Acer’s ConceptD range of laptops, desktop PCs and monitors are really much aimed at innovative people, and we had been amazed by the higher-conclude graphics performance of the original ConceptD 7 laptop launched in 2019, even if it did occur at the expense of somewhat weak battery existence. 

This 2021 update enhances on its predecessor in a range of means, not the very least — as the identify suggests — with the addition of the versatile new ‘Ezel’ display screen. And, with substantial enhancements to both equally graphics performance and battery existence, the ConceptD 7 Ezel will have a whole lot of enchantment for people doing the job in skilled-degree graphics and structure. 

Options & structure

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The ConceptD 7 Ezel is a flexible convertible fifteen.six-inch laptop computer with many operational modes, like regular clamshell (top), ‘ezel’ configuration (center) and ‘drawing board’ (above).


Illustrations or photos: Acer

At initial glance, the ConceptD 7 Ezel seems just about similar to its predecessor, with the same unique white aluminium casing and fifteen.six-inch display screen. But though the 2019 model experienced a reasonably regular clamshell structure, the 4K display screen of the new Ezel model (3840 x 2160, 282.4dpi) is also contact-delicate and has a twin-hinge mechanism that enables you to tilt the display screen into a wide variety of various positions. The laptop computer also consists of a pressure-delicate Wacom stylus, so the most clear option is merely to slide the foundation of the display screen forward so that it handles the keyboard and functions like a electronic drawing board for graphics and illustration operate. That ‘ezel’ mode operates properly when utilizing the laptop computer on a desk, but if you want to place your toes up though doing the job from property then you can just go on to slide the display screen forward so that it folds fully flat and turns the laptop computer into a large tablet. You can find one more option too, as you can also reverse the display screen so that it faces away from you when you want to display your operate to colleagues or consumers. 

I did to begin with ponder if the ‘ezel’ display screen was anything at all additional than an eye-catching novelty, but it only can take a little though utilizing the stylus on the adjustable display screen to find it a stress-free and relaxed way to operate. The 4K IPS display screen is bright and clear, although the colors from time to time looked a little above-saturated to my naked eye. On the other hand, Acer states that the display screen supports a hundred{36a394957233d72e39ae9c6059652940c987f134ee85c6741bc5f1e7246491e6} of both equally sRGB and Adobe RGB colour specifications, so it really is properly suited to graphics and structure operate. But, like its predecessor, it would not guidance the DCI-P3 standard that’s widely applied in movie enhancing, which is a little disappointing presented the 4K display screen and higher-conclude performance on provide. 

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There are plenty of ports on the ConceptD 7 Ezel, like two USB-C, HDMI and DisplayPort, and RJ-forty five Ethernet.


Illustrations or photos: Acer

You can use an external keep track of for higher-conclude movie enhancing, of training course, and the ConceptD 7 Ezel is properly connected, with a choice of HDMI, DisplayPort and two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports for external movie connections. The laptop computer consists of both equally Wi-Fi six (802.11ax) and Gigabit Ethernet for higher-pace community connections, along with two USB 3.1 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack and inside stereo speakers. The only disadvantage in this article is that the Ezel model is significantly heavier than its predecessor (which remains on sale if you are soon after a additional regular laptop computer structure), with the weight climbing from 2.1kg to 2.45kg, or 3.1kg if you are carrying the electric power supply as properly. 

Price & options

Acer’s United kingdom web site lists three just configurations for the ConceptD 7 Ezel, and offers an RRP of £2,499.ninety eight (ex. VAT £2,999.ninety seven inc. VAT, or $2,999.ninety nine) for our entry-degree evaluate unit, which is outfitted with a 10th era eight-main Intel Core i7-10875H running at 2.3GHz (five.1GHz with TurboBoost), along with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB reliable-point out generate. That rate also consists of a discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with 8GB of focused movie RAM, although the laptop computer can also switch to Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics when you require to conserve battery electric power. It is worth noting, although, that you are unable to buy immediate from Acer, and online pricing tends to be a little better than Acer’s RRP, so it really is worth buying all around for the greatest rate. 

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There are two other configurations readily available in the United kingdom: a person with 32GB of RAM and a GeForce RTX 2080 Super GPU with 8GB of movie RAM, bringing it to a standard online rate of £2.901.62 (ex. VAT £3,481.ninety four inc. VAT, or $3,499.ninety nine) there is certainly also a configuration with 32GB of RAM and a workstation-class Quadro RTX 3000 GPU (in some cases referred to as the ConceptD 7 Ezel Pro) with 6GB of movie RAM, whose rate is only slightly better at £2,916.64 (ex. VAT £3,499.ninety seven inc. VAT). This Quadro RTX 3000 configuration just isn’t at present readily available in the US. 

Functionality

The ConceptD 7 Ezel is additional costly than its predecessor from 2019, which commenced at £1,915.83 (ex. VAT £2,299 inc. VAT, or $2699.ninety nine), but as properly as the adjustable display screen, it also gives significantly stronger performance.  

The 6-main processor on provide in 2019 delivered Geekbench 4 CPU scores of five,421 (one-main) and 21,450 (multi-main). In distinction, our evaluate unit’s 8-main processor scored five,745 and 28,267 for one- and multi-main performance, respectively.  

Operating the newer Geekbench 5 CPU benchmark developed scores of 1,325 (one-main) and 7,700 (multi-main), which places it suitable alongside portable workstations these types of as Dell’s Precision 5750, which runs on a related 8-main CPU and scored 1,290 (one-main) and 7,600 (multi-main). 

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But it really is graphics performance that genuinely stands out, with the ConceptD 7 Ezel attaining an amazing 84fps when running the demanding Unigine Valley benchmarks, when compared to 45fps for its 2019 predecessor. It even outgunned the Dell Precision 5750, which shipped seventy four.5fps on the Valley exam. Admittedly, the ConceptD 7 Ezel did not run as great and peaceful as its predecessor — the cooling lovers stay peaceful most of the time, but did make a noticeable whirring audio as we consistently ran via Unigine Valley’s heavyweight graphics checks. Even so, that’s an suitable compromise in get to realize these types of amazing GPU performance, and there is certainly no question that the ConceptD 7 Ezel will generate its hold for higher-conclude graphics and structure operate. 

We had been also pleased to see that battery existence has improved significantly. The authentic ConceptD 7 could only take care of four hours and 20 minutes of streaming movie, even when utilizing integrated graphics. In distinction, the new Ezel model lasted for a healthy 9 hours and 5 minutes with its integrated graphics. Unsurprisingly, switching to the discrete GeForce RTX 2070 GPU and running our graphics checks continually did lessen battery existence to just a hundred and ten minutes, but a desktop-substitution laptop computer these types of as this just isn’t heading to stray from a mains electric power supply really often. 

Conclusions

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Image: Acer

Not anyone will involve an adjustable ‘Ezel’ display screen, and the more weight of this model may possibly prevent people who admire the streamlined structure and 2.0kg weight of Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro, for instance. On the other hand, the versatile display screen and amazing performance of Acer’s ConceptD 7 Ezel will have a whole lot of enchantment for designers who require a highly effective electronic drawing board that’s ideal for doing the job at property or in the place of work.

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