I swapped a gaming PC for a laptop — can the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI be a true desktop replacement?
To many, it's an easy choice. The best gaming PCs easily deliver a higher bar for performance, with soaring power output and larger components that can be customized to one's liking. But desktop-class laptops exist for good reason, as they show just how much power can be packed into a mobile device — and it's hard not to be impressed by the performance they dish out.
Nothing says that more than the recent Acer Predator Helios 18 AI I've tested. This machine boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD. It's a monster, and as far as desktop replacements go, it fits the bill.
But then there's the juggernaut that is the Acer Predator Orion 7000 I also recently tried out, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU, RTX 5080 desktop GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD. Now this is a beast, capable of delivering 4K gaming with frame rates as high as 160 FPS (thanks to Nvidia DLSS 4).
Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, RTX 5080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI is a monster of a gaming laptop. It's even fitted with an 18-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) mini-LED panel with a 250Hz refresh rate, and if you're a fan of RGB lighting, this machine will impress. Oh, and it can go up to an RTX 5090, 192GB of RAM and a 5TB SSD.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (RTX 5080): was £3,299 now £3,099 @ Overclockers UK
Two mighty gaming machines, one similar price. The Helios 18 AI can be found for $3,099/£3,099, while the Orion 7000 for around £3,299 (no U.S. pricing yet, but I can imagine it being around a similar $3,299). As you can tell, these are premium investments, so I'd be making sure my wallet is happy with my choices.
Can both gaming PCs crank up settings to max in the best PC games? You bet your GPU they can, but the real matter here is the difference in performance they deliver. And so, I put the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI to the test — all to see if it really can measure up to the levels of a gaming desktop. Let's dive into the numbers.
Look, even a high-end gaming laptop would never be able to beat a tower with desktop-equivalent specs. So realistically, the Predator Helios 18 AI doesn't stand a chance against the Predator Orion 7000, as they're two different classes of gaming machines.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
As you'll find, the benchmarks say it all. With its sizeably impressive 18-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) mini-LED panel with a 250Hz refresh rate, the Helios 18 AI can't deliver 4K (3840 x 2160) visuals on its own, so the Orion 7000 already had to put up with a heavier load when I tested its 4K performance.
But despite the gap in resolutions, the Helios 18 AI is still stunning to play on during real-time gameplay. And if the extra per-pixel count isn't a huge concern, you'll find it can pull off commendable frame rates.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (RTX 5080 @ 1600p)
Acer Predator Orion 7000 (RTX 5080 @ 4K)
Black Myth Wukong (Cinematic)
57 (DLSS off), 167 (DLSS x4)
49 (DLSS off), 166 (DLSS x4)
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing Ultra)
36.7 (DLSS off), 189 (DLSS x4)
55.48 (DLSS off), 153 (DLSS x4)
Doom: The Dark Ages (with path tracing)
39.67 (DLSS off), 127 (DLSS x4)
36.73 (DLSS off), 120 FPS (DLSS x4)
Using the built-in benchmarking tools in games like Black Myth Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages, I saw frame rates skyrocket to nearly 200 FPS with Nvidia's frame generation at x4. That's all at max settings as well, and at 1600p resolution, that's some mighty performance.
Those numbers dip without DLSS turned on, though, and I wouldn't want to play Cyberpunk 2077 at just over 30 FPS. Still, I was impressed to see it reach nearly 60 FPS in Black Myth: Wukong, even with the highest Cinematic settings.
A valiant effort, but when you consider the Orion 7000 is reaching these numbers at 4K, you can see the clear difference in power. If resolution was taken down a notch, Acer's gaming desktop would wipe the floor with its gaming laptop.
Moving over to the 3DMark benchmarking tool, which scores the CPU and GPU's rendering capabilities under different conditions, the difference is made clearer:
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI
Acer Predator Orion 7000
Steel Nomad
4,532
8,474
Fire Strike
33,993
49,218
Fire Strike Ultra
12,694
21,235
Time Spy
17,341
28,051
Time Spy Extreme
8,977
15,117
Speed Way
4,865
8,674
Port Royal
11,690
21,055
In virtually all the graphics tests, the Helios 18 AI gets just over half the rendering performance of the Orion 7000. This is to be expected, of course, seeing as the RTX 5080 laptop GPU comes with up to 175W max power, while the RTX 5080 desktop GPU can utilize up to 360W power.
