• TECH SPECS

  PRICE: $3,698

  PROCESSOR: Intel Core

  i7-6700HQ (2.6GHz)

  GRAPHICS: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M 4GB GDDR5

  RAM: 16GB

  SCREEN SIZE: 15.6 inches, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels

  CONNECTIVITY: 4 x USB 3.0, Thunderbolt port, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet port, SD card slot, audio jacks

  BATTERY: 88 watt-hour

• RATING

  FEATURES: 4/5

  DESIGN: 4/5

  PERFORMANCE: 4/5

  VALUE FOR MONEY: 2/5

  BATTERY LIFE: 1/5

  OVERALL: 4/5

I could monitor the system temperature easily by using the preloaded PredatorSense software utility. Besides showing the temperatures of the CPU and the system, this app also tracks the speeds of the laptop fans.

But it is not as comprehensive as similar tools on other gaming laptops. For instance, you cannot increase the fan speed gradually. You can only choose between the default and maximum speeds.

There is no software key to disable the Windows logo key. Hitting this key during a gaming session will interrupt your game, which is annoying. But Acer does provide a hardware button that disables both the touchpad and the Windows key at the same. This is useful, though I feel the laptop should be intelligent enough to automatically disable the touchpad once a mouse is connected.

The keyboard is comfortable to type and has good key travel. It has dedicated macro buttons that can be customised to launch apps or change settings. But the Function keys are too small.

Like most gaming laptops, the Predator's screen is of the matte variety. It has a standard 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution. The display does not support Nvidia's G-Sync - a technology that reduces screen tearing and stutter. However, the laptop's powerful GeForce GTX 980M graphics chip supports G-Sync, so you can still enable it by connecting the laptop to an external G-Sync monitor.

The laptop performs up to par in games, scoring around 55 frames per second in Crysis 3 at Very High setting. It is also impressively fast in storage benchmarks because of its two solid-state drives.

• Verdict: A powerful albeit pricey gaming laptop with an unusual fan module.

WIN AN ACER PREDATOR GAMING LAPTOP WORTH $2,898

Answer these two simple questions correctly and you could be one of four lucky winners to take home an Acer Predator 17 gaming laptop worth $2,898 each.

• The Predator 15 and 17 gaming laptops come with a swoppable fan module from Cooler Master that inserts into the optical drive bay to cool the laptop during intense gaming sessions. True/False

• The Predator 8 is an Android gaming tablet with four powerful speakers for the ultimate gaming performance on the go. True/False

E-mail your answers, together with your name, IC and mobile numbers, to stdled@sph.com.sg with the subject header "Acer Predator". This contest ends on Jan 8, 2016.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• The contest is open only to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.

• Staff of SPH, Acer and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.

• Prizes are non-transferable. The organisers reserve the right to vary the prizes or replace the prizes (in whole or in part) without giving any reason.

• Details of the participants will be shared among the organisers of the contest to facilitate the selection process.

• By entering the contest, participants agree that they have read, understood and accepted the terms and conditions in their entirety.

• We reserve the right to amend the terms and conditions of the contest without prior notice.