Incoming: The Acer Timeline Ultra M5 ultrabook offers NVIDIA graphics, optical drive

Acer has just announced a new ultrabook series for their Timeline Ultra line of super slim notebooks. Called the Timeline Ultra M5, this one sets itself apart by offering a spec that’s not so ultrabook-y, which might not be so bad if you’re looking for a slim performer that rocks NVIDIA graphics and an optical drive.

The TimeLine Ultra M5 comes in 14- and 15.6-inch form factors, both featuring an aluminum alloy case. Under the hood, the M5 runs on either Intel’s Sandy Bridge 1.5GHz Core i3 processor or an Ivy Bridge Core i5 with clocks that top out at 2.6GHz. All models will also feature up to 8GB of RAM, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, and a backlit keyboard.

All models will also feature NVIDIA’s latest-gen GeForce GT 640M Kepler graphics designed for use with ultrabooks. While the GPU is certainly good enough for gaming and HD movie playback, it’s unfortunately held back by the type of screen that Acer slapped on, with a pixel count that tops out at a relatively “average” 1366 x 768 resolution.

The M5 also features hybrid storage that includes a 500GB hard drive and 20GB SSD, as well as a built-in DVD drive – a rare feature found on the typical ultrabook.

The TimeLine Ultra M5 is set to hit the US by the end of June: a $779 14-inch version that features 4GB of RAM, 2 USB 3.0 ports, and HDMI, and a 15.6-inch version that comes with 6GB of RAM, an extra USB 2.0 port, and a wider keyboard with a numpad that costs $829.