Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-55 Random Unstable GPU Usage

I have the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-55, one of my fans recently stopped working and I got the fan replaced. Ever since then, I've noticed random unstable GPU Usage which makes every game unplayable because fps drops from 180 to 3 then back to 180 every second. when the GPU usage is unstable the power usage is also unstable. Below are the graphs where it shows the change from stable to unstable.

I've checked for damage that might have been caused by replacing the fan but no damage can be spotted and the RPM is the same as the old fan.

Reinstalled Drivers, reverted back to previous versions but has fixed it.

I thought it might be thermal throttling because my cpu gets quite hot (90-100c) so I repasted it, but it did not change. I also disabled turbo for the cpu so that the temps would be stable at 70 but again I still get unstable gpu usage. (and again, no damage was caused while repasting)

I've been able to get a temporary fix where i can play for 20 minutes or 2 hours without unstable gpu usage. The "fix" is selecting optimus as the display mode, then going to MSI afterburner and in the voltage/frequency curve editor, setting the max frequency to 1785 as seen below.

This fix lasts anywhere from 20 minutes to 2-3 hours and every time the gpu becomes unstable it seems to be caused by a different thing, but I have been able to notice/recreate some causes of the unstable GPU usage.

Alt-tabbing while in-game causes unstable GPU usage and The fix is either restarting game or pc.

Opening HWINFO while games are open seems to cause unstable GPU but sometimes having HWINFO open before i launch the game also seems to cause unstable GPU, the fix is to restart pc.

If I do manage to play games with the gpu finally stable, after a while of gaming the gpu becomes unstable, when this happens the Battery drops to 95% at the same time the gpu becomes unstable. It seems like the battery not being at 100% could be the cause but I have been able to play with stable gpu with the battery not at full charge.

I do plan on sending it to the acer care center once winter break starts because currently, this is my only way to do school work but Im not confident on this being fixed when i cant really pinpoint the issue.

Any suggestions or possible fixes are much appreciated

[Edited the thread to add model name to the title]

Accepted answers

All comments

JackE

fps drops from 180 to 3 then back to 180 every second. when the GPU usage is unstable t

What is PredatorSense GPU (not CPU) temperature when this happens?

Jouful

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1241715#Comment_1241715

The average seems to be 70 Celcius, ive seen as high as 78 and as long as 65. I also checked HWINFO when this would happen and it didn't show any thermal throttling happening

JackE

> one of my fans recently stopped working and I got the fan replaced.

(1) If it was the GPU fan, what do you estimate is the "HIGHEST" temperature the GPU endured after fan stopped working?

(2) How many times do you think the GPU reached the highest temperature before the fan was replaced?

a_happy_laptop_user

It seems like you've already taken several troubleshooting steps, and the issue appears to be quite complex. However, let's explore a few more suggestions:

1. BIOS Update:

Check Acer's official website for any BIOS updates for your Predator Helios 300 model. Sometimes, a BIOS update can provide fixes for hardware-related issues. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when updating the BIOS.

2. Power Settings:

Adjust your power settings in Windows to ensure that your system is configured for high performance. Sometimes, power-saving features can interfere with GPU stability.

Open the Power Options in Windows.
Select "High performance" as your power plan.

3. Windows Updates:

Ensure that your Windows operating system is fully updated. Sometimes, system updates include bug fixes and optimizations that can improve overall system stability.

4. GPU Stress Test:

Run a GPU stress test to see if the issue occurs consistently under heavy load. This might help in identifying if the problem is related to specific GPU loads.

5. Check Event Viewer:

Review the Windows Event Viewer for any system or application-related errors that coincide with the times you experience GPU instability. It might provide additional information about the root cause of the issue.

Press Win + X and select "Event Viewer."
Navigate to "Windows Logs" > "System" and "Application."

6. Check for Rogue Processes:

Monitor your system for any background processes or applications that might be causing intermittent spikes in GPU usage. Task Manager can help identify resource-hungry processes.

7. ThrottleStop for CPU Management:

Since you've mentioned high CPU temperatures, consider using a tool like ThrottleStop to manage CPU frequencies and voltages. This might help in stabilizing overall system performance.

8. Temperature Monitoring:

Keep an eye on both CPU and GPU temperatures during gameplay. Use tools like HWiNFO or MSI Afterburner to monitor temperature trends and ensure that your components are not overheating.

9. Contact Acer Support:

Given that your laptop is still under warranty, reaching out to Acer Support before sending it to the care center might be beneficial. They may provide specific guidance or recommend further diagnostic steps.

10. Backup Data:

Before sending your laptop for service, ensure that you've backed up all important data to prevent any potential data loss during the repair process.

If the issue persists after trying these suggestions, it's likely that Acer's service center will be the most effective route to a resolution. Documenting your troubleshooting steps and the specific conditions under which the issue occurs can also be helpful for the technicians who will be working on your laptop.

JackE

one of my fans recently stopped working and I got the fan replaced.

(1) If it was the GPU fan, what do you estimate is the "HIGHEST" temperature the GPU endured after fan stopped working?

(2) How many times do you think the GPU reached the highest temperature before the fan was replaced?

Jouful

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1241786#Comment_1241786

I didn't use my laptop much until it got replaced so I'd say the highest was probabably 75 if at all. It would have probably reached this temp twice before I replaced the fans

Jouful

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1241792#Comment_1241792

I already updated my Bios, changed the power settings, updated windows. I also ran throttlestop to disable turbo which put my cpu temps at 60 but the issue would still happen, but ill run event viewer and see if I can spot anything.

JackE

I thought it might be thermal throttling because my cpu gets quite hot (90-100c)

(1) How many times do you think CPU exceeded 92*C?

(2) Does CPU still exceed 92*C when discrete GPU stops?

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1241826#Comment_1241826

I don't know which gpu your PH315-55 has, as it would help if you told us, as your laptop model came with 4x different gpu's like the GN20-E3 – RTX3060 or the GN20-E5 – RTX3070 or the GN20-E6 - RTX3070Ti or the top of the range model came with the GN20-E7- RTX3080 GPU and the i7-12700H CPU.

Have you updated the Firmware to the dated: 2021/05/25 - Update Nvidia discrete VGA VBIOS and improve performance. - v102a - and the bios to latest Version 1.11 - have you set the gpu in the NVidia control panel to only run games and high-end software to the NVIDIA processor and are you playing your games within the GeForce Experience software and its settings for these games, as that is how you should be playing all the games with an NVidia gpu laptop and of course have the latest game ready gpu NVidia driver for your gpu? Try all these settings and methods, as you should NOT be having any problems with the NVidia software and settings, if you do then your laptops gpu is faulty and you need to have Acer Tech Support look at your laptop which should be under warranty, as those fps drops should NOT be happening in a perfectly operating new 12th Gen laptops gpu like the PH315-55. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

Btw, I speak from personal experience as my 2 years old Nitro AN515-56 with its 11th Gen i7 and its RTX3050 GPU with 32GB RAM is still operating perfectly without any fps drops and I'm playing high end games like Battlefield V and Assetto Corsa and F22 perfectly and never ever have any problems with this laptop with low fps, which you should NOT have with a brand-new 12th Gen Predator which is a superior spec gaming laptop than my Nitro, if its setup properly and it hasn't got faulty hardware, so make sure that you get Acer to sort your PH315-55 laptop out.

Jouful

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1241870#Comment_1241870

It comes with a 3070 ti and I did do all those steps. A new driver update came out two days ago and after updating the problems were gone. Kind of weird tho because when I went back to previous driver issues in my effort to fix the problem nothing changed. But i guess the new geforce driver update fixed my issue