Either way, the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI still delivers commendable scores, even when compared to our current top 18-inch laptop contender: the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. And when it comes to the rest of the benchmarks, including Geekbench and SSD speed results, it isn't so far behind that it becomes a joke.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX)
Acer Predator Orion 7000 (Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF)
Geekbench 6 single-core
2693
3019
Geekbench 6 multi-core
16324
19526
SSD speed test (MB/s)
2537.01 (read) / 1892.48 (write)
3205.08 (read) / 2557.7 (write)
Video editing test (mm:ss)
02:19
02:10
As per the results above, the performance gains you get from a gaming PC like the Acer Predator Orion 7000 over a laptop are substantial, and its value then soars over the Predator Helios 18 AI with their prices in mind.
But what if I want to take that kind of gaming power with me on a trip, to a pal's house for a big ol' LAN party, or just to another room? Well, that's the perk of a gaming laptop: portability.
The Predator Helios 18 AI may weigh a hefty 7.7 pounds, but it sure beats lugging around the Orion 7000's whopping 35.6 pounds from place to place. With its 18-inch size, it's big enough to act as a generously sized computer, too — but one that's portable.
But a laptop is also an all-in-one device, coming with its own keyboard and monitor (and a trackpad, I suppose, but the best gaming mouse would be better suited). Unlike a gaming desktop, that's less cash to spend on essential peripherals. And with the stunning per-key RGB keyboard (sporting hot-swappable WASD keys) and 18-inch mini-LED display with a mega-fast 205Hz refresh rate, these are premium assets to have.
Granted, it takes a lot of money to get high frame rates at equally high settings in a portable machine, even if it doesn't quite match the sheer might of a gaming desktop. But if gaming on the go is more your jam (as is mine), then that's where the perks of a gaming laptop like the Helios 18 AI shine.
Back to the crux of the matter, and to put the big question on my mind to rest. Can a gaming laptop like the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI be a true desktop replacement? Well, compared to the power of the similarly priced Predator Orion 7000, not exactly.
But that doesn't mean the Helios 18 AI isn't mighty, and it boasts more than enough performance to blaze through the latest, high-demanding PC games (even if the fans can get a tad noisy). You're still getting desktop-level performance — even if it's just over half the power of a gaming desktop.
If stationary raw power is what's needed, then the choice is obvious: a gaming desktop will always be the go-to option. But if an all-in-one setup and simple mobility calls, I wouldn't feel like I'm missing out if using a premium gaming laptop. Sure, I'd be missing out on extra performance, but for the most part, I'm still getting pure joy out of playing high-end games at their finest.
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Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
I swapped a gaming PC for a laptop — can the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI be a true desktop replacement?
A gaming desktop or laptop, which to get? It's an age-old question I've been pondering lately, especially now that the best gaming laptops come fitted with the latest peak hardware, pushing CPU and GPU power even further. To many, it's an easy choice. The best gaming PCs easily deliver a higher bar for performance, with soaring power output and larger components that can be customized to one's liking. But desktop-class laptops exist for good reason, as they show just how much power can be packed into a mobile device — and it's hard not to be impressed by the performance they dish out. Nothing says that more than the recent Acer Predator Helios 18 AI I've tested. This machine boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 mobile GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD. It's a monster, and as far as desktop replacements go, it fits the bill. But then there's the juggernaut that is the Acer Predator Orion 7000 I also recently tried out, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF CPU, RTX 5080 desktop GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD. Now this is a beast, capable of delivering 4K gaming with frame rates as high as 160 FPS (thanks to Nvidia DLSS 4). Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, RTX 5080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI is a monster of a gaming laptop. It's even fitted with an 18-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) mini-LED panel with a 250Hz refresh rate, and if you're a fan of RGB lighting, this machine will impress. Oh, and it can go up to an RTX 5090, 192GB of RAM and a 5TB SSD. Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (RTX 5080): was £3,299 now £3,099 @ Overclockers UK Two mighty gaming machines, one similar price. The Helios 18 AI can be found for $3,099/£3,099, while the Orion 7000 for around £3,299 (no U.S. pricing yet, but I can imagine it being around a similar $3,299). As you can tell, these are premium investments, so I'd be making sure my wallet is happy with my choices. Can both gaming PCs crank up settings to max in the best PC games? You bet your GPU they can, but the real matter here is the difference in performance they deliver. And so, I put the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI to the test — all to see if it really can measure up to the levels of a gaming desktop. Let's dive into the numbers. Look, even a high-end gaming laptop would never be able to beat a tower with desktop-equivalent specs. So realistically, the Predator Helios 18 AI doesn't stand a chance against the Predator Orion 7000, as they're two different classes of gaming machines. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. As you'll find, the benchmarks say it all. With its sizeably impressive 18-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) mini-LED panel with a 250Hz refresh rate, the Helios 18 AI can't deliver 4K (3840 x 2160) visuals on its own, so the Orion 7000 already had to put up with a heavier load when I tested its 4K performance. But despite the gap in resolutions, the Helios 18 AI is still stunning to play on during real-time gameplay. And if the extra per-pixel count isn't a huge concern, you'll find it can pull off commendable frame rates. Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (RTX 5080 @ 1600p) Acer Predator Orion 7000 (RTX 5080 @ 4K) Black Myth Wukong (Cinematic) 57 (DLSS off), 167 (DLSS x4) 49 (DLSS off), 166 (DLSS x4) Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing Ultra) 36.7 (DLSS off), 189 (DLSS x4) 55.48 (DLSS off), 153 (DLSS x4) Doom: The Dark Ages (with path tracing) 39.67 (DLSS off), 127 (DLSS x4) 36.73 (DLSS off), 120 FPS (DLSS x4) Using the built-in benchmarking tools in games like Black Myth Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages, I saw frame rates skyrocket to nearly 200 FPS with Nvidia's frame generation at x4. That's all at max settings as well, and at 1600p resolution, that's some mighty performance. Those numbers dip without DLSS turned on, though, and I wouldn't want to play Cyberpunk 2077 at just over 30 FPS. Still, I was impressed to see it reach nearly 60 FPS in Black Myth: Wukong, even with the highest Cinematic settings. A valiant effort, but when you consider the Orion 7000 is reaching these numbers at 4K, you can see the clear difference in power. If resolution was taken down a notch, Acer's gaming desktop would wipe the floor with its gaming laptop. Moving over to the 3DMark benchmarking tool, which scores the CPU and GPU's rendering capabilities under different conditions, the difference is made clearer: Acer Predator Helios 18 AI Acer Predator Orion 7000 Steel Nomad 4,532 8,474 Fire Strike 33,993 49,218 Fire Strike Ultra 12,694 21,235 Time Spy 17,341 28,051 Time Spy Extreme 8,977 15,117 Speed Way 4,865 8,674 Port Royal 11,690 21,055 In virtually all the graphics tests, the Helios 18 AI gets just over half the rendering performance of the Orion 7000. This is to be expected, of course, seeing as the RTX 5080 laptop GPU comes with up to 175W max power, while the RTX 5080 desktop GPU can utilize up to 360W power. Either way, the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI still delivers commendable scores, even when compared to our current top 18-inch laptop contender: the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. And when it comes to the rest of the benchmarks, including Geekbench and SSD speed results, it isn't so far behind that it becomes a joke. Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX) Acer Predator Orion 7000 (Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF) Geekbench 6 single-core 2693 3019 Geekbench 6 multi-core 16324 19526 SSD speed test (MB/s) 2537.01 (read) / 1892.48 (write) 3205.08 (read) / 2557.7 (write) Video editing test (mm:ss) 02:19 02:10 As per the results above, the performance gains you get from a gaming PC like the Acer Predator Orion 7000 over a laptop are substantial, and its value then soars over the Predator Helios 18 AI with their prices in mind. But what if I want to take that kind of gaming power with me on a trip, to a pal's house for a big ol' LAN party, or just to another room? Well, that's the perk of a gaming laptop: portability. The Predator Helios 18 AI may weigh a hefty 7.7 pounds, but it sure beats lugging around the Orion 7000's whopping 35.6 pounds from place to place. With its 18-inch size, it's big enough to act as a generously sized computer, too — but one that's portable. But a laptop is also an all-in-one device, coming with its own keyboard and monitor (and a trackpad, I suppose, but the best gaming mouse would be better suited). Unlike a gaming desktop, that's less cash to spend on essential peripherals. And with the stunning per-key RGB keyboard (sporting hot-swappable WASD keys) and 18-inch mini-LED display with a mega-fast 205Hz refresh rate, these are premium assets to have. Granted, it takes a lot of money to get high frame rates at equally high settings in a portable machine, even if it doesn't quite match the sheer might of a gaming desktop. But if gaming on the go