My Nitro 5 AN515-51 crashes constantly, hardware issue with expired warranty, what can I do?

Ahmed526

TLDR: My laptop over the last month crashes so frequently it is unusable, my warranty expired two months ago, and I believe the processor is the issue, what can I do?

My Nitro 5 AN515-51 for several months has experienced crashes, however, they were infrequent. Over the last month, the frequency of the crashes has increased to the point that they occur every few minutes (almost immediately when the the laptop is plugged in). I've spent the last few weeks trying to diagnose the problem, doing a factory reset, removing all my files, a BIOS update/reset, booting windows from a USB, running virus scanning software, running RAM checks, and checks for corrupt files and haven't been able to find any problems there. I've also tried updating the drivers and windows, neither of which have worked. I've tried speaking with the acer support through live chat and the support solutions they've directed me towards have not worked either. The errors I get when my laptop crashses are WHEA Uncorrectable Error, Machine Check Exception, and Clock Watchdog Timeout. Having looked up these types of errors and exhausted all other methods to diagnose the issue, I'm led to believe the processor is faulty. I tried speaking with a customer support person about this and was told as my warranty expired about 2 months ago, I would need to pay 500 USD to have Acer repair it, which nears the price of buying an entirely new laptop. Which is frankly an absurd price for a laptop barely a year old. So, does anyone know of any other option or avenue I can try to get my laptop fixed?

tobimaru

What are the CPU/GPU temperatures at while the laptop is in use? Overheating can cause BSOD's that generate the watchdog error. IF you don't have a way to monitor temperatures try HWiNFO - https://www.hwinfo.com/download/

More than likely, if overheating is the issue, your issue can be resolved by repasting the CPU and GPU inside the laptop with a better thermal paste than what was included from the factory.

It's also sometimes possible to install Nitro Sense or Predator Sense and utilize the CoolBoost feature which increases the fan speed under load. Some models don't have this feature, you'll have to check your particular model.

Ahmed526

tobimaru said:

What are the CPU/GPU temperatures at while the laptop is in use? Overheating can cause BSOD's that generate the watchdog error. IF you don't have a way to monitor temperatures try HWiNFO - https://www.hwinfo.com/download/

More than likely, if overheating is the issue, your issue can be resolved by repasting the CPU and GPU inside the laptop with a better thermal paste than what was included from the factory.

It's also sometimes possible to install Nitro Sense or Predator Sense and utilize the CoolBoost feature which increases the fan speed under load. Some models don't have this feature, you'll have to check your particular model.

Thanks for the response.

I can't remember the temperature offhand but I did run tests for the temperature and found that it was in a normal range. The laptop did have coolboost installed. However, the laptop tends to crash before it's put under enough stress to overheat in the first place.

KannanPapers2020

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-52,
I bought it on feb2019, the screen get damaging due to the bad desgin on laptop..

Whenever we fold the laptop, that bending creates craches on the screen.. I thought itdi just a dust but it's craches..

What to do?? Can u please change it 

Kannan J
Chennai, Tamilnadu, India 

andylb

KannanPapers2020 said:

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-52,
I bought it on feb2019, the screen get damaging due to the bad desgin on laptop..

Whenever we fold the laptop, that bending creates craches on the screen.. I thought itdi just a dust but it's craches..

What to do?? Can u please change it 

Kannan J
Chennai, Tamilnadu, India 

Please start a new topic for your problem. Also we are not Acer support, this is a Forum for fellow users trying to help each other

andylb

Ahmed526 said:

TLDR: My laptop over the last month crashes so frequently it is unusable, my warranty expired two months ago, and I believe the processor is the issue, what can I do?

My Nitro 5 AN515-51 for several months has experienced crashes, however, they were infrequent. Over the last month, the frequency of the crashes has increased to the point that they occur every few minutes (almost immediately when the the laptop is plugged in). I've spent the last few weeks trying to diagnose the problem, doing a factory reset, removing all my files, a BIOS update/reset, booting windows from a USB, running virus scanning software, running RAM checks, and checks for corrupt files and haven't been able to find any problems there. I've also tried updating the drivers and windows, neither of which have worked. I've tried speaking with the acer support through live chat and the support solutions they've directed me towards have not worked either. The errors I get when my laptop crashses are WHEA Uncorrectable Error, Machine Check Exception, and Clock Watchdog Timeout. Having looked up these types of errors and exhausted all other methods to diagnose the issue, I'm led to believe the processor is faulty. I tried speaking with a customer support person about this and was told as my warranty expired about 2 months ago, I would need to pay 500 USD to have Acer repair it, which nears the price of buying an entirely new laptop. Which is frankly an absurd price for a laptop barely a year old. So, does anyone know of any other option or avenue I can try to get my laptop fixed?

Try downloading CPU-Z and stress test it, click bench then then stress, how does it do?

andylb

Also two other things, when you updated your Graphics drivers did you run DDU for a clean uninstall first then reinstall the drivers? second and I know it sounds simplistic, have you done a battery reset?