The Bottom Line
Feb 6 2012 - Acer has updated their Predator G3 desktop series but the changes have been too minor and don't keep pace with much of the competition. It still is a very affordable system with street pricing just over $700. The problem is that it still lacks support for USB 3.0, comes with a very low end graphics card and has limited internal expansion options compared to just about every system that is priced just slightly more than this system. At least Acer has kept the wireless networking and single easy to access eSATA based drive bay that do differentiate it somewhat from other desktops.
Pros
- Easy Access Hard Drive Bay
- Wireless Networking
- Relatively Affordable
Cons
- Low End Graphics Card
- No USB 3.0 or eSATA Ports
- Limited Internal Expansion Space
Description
- Intel Core i5-2320 Quad Core Desktop Processor
- 6GB PC3-10600 DDR3 Memory
- 1TB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
- 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 Graphics Card With 1GB Memory
- Intel HDA 7.1 Audio
- Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless
- Ten USB 2.0, HDMI, DVI, 12-in-1 Card Reader
- Windows 7 Home Premium, Office Starter
Review - Acer Predator AG3610-UR30P
Feb 6 2012 - The Acer Predator AG3610-UR30P is really just a minor update to the previous AG3610-UR20P model. Most notably, the processor has been updated from the previous Core i5-2300 to a Core i5-2320 quad core processor. This is a very minor speed boost to the system that frankly probably wouldn't be noticed by users of the two. It does a decent job for most basic tasks and can even handle more demanding ones such as desktop video but it trails behind much of the competition also using Intel processors. They still just equip the system with just 6GB of DDR3 memory rather than the more common 8GB in this price range. It should run just fine but has a few upgrade issues that will be mentioned later.
Another area of performance that is sacrificed is with the hard drive. The capacity is fairly common of the more affordable desktops with one terabyte. This provides it with a good amount of storage for the average user but more are now shipping with 1.5 to 2 terabyte drives now. What impacts the performance however is the use of a green class drive. The drive spins at a slower 5400rpm rate compared to typical desktop drives that would spin at 7200rpm. This means that it will take a bit longer to boot up and load applications compared to faster and larger drives. A standard dual layer DVD burner is included for playback and recording of CD or DVD media. It is unfortunate that Acer did not take the time to include any USB 3.0 ports for high speed external storage in this update but at least it offers ten total USB 2.0 ports.
The graphics system will be disappointing for anyone that is hoping to use this as a gaming platform. Previous Predator systems have had a strong focus on gaming and as a result come with some solid 3D cards. For the AG3610-UR30P, it comes with a very low end and somewhat dated NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 graphics card with 1GB of memory. Now, this will allow the system to handle PC gaming but it sacrifices higher resolution gaming or providing a high level of detail through the use of filters. At least the power supply is 450 watts which will allow the card to be replaced with a higher level of graphics card for those that do want to use it for more serious gaming.
Speaking of internal expansion, the Predator G3 offers a mixed range of potential for upgrading. There are several spaces for installing extra hard drives but their location can make it difficult to full secure the drives into the case. To make up for this, Acer does hide a quick drive access bay behind the front panel that can be used to easily add a second standard 3.5-inch SATA drive. The bigger problem is with expansion cards and the memory slots. First, the memory uses three 2GB modules out of four slots. Upgrading to 8GB of memory just requires a single 2GB module to be installed. If you want to really upgrade it though, you will have to remove one of the 2GB modules to add additional modules in a pair. As for the card slots, there are two spare PCI-Express x1 slots available but using them could be quite difficult due to the number of cables next to those slots.
One of the nicer aspect of the Predator G3 is the networking. While many more desktops are adding wireless networking adapters to their systems, many still do not with systems in this price range. This allows the system to be easily tied into an existing home wireless network compared to having to run network cables.
What really sets the Acer Predator apart from the competition is the price. With a list price of $800 and street pricing closer to $700, it is very affordable for a desktop with some additional features such as dedicated graphics. The downside is that for just a little bit more, it is possible to get a higher performing system.
