptop), 1.2 kilos (AC adapter)

Acer also sells two identical, however decrease-payment 17.3-paddle Nitro 5 objects. The entry-stage model charges $1,450 and strategies RTX 3060 graphics while the midrange version charges $1,700 with RTX 3070 graphics. All three objects comprise the identical Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Surprisingly, the mid-tier configuration has a QHD (2560×1440) show off resolution the place the tip and bottom objects comprise a FHD (1920×1280) panel. A baseline version with a great deal less extremely effective RTX 3050 Ti graphics and an Intel processor will seemingly be readily accessible in the 17-paddle set factor for $1,100.

Familiar Nitro 5 salvage however bigger

No matter the configuration you chose, the Nitro 5 comes in a plump, molded plastic enclosure. This kind of salvage makes sense when the payment is about a huge or less, however it’s more durable to elaborate when the payment creeps above $2,000. Nonetheless, 17-paddle gaming laptops with RTX 3080 graphics on occasion payment a couple of hundred dollars more than the Nitro 5, which makes me feel a tiny higher about meting out more than $2,000 for a plastic chassis. That stated, the Nitro 5’s chassis feels solid, with tiny flex and no creaking that can plague plastic designs.

Whereas I wouldn’t paddle so far as to name the Nitro 5 svelte, it does weigh decrease than other 17-paddle gaming laptops we reviewed and weighed no longer too lengthy ago. In comparison with the MSI GE76 Raider and the Gigabyte Aorus 17G, both of which weigh 6.6 kilos, the Nitro 5 weighs a great deal less at 5.9 kilos. The 180-watt strength brick provides 1.2 kilos to the entire carrying weight while the 280-watt strength bricks of the MSI and Gigabyte machines weigh a hefty 2.2 kilos each and each.

Whereas you happen to’re acquainted with the standard 15-paddle Nitro 5, then you definately’ll without delay gaze its 17-paddle sibling. It follows the identical blueprint salvage: a basic matte shaded physique with some angular accents and crimson vent covers. Basically the most payment-effective-searching piece of the salvage are the thick, plastic show off bezels. Thinning these out a tiny and alongside side a lustrous raise out would toughen the total gorgeous. On the opposite hand, it’s a funds gaming laptop at its coronary heart. This configuration factual happens to be filled with excessive-cease ingredients.

The keyboard is geared toward gamers. As effectively as to RGB backlighting, the arrow keys and the WASD keys are outlined with a white border. This helps files gamers to the keys they’ll use the most. As with most 17-paddle laptops, the keyboard contains a dedicated number pad.With 15-paddle laptops, the number pad’s keys are narrower than the relaxation and the honest Shift key gets trimmed correct down to accommodate the plump-sized arrow keys.

There’s sufficient room on either facet of the keyboard to make the letter keys and the keys on the number pad bigger. It’s a bummer that Acer didn’t profit from of the further house and originate a roomier keyboard. The shortened honest-Shift key may furthermore just no longer comprise mighty of an affect when gaming, however I stumbled on it demanding for basic Dwelling windows use.

As effectively as to the WASD and arrow keys, there’s one other key outlined in white. A particular “N” key above the numpad launches Acer’s NitroSense utility, which helps you to adjust the laptop’s strength mode and cooling fan velocity. You may furthermore also customize the RGB keyboard backlighting all the scheme via four zones.

The touchpad looks undersized, given the enormous expanse that surrounds it on the sizable keyboard deck. Its diminutive dimensions, on the opposite hand, is among the finest salvage 22 situation. It felt appropriate and the click equipped the ideal amount of go with fleet suggestions.

Murky 17.3-paddle FHD show off

The 17.3-paddle show off strategies a plump HD (1920×1080) resolution, which is okay for some gaming and web searching however the step-down model strategies a nicer QHD (2560×1440) show off. Most gamers don’t need one thing above 1080p, however the higher resolution would make the Nitro 5 more capable for basic use. As an illustration, inform material creators may furthermore handle the finer resolution for describe and video enhancing.

The largest salvage 22 situation in regards to the show off is its lack of brightness. Whereas you happen to attain most of your gaming in a darkened den, then you definately’ll be okay. In sunnier environments, on the opposite hand, you’ll comprise the brightness setting maxed out and nonetheless be making an try to search out more. Offsetting the show off’s dimness is its large viewing angle. Whereas you happen to switch aways from the center position, the show off’s brightness doesn’t diminish all that mighty.

It appears that evidently acknowledged, the 720p webcam is subpar. Even in reach-ideal lighting prerequisites, the webcam produces a grainy image with oversaturated colors. It also lacks a privateness quilt.

