Professional-centric Acer ConceptD devices arrives in Malaysia

• High-end, NVIDIA Quadro-equipped  line of computers for professionals, creatives
• Includes the flexible, powerful ConceptD 9 Pro, pricing at US$4,541

The thing that struck me the most about the Acer ConceptD laptops – the Taiwanese company’s range of creator-centric professional computers – is the sound. Or rather, the lack thereof.

Workhorse computers pack the power professionals need for extreme workloads, but galloping with that much computing power usually comes with a fair share of whirring and groaning. Not so much with the ConceptD laptops – even while rendering graphics, the laptop emit less than 40db of noise. That’s equivalent to a gentle stream in the forest, or a refrigerator’s hum.

To achieve this, an Acer representative tells DNA, the ConceptD laptops use Acer’s proprietary AeroBlade 3D Fans, which uses thin metal blade fans (0.1mm). If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same cooling tech Acer has fitted their Predator gaming laptops with.

In fact, much of the ConceptD’s designs are similar to Acer’s own line of gaming laptops. In terms of computing prowess, however, the ConceptD offers much more. These are high-end productivity laptops, after all, and will have NVIDIA Quadro professional graphic cards on top of 9^th-gen Intel Core i7 processors.

“ConceptD devices are designed for creative needs as the high-performance processors and graphics cards can handle extreme workloads yet stay quiet,” says Acer Sales & Services Sdn Bhd general manager of Products Chan Weng Hong, speaking at the Malaysian launch of the ConceptD products on Oct 30.

“The power-packed performance is presented in a minimalist design to inspire creators to let their creative juices flow freely. The range of devices under this brand is set to carve out its niche and break new ground in the creative industry,” he claims.

For the creatives

We’re not sure about breaking new ground, but the ConceptD is conceptually for graphic designers, filmmakers, animators, illustrators, architects, developers and creatives that need power to go along with portability. It doesn’t just have laptops – the range extends to desktops and monitors, all meant for professionals.

But it’s the laptops that are most fascinating. The family comes in various sizes and power, but all feature NVIDIA Quadro graphics and Intel Core i7-9750H processors.

The highest end of them is the ConceptD 9 Pro, which comes with 32GB of RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD for storage. The screen is a 17.3-inch Pantone Validated 4K UHD touch IPS display, which features 100% Adobe RGB and 100% sRGB colour gamut with a colour accuracy of Delta E<1.

More interestingly, the screen sits on Ezel Aero Hinges, which is much like the Predator Triton 900 in letting users adjust the display according to their needs. At any rate, the touchscreen has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, meant to simulate authentic writing and sketching with a Wacom EMR pen (which magnetically attaches to the laptop). The ConceptD 9 Pro prices at US$4,541 (RM18,999).

For those looking for more traditional laptop designs, the ConceptD 7 Pro features 15.6-inch Panton Validated 4K UHD touch IPS display with 100% Adobe RGB colour gamut. The 7 Pro version comes in two variations – one with NVIDIA Quadro RTX3000 graphics, another with RTX5000 graphics. The price at US$2,079 (RM8,699) and US$3,107 (RM12,999) respectively.

[RM1 = US$0.239]

The ConceptD 5 Pro is the more affordable machine, providing both 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch variants. The smaller version with the NVIDIA Quadro T1000 prices at RM6,999. The RTX3000 graphics can be configured to both screen sizes, pricing at RM7,999 and RM8,699 respectively.

The desktop option

Creatives who prefer desktops can opt for the ConceptD 500. This machine comes with NVIDIA Quadro P2000 graphics, meant for complex 3D modelling and simulations, as well as AI and deep learning development.

The specifications list: Intel Core i7-9700K for its processor, 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD that is combined with a 1TB HDD.

The casing is where it truly stands out among productivity machines. For one, it looks like it’s catered for modern studio sensibilities – rounded edges and corners, white minimalist aesthetics and a neat wood-effect top. It’s not just looks, though: the casing features Qi wireless charging, high-speed connection ports, a headset cradle and cable management.

The ConceptD 500 also has a feature (ConceptD Palette) that allows users to monitor system CPU, GPU and memory usage, while the System Health Indicator sends out warning lights through the power button and amber LED light simultaneously to alert potential malfunctions.

The desktop prices at RM7,999, and will come with 3 years on-site warranty.

Creatives can pair the ConceptD 500 with the ConceptD CP7271K P and CP3271K P monitors, which has Delta E<1 colour accuracy and is Pantone Validated. Both have stands that can tilt, swivel and adjust its height. Users can even put on light shielding hoods.

The CP7221K P prices at RM6,999 while the CP3271K P goes for RM3,399.

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