Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

12.4 inches | June 2022

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Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF

17.3 inches | May 2021

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Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Surface Laptop Go 2 and Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF, two laptops from Microsoft and Acer. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 was introduced to market in June 2022 and Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF was launched in May 2021. There is 13 months difference between Surface Laptop Go 2 and Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF so it would still give an advantage to younger Surface Laptop Go 2.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Key Specs

Launched in June 2022
12.4" TouchScreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
4GB Ram
278.2 x 206.2 x 15.7 mm (10.95 x 8.12 x 0.62 inches)
Weight: 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)

Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF Key Specs

Launched in May 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 11800H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB
16GB Ram
400 x 319.2 x 35.3 mm (15.75 x 12.57 x 1.39 inches)
Weight: 3.9 kg (8.6 lbs)

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 was replaced by Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Surface Laptop Go 2 and Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 over Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF

Weight	1.24 kg vs 3.90 kg	2.66 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~79.8% vs ~64.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	8 mm vs 8.5 mm	0.5 mm thinner bezels
Noise Level	41.8 dB vs 49 dB	Less fan noise
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers
Max Brightness	330 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint

Reasons to choose Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF over Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Display Size	17.3 inches vs 12.4 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	240 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	170 ppi vs 149 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1440 pixels vs 1536 x 1024 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
Response Time	3 ms vs 33 ms	Faster Response screen
GPU Fabrication Process	8 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	17.5 TFLOPS vs 1.41 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	Charges via USB-C type cable
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs No	More RAM Options
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	Faster RAM
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Generates higher sound levels
Speaker Loudness	82 dB vs 77.5 dB	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.2 vs v5.1	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.2	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Easily see the keys under low light
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Launch Dates	June 2022 vs May 2021	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.1 vs v5.2	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)	3.9 kg (8.6 lbs)
Surface Area	574 cm2 (88.9 inches2)	1277 cm2 (198 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~79.8%	~64.6%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8 mm	~8.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.23 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.506 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver, Blue, Green, Yellow	Black

Comparison of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF External Dimensions

Weight

Surface Laptop Go 2 weighs 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs), whereas the Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF weighs 3.9 kg (8.6 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 1.24 kg

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 1.11 kg

Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF 3.90 kg

Avg: larger than 17.0" 2.74 kg

Thickness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 15.70 mm

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 14.24 mm

Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF 35.30 mm

Avg: larger than 17.0" 24.26 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF is 0.23 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 1135G7	Intel Core i7 11800H Intel Core i9 11980HK
Base Frequency	0.9-2.4 GHz	1.9-2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.2 GHz	4.6 GHz
Number of Cores	4	8
Number of Threads	8	16
L3 Cache	8 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (32 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1324	1563
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	4633	8909
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1355	1504
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	5087	12182

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1135G7

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 11800H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model		GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 16GB
TGP (Total Graphics Power)		115 W

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS whereas the Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF ' has a FLOPS value of 17.5 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	4GB 8GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x2 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	4266 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR4X	DDR4
Upgradable	No	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

The Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2's RAM capacity of 4 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2	Acer Predator Helios 500 (PH517-52-78DF)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✖ Not supported.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✔ Good performance.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	41 Wh	74 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	Yes
USB Power Delivery	No	Yes
Charging Port Position	Right	Bottom
Charge Power	39 W	330 W
AC Adapter Weight	209 gramm

On the other hand, the Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF features a higher battery capacity of 74 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2's 41 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 41 Wh

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 43.28 Wh

Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF 74 Wh

Avg: larger than 17.0" 76.88 Wh

STORAGE
The Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF offers a larger max storage capacity of 2 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2's storage capacity of 256 GB.

Storage Options	128 GB, 256 GB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Surface Laptop Go 2 has a display size of 12.4".On the other hand, Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF has a larger17.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Surface Laptop Go 2 is 458cm² / 71inch² whereas the Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF features a higher pixel density with 170 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 149 PPI

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 199 PPI

Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF 170 PPI

Avg: larger than 17.0" 141 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF offers a higher refresh rate of 240 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF boasts a faster response time of 3.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a higher maximum brightness of 330 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 330 nits

Avg: 12.0-12.9" 370 nits

Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF 300 nits

Avg: larger than 17.0" 368 nits

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 vs Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Surface Laptop Go 2 and Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF have USB-A ports. Surface Laptop Go 2 has 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Surface Laptop Go 2 and Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF feature 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Surface Laptop Go 2 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Laptop Go 2 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Surface Laptop Go 2 nor Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Surface Laptop Go 2 and Predator Helios 500 PH517-52-78DF are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.1	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes