If you need an all-purpose laptop that lacks the typical gaming design of modern machines, you don't have a lot of options. Especially if you don't want to pay a whole fortune for an office notebook that is going to be used for playing some games for an hour or two after work. In this scenario, the Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) is one of the possible solutions. The laptop doesn't cost much and it offers Intel Alder Lake-H CPU options and optional RTX 3000 and RTX 2000 dGPU variants. On top of that, you can configure it with a high refresh rate display and this will transform it into a pretty decent gaming device (at least on paper). Given the price tag of this machine, it doesn't bring all the bangs and whistles of today's top-end devices, but that's normal. The notebook brings to the table extras like a backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6E, and Thunderbolt 4 which can be important for a lot of future buyers. At least for us, the thing that matters the most is how the cooling will handle the thirsty H-series CPU alongside a dedicated video card. We will see the end result very soon so stay tuned! You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-aspire-7-a715-76/ Specs, Drivers, What's in the box Drivers All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/A715-76G/downloads?suggest=A715-76G;0 What's in the box? The package includes the notebook itself, some manuals, and a medium-sized 135W power adapter. Design and construction The visual appearance of the machine isn't that different compared to the Acer Aspire 7 (A715-43G) but the device in front of us is thinner and lighter than its sibling. It weighs 2.1 kilos and has a profile of 19.9 mm. The lid is made of aluminum while the rest is plastic. The design is sleek, with minimal branding. Still, we are happy with the overall rigidness of the device. The lid is a bit flexy but nothing serious, while the base is stable for the most part. The only exceptions are the zone between the Space key and the touchpad and the area between the two hinges when the lid is opened past the 90-degree mark. The lid can be opened easily with a single hand. This reveals the display that has thin side bezels while the top and the lower ones are a bit thicker. The upper bezel houses a 720p Web camera with Temporal Noise Reduction. The keyboard has a backlight and a NumPad which is good news for people who are going to use this machine in the office. The key travel and the feedback are decent so the board is comfortable for typing but not the best one though. The "Up" and "Down" Arrow keys are half-sized which isn't very enjoyable if you have to operate with them often. The lid has a level mechanism that lifts the backside of the laptop when the lid gets past a certain angle. This positively affects the cooling under load and it also positively enhances the ergonomics while typing. The touchpad has a standard size for a 15-incher. It's also accurate and its surface allows smooth gliding. There is a built-in fingerprint reader (option) that is located on the top left corner of the pad. The bottom plate is the home of a big ventilation grille, four rubber feet, two speaker cutouts, and a battery reset pinhole. The hot air is pushed through two vents positioned on the back of the device and on the right side. Unfortunately, the vent on the back is blowing hot air directly to the lower part of the display which isn't good. Ports On the left, we can see a power plug, followed by a LAN connector, an HDMI 2.1, two USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports (the former supports power-off charging), and a Thunderbolt 4 connector with DisplayPort capabilities. On the right, we can sport a Kensington lock slot, another USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and an Audio jack. Display quality, Health impact (PWM), Sound Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) is equipped with a Full HD IPS panel, model number Innolux N156HCA-EAB (CMN15E7). It comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. Its diagonal is 15.6" (39.6 cm), and the resolution - 1920 x 1080p. Additionally, the screen ratio is 16:9, the pixel density – 142 ppi, and their pitch – 0.18 x 0.18 mm. The screen can be considered Retina when viewed from at least 60 cm (from this distance, the average human eye can’t see the individual pixels). Viewing angles are good. We offer images at different angles to evaluate the quality. Also, a video with locked focus and exposure. The maximum measured brightness is 283 nits (cd/m2) in the middle of the screen and 262 nits (cd/m2) average across the surface with a maximum deviation of 15%. The Correlated Color Temperature on a white screen and at maximum brightness is 7120K (average). In the illustration below you can see how the display performs from a uniformity perspective. The illustration below shows how matters are for operational brightness levels (approximately 140 nits) – in this particular case at 51% Brightness (White level = 139 cd/m2, Black level = 0.09 cd/m2). Values