Acer Aspire Z3-615 review

Our review model had a quad-core 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4460T processor installed, along with 8GB of RAM, both of which helped it score 66 overall in our PC benchmarks. This result shows that it’s a capable but not blazingly fast machine. In real terms, running multiple applications and navigating your way through Windows 8.1 should be a breeze, and the only time we experienced problems was when the preinstalled McAfee LiveSafe trial software decided to do a scan.

The Z3-615 comes equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 840M graphics processor, which is an entry-level chip typically found in fairly cheap laptops. the GTX 840M isn’t hugely powerful but it does at least grant you access to plenty of games that would otherwise have been beyond the reach of the Core i5’s onboard Intel HD Graphics 4600 graphics processor. We put the GTX 840M through its paces in our Dirt Showdown test, which is representative of a moderately graphically demanding game. At a resolution of 1,280×720 with 4x anti-aliasing and High graphics quality, the Z3-615 produced an average frame rate of 48.8fps. Sadly, the average frame rate dropped to an unplayable 19fps when we increased the resolution to the Z3-615’s native 1,920×1,080 resolution with Ultra graphics quality. However, the PC did produce an average frame rate of 48.9fps at 1,920×1,080, which is about what we’d expect from an all-in-one at this price.

The internal speakers are loud and clear and have a little bass presence, but they definitely won’t replace a good set of headphones or external speakers. The supplied peripherals are very poor. The wireless mouse is strangely large and yet has no extra buttons, while the keyboard is spongey and uncomfortable to type on for long periods. We’d recommend replacing them.

The Acer Z3-615 is a good all-in-one PC with a pleasingly high-quality screen and decent internal components. Its physical design is underwhelming, though, as is the quality of its peripherals. The Z3-615 isn’t a bad choice for a family all-in-one, it’s bigger than the Dell XPS 18, bigger-screened and cheaper than the basic Apple iMac. Plus it’s more flexible with its HDMI input and Blu-ray drive. It’s not as powerful as the HP Beats Special Edition 23-n001na in terms of applications, but its screen is better. If you’re deadset on an all-in-one PC, then this is a decent example.