Acer Predator Orion PO5-640 Possible GPU issue? What should I do?

CraftyManBoy

Hope I am doing this right, let me know if not. I just got a pre-built gaming PC (Acer Predator Orion 5000, PO5-640-UB12) that came with a GeForce RTX 3080. Should be a pretty nice graphics card, but I have been having issues with artifacting and flickering, and occasional crashing (tho the crashing may likely not be related).

I have gone through several drivers (problem started end of Feb this year) in both GeForce Experience and device manager, rollbacks, GPU resets (win+ctrl+shift+b), changing monitors and display cables, and even full PC factory resets. I called Acer support and they had me send in the PC for service, but I got it back with a note that says they looked at the GPU and didn't find anything wrong. Don't know how hard they looked, but they said they did. I also have an ultrawide monitor, could that be causing issues? (I did try changing to a small monitor while it was flickering and the same thing happened) Lowering graphics settings a little didn't seem to help, and I have a nice enough GPU and CPU that I don't really want to play every game on super low settings, otherwise I would have just stayed on my laptop. I also changed the CPU fans, though I don't think that would affect things?

Here are some links to what the issue looks like:
https://i.imgur.com/34EZRIQ.mp4
https://i.imgur.com/P1wytzv.mp4

Its mostly the static-y sort of all over flashing, but there is also flickering present, and sometimes really, really bright areas (as seen in the second link).

What should I do? Should I hound support more? Any software or techniques I should try? I saved for several years for this computer and I really really want to use it. I am kind of out of ideas, but I think its a GPU thing, so any advice? Thank you so much in advance!

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title and to add issue detail]

chugzilla

wow, i watched both videos i have never seen anything like that, and if a full facotry reset where ya do the full wipe of the windows drive and all your apps didnt work, then ide say its defective unless someone here can suggest something, but what i think there going to tell you is to remove and reseat the GPU, then do a windows full factory reset then try again, and i assume this is happening on all your games and only when you are gaming? and where did ya buy it from and is your return window still open ?

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/682589/possible-gpu-issue

The Nvidia RTX3080 GPUs have had crashing and certain irregularity issues right from the start and when it was released, so you are not alone, as I would be getting onto Acer Support and demanding a new card. But, if an older drivers didn’t fix this snowing brightness issues and if you tried different cables maybe and if you have access to a different desktop, plug this RTX3080 into that, so that you can test the GPU if it works 100%, also when you send the desktop to Acer send those 2x videos with your desktop as proof, as that should not be happening with a 100% working card.

Also try to manually lower your GPU’s performance slightly using a third-party tool like MSI Afterburner or EVGA’s Precision X1. These applications are normally used for overclocking, but you can use them to reduce clock speed as well. Users who have encountered crashing report that dialling back the GPU clocks 30MHz to 100MHz can cause them to stop. Start with a smaller number first, as downclocking your graphics card will slightly reduce peak performance. Undervolting your GeForce RTX 3080 is another option, and one that could potentially improve power efficiency, but it’s more complicated.

Try all the above as it could also be a VRAM issue or an internal circuitry issue that needs an expert GPU tech to fix not just any tech down the road, but I would still demand that Acer replace the RTX3080 as its an expensive card and replacing and/or repairing these cards aint real cheap! If you cant get any results consult Tony at northwestrepair as he does repairs of GPUs and he’s an expert and has links to his repair workshop that you can make contact and get a quote for a problem like you have, so write to him as he will tell you exactly what is wrong with your RTX3080.

CraftyManBoy

@chugzilla Its not happening on all my games (no issues with Paladins or Valorant so far), but yes it only happens while gaming. I bought it from Best Buy and unfortunately the return window ended right before this issue started, but it is still in warranty.

@StevenGen I will try some of these fixes, thank you! I will update if they helped, but yeah I may need to be a little more demanding from support. I hope it doesn't come to that (or isn't hard) as I don't like using strong words, but I need this to work. 😅

chugzilla

did you get an extended warranty through bestbuy? if so they should be able to do an exchange defective.

Quick420

Those sort of artifacts happen when overclocking and push the memory too far.Fire up afterburner and lower the clocks for the memory down by -502 that is the max you can lower,after doing so check one of the games you have this issue with,see if artifacts are gone.I'd bet they are gone,but since it's under warranty still I'd rma it anyways.Is there an overclock being applied at boot? If so return to defaults.

CraftyManBoy

Unfortunately I do not have an extended warranty through Best Buy, but I do have warranty still under Acer.

@Quick420 I have tried lowering the memory, but only by -200. I will try -502 and see if that helps at all, but yeah I think I may need to still see if support can replace it or something.

chugzilla

yeah, with acer you will have to send it in to them, thats just how they do it, so goodluck and keep us posted n tc.

CraftyManBoy

Will do! I have already sent it in once and they said they found no issues, but I think they only checked it physically, not in performance. I will try to be a bit more stern I guess. 😅

chugzilla

well, im told if they cant replicate the problem you are having when they get it, they dont do anything, so that seems odd,,,how can it do that at your house and not at there shop lol, make sure ya attach pictures so they can see whats going on, and do you have any third party software or hardware that could be interfering by chance ?