Acer Aspire’s TC-780-ACKi5 desktop tower boasts excellent performance for its price, making it a standout choice as a general-purpose budget PC that still gives you plenty of options for future upgrade.

Name: Acer Aspire Desktop, 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7400, 12GB DDR4, 2TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, TC-780-ACKI5
Date First Available: Sept 2017 (From Amazon)
Category: General Purpose / Gaming Computer* (*once upgraded)
Price: 

Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 Desktop Computer Overview

Despite lacking a graphics card, a solid 7th generation quad-core processor, generous RAM and storage, and good connectivity options make it a winner as a desktop.

Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 At A Glance

9/10

PCBA's Rating

At just

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the TC-780-ACKi5 is nearly unbeatable value for light-medium PC users.

⊕ 7th generation Intel processor
⊕ Generous RAM and storage space
⊕ Value for money
⊖ No dedicated graphics card
⊖ Smaller case may limit future upgrades

You can’t go past the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 as an all-purpose PC. Processing power, storage and memory are all strong points, and it can also be upgraded with a dedicated graphics card to turn it into a very decent gaming computer.

GFX

(Integrated )Intel HD 630

CPU

Intel i5-7400

RAM

12GB DDR4

STORAGE

2TB HDD

Windows 10 Home

Onboard Wi-Fi

Comes with keyboard & mouse

8x DVD-RW Drive

1 year warranty

1 year toll-free tech support

Upgradeable

VR Ready: No

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Introduction

The Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 is a new release prebuilt desktop computer that will suit light – heavy computer users.

In this review we’ll look at who this computer will and won’t suit, its individual hardware components, and the performance you can expect from it.

Upgradeability options and considerations are also presented, as well as why we think this is a solid choice for a base computer suited for entry-level gamers who could then upgrade it in the future.

Pros

• Price point
• Recent and powerful processor
• Ample storage and generous RAM
• Compact size

Cons

• No dedicated graphics card
• Case lacks some space for future upgrades
• Lack of SATA ports limit additional drive upgrades

Who Is It For?

If you are a heavy computer user who needs a bit more processing power, the TC-780-ACKi5 is a perfect choice as a general-purpose desktop computer.

It’s best suited to those who intend to often use programs which are a little more demanding (such as photoshop, photo/video editing software, computer-assisted drawing (CAD) programs, algorithm/programming applications). With its integrated graphics it can also handle some gaming.

Its recent and powerful 4 core processor, increased memory, and large hard drive storage capacity make it especially suited towards this kind of usage.

For gamers, or those with the need for more graphics power, the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 also is a great contender for upgrade into a more powerful computer that can run even the more demanding and recent game titles.

The addition of a dedicated graphics card will give you a PC that will rival most prebuilt gaming computers. The TC-780-ACKi5 is therefore also a viable option as an upgradeable base computer for gamers and people with specialist needs (e.g. video editing, serious gaming, high graphical output applications).

Who Isn’t It For?

The TC-780-ACKi5 may not be the best option for you if you are a light computer user with no special needs, and are just after a new desktop computer for general-purpose home use.

For example, if your typical computer usage consists of browsing the internet, office applications (like word processing and spreadsheeting), general multimedia use (viewing photos and videos), and using non-demanding programs, then the processing power of the TC-780-ACKi5 is not really necessary and represents wasted money.

If this sounds like you, then a cut-down computer like the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi3 is a cheaper option which may suit your needs more closely while keeping dollars in your pocket.

What You Get

Hardware

The hardware in the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 represents solid choices in the mid-range performance level.

Hardware Summary

Processor (CPU)

Acer have opted for the Intel i5-7400 in the TC-780-ACKi5, one of Intel’s 7th generation/Kaby Lake i5 processors.

The quad-core i5-7400 was released in Quarter 1 of 2017 and represents the entry-level model in Intel’s i5 Kaby Lake range.

This processor has 4 cores and supports hyperthreading with a clock speed of 3.00GHz and turbo boost up to 3.50GHz, meaning it can deliver additional processing power when needed.

Graphics Card (GFX)

There is no dedicated graphics card in the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5, which instead relies on the integrated graphics of the computer’s Intel processor.

The i5-7400 processor used incorporates Intel’s HD Graphics 630. Although it’s on-board, it offers quite decent performance and in terms of graphics power it compares somewhat closely to some of the entry-level dedicated graphics cards from 4-5 years ago.

Motherboard (MBU)

The TC-780-ACKi5 uses an Intel H110 Express chipset. The specific motherboard model is not advised and is most likely a proprietary model that Acer use.

Connectivity-wise, there is a spare PCIe16 slot and PCIe1 for additional add-on cards. SATA 2 and 3 ports are provided however used for the existing hard drive and DVD-RW drive.

There is a M.2 port provided. More detailed I/O ports and specifications can be found at the end of this post.

Memory (RAM)

The TC-780-ACKi5 has a total of 12GB of DDR4 RAM at 2400MHz. The RAM is implemented in two separate sticks: one 8GB stick and one 4GB stick.

Storage

There’s plenty of storage space with a 2 Terabyte hard disk drive with a speed of 7200 RPM.

Power Supply (PSU)

The power supply unit brand and model is not specified, however is rated at 300W.

If you plan on upgrading this computer with a dedicated graphics card, you may need to upgrade the power supply to a larger unit.

Other Inclusions

WIFI and Connectivity
The computer comes with in-built 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

Optical Drive
An 8x speed read-write DVD optical drive is provided.

Operating System 
The TC-780-ACKi5 comes with Windows 10 Home edition preinstalled.

Other
A card reader supports reading from SD card.

Case
The case is a tower with dimensions 6.89″ x 17.43″ x 15.67″ (W x D x H) make it a compact option.

