Predator Orion X: An Upgradeable, Small, but Powerful PC

Edmund_McGowan

When it comes to compact desktops, there’s a fine line between power and size. Too small and you may find yourself having to upgrade your PC sooner than you had hoped to. Too big, and the towering beast may dominate your gaming setup and make your space feel too cluttered. If you’re in the market for a new gaming PC, then Acer’s Predator Orion X is quite unlike any of the Acer gaming desktops you may have encountered before. Weighing in at under 20lb, and with a 15.4L chassis, this is a powerful, small form factor (SFF) gaming PC, that pushes the boundaries of what computers this size are capable of.

Join us as we discover the diminutive Predator Orion X, an Acer gaming laptop that’s full of (pleasant) surprises and features. We will also cover the benefits of getting hold of a desktop PC, as well as briefly covering the age old desktop vs laptop discussion.

Desktop vs laptop

PC users today have an ever-widening variety of uses for their computers. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer playing the latest AAA titles, or a professional who uses their computer for a variety of work-related tasks such as email writing, video editing, and even video game creation, the question of desktop or laptop will have crossed your mind before! As games have evolved, so has gaming hardware; while desktops have been the traditional choice for serious gamers, modern gaming laptops can offer some pretty mind blowing performance. Below we’ll sum up the main benefits and drawbacks of laptops and desktops:

• The obvious plus of gaming laptops is their portability: everything you need to play your favorite game is built into a lightweight package that you can take anywhere.  
• For PC upgrades, gaming laptops may feature RAM and hard drive upgradability, but beyond these, laptops are often limited when it comes customization and upgradability options.  
• Dollar for dollar, desktops outperform laptops. If performance is your primary concern, then a modern gaming desktop will likely suit your needs. On top of this, desktops are mostly customizable and upgradable, allowing users to create personalized gaming PCs. 
• Desktops take up more space than laptops, this is a serious consideration for users with minimal space for their gaming setup. Also, while it may seem like stating the obvious, desktops need to be plugged in, and cannot be used on the go!   

Now that we’ve dipped out toes into the desktop vs laptop discussion, let’s take a closer look at the tech specs of a top end Acer Predator Orion X:

• Processor: Intel® Core™ i9-13900KS Unlocked Processor 
• Graphics Card: GeForce RTX™ 4090 
• Memory: 32GB DDR5 (5600 MHz) upgradable to 64GB 
• Storage: 2TB of M.2 PCIe Gen 4 
• Motherboard: Z790 
• Wireless: Wi-Fi: AX WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5 
• Ethernet: 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port 
• Interfaces/Ports: HDMI 2.1 x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, USB 2.0 x 2, DisplayPort x 3, 3.5mm jack 
• Cooling: Liquid cooling (240 mm) FrostBlade 2.0 fans 
• Dimensions: 10.1”  x 7” x 13.2” (14.5 liter chassis) 
• Weight (Approx): 20lb

Why the Predator Orion X?

This compact, yet punchy gaming PC has got people talking, and looking at the tech specs above, it's easy to see why. Designed to stun, this is a powerful setup for players who crave perfection and cutting edge technology. Set off on a new chapter of your gaming journey with the futuristic, spaceship-inspired chassis design of the Predator Orion X.

Featuring three zones for each of the major component clusters, the Predator Orion X might not look friendly, but it is certainly DIY friendly. Simply pull the Zone 01 lever for CPU access, Zone 02 for VGA and Zone 03 for Air Boost and liquid cooler. This easy access gives you the power to maintain and upgrade your system, and is protected by a removable magnetic front cover. Predator Orion X also features an (optional) machine arm-like headset rest that conveniently folds out from the top of the chassis, meaning that you’ll never misplace your headphones again.

And what’s under the hood?

In Zone 01 you’ll find the CPU, up to 64GB DDR5 memory, and up to 2TB SSD, as well as the motherboard and power supply. Zone 2 is where you’ll find twin 2.5" SATA HDD slots, as well as the graphics card, and the custom engineered liquid-cooled block with a cold plate. Zone 3 provides convenient access to the top of the chassis, for access to the 240mm radiator.

Nothing beats the performance hybrid architecture of the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-13900KS processor for the pinnacle of gaming and single-thread performance. Pushing the boundaries even further, the new Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost, takes your clock speed up to 6.0GHZ. Yes, this is the first CPU in the industry to hit this speed without overclocking. Memory? With up to 64GB DDR5, your gameplay will be elevated to a new dimension.

Graphics wise, the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 40 Series GPUs provide mind-blowing performance through AI-powered graphics. This means beyond lifelike gaming environments with ray tracing and ultra-high FPS in game experience with the lowest latency. For both gaming and creation, embrace on a journey of unprecedented workflow acceleration with up to 2.52GHz boost clock.

This arsenal of gaming power is kept icy cool by the Predator Orion X’s extensive cooling system. Firstly, the GeForce RTX™ 4090 GPU is cooled by a custom-engineered liquid cooled block, keeping things cool, quiet and efficient. The CPU is cooled by a 249mm AIO liquid cooler, with two 120mm fans, ensuring that whatever dimension your gaming takes you to, optimal, your cooling performance will remain! Finally, personalize your gaming odyssey with PredatorSense 4.0 utility software to monitor speed and temperature, as well as overclocking and customize aRGB lighting colors.

Pros of owning a desktop PC

We hope that you have enjoyed our brief adventure into the compact, stylish, and powerful world of the Predator Orion X. As you learned from our discussion of desktops vs laptops, both computer styles have advantages and disadvantages, but if you’re looking for a PC that can handle demanding gaming sessions, providing better frame rates and seamless gameplay. If hardware upgrades and customization are something you require, while some laptops will accommodate you, the modular layout of gaming desktops like the Predator Orion X simplifies hardware upgrades. Check out the Predator Orion X today, and step into a new era of desktop gaming performance.

IEM Chengdu

Lastly, if you’re  a Counter-Strike fan, the Intel Extreme Masters is set to make a triumphant return to China for IEM Chengdu. Played on Counter-Strike 2, the  tournament kicks off on April 8 2024, with the finals from 12 to 14 April. After a four year hiatus, IEM returns to China, where 16 of the world’s best teams will compete for a $250,000 prize pool. Tickets are on sale now, but even if you can’t make it to China, be sure to check out the tournament online.

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