plug and play 4K gaming

Acer’s Predator GD711 is the most recent within the firm’s lengthy line of stable gaming projectors. Not like 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 wonderful line incorporating options you’d sometimes discover on a top-tier gaming monitor, with the most effective tech the projector market has to supply.

It would sound odd at first, (significantly given the excessive refresh price OLED displays and TVs which are accessible on the market at present), however the most effective gaming projectors can sustain and supply a top-tier gaming expertise, throughout consoles and PC. It’s actually one thing price experiencing, significantly if you happen to’re curious concerning the medium.

In fact, it’s not going to be fairly as potent as these top-tier items, and there are only a few merchandise on the market able to hitting the heady body charges and response instances of among the finest gaming displays with out breaking into the four-figure value entrance, however if you happen to’re an off-the-cuff gamer enjoying a little bit of the whole lot, and have the area, 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 items. So I can say undoubtedly that Acer’s Predator GD711 is a complicated unit.

Why? Properly merely put, it’s the value tag and availability of this factor that offers probably 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 large 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 actually a much more interesting providing than one thing like Benq’s X3100i, with its boxy type issue and hulking weight. No, the GD711 is available in at simply 32 x 23 x 10 cm, in a slender rectangular field that you just’re most likely used to seeing for the reason that daybreak of the projector to be fairly trustworthy.

And at simply 3.2 KG it’s hardly a heavy unit both, so ceiling mounting it’s a simple affair. Acer features a full information within the consumer guide on simply how to do this, though it does require you to choose up a further common projector ceiling mount.

Should you 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 web 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 massive as 300 inches.

Cooling is dealt with by an inside 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 operating a constructive strain system right here to attenuate mud build-up, however each intakes and exhaust are coated 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 via the quite a few menus, positioned on the very prime, together with a spotlight ring/dial simply above the lens, and an connected lens cowl as nicely to maintain it protected 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 curiously a USB A Wi-fi Dongle. The GD711 additionally comes with its personal distant management, offering the identical choice of buttons as discovered on the projector itself as nicely.

Options

On the floor, the GD711’s top-line stats learn like a want listing 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 price tech, and a max 240 Hz refresh price, (though that’s pretty caveated that final one).

The actual confusion surrounds latency. There are plenty of opinions on the market suggesting the latency on this unit is extremely good, however most of that appears to be referring to the refresh charges accessible as a substitute. By way of precise latency, It’s exhausting to know for certain, exterior of subjective really feel (we nonetheless don’t have incredible testing strategies for that simply but), as Acer hasn’t supplied any particulars regarding what the response price of the GD711 is.

It does nonetheless have a considerably big selection of refresh charges depending on what decision you’re gaming at. Should you’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 actual good trick is how Acer is dealing with the keystone. It’s very spectacular, briefly, 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 machine isn’t stage, or tilted incorrectly, eliminating any skew points in any way.

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

Efficiency

I spent a great few days testing the GD711 throughout a number of totally different media varieties from movie and leisure to gaming and YouTube. I’ve obtained to say it’s fairly spectacular, significantly at 4K 60 fps. The readability of the picture is excellent. Though I’m testing with a comparatively quick throw distance, making a 50-inch display, your mileage might differ at increased throw distances. 

What’s much less nice was the colour copy. It doesn’t matter what I attempted, total coloration 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 increased. Don’t get me mistaken, it’s not an terrible expertise by any means, however if you happen to’re used to the crisp coloration readability of one thing like a 55-inch OLED LG TV or perhaps a fashionable IPS or VA monitor, the GD711 leaves loads to be desired.

You may in fact tweak the settings closely, switching between mode varieties, and color-correcting each component to try to get to that excellent copy, however that may be extremely difficult, and even my finest 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 stable, 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 Conflict Warhammer III and Star Wars: Jedi Survivor had been an absolute blast to play, and I noticed no discernable distinction in my demise price in comparison with on a full-size show.

The issue I’ve is the value. Should you’re trying to sport on this at 4K, you’re going to be utilizing a PC. For half the associated fee you may choose 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 would like one thing a bit extra sizeable, the most effective 4K gaming displays embrace 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 you’ll want to a) have the area to reap the benefits of its bigger display 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 pleased, however if you need a bit extra versatility, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Ought to You Purchase It?

Sure: If you would like a stable entry-level gaming projector
Sure: In case you have the area to help an even bigger show dimension
Sure: Should you’re an off-the-cuff gamer, and don’t thoughts colours not being tremendous vibrant
No: Should you’re searching for the most effective worth per $ show
No: If you would like the most effective coloration 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 stable choose for these trying to get into the scene or are after an enormous occasion piece show to sport with their buddies. On the opposite, its coloration accuracy leaves loads to be desired.

Options

Should you’re after the most effective gaming projector you should buy, one thing like BenQ’s X3100i is a incredible choose. Though considerably chunky by comparability, and extra suited to a desk or a shelf attachment, there’s no denying simply how unbelievable its coloration accuracy is, significantly because it matches the GD711 in each gaming component.

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 (equivalent to 0.01 ms g2g, G-Sync premium), quicker 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 packing containers, at lower than half the value of the GD711, or if you happen to’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 offers a critically tempting proposition in comparison with a few of its competitors. Nevertheless, the dearth of coloration 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 stable unit, however a distinct segment projector for 4K gaming.