ACER Predator Orion 3000 Gaming PC Review

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I recently had the pleasure to get my hands on the ACER Predator Orion 3000 desktop PC. At the time of writing, I am in the market for a new machine, having just handed back my company laptop, embarking on a self-employed adventure. It has been over a decade since I last owned a PC, and even that was a low-spec budget model. So how did I get on with this high-spec unit? I’m sure you can already guess, but it would be great if you could keep reading this Rapid Review. 

Specifications

Operating System	Windows 10
Processor	Intel® Core™ i7-11700F processor Octa-core 2.50 GHz
Graphics	NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3070 with 8 GB dedicated memory
Memory	32 GB, DDR4 SDRAM
Storage	1 TB HDD, 512 SSD
Dimensions (HxWxD)	392 x 175 x 386 mm

First Impressions Matter

They say that you only get one chance to make a good first impression. With the ACER Predator Orion 3000, they nail that first impression right out of the box. The PC is a beautiful unit. I mean, it’s a desktop, you can probably imagine what the base shape is like, but the beveled corners, glass panels, and LED lighting give this PC its character. Just looking at it, you can tell it’s a quality machine. 

The unit is also very compact, meaning you don’t need to clear a huge amount of space for it. I only have a small desk but had no issue housing the machine.

Easy to Use

Setting up the ACER Predator Orion 3000 was quick and easy. I mean, sure, most things essentially set themselves up these days, but it still warrants highlighting. A few cables, the press of a button, and I was off and running. 

The unit came with a tempered glass side panel which you can easily install. It took a few minutes and four small screws, yet it did change the look of the machine. The glass siding not only gave a nice view of the internal workings of the machine but allowed the LED lighting to truly shine. 

I was also really impressed with how quiet the PC was. Even coming to the end of the day after a long stretch of gaming, Twitch watching, and writing, the machine remained silent. This is primarily due to the dual FrostBlade fans that keep everything cool and running at optimal levels. 

It’s the Small Things That Make a Difference

Even before I started using the machine, I was in love with it. There were plenty of small things that, while largely inconsequential when it comes to the machine’s capabilities, made it a joy to possess. 

A carry handle made it simple to move around as I positioned it in my office, got all the cabling sorted out, and squared away. 

Then I set about playing with the PredatorSense app, setting my colour themes. It’s only a minor thing in the long run, but there was something soothing about being able to create different lighting ‘themes.’ 

The headphone stand was another pleasant surprise. I’m one of those terrible people that leave their headphones in a heap on a shelf or sometimes even on the floor. So, when I found the built-in headphone stand, I was irrationally happy. 

Any Port in a Storm

One thing I did like about this machine was the accessibility of the USB ports. Working with different devices, including an external webcam and other devices for work, the presence of the front-facing USB ports was a God’s send. From my previous desktop experience, I remember the frustration of fumbling around the back trying to find the port. 

It is only a minor thing, but having a USB, USB-C, and headphone jack ports on the front of the machine just made life that much easier. 

A Tremendous Gaming Experience

As you would expect when using a gaming PC, the overall experience was faultless. I have long been waiting for the chance to get some games from my Steam list. While they have not been played for review, I quickly loaded up both Chernobylite and Darkest Dungeon, barricaded the door to my office, and immersed myself in many hours of game time. 

I should mention now that I plugged it and played straight out of the box. I made no tweaks or changes to things. It seems strange to talk about games without them being the subject of the review, but both played amazing on this machine. 

Chernobylite was without question the more demanding game, but it was a smooth and effortless experience. Everything from load times to performance and the audio were multiple times better than anything I have experienced before. 

I also went back and played a game I reviewed some time ago – My Beautiful Paper Smile, as during that review, I noted a lot of lag that I attributed to my weak spec machine. However, playing it on the ACER Predator Orion 3000 was a very different experience and showed me just how bad my machine had been.

Monitor Review Incoming

As part of the review package, I was also sent a Predator G-Sync monitor, which I will be reviewing in a separate piece. So I will not give too much away from that other than saying the combination of monitor and PC was a dream team that made even my day-to-day use of the computer a dream. 

One Very Minor Issue

During my time with the ACER Predator Orion 3000, I only ever encountered one issue. From time to time, the sound would not work. Now, this was only after I let the machine go into sleep mode. The issue resolved itself with a simple click on the volume icon in the toolbar. I got an error message, hit repair (or a button with words to the effect), and it was all good. 

My only other stumbling block was the keyboard. I have relatively large hands and type remarkably fast. Moving to the smaller keyboard that came with the machine was a big adjustment for me. So this one is purely a matter of personal preference. 

Perfect for Everyday Computing Needs

Having a gaming PC was fantastic, and yes, I am strongly considering buying one of these units myself. However, aside from my hobbies, I work behind a computer during the day. Formerly as an office monkey and now as a full-time freelancer. 

I was lucky to have a decent machine from my previous employers, but the step up to a desktop of this magnitude was noticeable even in the mundane aspects of work from home life. The entire system operated with a smoothness that made it a joy to get behind each day. 

It may just be the placebo effect, or maybe I’m just that weird, but I enjoyed using the ACER Predator Orion 3000 so much I found my productivity increased as a result. Everything from writing reviews and articles to putting together my handover package for my last day in the office went that much smoother, or so it felt. 

Conclusion

I am in love with this machine; there’s no other way to say it. It’s a fantastic piece of kit. Despite the minor issue I mentioned with the sound, I cannot find fault with the ACER Predator Orion 3000. 

It will hurt to box it up and send it back on its way again. No matter what I needed to use it for, this machine delivered, and it did so with poise and grace. After so long being a console-only gamer, just a short period with this machine has me sold on PC gaming and the benefit of getting a high-spec machine. 

5 out of 5

5

You can purchase the ACER Predator Orion 3000 here.