Our Verdict
Acer’s Predator GD711 is a gaming-focused projector with a variable refresh fee. With 4K decision and a few tremendous handy picture adjustment settings, it’s extra like a monitor than a projector. But, its washed-out colorscape leaves loads to be desired.
- Tremendous straightforward configuration
- 4K decision
- Expansive settings
- Colours want some tweaking
- Audio system are poor
- Restricted availability
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 sequence 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 fantastic line incorporating options you’d usually 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 fee OLED displays and TVs which can be accessible on the market at the moment), 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 in case you’re curious concerning the medium.
After all, 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 occasions of a few of the finest gaming displays with out breaking into the four-figure value entrance, however in case you’re an informal gamer taking part in a little bit of every little thing, and have the house, and never acting at a aggressive degree, 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 explicit models. So I can say unquestionably that Acer’s Predator GD711 is a complicated unit.
Why? Nicely merely put, it’s the worth tag and availability of this factor that offers 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.
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Specs
Max decision | 3840 x 2160 |
Max refresh fee | 240 Hz (PC), 120Hz (Console) |
Distinction Ratio: | 2,000,000:1 |
Colours | 1.07 Billion |
Life expectancy | As much as 30,000 Hours |
Response Charge | Not Listed |
Connectivity | Wi-fi Dongle, Distant solely, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 |
Dimensions | 320 x 230 x 109 mm |
Weight | 3.2 kg |
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 kind 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 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 person handbook on simply how to try this, though it does require you to select up an extra common projector ceiling mount.
In case you intend to make use of it simply on a desk, or a shelf the GD711 has adjustable toes to get the right angle you want too. The throw vary is fairly good as properly. 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 aspect of the unit (closest to the lens) home cool-air intakes, and the other aspect acts as an exhaust. It’s working a optimistic stress system right here to reduce 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 by means of the quite a few menus, situated on the very prime, together with a spotlight ring/dial simply above the lens, and an hooked up lens cowl as properly 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 curiously a USB A Wi-fi Dongle. The GD711 additionally comes with its personal distant management, offering the identical collection of buttons as discovered on the projector itself as properly.
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 assist, 30,000 hours life expectancy, variable refresh fee tech, and a max 240 Hz refresh fee, (though that’s pretty caveated that final one).
The true confusion surrounds latency. There are a number of critiques 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 an alternative. When it comes to precise latency, It’s onerous to know for positive, exterior 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 fee of the GD711 is.
It does nevertheless have a considerably big range of refresh charges depending on what decision you’re gaming at. In case you’re at 4K you’re restricted to simply 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 sensible 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 as a result of projector itself being angled incorrectly, it’ll auto-adjust the lens to compensate if the machine is just not degree, or tilted incorrectly, eliminating any skew points by any means.
You after all get your typical handbook 2D Keystone changes as properly alongside the horizontal and vertical axis, however having this additional step automated is a critically 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 excellent. Though I’m testing with a comparatively brief throw distance, making a 50-inch display, your mileage could range at increased throw distances.
What’s much less nice was the colour replica. It doesn’t matter what I attempted, general colour accuracy with out HDR enabled in Home windows or on the PS5 felt considerably washed out in comparison with comparable rivals at this value level and barely increased. Don’t get me flawed, it’s not an terrible expertise by any means, however in case 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 after all tweak the settings closely, switching between mode sorts, and color-correcting each component to try to get to that good replica, 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 rather more costly) BenQ’s X3100i.
General the responsiveness felt stable, nevertheless, and if there weren’t any main latency points between me and my less-than-competitive RPG and RTS mind, it was onerous to note. Whole Battle Warhammer III and Star Wars: Jedi Survivor had been an absolute blast to play, and I noticed no discernable distinction in my demise fee in comparison with on a full-size show.
The issue I’ve is the worth. In case you’re seeking to sport on this at 4K, you’re going to be utilizing a PC. For half the price you might 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 would like one thing a bit extra sizeable, one of the best 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 after all, however you could a) have the house to reap the benefits of its bigger display dimension, and b) be in that place, and likewise money restricted to the purpose of not with 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 function set is wealthy sufficient to maintain any passionate gamer joyful, however if you would like somewhat 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: When you have the house to assist an even bigger show dimension
- Sure: In case you’re an informal gamer, and don’t thoughts colours not being tremendous vibrant
- No: In case you’re on the lookout for one of the best worth per $ show
- No: If you would 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 function set and pretty low-level value level for a 4K projector make it a stable decide for these seeking to get into the scene or are after a giant get together piece show to sport with their associates. On the opposite, its colour accuracy leaves loads to be desired.
Alternate options
In case you’re after one of the best gaming projector you should buy, 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 component.
The issue, nevertheless, lies not on this planet of projectors, however extra so within the type of devoted TVs and displays as properly. The previous, you may usually discover at comparable 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 (reminiscent of 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 containers, at lower than half the worth of the GD711, or in case 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 gives a critically tempting proposition in comparison with a few of its competitors. Nonetheless, the shortage of colour accuracy hurts it long-term, significantly in comparison with a few of the competitors from each OLED TVs and displays at across the identical RRP. It’s a stable unit, however a distinct segment projector for 4K gaming.