is more your jam (as is mine), then that's where the perks of a gaming laptop like the Helios 18 AI shine. Back to the crux of the matter, and to put the big question on my mind to rest. Can a gaming laptop like the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI be a true desktop replacement? Well, compared to the power of the similarly priced Predator Orion 7000, not exactly. But that doesn't mean the Helios 18 AI isn't mighty, and it boasts more than enough performance to blaze through the latest, high-demanding PC games (even if the fans can get a tad noisy). You're still getting desktop-level performance — even if it's just over half the power of a gaming desktop. If stationary raw power is what's needed, then the choice is obvious: a gaming desktop will always be the go-to option. But if an all-in-one setup and simple mobility calls, I wouldn't feel like I'm missing out if using a premium gaming laptop. Sure, I'd be missing out on extra performance, but for the most part, I'm still getting pure joy out of playing high-end games at their finest. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A Gaming PC Review: What Leaving It to the Pros Looks Like
Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A Buy at Velocity Micro Pros Excellent gaming performance Tidy interior Ample upgrade options Cons Considerably more expensive than DIY So-so front connections Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A Buy at Velocity Micro If you want an extreme gaming PC without bloatware or the tedious work of configuring and building it yourself, the Velocity Micro SX3 Raptor Z95A stands out as a compelling option. It's pricey, but the folks at custom builder Velocity Micro put together a tidy system using almost exclusively standardized parts, leaving the door open for future upgrades. While it's frequently cheaper to build on your own -- at the very least, you save on the cost of labor -- the Raptor Z95A manages to be fairly competitive with other systems in its class, like the $3,899 Corsair Vengeance a7400 or $4,699 Vengeance i8200, though it leaves room to be undercut by systems like this $2,750 Asus ROG G700 with an RTX 5080 of its own. The Z95A is built around a few core elements that don't change, no matter the configuration. It's centered around a Gigabyte Aorus Pro X870E motherboard and Velocity Micro's SX3 case -- a 55-liter tower that fits ATX and EATX motherboards. Closed-loop liquid cooling is also a central feature, with a 360mm radiator and the option for RGB-lit fans. Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A Price as reviewed $3,999 Size 55 liter ATX (19.3 x 18.9 x 9.25in/490 x 480 x 235 mm) Motherboard Gigabyte Aorus Pro X870E CPU 2.5GHz AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Memory 64GB DDR5-5600 Graphics 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE Storage 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD Connections USB 2.0 (x2 rear), USB 3.0 (x2 front), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 (x1 front), USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (x4 rear), USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (x3 rear), USB4 (x2 rear), 3.5mm audio connector (x1 front, x2 rear), Optical S/PDIF (x1 rear), 2.5GbE (x1 rear), Antenna x2, HDMI (x1 on motherboard Networking 2.5GbE, Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Wi-Fi 7 802.11be, Bluetooth 5.4 Operating system Windows 11 Home 24H2 The configurations start at $2,549. At that price, you get a Ryzen 5 9600X processor with 32GB of DDR5-5200, a 750-watt 80 Plus Bronze power supply, a 1TB Kingston NV3 SSD, and an RTX 5060 8GB. (The "A" in Z95A refers to AMD. There's a Z95i based on Intel CPUs.) Our test configuration bumps up a Ryzen 7 9800X3D with 64GB of DDR5-6000, an 850-watt 80 Plus Gold power supply (an MSI MAG A850GL in this case), a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD and an RTX 5080. When the unit was prepped, it was listed at $3,999, though currently it's sitting at $4,644, partly because of volatile component prices. That's far from the peak of the pricing. Higher CPU, GPU, memory, and storage options can ramp the price up dramatically. Bumping up our test configuration up to the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and RTX 5090 alone would raise the price to just under $7,000. Josh Goldman/CNET If you tried to build it out piece by piece yourself, the configuration would cost roughly $3,000. This would be with largely identical parts, though calls for a different case and cooler, as Velocity Micro uses its own exclusive case and cooler. The extra $1,000 (or $1,644 at the current price) may be worth it for some, as it comes with some peace of mind that the cooling has been done effectively, the hardware is backed with a warranty, and the cable runs are kept neat. If you configure it yourself, you'll also have to bark up the tree of graphics card pricing. Unless you can get your hands on an RTX 5080 FE at its $1,000 retail price (or used), you might see your price leap up considerably. Clean but not too eye-catching "Micro" might be in the name, but there's nothing small about the Velocity Micro SX3 Raptor