of dE2000 over 4.0 should not occur, and this parameter is one of the first you should check if you intend to use the laptop for color-sensitive work (a maximum tolerance of 2.0 ). The contrast ratio is very good – 1570:1. To make sure we are on the same page, we would like to give you a little introduction to the sRGB color gamut and the Adobe RGB. To start, there’s the CIE 1976 Uniform Chromaticity Diagram that represents the visible specter of colors by the human eye, giving you a better perception of the color gamut coverage and the color accuracy. Inside the black triangle, you will see the standard color gamut (sRGB) that is being used by millions of people on HDTV and on the web. As for the Adobe RGB, this is used in professional cameras, monitors, etc for printing. Basically, colors inside the black triangle are used by everyone and this is the essential part of the color quality and color accuracy of a mainstream notebook. Still, we’ve included other color spaces like the famous DCI-P3 standard used by movie studios, as well as the digital UHD Rec.2020 standard. Rec.2020, however, is still a thing of the future and it’s difficult for today’s displays to cover that well. We’ve also included the so-called Michael Pointer gamut, or Pointer’s gamut, which represents the colors that naturally occur around us every day. The yellow dotted line shows Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G)'s color gamut coverage. Its display covers 56% of the sRGB/ITU-R BT.709 (web/HDTV standard) in CIE1976, and 43% of DCI-P3. Our “Design and Gaming” profile delivers optimal color temperature (6500K) at 140 cd/m2 luminance and sRGB gamma mode. We tested the accuracy of the display with 24 commonly used colors like light and dark human skin, blue sky, green grass, orange, etc. You can check out the results at factory condition and also, with the “Design and Gaming” profile. Below you can compare the scores of the Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) with the default settings (left), and with the “Gaming and Web design” profile (right). The next figure shows how well the display is able to reproduce really dark parts of an image, which is essential when watching movies or playing games in low ambient light. The left side of the image represents the display with stock settings, while the right one is with the “Gaming and Web Design” profile activated. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale, and on the vertical axis – the luminance of the display. On the two graphs below you can easily check for yourself how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display, the calibration, the viewing angle, and the surrounding light conditions. Response time (Gaming capabilities) We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa. We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 18 ms. After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude. Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering) Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is an easy way to control monitor brightness. When you lower the brightness, the light intensity of the backlight is not lowered, but instead turned off and on by the electronics with a frequency indistinguishable to the human eye. In these light impulses, the light/no-light time ratio varies, while brightness remains unchanged, which is harmful to your eyes. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM. Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G)'s display doesn't flicker at any brightness level. This makes the screen pretty comfortable for long periods of use. Health Impact: Blue light emissions Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates PWM but also reduces the harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate. If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light. Health Impact: Gloss-level measurement Glossy-coated displays are sometimes inconvenient in high ambient light conditions. We show the level of reflection on the screen for the respective laptop when the display is turned off and the measurement angle is 60° (in this case, the result is 52.0 GU). Sound Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G)'s speakers produce a sound of very good quality. Its low, mid, and high tones are clear of deviations. Buy our profiles Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) configurations with 15.6" Innolux N156HCA-EAB (CMN15E7) (1920 x 1080) IPS. *Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at bg.laptopmedia@gmail.com. Read more about the profiles HERE. Performance: CPU, GPU, Gaming Tests CPU options You can choose between two CPU options - the Intel Core i5-12450H and the Core i7-12650H. We bought a device with an i5 because it packs enough power and can be considered a smart choice. GPU options In terms of GPU variants, the base version of the device has an NVIDIA GTX 1650 (Laptop), and if you want something more powerful, you can configure your device with a GeForce RTX 2050, or with the top graphics option - the GeForce RTX 3050 (Laptop, 