Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-51 — No Display / No Boot Issue Keeps Returning (Tried All Fixes, Sti

shubhr861
shubhr861 Member Posts: 5

Tinkerer

Hi ,

I'm facing a recurring and extremely frustrating issue with my Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-51 (GTX 1060 model). I’ve tried nearly every solution and even involved the official service center, but the problem keeps coming back.

Issue Description:

  • When I press the power button:
    • Keyboard backlight turns on
    • Fan spins for a while, then stops
    • Display remains completely black — no Acer logo, no BIOS, no boot menu
    • Backlight stays on, but nothing is displayed
  • Tried connecting to external monitor — still no display

This happens whether the laptop is on battery or plugged in.

  • Opened the laptop myself:
    • No signs of burn marks, tampering, or repair.
    • tried reseat RAM and SSD

  • Purchased a new main battery and CMOS battery, as the Acer service center suspected they might be the cause.
    • Still faced the exact same issue again after 7–8 days.

Took it to the Acer Service Center TWICE (a 7-hour trip each time).

  • They “did something” and it worked both times for a few days — then same issue returned.
  • They didn’t explain what they actually fixed.

Current Situation:

This issue has now repeated 3 times in less than a month. I’m mentally exhausted and physically unable to keep traveling 7 hours to the service center again and again, only for the issue to return after a few days.

I strongly suspect this may be a BIOS/EC controller bug or a hardware-level fault (GPU/motherboard-related), as I’ve tried replacing the battery, testing with external display, full disassembly, etc.

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 17,578 Trailblazer

    Hi, this 2018 laptop may not run properly with Windows11 OS, the last BIOS is from 2019 and only Windows10 drivers are available on Acer Support. Microsoft will install W11 compatible drivers but there may be some update/driver issues, I don't recommend installing W11 version 24H2. Try reinstalling Windows10 22H2 with a USB flash drive or ask Acer Services in your country to install Windows10 OEM for you.

  • shubhr861
    shubhr861 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    edited June 11

    @Puraw

    There was no display issue. How can I install Windows without a screen? It's not booting; nothing shows when I click the power button. The keyboard backlights turn on, and the fans spin briefly before stopping.

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 14,616 Trailblazer
    edited June 11

    The problem you are having is because either the EC chip or the Chipset chips that control the pre and post boot cpu and imaging to your laptop are faulty, as and if your NVidia gpu is not affected and the laptop works sometimes and has an image, then its not the dedicated gpu but it could be its vram. A new and programmed EC chip is available for your PH315-51 model, but and if its the Chipset, then that could be a problem to get and find for the PH315-51 model or if its a vram, then you can't get that chip either.

    The red marked chips are the EC and Chipset chips fitted to the PH315-51 model, the EC chip is on the left and the Chipset chip is on the right.

    image.png

    Take you laptop to a specialist technician that can replace the EC chip and program them also or can get this chip and is prepared to search and buy a used Chipset chip for your PH315-51 laptop, as getting a good and workable Chipset chip is a problem as very few of them are for sale. Good luck and hope this gives you another option, otherwise buy a new mainboard as they are not too expensive on eBay or AliExpress.

    These are all the mainboards listed for the PH315-51 laptop model

    image.png

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

  • shubhr861
    shubhr861 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    @StevenGen it's not cheap ro buy a new board I checked it's approx $450

    Please check the video for more clarity.

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 14,616 Trailblazer
    edited June 19

    Do a Hard Reset of your PH315-51 laptop by following the below guide, as a last resort to see if you can unfreeze the EC, Chipset and bios chips, so that your laptop reboots. If the Hard Reset doesn't work, then you have either a burnt out gpu, or faulty, ram, or an eDP cable or faulty a faulty screen which all require you to take your laptop to an experienced technician so they can analyse the laptop and pinpoint the exact fault.

    Hard Reset - first press the power key for 15 seconds to release all power to the laptop. Then proceed to remove the RAM Door and the HDD Door and then take the Ram and the HDD out, then unscrew the fifteen (15) screws securing the lower case to the upper case. Starting from the left side, pry to release the left side latches, continue releasing the bottom side latches until the bottom case comes lose.

    After you finish, disconnect the main battery cable from the mainboard, then take the main battery out. Then disconnect the RTC/BIOS battery and then short the bios batteries + & - pins at the mainboard plug (as shown at the red circled mainboard plug) to reset CMOS.

    Screenshot 2025-06-19 180702.png

    Leave the laptop like that for at least 30 to 60 min so that EC, Chipset and bios chips reset completely and then reconnect everything, if you have 2x ram modules, only connect 1x ram module when you fist boot the laptop and alternate the two ram modules and see if its not the ram that is faulty and causing a black screen, as the laptop should turn on and boot properly with an image on the screen after a Hard Reset. Good luck and hope all this helps you out to fix this black screen problem(s).

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

  • shubhr861
    shubhr861 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    @StevenGen Thank you for your response. I've tried the reset trick you suggested, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I've already visited the Acer authorized service center, but the experience was terrible in my area. I'll take my device to someone else to see what the issue might be.

    I'm also looking for a replacement motherboard, but I've noticed that it's mainly available in the USA and China, not in India. Even if I buy it from abroad, the customs fees might double the cost of the motherboard, which doesn't make sense for me to import it.

  • shubhr861
    shubhr861 Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    @StevenGen

    Hey, can you please tell me about this website - https://www.zaptechgn.com/product/acer-predator-ph315-51-78np-i7-8750h-2-2ghz-gtx1060-6gb-motherboard-nbq3f11001/

    Here the MB listed only for $8 and with shipping its cost me approx $40. Is this a legit site?

    I mean they're operating from USA so I thought you might familiar with the site. Please me about this.