Z95A. The 55L SX3 case sits in the border between an ATX full and mid tower, able to accommodate as large as an E-ATX motherboard. As configured here, there's plenty of room inside the case thanks to the modest proportions of the RTX 5080 Founders Edition; it will be a little tighter with beefier GPU designs. Josh Goldman/CNET The case doesn't stand out. It's a rather stately black build with a healthy combination of solid aluminum, perforated aluminum, and a glass side panel. There are a few plastic elements around the front, but they don't stick out or make the case seem cheap. The front grille offers plenty of air for the three intake fans while keeping the perforations small and tightly packed. Hair and dust are still likely to get sucked in, but the grille should keep a good deal out still. Velocity Micro's 360mm radiator attaches at the top of the case and gets three more 120mm fans exhausting through it. This placement is smart, as it avoids feeding the graphics card pre-warmed air from the radiator. There's one more 120mm exhaust fan in the rear. While this does mean there are more exhaust fans than intakes -- creating the risk of negative pressure that could pull dust into the system from gaps in the case -- the air resistance provided by the radiator should help prevent this. The front fans also have a mostly clear line to the back of the case, so they blow hard enough out the back to keep dust from entering through the less-filtered holes there. Josh Goldman/CNET Velocity Micro has done tidy work with the cable management. Cable runs are kept mostly out of sight, appearing only for the short distance they have to travel to plug into the motherboard and other components. Surprisingly, the backside of the case, behind the motherboard, isn't a complete rat's nest either. The lack of pre-wired SATA cable runs is a little disappointing, especially when the system includes two 3.5-inch drive bays in the basement of the case, near the power supply, and two 2.5-inch drive mounting points. I wasn't thrilled to see the hoses for the CPU cooler touching the GPU radiator fins, either. The hoses may degrade from contact with the hot metal, and the airflow out of the back of the GPU is likely impacted. Josh Goldman/CNET The motherboard offers a great selection of ports, including 2.5Gb Ethernet to go on top of the Wi-Fi 7 support. The front I/O is limited with just two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm combo jack. The case allows the front I/O to sit either on the left side near the bottom or up at the top edge. The muscle 4K gaming calls for The Z95A is an extreme-performance system. It pairs some of the most powerful gaming PC hardware on the market for both high-frame-rate and quality 1080p and the horsepower to handle 4K gaming with cranked-up settings. In all of our game benchmarks, the system was happy to run at an average of more than 150fps at 4K, and that's without even tapping into the advanced Nvidia DLSS optimizations available to it, like Frame Generation. Monster Hunter Wilds' benchmark ran at 64fps in 4K with Ultra settings and DLAA enabled. Dialing back to 1080p but leaving other settings unchanged, it hit 120fps on average. That's without Frame Generation, which Monster Hunter Wilds encourages you to enable. Josh Goldman/CNET It can also keep on trucking even under demanding loads. In 3DMark's Steel Nomad stress test, the Raptor Z95A sustained its frame rate over 20 runs with a top score of 8285 (83fps) and a lowest score of 8139 points (81fps) -- that's just some run-to-run variability, not a steady decline in performance. The fans kick up a bit to sustain this performance, but they're not very loud or shrill. Beyond gaming, the Raptor Z95A holds up in high-end everyday operation, and it's well-suited to AI applications with the RTX 5080 tucked inside. It has some of the fastest CPU performance I've seen from systems I've tested for CNET, although some of the top-end Intel chips still rival it for single- and multi-core performance. Naturally, all this power comes with some heat, and it spits plenty out the top and rear. But the important thing is that it's spitting that heat out. The CPU manages to level off around 52 degrees Celsius, and the GPU levels off around 72. Working inside the case shouldn't be terribly difficult, as it's quite spacious. And because Velocity Micro has used all standardized components, your upgrade options will be basically limitless. The AM5 platform of the motherboard should be supported for a while yet, and the case has plenty of room for much beefier graphics cards in the future. All in all, it's a fast, solid build that should allow for enough upgradability to offset the high price over time. Geekbench 6 (single core) Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 (90WY0000US) 2,273 Lenovo Legion Tower 5i 26IRB8 (90UT001AUS) 2,427 HP Omen 35L 2,656 Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti 2,833 Dell XPS 8960 2,948 Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 34IRZ8 3,062 Alienware Area-51 3,149 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 3,303 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Geekbench 6 (multicore) Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 (90WY0000US) 9,947 Lenovo Legion Tower 5i 26IRB8 (90UT001AUS) 12,091 HP Omen 35L 12,745 Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti 16,959 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 18,338 Dell XPS 8960 18,699 Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 34IRZ8 18,735 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Cinebench 2024 CPU (multicore) Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 (90WY0000US) 749 Lenovo Legion Tower 5i 26IRB8 (90UT001AUS) 783 HP Omen 35L 961 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 1,321 Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti 1,431 Dell XPS 8960 1,554 Alienware Aurora R16 1,806 Alienware Area-51 2,313 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Shadow of the Tomb Raider gaming test (1080p) Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 (90WY0000US) 142 Lenovo Legion Tower 5i 26IRB8 (90UT001AUS) 148 Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti 174 HP Omen 35L 174 Alienware Aurora R16 226 Alienware Area-51 248 Dell XPS 8960 250 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 362 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS) Guardians of the Galaxy gaming test (4K) HP Omen 35L 139 Alienware Area-51 177 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 187 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS) 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 (90WY0000US) 6,007 Lenovo Legion Tower 5i 26IRB8 (90UT001AUS) 6,232 Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti 7,277 Alienware Aurora R16 9,927 HP Omen 35L 16,426 Dell XPS 8960 17,525 Alienware Area-51 21,463 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 21,665 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance 3DMark Speed Way (DX12 Ultimate) HP Omen 35L 7,335 Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 34IRZ8 7,425 Dell XPS 8960 7,520 Alienware Area-51 8,717 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 9,009 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance The Rift Breaker CPU (1080p) HP Omen 35L 131 Alienware Aurora R16 163 Alienware Area-51 166 Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 34IRZ8 184 Dell XPS 8960 202 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 268 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Procyon Stable Diffusion XL Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 34IRZ8 3,444 HP Omen 35L 3,656 Velocity Micro Raptor Z95A 4,257 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Time Business News
G3 Game – Melbourne's Most Versatile Gaming Cafe Experience
In the competitive world of gaming, finding the perfect balance between performance, affordability, and community can be a challenge. G3 Game meets that challenge head-on, standing out as the ultimate gaming cafe Melbourne. Located near the University of Melbourne, G3 Game offers a versatile setup designed to cater to every type of player – from casual visitors to hardcore esports enthusiasts. The venue is divided into two main hardware zones, ensuring both affordability and top-tier performance. The Lobby Zone features 20 gaming PCs powered by RTX 5060 Ti graphics cards, paired with high-refresh monitors running at either 260Hz or 310Hz. This zone delivers smooth, responsive gameplay for popular esports titles while keeping hourly rates budget-friendly, making it ideal for students and casual gamers. For those who demand nothing but the best, G3 Game's High-End Zone offers 12 premium PCs equipped with RTX 5080 graphics cards. Displays here include Zowie 600Hz esports monitors for maximum reaction speed and ROG 2K 480Hz OLED panels for exceptional visual quality. Whether you're aiming for the top of the leaderboard or immersing yourself in visually stunning single-player games, this area represents the pinnacle of gaming cafe Melbourne hardware. Beyond PC gaming, G3 Game is a leading name in sim racing Melbourne, offering professional motion rigs, high-precision steering systems, and full-force feedback for an incredibly authentic driving experience. Motorsport fans can even tackle realistic F1 sim Melbourne tracks, from Monaco's tight corners to Silverstone's sweeping straights, all without leaving the city. For players who prefer focus and privacy, the venue's VIP rooms provide an exclusive space with the same high-end hardware, perfect for team practice sessions, private events, or uninterrupted marathon gaming sessions. Combined with VR gaming, LAN parties, and weekly tournaments, G3 Game delivers a complete package that goes far beyond what a standard iCafe Melbourne offers. The blend of accessible pricing in the Lobby Zone and uncompromising performance in the High-End Zone means G3 Game is uniquely positioned to welcome everyone. Whether you're here for an hour of casual fun or an entire day of competitive play, the choice is yours – and the quality is guaranteed. For Melbourne gamers seeking variety, performance, and community, G3 Game isn't just another gaming spot; it's the most versatile gaming café Melbourne in the city. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
