Faulty RX560

legzakimbo24 · November 2020

I've struggled to play games on my Acer Nitro AN515-42 (Ryzen 5 with RX560) since I first had it, I had assumed it was down to drivers or Windows issues. The main issue is that most (now nearly all) games freeze and lock up the system and the only way to get the system back up and running. I've recently disabled my RX560 in device manager and forced games to play through the Vega Graphics and it seems stable (it's worth noting the system never freezes as a media and browsing machine, only on games). The machine is over a year old, so I'm wondering what I can do from here, I assume its either the RX560 or the graphics memory that's faulty, but I was wondering if there is anything I can do to specifically test it, or work out the easiest (and cheapest) way to repair it. Any help appreciated.

GAMING6698 · November 2020

@legzakimbo24
Download userbenchmark then run and post result page link here

legzakimbo24 · November 2020

Thanks, Link below

https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/35139394

UserBenchmarks: Game 14%, Desk 70%, Work 13%

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U - 70.6%

GPU: AMD RX Vega 8 (Ryzen iGPU) - 10.6%

SSD: HFS128G39TND-N210A 128GB - 54.6%

HDD: Toshiba MQ04ABF100 1TB - 79.5%

RAM: Micron 4ATF51264HZ-2G6E1 2x4GB - 68.2%

MBD: Acer Nitro AN515-42

(It failed to identify the RX560X even though I enabled it and restarted)

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/ds/owjp8kpasu2u.png

GAMING6698 · November 2020

@legzakimbo24
Just follow these steps and play your games→

-set high performance in nitrosense both AC AND BATTERY THEN CLOSE

-After setting up from nitrosense right click on battery option in taskbar and go to power option

-then go to change plan setting (right side of the high performance plan)

-Then go to change advance power settings

-Then find and expand Switchable Dynamic Graphics then expand Global Settings and set maximize performance in both PLUGGED IN AND ON BATTERY

-then find amd graphics power settings then expand Amd powerplay settings and set maximize performance in both PLUGGED IN AND ON BATTERY

-set maximum performance if you have this option available

Btw, you can also follow this guide
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/612495/windows-10-optimization-guide-for-gaming

legzakimbo24 · November 2020

Thanks again, have adjusted the power settings.

Retested the benchmark and it came back:

UserBenchmarks: Game 20%, Desk 68%, Work 17%

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U - 57.7%

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 560X - 24.7%

SSD: HFS128G39TND-N210A 128GB - 57%

HDD: Toshiba MQ04ABF100 1TB - 79.6%

RAM: Micron 4ATF51264HZ-2G6E1 2x4GB - 60%

MBD: Acer Nitro AN515-42

Have also completed all the steps on Windows 10 optimization guide (I thought the game mode one looked like it was promising)

Just ran Planet Coaster and after 15 minutes it just froze again, nothing I could do but restart.

My reliability monitor looks like this (Only reinstalled Windows yesterday)

I still suspect there is a hardware issue with the RX560X ?

Anything else I can try?

GAMING6698 · November 2020

@lagzakimbo24
1)No, this is normal score is expected
You can compare my userbenchmark with yours
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/32161127
And post your new userbenchmark result link

2)Bro Don't use any third party software just uninstall it

I)What is your chipset driver version and amd radeon software version?
II) is this happening in all games of only one?

legzakimbo24 · November 2020

@GAMING6698

i) RX560X Chipset Version I think is (if not please confirm how I get this)

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/zu/evaqhya9kj5c.png

The AMD Version is

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/dq/d6z420s9p9ep.png

ii) It happens in most games, the only one that doesn't crash (or crash a lot) is World of Warcraft, with all settings to Ultra it seems to run fine. Most games play OK for up to 5 mins (sometimes 15) and then just freeze and lock the machine up, no restart, can't CTRL-ALT-DEL, you just have to physically reset the machine. All games running on the Vega Chip run fine (or as well as they can)

GAMING6698 · November 2020

@legzakimbo24
Download and install this latest chipset driver software
https://www.amd.com/en/support/chipsets/socket-fp5-mobile/amd-ryzen-and-athlon-mobile-chipset

legzakimbo24 · November 2020

Thanks again, installed that, again seemed OK, but still had 2 lockups tonight, one blue screen error (with a driver stuck in thread error) and the event shows:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/a7/a35gnulwv6jf.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/bi/zoip4nf9pix1.png

Incidentally, it did play WOW for an hour without crashing. I don't know whether it's temperamental or just faulty

GAMING6698 · November 2020

@legzakimbo24
Follow these steps and check again→

Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Type in the following text, and then press Enter.
powercfg.cpl
In the Power Options window, under Select a power plan, choose High Performance
Click on change plan settings(The change plan settings option will be on the right side of the high performance power plan)
click on changed advanced power settings
New window will open, just scroll down expand PCI Express then expand Link State Power Management mode
Under Setting Plugged in, open the drop down menu, select Off
Apply and ok

legzakimbo24 · November 2020

Hi again, just made those changes, it's definitely working better but still freezing

In answer to your questions.

It rarely goes over 75C on the temperature on any game
It doesn't have a warranty

Total War Warhammer II and World of Warcraft never crash, other games (Planet Coaster & Rimworld to name 2) last about 15 mins and just freeze

Also thanks for the assistance so far it is appreciated!

GAMING6698 · November 2020

@legzakimbo24
I think there is problem with that game not your gpu.

Check if other gamers also report about these games after crashing

legzakimbo24 · November 2020

I've been testing it on various games and it is just unpredictable, even games that it works on OK still crash and blue screen. I think there is an intermittent hardware issue here, but it could be drivers.

Thanks for your help on this, at least my machine is quicker.