As shown in the stress test, the GPU’s average power consumption is reduced by around 50 % and the CPU’s by around a third. Instead of 150 watts, both components only consume around 90 watts with quiet fans. What’s all the more remarkable is the stable performer which continues to be sufficient for games in Full HD and high-detail settings. In our Witcher 3 endurance test and in quiet mode, the Acer Nitro 5 sits at a level comparable with the Medion Erazer Scout E20 which has maximum power at its disposal.
This indicates that the small Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 becomes very inefficient at high power consumption. On the other hand, 50 watts seems to be enough in order to power a full-fledged gaming laptop just short of the level of an RTX 3060. At the same time, the reduced power consumption means significantly lower heat dissipation.
With the Nitro, Acer has successfully managed to produce a comparatively affordable, quiet gaming laptop. But, maybe it would have been better not to cut so many corners, as shown in our extensive review of the Acer Nitro 5 AN517.