Our Verdict
Acer’s Predator GD711 is a gaming-focused projector with a variable refresh charge. 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 so much 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 newest within the firm’s lengthy line of stable 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 high quality 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, (notably given the excessive refresh charge OLED screens and TVs which might be out there 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 definitely one thing price experiencing, notably in the event you’re curious concerning the medium.
After all, 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 screens with out breaking into the four-figure value entrance, however in the event you’re an informal gamer taking part in a little bit of the whole lot, and have the house, and never acting at a aggressive degree, then an excellent gaming projector is the place to be.
Now I’ve been testing screens, 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 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 large funding to place down for the spec. Let me clarify why.
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Specs
Max decision | 3840 x 2160 |
Max refresh charge | 240 Hz (PC), 120Hz (Console) |
Distinction Ratio: | 2,000,000:1 |
Colours | 1.07 Billion |
Life expectancy | As much as 30,000 Hours |
Response Price | 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 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 simply’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 simple affair. Acer features a full information within the person guide on simply how to do this, though it does require you to choose up an extra common projector ceiling mount.
If you happen to intend to make use of it simply on a desk, or a shelf the GD711 has adjustable ft to get the right 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’ll be able to throw up a picture as massive 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 alternative 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 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 connected 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 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, big 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 numerous 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 out there as a substitute. By way of precise latency, It’s exhausting to know for certain, outdoors of subjective really feel (we nonetheless don’t have incredible testing strategies for that simply but), as Acer hasn’t offered any particulars regarding what the response charge of the GD711 is.
It does nevertheless have a considerably big range of refresh charges depending on what decision you’re gaming at. If you happen to’re at 4K you’re restricted to simply 60 Hz, (a pure limitation of HDMI 2.0 anyway), 1080p then you’ll be able to 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, 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 system isn’t degree, or tilted incorrectly, eliminating any skew points in any respect.
You in fact get your typical guide 2D Keystone changes as nicely alongside the horizontal and vertical axis, however having this additional step automated is a significantly clever design selection.
Efficiency
I spent an excellent few days testing the GD711 throughout a number of completely different media varieties from movie and leisure to gaming and YouTube. I’ve acquired to say it’s fairly spectacular, notably 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 fluctuate at larger throw distances.
What’s much less nice was the colour replica. It doesn’t matter what I attempted, general coloration 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 larger. Don’t get me mistaken, it’s not an terrible expertise by any means, however in the event you’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 so much to be desired.
You possibly can in fact tweak the settings closely, switching between mode varieties, and color-correcting each component to attempt 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.
Total 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 exhausting to note. Whole Struggle 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. If you happen to’re trying to recreation on this at 4K, you’re going to be utilizing a PC. For half the price you can 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 need one thing a bit extra sizeable, the most effective 4K gaming screens 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 could a) have the house to reap the benefits of its bigger display screen measurement, and b) be in that place, and in addition 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 would like somewhat extra versatility, you may wish to look elsewhere.
Ought to You Purchase It?
- Sure: If you need a stable entry-level gaming projector
- Sure: When you have the house to help a much bigger show measurement
- Sure: If you happen to’re an informal gamer, and don’t thoughts colours not being tremendous vibrant
- No: If you happen to’re in search of the most effective worth per $ show
- No: If you need the most effective coloration accuracy
So far as gaming projectors go Acer’s Predator GD711 is an fascinating proposition. On the one hand, its huge characteristic set and pretty low-level value level for a 4K projector make it a stable decide for these trying to get into the scene or are after a giant celebration piece show to recreation with their associates. On the opposite, its coloration accuracy leaves so much to be desired.
Options
If you happen to’re after the most effective gaming projector you should buy, one thing like BenQ’s X3100i is a incredible decide. 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, notably because it matches the GD711 in each gaming component.
The issue, nevertheless, lies not on the earth of projectors, however extra so within the type of devoted TVs and screens as nicely. The previous, you’ll be able to sometimes 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 (resembling 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 bins, at lower than half the value of the GD711, or in the event 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 significantly tempting proposition in comparison with a few of its competitors. Nonetheless, the shortage of coloration accuracy hurts it long-term, notably in comparison with among the competitors from each OLED TVs and screens at across the identical RRP. It’s a stable unit, however a distinct segment projector for 4K gaming.