Acer recently unveiled its latest gaming PC variant, the Predator Orion 7000, which features familiar hardware options alongside a novel addition that sets it apart from others in its class. This innovative device boasts a cutting-edge feature: a pop-out, hot-swappable solid-state drive (SSD).
As our top recommendation for the best gaming PCs, Acer’s Orion 5000 has already earned its place among the elite. With the new Orion 7000, it’s unlikely to disappoint in terms of stability, performance, and value, as its pre-made system design has become synonymous with reliability. What’s truly captivating about this device is the easily upgradable solid-state drive (SSD).
The system works fairly merely. A subtle elevation mechanism on the PC case’s uppermost portion allows for effortless access to the drive. Flip it up, and you’ll have clearance to remove the drive with ease; simply pull it out once the obstruction is cleared. It’s so simple as that.
Apart from the obvious indication that this is not your typical solid-state drive (SSD), designed to enhance performance in PCs, you’ll notice that it’s essentially a different beast altogether when pulled out of its enclosure. The M.2 drive, akin to those featured in our premier gaming SSD guides, but instead, it’s encased in a metal shell with a USB-C port on its flank. Concealed within the recess of the outlet where the drive is extracted is a built-in USB-C connector that accepts the connecting plug.
Given the constraints imposed on M.2 SSDs, it’s no surprise that Acer had to devise a solution for hot-swapping these storage devices, ensuring uninterrupted data transfer during any necessary physical or logical interventions. Despite our initial skepticism, we were underwhelmed to discover that the touted hot-swappable SSD was essentially just an external hard drive.
While we need to verify this with Acer, our understanding is that if it’s a standard M.2 SSD that’s integrated into the detachable module. If corporations develop a user-friendly system for purchasing and integrating a brand-new M.2 SSD, allowing users to effortlessly transfer data to the new drive before physically replacing the internal one, this innovation could significantly enhance the upgrade process.
The Acer Predator Orion 7000 boasts a sleek, futuristic design featuring a subtle facet glass window and comes pre-installed with the innovative Predator CycloneX 360 all-in-one cooler, which leverages intelligent airflow management by eliminating gaps between its three fans to facilitate seamless air circulation. As many Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics processing units (GPUs) are expected to be configured in accordance with these newly introduced methods.
The pricing and launch date for the brand-new PCs have yet to be confirmed, but there’s little doubt they’ll arrive soon.
At IFA, Acer is showcasing two innovative products: the newly announced Acer Nitro 7 Blaze handheld and the cutting-edge DualPlay gaming laptop concept, both of which are being displayed on the show floor here in Berlin as we report from the exhibition ground.
