plug and play 4K gaming

Acer’s Predator GD711 is the newest within the firm’s lengthy line of strong gaming projectors. In contrast to a few of its H and X collection siblings (all of that are extra designed for informal filmgoers) the Acer Predator, as its identify suggests, is tuned across the gaming market. It treads a effective line incorporating options you’d sometimes discover on a top-tier gaming monitor, with one of the best tech the projector market has to supply.

It’d sound odd at first, (significantly given the excessive refresh charge OLED displays and TVs which are obtainable on the market right now), however one of the best gaming projectors can sustain and supply a top-tier gaming expertise, throughout consoles and PC. It’s definitely one thing value experiencing, significantly when you’re curious in regards to the medium.

In fact, it’s not going to be fairly as potent as these top-tier models, and there are only a few merchandise on the market able to hitting the heady body charges and response instances of among the greatest gaming displays with out breaking into the four-figure value entrance, however when you’re an informal gamer enjoying a little bit of the whole lot, and have the house, and never acting at a aggressive stage, then a great gaming projector is the place to be.

Now I’ve been testing displays, projectors, and panels from all walks of life for the final eight years or so, and have even labored behind the scenes offering suggestions on specific models. So I can say certainly that Acer’s Predator GD711 is a complicated unit.

Why? Effectively merely put, it’s the value tag and availability of this factor that provides essentially the most pause for thought. With restricted availability within the US and a $1200-1400 price ticket (£1,200 within the UK), it’s a massive funding to place down for the spec. Let me clarify why.

Specs

Design

The general design of the GD711 is a reasonably slimline affair, it’s definitely a much more interesting providing than one thing like Benq’s X3100i, with its boxy type issue and ponderous weight. No, the GD711 is available in at simply 32 x 23 x 10 cm, in a slender rectangular field that you just’re in all probability used to seeing because the daybreak of the projector to be fairly sincere.

And at simply 3.2 KG it’s hardly a heavy unit both, so ceiling mounting it’s a straightforward affair. Acer features a full information within the person handbook on simply how to do this, though it does require you to select up an extra common projector ceiling mount.

For those who intend to make use of it simply on a desk, or a shelf the GD711 has adjustable ft to get the correct angle you want too. The throw vary is fairly good as nicely. Popping the unit 2.2M again will internet you a show equal to round 80 inches or so. Crank it again by 8.1 meters and theoretically you may throw up a picture as giant as 300 inches.

Cooling is dealt with by an inner fan setup, each the rear and one facet of the unit (closest to the lens) home cool-air intakes, and the other facet acts as an exhaust. It’s working a constructive strain system right here to attenuate mud build-up, however each intakes and exhaust are lined in mesh to assist cut back that regardless.

There are built-in OSD menu buttons, permitting you to actively change supply, re-sync the projector, and cycle by the quite a few menus, positioned on the very prime, together with a spotlight ring/dial simply above the lens, and an hooked up lens cowl as nicely to maintain it secure throughout transportation.

For I/O you get two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB A 2.0 port (for keyboard and mouse management) a USB A 5V DC service connector, analog audio out, and extra apparently a USB A Wi-fi Dongle. The GD711 additionally comes with its personal distant management, offering the identical number of buttons as discovered on the projector itself as nicely.

Options

On the floor, the GD711’s top-line stats learn like a want record for any gaming-enthused monitor junky. 3840×2160 4K decision, enormous distinction ratio (2,000,000:1) entry to an enormous 1.07 billion colours, 4000 Lumens max brightness, HDR10 help, 30,000 hours life expectancy, variable refresh charge tech, and a max 240 Hz refresh charge, (though that’s pretty caveated that final one).

The true confusion surrounds latency. There are lots of evaluations on the market suggesting the latency on this unit is extremely good, however most of that appears to be referring to the refresh charges obtainable as a substitute. When it comes to precise latency, It’s exhausting to know for certain, outdoors of subjective really feel (we nonetheless don’t have improbable testing strategies for that simply but), as Acer hasn’t supplied any particulars regarding what the response charge of the GD711 is.

It does nonetheless have a considerably big selection of refresh charges depending on what decision you’re gaming at. For those who’re at 4K you’re restricted to only 60 Hz, (a pure limitation of HDMI 2.0 anyway), 1080p then you may faucet out at 240 Hz (so long as it’s on PC), and for console 1080p 120 Hz is the max.

The true good trick is how Acer is dealing with the keystone. It’s very spectacular, in brief, to keep away from any type of twisted or trapezoidal distortion because of the projector itself being angled incorrectly, it’ll auto-adjust the lens to compensate if the system isn’t stage, or tilted incorrectly, eliminating any skew points in any respect.

