Acer Predator Helios 300 has constant stuttering and sound cut-off during games

Cueyo

As the title states, my Helios 300 laptop has had constant stuttering and sound stuttering since I bought it, though the problem was not nearly s bad in the beginning. Over time it has gotten much, much worse, to the point where even if I turn my game settings down to low on almost every game, I still get the stuttering. Any help would be appreciated, and if you need more info just ask!

Skelomorph

Does the laptop get really hot? What applications do you have on your laptop (anti-virus, games, etc.) And what game are you having an issue with and I can see if I experience the same thing. Do you have these problems when you use a web browser, or in one specific game?

Skelo

Cueyo

Skelomorph said:

Does the laptop get really hot? What applications do you have on your laptop (anti-virus, games, etc.) And what game are you having an issue with and I can see if I experience the same thing. Do you have these problems when you use a web browser, or in one specific game?

Skelo

I managed to overcome the issue somewhat by turning my GPU to prefer maximum performance. However, the issue persists in Overwatch specifically, as well as during Youtube videos. The laptop gets moderately hot, but nothing worth mentioning; I also have no antivirus software.

Skelomorph

That is really strange. Try uninstalling GeForce Experience and restarting the laptop and see if that helps any. If you are not on it, try installing NVIDIA driver 388.00 from the NVIDIA site. There have been reports of the newer drivers (388.31) causing issues and it might fix a problem if you have a driver older than 388.00.

For NVIDIA control panel, choose "Let the 3D application choose" when you choose with preview settings and then for power management, adaptive is seems to be best (what I have found from trial and error). However, try uninstalling GeForce Experience and updating your driver first.

I don't play Overwatch so I can't test it, sorry.

Skelo

ven98

The surface if the laptop gets hot, but the CPU and GPU can be overheating.

Can you please download HWiNFO and let it record your component's temperatures, while playing overwatch and then post the max and average temperatures of the CPU and GPU.

I doubt the problem is caused by overheating, because the issues persists, while watching youtube. Do the things that Skelomorph posted first.

Cueyo

Skelomorph said:

That is really strange. Try uninstalling GeForce Experience and restarting the laptop and see if that helps any. If you are not on it, try installing NVIDIA driver 388.00 from the NVIDIA site. There have been reports of the newer drivers (388.31) causing issues and it might fix a problem if you have a driver older than 388.00.

For NVIDIA control panel, choose "Let the 3D application choose" when you choose with preview settings and then for power management, adaptive is seems to be best (what I have found from trial and error). However, try uninstalling GeForce Experience and updating your driver first.

I don't play Overwatch so I can't test it, sorry.

Skelo

I've been in contact with a nvidia support person, and they helped me do what you just said (as well as a fresh install of all nvidia drivers), but it didn't do anything. The issue has gotten better though, as now I only experience this issue in multiplayer games, and its mostly to do with sound stuttering alongside the fps.

Cueyo

ven98 said:

The surface if the laptop gets hot, but the CPU and GPU can be overheating.

Can you please download HWiNFO and let it record your component's temperatures, while playing overwatch and then post the max and average temperatures of the CPU and GPU.

I doubt the problem is caused by overheating, because the issues persists, while watching youtube. Do the things that Skelomorph posted first.

I haven't downloaded the program, but in testing to see if the issue was resolved from beforehand, I found that my GPU never goes above 80% utilization, and then rapidly jumps back down to 30% or 20% utilization when I get a stutter in game. Maybe this is a sign of throttling? I'll get back to you on this one.

Cueyo

The maximum temperature on the GPU was 91 degrees Celsius, while average was 87 degrees Celsius in Overwatch

Skelomorph

Maybe it is throttling. I would contact Acer and have them repaste your laptop. 91 is too high for the GPU.

Skelo

ven98

Definitely throttling. The GPU is not supposed to go over 83C, so 91C means the thermal paste on the GPU isn't applied well, if there is any thermal paste at all. You should contact Acer support in your region.