60W). Our device is bundled with the latter because we want to see how good the cooling is when it has to deal with a bit more powerful videocard. Gaming tests Assassin's Creed Valhalla Full HD, Low (Check settings) Full HD, Medium (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) Average FPS 88 fps 64 fps 44 fps 29 fps Borderlands 3 Full HD, V.Low (Check settings) Full HD, Medium (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Badass (Check settings) Average FPS 96 fps 78 fps 55 fps 42 fps Far Cry 6 Full HD, Low (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) Average FPS 83 fps 66 fps 56 fps Gears 5 Full HD, Low (Check settings) Full HD, Medium (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) Average FPS 113 fps 89 fps 77 fps 60 fps As you can see, the tested configuration is powerful enough for demanding games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla if you don't mind Medium Or High details. You can also play Far Cry 6 or Gears 5 with maxed-out visuals while the FPS will be in the 55-60FPS zone which is pretty good for a 4GB GPU. Keep in mind that our laptop has just 8GB of RAM, a machine with 16GB or 32DDR4 will perform even better. [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT your Laptop Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life Max CPU load In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering. Average core frequency (base frequency + X); CPU temp. Intel Core i5-12450H (45W TDP) 0:02 - 0:10 sec 0:15 - 0:30 sec 10:00 - 15:00 min Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) 4.09 GHz @ 3.21 GHz @ 76°C @ 89W 4.09 GHz @ 3.21 GHz @ 86°C @ 88W 2.78 GHz @ 2.72 GHz @ 75°C @ 52W The Intel Core i5-12450H has a 45W base TDP, 4 Performance cores, 4 Efficient cores, and 12 threads. It's not a slouch at all and we are happy to see that the cooling of this Acer device is doing a good job no matter the load. In short and medium-long stress, the CPU can maintain a bit over 4GHz P cores clock and 3.21GHz for the E cores (and almost a 90W power limit) which is a great result for a not-so-expensive laptop. In prolonged periods of heavy load, the P and E cores can maintain ~2.70GHz and 75°C which is also nice. The package power is above the base limit - 52W. To achieve this, you have to use the Acer Quick Acces application and apply the "Performance mode" preset. Real-life gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 2 min) GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 30 min) GPU frequency/ Core temp (Max fan) Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) 1687 MHz @ 65°C @ 59W 1656 MHz @ 68°C @ 60W - ASUS TUF Gaming F15 FX507 1954 MHz @ 77°C @ 95W 1935 MHz @ 81°C @ 95W - Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-47) 2018 MHz @ 71°C @ 91W 2003 MHz @ 75°C @ 91W - ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (K6502) 1755 MHz @ 70°C @ 62W 1755 MHz @ 70°C @ 62W - Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (16", 2022) 1702 MHz @ 71°C @ 61W 1695 MHz @ 73°C @ 62W - Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (15", 2022) 2002 MHz @ 70°C @ 84W 1985 MHz @ 72°C @ 85W - Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (15", 2022) 1910 MHz @ 73°C @ 82W 1912 MHz @ 71°C @ 82W - Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-58) 2021 MHz @ 70°C @ 94W 2009 MHz @ 73°C @ 94W - Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (15", 2021) 1885 MHz @ 76°C @ 85W 1866 MHz @ 82°C @ 85W - Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (15", 2021) 2004 MHz @ 82°C @ 88W 1991 MHz @ 86°C @ 88W - ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (K3500) 1605 MHz @ 69°C @ 49W 1610 MHz @ 68°C @ 50W - Dell Vostro 15 7510 1729 MHz @ 74°C @ 64W 1710 MHz @ 78°C @ 65W - ASUS VivoBook Pro 16X OLED (N7600) 1576 MHz @ 68°C @ 50W 1571 MHz @ 69°C @ 50W - Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro (16") 1651 MHz @ 72°C @ 55W 1636 MHz @ 75°C @ 55W - HP Victus 16 (16-e0000) 1824 MHz @ 73°C @ 75W 1814 MHz @ 73°C @ 75W 1822 MHz @ 73°C @ 75W MSI Katana GF66 1675 MHz @ 73°C @ 60W 1660 MHz @ 78°C @ 60W 1699 MHz @ 67°C @ 60W The GPU has zero problems maintaining the official 60W TGP even after 30 minutes of gaming. The frequencies are normal given the modest limit and the maximum core temperature is just 68°C which is great. Once again, the cooling of this laptop seems potent enough for any kind of load. Comfort during full load In "Performance mode", the two fans are producing a decent amount of noise. It's not exactly unbearable, but some of you may prefer to switch to "Normal mode" which will reduce the noise and the performance as well. When the laptop is under heavy stress like gaming or video rendering, the hotspot on the keyboard is located close to the WASD zone. Still, the section feels warm, not hot, so you can use the laptop for gaming comfortably. The palm rest area remains pleasantly cool for normal work. Battery Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows Better performance setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 120 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. The 54.6Wh battery pack has enough juice for 9 hours and 5 minutes of Web browsing or 7 hours and 9 minutes of video playback. That's a decent score given the modest capacity and the thirsty 45W Alder Lake H CPU under the bonnet. Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance In order to open the laptop, you need to unscrew 11 Phillips-head screws. The top two are captive so they will slightly lift the panel up. That's a good starting point for popping the plate with a plastic tool. The battery isn't fixed with screws to the base, but there is a rubber element on the panel that isn't allowing the battery to move around and it is securing the unit to stay in place. The capacity of the battery is 54.6Wh which is enough for 9 hours and 5 minutes of Web browsing or 7 hours and 9 minutes of videos. If you want to take out the unit, you have to unplug the connector and then you can remove the battery. The upgrade options look good. There are two SODIMMs that can handle up to 32GB of DDR4-3200MHz memory in dual-channel mode. For storage, there are two M.2 slots. One of them is compatible with Gen 4 SSD, while the other can handle Gen 3 NVMes. The cooling seems good for such a device. It comprises two heat pipes shared between the CPU and the GPU, and the third one is dedicated to the graphics card. We can also see two fans, two heat spreaders, and a couple of heat sinks. Storage performance Our machine is equipped with a 512GB Western Digital PC SN740 NVMe that is also well-cooled (the maximum reached temperature during testing is just 34°C. Below you can see some benchmarks of this Gen 4 NVMe. Verdict Well, it looks like the Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) is one of the good options when it comes to affordable 15-inchers that can be used for almost any kind of load. The main event here is the cooling solution, it's massive enough so the powerful Intel Core i5-12450H can maintain over 4GHz P cores frequency in short and medium-long stress. In longer loads, the P and E cores clocks are also high enough for snappy performance, while the temperatures are in check. The GeForce RTX 3050 (Laptop, 60W) is well-cooled (68°C) and that's why it can maintain a stable 60W TGP in long gaming sessions. Speaking of temperatures, the NVMe of our device (512GB Western Digital PC SN740) is "freezing" even when it's pounded with benchmarks for longer periods. The build quality is fine for the price category - the aluminum lid can be flexed if you want but it's not super spongy which is okay. The plastic base seems stable with a few exceptions here and there. The keyboard has a backlight which is probably a mandatory feature for most of us, and it has a NumPad section which can be handy even for regular users. The key travel and the feedback are decent - that is okay for the class. The touchpad is also smooth and accurate. This makes the device suitable for office needs. The other thing that can be appreciated by everyone is the 60Hz 1080p IPS display (Innolux N156HCA-EAB (CMN15E7)) which is PWM-free so you can use it for long hours of work without experiencing the negative side effects of screen flicker (this phenomenon is non-existent here). The panel boasts a very good contrast ratio of 1570:1 and comfortable viewing angles. Its only con is the narrow sRGB coverage but that's not very important because the laptop isn't meant for content creation. Still, the screen is adequate for gaming and home or office usage. There is a 144Hz option for those who want an even smoother experience while gaming. Yes, this notebook can be used for playing games because it has a potent cooling solution. This leads to high CPU and GPU clocks alongside stable performance during gaming. The fans can be a bit noisy for some of you but if you are using headphones or if you bump the volume to normal levels, the sound that is coming from the fans shouldn't be an issue for most of you. Or you can switch from "Performance mode" to "Normal mode" - you'll hear less noise while the performance will be lower but still okay for gaming. The upgrade options are great for an inexpensive laptop - two DDR4 SODIMMs for up to 32GB RAM in dual-channel mode and two M.2 slots (one Gen 4 and one Gen 3). The port selection is modern enough for this kind of price tag - a LAN connector, an HDMI 2.1, three USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports, a Thunderbolt 4 connector with DisplayPort supports, and an Audio jack. The Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) has a clean-looking design, a potent cooling solution, and surprisingly good performance - that's why it can be used for gaming. On the other hand, the Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-58) is a bit more expensive but it offers a better keyboard, similar hardware, and higher GPU TGPs. The Nitro sibling has a typical gaming design so if you want to be an incognito gamer in the office, the Acer Aspire 7 (A715-76G) is a good choice. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-aspire-7-a715-76/
THATS A GOOD LAPTOP
nice review