You in fact get your typical handbook 2D Keystone changes as nicely alongside the horizontal and vertical axis, however having this further step automated is a severely clever design selection.

Efficiency

I spent a great few days testing the GD711 throughout a number of completely different media sorts from movie and leisure to gaming and YouTube. I’ve bought to say it’s fairly spectacular, significantly at 4K 60 fps. The readability of the picture is great. Though I’m testing with a comparatively quick throw distance, making a 50-inch display screen, your mileage could range at greater throw distances. 

What’s much less nice was the colour replica. It doesn’t matter what I attempted, total colour accuracy with out HDR enabled in Home windows or on the PS5 felt considerably washed out in comparison with related rivals at this value level and barely greater. Don’t get me improper, it’s not an terrible expertise by any means, however when you’re used to the crisp colour readability of one thing like a 55-inch OLED LG TV or perhaps a trendy IPS or VA monitor, the GD711 leaves loads to be desired.

You possibly can in fact tweak the settings closely, switching between mode sorts, and color-correcting each aspect to attempt to get to that good replica, however that may be extremely difficult, and even my greatest dialed-in settings didn’t really feel fairly as competent as one thing like (admittedly way more costly) BenQ’s X3100i.

Total the responsiveness felt strong, nonetheless, and if there weren’t any main latency points between me and my less-than-competitive RPG and RTS mind, it was exhausting to note. Whole Battle Warhammer III and Star Wars: Jedi Survivor have been an absolute blast to play, and I noticed no discernable distinction in my loss of life charge in comparison with on a full-size show.

The issue I’ve is the value. For those who’re trying to recreation on this at 4K, you’re going to be utilizing a PC. For half the associated fee you could possibly decide up one thing like an AOC AGON Professional AG324UX, a full IPS, 144 Hz, 31.5-inch panel, with FreeSync Premium, 1ms G2G. If you’d like one thing a bit extra sizeable, one of the best 4K gaming displays embody LG’s 48GQ900-B is a 48” 120 Hz 4K OLED show, for simply over $1000, and Gigabyte will even promote you a 54.6-inch 4K VA show for simply $700.

This places the Acer Predator GD711 in a little bit of a sticky place to be in. We knew that going into this in fact, however that you must a) have the house to make the most of its bigger display screen dimension, and b) be in that place, and likewise money restricted to the purpose of not having the ability to make investments an additional $600-700 into one thing with a bit extra punch. It’s nonetheless nice for gaming, and as an entry-point gaming projector, the characteristic set is wealthy sufficient to maintain any passionate gamer completely satisfied, however if you would like a bit extra versatility, you would possibly wish to look elsewhere.

Ought to You Purchase It?

• Sure: If you’d like a strong entry-level gaming projector
• Sure: You probably have the house to help an even bigger show dimension
• Sure: For those who’re an informal gamer, and don’t thoughts colours not being tremendous vibrant
• No: For those who’re on the lookout for one of the best worth per $ show
• No: If you’d like one of the best colour accuracy

So far as gaming projectors go Acer’s Predator GD711 is an attention-grabbing proposition. On the one hand, its huge characteristic set and pretty low-level value level for a 4K projector make it a strong decide for these trying to get into the scene or are after an enormous celebration piece show to recreation with their pals. On the opposite, its colour accuracy leaves loads to be desired.

Alternate options

For those who’re after one of the best gaming projector you should purchase, one thing like BenQ’s X3100i is a improbable decide. Though considerably chunky by comparability, and extra suited to a desk or a shelf attachment, there’s no denying simply how unimaginable its colour accuracy is, significantly because it matches the GD711 in each gaming aspect.

The issue, nonetheless, lies not on the planet of projectors, however extra so within the type of devoted TVs and displays as nicely. The previous, you may sometimes discover at related costs with OLED panels and better refresh charges at 50 inches and above and comes with higher audio system, and the latter consists of even richer gaming specs (akin to 0.01 ms g2g, G-Sync premium), sooner refresh charges, and simply as many bells and whistles, for even much less funding.

If 4K gaming at excessive refresh charges is what you’re after, AOC’s AGON Professional AG324UX ticks all of the bins, at lower than half the value of the GD711, or when you’re after one thing with a bit extra diagonal heft, then Gigabyte’s 54.6-inch S55U 4K 120 Hz VA show will match the invoice even higher than that. 

Verdict

Acer’s Predator GD711 Gaming Projector comes with some spectacular software program tech, and, on the value level supplies a severely tempting proposition in comparison with a few of its competitors. Nevertheless, the dearth of colour accuracy hurts it long-term, significantly in comparison with among the competitors from each OLED TVs and displays at across the similar RRP. It’s a strong unit, however a distinct segment projector for 4K gaming.