AN515-55-55SM Dedicated GPU stops working while gaming

Hello,

I bought back in January 2021 an Acer Nitro 5, model AN515-55-55SM NH.Q7QET.002.

i5-10300H, 8 GB Ram (expanded to 16), Nvidia 2060, 512 GB ssd, Windows 10 Home.

Until this morning everything seemed fine, I was playing Far Cry 6 without issues. I traveled to another city and once turned on the PC, the HDMI wasn't working. So I checked, and the PC wasn't recognizing the 2060.

Tried to update the drivers, and the hdmi restarted working, only to BSOD with the error VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR.

Used the DDU tool to remove old drivers and put the latest from Nvidia site (560.94-notebook-win10-win11-64bit-international-dch-whql).

After the last step, everything seemed back to normal, so I tried to play Far Cry 6, but after 40 minutes or so, the hdmi switched off, the game crashed and device manager wasn't listing the Nvidia GPU anymore and showed the alert icon on Intel UHD Graphics, but its drivers were already the latest.

So I tried a battery reset: my Nitro has no detachable battery and no pin to press on its back, so I turned it off, disconnected all the cables and pressed the power button for one minute. Left it off and disconnected for 40 minutes.

Tried again, and the problem it's still there: 30 minute session in Far Cry 6, then crash and same errors as before (no nvidia in device manager, alert on Intel uhd despite latest drivers).

I couldn't find anything else online about the matter.

Has anybody any info on this problem and how to solve it?

Thanks for reading my post.

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

Accepted answers

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AnhEZ28

@TK_gpuProblems

Check the GPU temperature in Nitrosense and gaming. Run the game for around 3-5 minutes and check the temperature. It should not be around 85C. If that is the case, turn off the game and get the laptop's internal cleaned immediately.

Axxo

There can be several reasons why your GPU suddenly stopped working while you were gaming. Here are some possible causes:-

Power supply issues: If your power supply is faulty, it may not be providing enough power to your GPU, causing it to shut down. Make sure that your power supply is providing enough power to your GPU and that all the cables are properly connected.
Overclocking: If you have overclocked your GPU, it may be unstable and causing issues. Try resetting the GPU to its default clock speed and see if that resolves the issue. Driver issues: If your GPU drivers are outdated or corrupted, it may be causing the GPU to stop working. Try updating your GPU drivers to the latest version.
Hardware failure: If none of the above solutions work, there may be a hardware failure with your GPU. This could be due to a faulty component, such as the graphics processor or memory. In this case, you may need to replace the GPU.
It is also worth noting that some GPUs have a safety mechanism that shuts them down when they reach a certain temperature. However, you mentioned that your GPU did not overheat, so this is likely not the cause of the issue.
If none of the above solutions work, it may be worth taking your GPU to a professional for further diagnosis and repair.

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saintjoseph1226

Here are some suggestions to try:

Check for Overheating: Gaming can push your GPU hard, and overheating could cause the GPU to shut down temporarily. Use a tool like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to monitor temperatures while gaming.
Power Settings: Make sure your Windows power plan is set to “High Performance” and check NVIDIA Control Panel settings to ensure the dedicated GPU is preferred for games.
BIOS Update: Sometimes a BIOS update from Acer can improve hardware compatibility and fix GPU issues. Check Acer’s support page for the latest BIOS for your model.
Windows Updates: Ensure Windows is fully updated, as some GPU-related fixes come through Windows patches.
Clean Install of GPU Drivers: You’ve already used DDU, which is great. After that, also try installing an older stable NVIDIA driver (instead of the latest), as sometimes the newest driver can have bugs.
Hardware Test: Since the GPU disappears from Device Manager, this could indicate hardware failure. You could run hardware diagnostics if Acer provides any, or try a bootable tool like HWiNFO or GPU-Z to see if the card is recognized before Windows loads.
Check Physical Connections: Though less common in laptops, a loose internal connection could cause issues—if comfortable, you could check the internal GPU seating or have a technician do it.

If none of these steps help, it’s possible the GPU or motherboard has a hardware fault, especially given the sudden onset and consistent failure under gaming load. At that point, contacting Acer support for repair or warranty service might be necessary.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you need guidance on any of these steps.

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