Unleashing Power: Acer Triton 900 - The Thinnest RTX 2080 Laptop

Unleashing Power: Acer Triton 900 - The Thinnest RTX 2080 Laptop

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Specs of the Acer Triton 900
3. Design and Build Quality
4. Display and Screen Options
5. Unique Screen Design
6. Keyboard and Touchpad
7. Performance and Gaming
8. Throttling and Heating Issues
9. Battery Life and Power Supply
10. Ports and Connectivity
11. Speakers and Audio Quality
12. Software and Customization
13. Storage and Memory Options
14. Price and Value for Money
15. Conclusion

Article: Acer Triton 900 Gaming Laptop Review

The Acer Triton 900 is a gaming laptop that stands out with its unique design and innovative features. In this detailed review, we will explore the specifications, performance, and overall value of this laptop.

Specs of the Acer Triton 900

The Acer Triton 900 is equipped with a powerful Intel i7-9750H CPU and a 180-watt Nvidia RTX 2080 graphics card. It boasts 32GB of memory in dual Channel configuration and a 1TB RAID 0 array made up of two NVMe M.2 SSDs. The 17.3-inch 4K 60Hz IPS touchscreen with G-Sync feature provides a vibrant and immersive display. In terms of connectivity, the Triton 900 offers 2.5 gigabit ethernet, WiFi 5, and Bluetooth 5.

Design and Build Quality

The Acer Triton 900 features a clean matte black aluminum lid, which gives it a sleek and sophisticated look. The interior and bottom of the laptop are also made of the same material, providing a consistent design. The overall build quality is excellent, with no sharp edges and a sturdy feel. The laptop weighs around 4.5kg, making it slightly heavy but manageable. The custom screen hinges contribute to the laptop's width, and the large bezel ensures structural integrity.

Display and Screen Options

The standout feature of the Acer Triton 900 is its unique screen design. The 17.3-inch 4K 60Hz IPS touchscreen offers a glossy finish and excellent viewing angles. The screen supports G-Sync technology, ensuring smooth and tear-free gaming. However, the lack of Optimus support means that the laptop is limited to using the RTX 2080 graphics. The screen has a color gamut of 99% sRGB, 92% NTSC, and 96% AdobeRGB, with average brightness and contrast.

Unique Screen Design

The Triton 900's main selling point is its versatile screen, which can be adjusted into four different positions. The default laptop position is suitable for regular use, and the screen can be pulled forward to bring it closer or rotated around to use it as a tablet. While the swiveling screen may be seen as a gimmick by some, it can be useful for tasks like drawing on a touchscreen. The screen is stable in most positions, with minimal wobble in tablet mode.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard of the Acer Triton 900 has low-profile mechanical switches with per-key RGB backlighting. However, the secondary key functions are not backlit, which can be inconvenient. The touchpad is located on the right side of the keyboard, which may not be ideal for left-handed users. It functions as a precision touchpad with physical left and right click buttons. The touchpad's top right icon can enable numpad mode, but it disables the touchpad's regular functionality.

Performance and Gaming

Thanks to its powerful hardware, the Acer Triton 900 delivers impressive gaming performance. The combination of the i7 CPU and RTX 2080 graphics allows for smooth gameplay at high settings. The laptop's thin design and metal body contribute to its performance capabilities. Although the CPU thermal throttles at higher temperatures, the Triton 900 maintains good clock speeds and efficient performance. The average fan noise is acceptable, but it can get loud in extreme mode or at maximum fan speed.

Throttling and Heating Issues

Under heavy workloads, the CPU of the Acer Triton 900 tends to thermal throttle at around 90 degrees Celsius. However, this can be mitigated by increasing the fan speed, allowing the CPU to reach full turbo boost speeds. The GPU also operates at higher power limits, resulting in enhanced performance. The laptop's cooling system, consisting of heatpipes and metal-bladed fans, effectively manages heat dissipation. During gaming and stress tests, the laptop maintains comfortable surface temperatures.

Battery Life and Power Supply

The Acer Triton 900 is powered by a 4-cell 72Wh battery, which provides subpar battery life. Due to the absence of Optimus support, the laptop constantly utilizes the power-hungry RTX 2080 graphics, impacting battery longevity. During normal usage, the battery lasts around 2 hours and 5 minutes, while gaming drains the battery in approximately 63 minutes. Nevertheless, the laptop comes with a single 330-watt power supply, which is sufficient for its hardware demands.

Ports and Connectivity

The Triton 900 offers a decent selection of ports and connectivity options. On the left side, there are air exhaust vents, a USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, 3.5mm mic and headphone jacks, and a swiveling USB 2 Type-A port with a protective cover. On the right side, there is a Kensington lock, power button, Type-C Thunderbolt 3 port, USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, and a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. The back of the laptop houses additional air exhaust vents, full-size DisplayPort and HDMI 2.0 outputs, and the power input.

Speakers and Audio Quality

The Acer Triton 900 features four front-facing speakers, providing above-average audio quality. The speakers deliver clear sound with sufficient bass, even at higher volumes. Latencymon results indicate good audio performance. The laptop also comes with customizable RGB lighting for the fan and predator logo, which can be controlled through the Predator Sense software.

Software and Customization

The Acer Predator Sense software allows users to adjust gaming modes, fan speeds, and overclocking settings. The software provides built-in lighting effects and allows for customization of effect speed and direction. The per-key RGB backlighting on the keyboard can be adjusted through the software. The touchpad's numpad mode and macro keys expand the laptop's functionality and offer added convenience for gaming and productivity tasks.

Storage and Memory Options

The Acer Triton 900 offers ample storage with its 1TB RAID 0 array consisting of two NVMe M.2 SSDs. This configuration provides excellent Read and write speeds and enhances overall system performance. The laptop also includes two memory slots, allowing for expandable memory options. The combination of high-speed storage and abundant memory ensures smooth multitasking and fast loading times.

Price and Value for Money

The Acer Triton 900 is a premium gaming laptop with a unique design and powerful specifications. Its price point is relatively high compared to other laptops in the market, mainly due to its innovative screen design and high-end components. While the Triton 900 offers excellent performance and features, there are more affordable options available that provide similar gaming capabilities. However, if the swiveling screen and slim profile are must-haves for your gaming experience, the Triton 900 offers a combination of performance and versatility.

Conclusion

The Acer Triton 900 is a high-performance gaming laptop with a distinctive design and innovative screen options. It delivers impressive gaming performance, thanks to its powerful hardware and efficient cooling system. The unique screen design adds versatility, although it may be more beneficial for content Creators than gamers. Battery life is average at best, and the laptop's price point makes it a premium choice. Overall, if You value performance and a slim form factor, coupled with the flexibility of a swiveling screen, the Acer Triton 900 is worth considering.