Acer Predator Triton 300 SE is insanely loud at up to 60 dB(A) when gaming

It’s generally accepted that gaming laptops, especially the thinner ones, tend to be loud machines. However, this shouldn’t be taken as a free pass for them to be as recklessly loud as possible. Most ultrathin models like the Razer Blade 15 or Asus Zephyrus G14 tend to top out at 45 dB(A) each when gaming while some can go as high as 50 dB(A). The 14-inch Acer Predator Triton 300 SE stands to be one of the loudest we’ve ever recorded at an alarming 60.1 dB(A).

You don’t even have to try very hard to get the Acer laptop to run as loudly as it does. We’re able to reach the 60 dB(A) mark just by playing regular titles like Witcher 3 on Performance (ie, Turbo) mode. The fans are so loud that it becomes difficult to hear in-game dialogue, footsteps, and other audio cues without a pair of headphones.

Setting the laptop to Balanced mode instead of Performance mode lowers the fan ceiling significantly to just 47 dB(A). By doing so, however, GPU clock rates and board power draw would drop from 1830 MHz and 93 W to 1605 MHz and 80 W, respectively, to represent a 6 percent dip in graphics performance. In other words, owners must enable Performance mode and endure the screeching fans if they wish to exploit the Acer laptop to its fullest. On the other hand, it’s a small hit to performance relative to the lower fan noise, and so some users may find the trade-off to be well worth it.

See our full review on the 14-inch Acer Predator Triton 300 SE for more information.