What you need to know
- Acer has announced a major 2022 refresh for its Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 gaming desktop PCs.
- Additions include 12th Gen Intel processors, DDR5 RAM, and features such as DTS:X Ultra.
- Both PCs will be available in Q1 2022, with the machines launching in North America in February.
- Pricing for the Predator Orion 5000 starts at $2,599, while the Predator Orion 3000 starts at $1,999.
Due to how difficult it was to get a quality GPU, 2021 was the year of the pre-built gaming PC. 2022 will likely be a great time to buy a pre-built, too, and if you're in the market for one, Acer has you covered with its upcoming refreshed Predator Orion gaming PCs. Unveiled ahead of the beginning of CES 2022, both the Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 promise cutting-edge hardware, top-of-the-line performance, and snazzy visuals for a reasonable price.
The Predator Orion 5000 is the perfect machine for people who want top-notch gaming performance, as it features a full-sized case with up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, up to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 graphics card, up to 64GB of 4000MHz DDR5 RAM, and up to two 1TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSDs as well as two 3TB SATA3 HDDs. The machine also comes with support for Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb ethernet, and DTS:X Ultra, which adds a spatial quality to audio. The toolless design of the case also allows users to access the PC's internals easily, and since there's a lot of extra space in the system, people can upgrade the machine with new components in the future (there's even room for a 240mm AIO CPU cooler).
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Acer Predator Orion 5000 | Acer Predator Orion 3000 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7 | Up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7 |
| GPU | Up to NVIDIA RTX 3080 | Up to NVIDIA RTX 3070 |
| Memory | Up to 64GB DDR5-4000MHz | Up to 64GB DDR4-3200MHz |
| Storage | 2x 1TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSDs 2x 3TB SATA3 HDDs | 2x 1TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSDs 2x 3TB SATA3 HDDs |
| Front ports | 3x USB-A 1x USB-C Audio jacks | 3x USB-A 1x USB-C Audio jacks |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E 2.5Gb Ethernet | Wi-Fi 6E 2.5Gb Ethernet |
| Audio | DTS:X Ultra | DTS:X Ultra |
| Dimensions | 8.6 x 19.8 x 19 inches (219mm x 504.8mm x 485mm) | 6.8 x 14.8 x 15.1 inches (15mm x 377mm x 385mm) |
| Price | Starts at $2,599 | Starts at $1,999 |
The Predator Orion 3000, meanwhile, is a mid-tower PC perfect for the mid-range. Like the Predator Orion 5000, it can be configured with up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, up to two 1TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSDs and two 3TB SATA3 HDDs, and 64GB of RAM. The best GPU you can outfit it with is the NVIDIA RTX 3070, though, and its 3200MHz DDR4 RAM isn't as advanced as the DDR5 found in the 5000. It does still come with Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb ethernet, and DTS:X Ultra, however.
Both machines come with an obsidian-colored case that prominently features RGB, quality metals and plastics, tempered glass, and mesh. In terms of availability, both PCs are slated to become available in China in January 2022, in the United States by February 2022, and in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa by March 2022. Pricewise, the Acer Predator Orion 5000 will start at $2,599, while the Acer Predator Orion 3000 will start at $1,999.
Ultimately, due to how much high-quality hardware you're getting for a reasonable price in these pre-builts, we expect that both the Acer Predator 5000 and Acer Predator 3000 will be some of the best gaming desktop PCs you can buy in 2022.
