How to open Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-72) – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-72) - disassembly and upgrade options

From: Severin Kolakov 22 October 2024 / 10:42 | 0

#CommissionsEarned

Acer Predator Helios 16

Processor: Intel Core i9-14900HX
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 140W)
RAM: 64GB RAM
STORAGE: 4000GB SSD

Detailed review

$2994^.45

View all results

Opening the Device

Undo the 10 Torx-head screws securing the bottom panel.
Detach the two plastic caps in front of the vents.
Carefully raise the back side while holding the two plastic exhausts at the rear. Avoid applying excessive force.
Once half of the panel is popped, hold the left side, swivel it slightly, and rotate it to the right to release all internal clips.

More info: The inside of the bottom panel has a dedicated socket for the battery, a thick dust filter in the middle, and a thermal pad for the Wi-Fi card.

Battery Removal

Unplug the battery connector from the mainboard.
Lift the battery unit to remove it from the chassis.

Note: The laptop is equipped with a 90Wh battery, providing approximately 5 hours and 17 minutes of video playback.

Memory Information

The RAM zone and preinstalled SSD are covered with a heat shield. Peel it gently to access the components.
The two SODIMMs support up to 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM in dual-channel mode, though the CPU can support up to 192GB, which allows for future memory upgrades.
The memory stick is covered with foil that has a thermal pad on the inside for cooling.

You can buy compatible RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Storage Upgrade

The device features two M.2 slots compatible with 2280 Gen 4 SSDs.
RAID 0 is supported for enhanced performance.

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for insights on the best storage options available.

You can buy compatible SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Wi-Fi Card

The Wi-Fi card is located on the left side near the battery.

Cooling System Overview

The cooling system features two metal Aeroblade 3D fans.
Two heat pipes are shared between the CPU and GPU, with one additional pipe for the processor and two more dedicated to the GPU, its memory, and VRMs.
Four heat sinks, a metal plate over the CPU, and a larger plate on the GPU side further enhance cooling. The bottom heat pipe also cools the chipset.
Ensure all cooling components are clean and free of dust for optimal performance.

Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-72) in-depth review

The Acer Predator Helios 16 (PH16-72) is a gaming machine that is offered with high-end hardware. This includes 55W Intel Raptor Lake-HX Refresh CPUs and an RTX 4070 or a mighty 175W RTX 4080. There are zero compromises in terms of gaming features and yes, you get G-SYNC, Advanced Optimus, and MUX switch. The upgradability and the port selection are also very good. When it comes to displays, there are two 1600p IPS models. The base one has a 240Hz refresh rate and the optional mini-LED 250Hz model is only available as an option for the most expensive machines with an i9 processor and 4080 GPU[...]

Read the full review

Pros

2x SODIMMs + 2x M.2 Gen 4 slots
100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 coverage + accurate colors with our "Design and Gaming" profile (BOE0B17)
240Hz 1600p IPS display with snappy pixel response times of 7.5 ms (BOE0B17)
PWM-free + high max brightness of 523 nits and wide viewing angles (BOE0B17)
MUX switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus
Modern selection with two Thunderbolt 4 connectors + two Type-A Gen 2 ports
Great input devices
Rigid chassis with a metal lid
High GPU clocks no matter the load (~3.50 GHz / 2.90 GHz for the P and E cores)
The bottom plate can be easily opened
Good overall performance
The PredatorSense app offers many useful extras
The "Performance" mode offers much lower noise levels 2.7GHz P-core clock and ~140W GPU TGP
In idle, the fans are turned off if the CPU temperature is below 50°