Acer Predator G1 Brings Goofy Fun Back To High-End Gaming Desktops

With exoskeleton-like black chassis and multicolored lights that seem to pulse and breathe, the Predator G1 is a boxy, angular gaming desktop that looks like something a Ridley Scott character would find buried in ancient alien temple. But that’s likely the point.

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A slimmer more compact version of the bulky Predator G6, the G1 is a Windows 10, VR-capable device, equipped with an Intel Core i7-6700 CPU, 32GB of RAM, a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card and a 512GB SSD/2TB HDD storage combo.The Predator G1 also comes with several features designed to enhance the gaming experience, including Killer DoubleShot™ Pro, which automatically picks the fastest network connection, and Acer’s IceTunnel thermal system.

The desktop gets the job done at a decent price. With only two USB 3.0 ports, a media card reader, and headphone jack at the front of the device, the Predator G1 is lacking in easily available access for the plugging in VR devices, and one HDMI output makes simultaneous use of a Oculus Rift and an HDMI display near-impossible. There are four more USB 3.0 and two more USB 2.0 ports around the back, so there will be available ports. The G1 uses two bulky laptop bricks to power itself. Cased in a big block that looks like the front end of a gun one would find in the Halo series, users are going to really have to commit to the SciFi aesthetic.

Further design quirks include dual headphone rests, that can pop out of the sides of the console like antennae. For those who got the special-edition route, Acer will throw in a rolling suitcase designed to perfectly house the tower, keyboard, mouse, and external power supply. It’s aluminum casing also matches the armored design of the system, for maximum ogling as you roll it to your friend’s house. The special edition bundle also includes a copy of Tom Clancy’s The Division.

The Predator G1, aggressive design aside, is a suitable gaming system for the upcoming wave of high-performance virtual reality games. At $2,299 it’s definitely not cheap, none of these systems are, but will leave you satisfied with performance while not totally depleting your funds. It’s slight improvement in portability compared to the G6 also makes it an option for those looking for a less obtrusive system, or least one that can be wheeled from HDMI Display to HDMI Display in style.