The audio system originate moderate laptop sound. Their sound can fill a little room, however there’s tiny to no bass. YouTube movies and Zoom calls sound lovely, however you’ll need headphones for video games and flicks.

The port chance affords neither gratifying surprises nor glaring omissions. There’s both USB Form A and Form C ports, which eliminates the need for a dongle. As with other AMD laptops, the USB-C port doesn’t encompass Thunderbolt give a enhance to.

You may furthermore retailer a huge game library on the Nitro’s 1TB M.2 SSD. If that’s no longer sufficient ability, there’s room inner with the map to add a 2.5-paddle force. Acer also contains the mandatory cable and screws in the sphere to make such an addition easy. To expand the laptop’s 16GB of RAM would require replacing the two 8GB sticks — there are most effective two DIMM slots.

Acer Nitro 5 efficiency

Our Nitro 5 AN517 test system is in step with AMD’s octo-core Ryzen 7 5800H CPU and Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. Some variations of the RTX 3080 boast 16GB of VRAM, however this one is more of the modern 8GB fluctuate. To motivate fetch thermals in test, the GPU has a decrease Total Graphics Energy (TGP) of 100 Watts. This is able to cede some efficiency to higher-wattage RTX 3080 GPUs; we’ve viewed most in the 155-Watt fluctuate.

We when in contrast the Nitro 5 against other gaming laptops corresponding to the Asus ROG Zephyrus S17, the Asus ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition, the MSI GS66, and the Dell XPS 17 9710. We also incorporated the 15-paddle Acer Nitro 5 AN515. The entire CPUs – from both AMD and Intel–characteristic eight bodily cores and 16 processing threads.

To learn how effectively a laptop handles crushing CPU hundreds over a lengthy duration of time, we old HandBrake, the free video encoding utility. As soon as we transcoded a 30GB MKV file to a format moral for Android capsules, the Nitro 5 topped the Core i7-essentially based Dell XPS 17 9710 however done in the support of a couple of other systems. Right here is a murderer’s row of graphics powerhouses, on the opposite hand. All proved of them encoded movies with relatively like a flash times.

Subsequent up is Cinebench, another CPU-intensive test however one which renders a complex 2D scene over a short duration of time. The Nitro 5 again done fourth, beating most effective its 15-paddle sibling. With a rating north of two,000 on the multithreaded test, on the opposite hand, the Nitro 5 is more than able to handling heavy describe enhancing duties. The single-threaded scores of the total laptops here had been horny except for the MSI GS66 Stealth, which modified into effectively in the support of the Nitro 5.

Graphics efficiency

The Nitro 5 did a legit job via graphics efficiency. As soon as we ran Time Search for 1.2 on 3DMark (these cinematic clips are designed to push the GPU to its limits), the Radeon RX 6800M-essentially based Asus ROG Strix G15 and the RTX 3080-essentially based Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 reached a rating of 10,000. With a rating of 9,679, the Nitro 5 wasn’t far in the support of. That’s impressive, as these laptops comprise the CPU advantage of using either a Ryzen 9 or Core i9 processor.

For right-world game testing, we conducted both Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1920×1080 resolution at the very supreme quality graphics preset and Metro Exodus at 1920×1080 at the extraordinary quality graphics preset. When taking half in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Nitro 5 grew to became in a in actuality playable 97 fps. As for the more annoying Metro Exodus, it averaged most effective 42 fps, which scheme you’ll have to dial support the graphics quality settings for smoother gameplay.

Battery life

The Nitro 5 lasted just about six hours on our battery-drain test, which is about moderate for a gaming laptop. We test the battery by looping a 4K video using the stock Dwelling windows Movies & TV app with display disguise disguise brightness space to 250 nits and the quantity dialed to 50 percent with headphones plugged in. On the opposite hand, battery life is less predominant on a huge gaming laptop, which will employ most of its time tethered to a wall outlet.

Efficiency > salvage

Whereas you happen to’re making an try to search out the most bang on your gaming buck, the 17-paddle Acer Nitro 5 is a honest purchase. Getting RTX 3080 graphics alongside with AMD’s horny Ryzen 7 5800H and a roomy 1TB SSD for $2,100 is an improbable deal, as most laptops with the identical graphics are priced nearer to $3,000. On the opposite hand, whenever you happen to ask a top fee priced laptop will deserve to comprise a graceful aluminum chassis and a intellectual show off the place colors pop, then you definately’ll be less enamored by the Nitro 5.