Acer Predator AG3-605-UR20 Pro Reviews

The Acer Predator AG3-605-UR20 is a solid choice for anyone shopping for an off-the-shelf gaming desktop.

We think the Acer Predator G3-605-UR20's standard 32GB of memory is more attention-getter than practical spec for the kind of buyer Acer targets with this machine, and its front case panel, mouse, and keyboard could be sturdier. The Predator G3 also has a lot of unnecessary software, or at least nagware, preinstalled. Upon booting up and connecting to the Internet, we were prompted to update and register at least five different products in the first 20 minutes using the system. Be prepared to spend some quality time with the Add and Remove Programs section of Windows 8 if you opt for the Predator.

While the Predator G3 is far from the fiercest gaming PC on the market, its affordable price of $1,350 can be used to excuse its merely adequate performance. The key question, then, is whether Acer’s alternative provides a better value than the competition. The answer, for perhaps the first time in the Predator’s history, is yes. The only companies that can match this rig’s bang-for-the-buck are extreme value brands like CyberPower, but they remain the victim of a confusing order process that mystifies more buyers than it helps. Compared to Alienware, Falcon Northwest, or Origin, Acer has an edge of between $50 and $300 dollars. Even the Dell XPS 8700 Special Edition, which lagged slightly in our gaming tests, costs more. Acer has finally delivered a gaming desktop with an advantage over the market’s veterans. While a sense of awe or occasion might be missing from this bare-bones rig, it’s hard to argue with a legitimately capable gaming desktop that is sold for less than $1,500 and offers respectable upgradability. Acer’s Predator G3 offers outstanding bang-for-the-buck. Gamers on a budget should absolutely consider the G3.