Peripherals/Accessories
As it comes in a package unit, you also get a USB wired mouse and keyboard with the computer tower.

Support/Warranties
Acer offer a 1 year limited warranty on parts and labor, complete with technical support through their toll-free number.

Performance

Here we take a closer look at the overall performance of the Aspire TK-708-ACKI5 and what kind of usage and performance you can expect from the machine.

Usage

The combination of hardware that comprises the TC-708-ACKI5 gives it some decent processing power and the integrated graphics mean it is very capable of image output that is not too demanding. However, it may struggle with overly graphical-intensive tasks due to its lack of a dedicated graphics card.

Note that already-processed images such as movies, videos and photos do not require a lot of graphics processing power to render. You can expect these to be clear and crisp due to the power of the on-board integrated graphics.

Where it excels:

• Surfing the internet
• Viewing multimedia, videos/movies and photos
• Non-demanding programs (e.g. word processing, spreadsheeting)
• General multitasking

It’s also capable of:

• Playing entry-level computer games on low settings at lower resolutions
•  Running somewhat demanding programs (e.g. photoshop, CAD programs etc.)

May struggle with:

• More graphics-intensive applications (e.g. modelling, video processing etc.)

<Click here to view the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 Reviews on Amazon>

What Games Can It Play?

While the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKI5 isn’t specifically a gaming computer, the i5-7400 processor and HD 630 integrated graphics can handle some games at lower resolutions and lower settings.

For example, with settings optimized for weaker graphics, using the i5-7400 and integrated HD 630 graphics you could expect to get between 20-50 frames per second on some of the following titles:

• GTA 5 (~35FPS)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (~25FPS)
• Crysis 3 (~35 FPS)
• Tom Clancy’s Six Seige (~40FPS)
• Resident Evil 7  (~20FPS)
• Dirt Rally  (~56FPS)
• Battlefield 1 (BF1) (~30FPS)
• The Witcher 3 (~20FPS)

The above numbers were taken from the video below showing the type of gameplay quality you can expect:

Upgradeability

The TC-780-ACKI5 is designed to be an out-of the box solution for most users. There are no immediate upgrades required unless you wish to improve the performance of the machine.

The recent processor, large RAM, storage, and good connectivity at this particular price offering make it a good candidate for future upgrade, even if it does not immediately match your intended use. In this case, upgrades should target the weak point, which is the lack of graphics processing power.

We think this could be a very cost-effective gaming computer if you put in a dedicated graphics card. With this type of upgrade, you’d be looking at the cost of the TC-780-ACKI5 plus a graphics card, power supply and fans to ensure proper cooling, but it could still offer some savings over a prebuilt gaming computer if you’re tight on money.

It should also be noted that upgrading the computer involves opening the case and changing or installing new hardware components. This may void your warranty, so it is up to you to make a judgment call on whether or not this pathway is suitable for you.

Recommended Upgrades (Short Term/Immediate)

The following upgrades are optional, however they are recommended if you would like to drastically improve the graphics processing power of the Aspire TC-780-ACKI5:

• New dedicated graphics card (low power)
  Recommended options that work with the existing 300W PSU are the GTX 1050Ti (best performing), GTX 1050 or GT 1030. See more details here.
• New dedicated graphics card + power supply upgrade
  You can install a more powerful GPU if you also upgrade the power supply to a larger capacity at the same time. Cooling should also be considered.
  

Although the computer also comes with a large amount of storage, the drive is a hard disk. A solid state drive can increase the operating speed and loading times dramatically:

• Solid state drive (SSD) installation
  Note that there are only 2 available SATA slots, so you need to either get an M.2 SSD, or replace either of the existing optical drive or hard disk drive to accommodate the SSD.

Future Upgrade Pathways

The computer can expected to last for a number of years and still stay relevant due to it’s recent hardware. However future upgrades may include:

• RAM upgrades
  There are no free RAM slots, however the existing 4GB and 8GB sticks can be swapped out for larger sizes.
• Case upgrade
  There is limited room inside the stock Acer Aspire TC-780 case for a larger graphics card and additional drives.

Other Upgrade Considerations

If you are buying the Acer Aspire TK-780-ACKI5 with any intention to upgrade it heavily, you will likely need to upgrade the PSU if opting for a higher-end graphics card.

The limiting factors for heavy upgrades may be the case and cooling. The current case cannot support graphics cards larger than about 7″ in length due to the drive bays cage.

Theoretically though, this computer could be transplanted into a new case, and then you would only be limited to future upgrades from there by the current motherboard.

Pricing/Value

Is it a good deal? We think so.

Our opinion is that the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKI5 really represents good value for money for a prebuilt. It would cost at least $500 to buy all the hardware components to build this computer from scratch, which is more than its current market price.

Add the fact that it comes with a fully licensed Windows 10 install, and you’re saving into the hundreds of dollars by buying this package.

Where the real value comes in is if you plan on using this as a base for a gaming computer. Add in a new graphics card, power supply upgrade,  optional SSD and maybe throw it all in a new case, and you have got yourself a formidable gaming computer that will rival some prebuilt gaming PCs in the $800+ price bracket for around $600-700.

Alternative Products

If this computer isn’t for you then the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi3 is the model down from the TC-708-ACKi5 that also offers great hardware for a good price.

Or, if you’re looking for a prebuilt gaming computer without having to do any upgrades yourself, check out the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme GXiVR8020A4 Desktop Computer .

Summary/Overall Impressions

Acer’s Asprie TC-780-ACKi5 offers great performance for the money and is a winner for heavier computer users. It’s also an excellent base computer to start with and upgrade into a very worthy gaming computer for a low cost.

<Click here to view the Acer Aspire TC-780-ACKi5 on Amazon>

Reference: Other Specifications