Acer at CES: New Predator monitors and ConceptD computers

The three new Predator monitors with their features are tailored to gamers and can be connected to more than just a PC. The convertible notebooks and the workstation from the ConceptD series are aimed at "creatives" who need a lot of computing power.

Predator: gaming monitors in three sizes

The smallest of the new monitors is called the Predator X32 and has a 32-inch IPS display with a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels. The screen is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified. The brightness is 720 nits and it supports Nvidia G-Sync. According to Acer, with a 10-bit colour depth and a colour accuracy of Delta E <1 as well as 99 per cent coverage of the AdobeRGB and 89.5 per cent coverage of the Rec. 2020 colour space, it is particularly suitable for streamers. The refresh rate is 144 hertz. The monitor can be adjusted horizontally and vertically. The sound comes from two 4-watt stereo speakers. Three HDMI 2.1 connections, a DisplayPort 1.4 and four USB 3.0 ports are also available.

The Predator X38 is larger. Its display measures 37.5 inches and has a 2300R curvature. The curved screen has a resolution of 3840×1600 pixels and also comes with G-Sync and VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification. Acer specifies the colour accuracy as Delta E <1 and the DCI-P3 colour space coverage as 98 per cent. The refresh rate can be overclocked to 175 Hertz and the monitor has a response time of one millisecond in overdrive mode. The X38 can be tilted from -5 to 25 degrees, swivelled 30 degrees to each side and adjusted in height by 13 centimetres. In terms of connections, there is one HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 port each, as well as four USB 3.0 ports and two 7-watt speakers.

Acer is promoting the Predator CG552K not only for PC gaming, but also as an output device for games consoles. It has a 55-inch OLED panel with 3840×2160 pixels. It also has DisplayHDR 400 certification from VESA, is said to have a colour accuracy of Delta E <1 and covers 98.5 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour space. The brightness is 400 nits. It has a refresh rate of 144 hertz and supports a variable refresh rate (HDMI VRR). Its response time is 0.5 milliseconds and Adaptive Sync is designed to ensure smooth gameplay.

A sensor in the Predator CG552K automatically adjusts the display brightness to the lighting conditions in the room and a proximity sensor ensures that the screen switches to standby mode when no one is in the room. Its two speakers have a power output of ten watts and there are numerous connections available: 3x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort, 1x USB Type C, 2x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.0.

Acer has not yet provided any information on the prices and availability of the three monitors.

ConceptD: Workstation and convertible

The ConceptD 700 workstation and ConceptD 7 Ezel convertible notebooks appeal to a completely different target group, but one that also requires powerful hardware and true-colour displays.

With a Xeon-E processor from Intel and a Quadro RTX 4000 graphics card from Nvidia, the ConceptD 700 workstation is especially designed for filmmakers, animators and AEC designers. It has up to 64 gigabytes of RAM and several storage options such as on-board PCIe SSD and four slots for 2.5 and 3.5-inch drives. Three fans ensure that the components do not get too hot under load. The CPU, GPU and memory utilisation can be monitored with a status indicator via the user interface of the "ConceptD Palette". According to Acer, the design with rounded edges, lots of white and a wood-look top - including an inductive charging surface for smartphones - is "Scandinavian-inspired". A lock and burglar alarm are designed to protect the workstation from theft and unauthorised access. The ConceptD 700 is expected to be available from March 2020. Acer will announce prices at a later date.

The new ConceptD 7 Ezel and Ezel Pro notebooks have a highly manoeuvrable screen. Acer names five usage modes that the so-called Ezel hinge enables and in which you can also work on the touchscreen with the EMR pen from Wacom.

• Notebook mode: completely classic
• Tablet mode: rotate the display completely and use the notebook without the keyboard like a tablet
• Floating mode: The display "floats" above the keyboard for combined use of touch and keyboard input
• Stand mode: The display is angled above the keyboard for sketching with the Wacom pen
• Display mode: Fold the display to the other side so that others can see it better

Both ConceptD 7 Ezel models have a 15.6-inch touchscreen. The IPS display each has a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels and a brightness of 400 nits. The displays have integrated colour correction to ensure that the colours of the Pantone Matching System (PMS) are displayed true to the original. This should ensure 100 per cent coverage of the Adobe RGB colour space and a colour accuracy of Delta E <2. An anti-glare coating should ensure that the display content is clearly recognisable even outdoors or in bright light.

The supplied Wacom EMR pen does not require a battery, unlike previous models. It is said to have a shorter response time and a higher resolution, as well as being able to display significantly more pressure levels. Acer promises a "natural writing experience" and precise control on the touchscreen.

In the white magnesium-aluminium alloy casing of the ConceptD 7 Ezel, Acer claims to have installed 10th generation Intel Core processors from the H series and the latest Nvidia graphics processors. The manufacturer has not yet revealed exactly which ones. The RAM can be up to 32 gigabytes in size and the SSD memory can have a capacity of up to two terabytes. The ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro offers even more performance: a Xeon processor from Intel, a Quadro RTX graphics card from Nvidia and Windows 10 Pro.

Further features include two ThunderBolt 3 ports, an SD card slot, a DisplayPort 1.4 and an HDMI 2.0 port as well as a glass touchpad. A fingerprint sensor is also integrated into the on/off switch.

Acer plans to offer the ConceptD 7 Ezel from April and the ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro from May. The manufacturer will announce prices and exact equipment options at a later date.