Question Gaming Laptop freezes when starting games ?

[gendermutt]

I just made an account here because I couldn't find any solutions to my issue online. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum or if I get anything wrong.

More than a year ago I got a new Acer Nitro AN16-41 Gaming Laptop, and in the last year or so I have started to encounter an issue where my laptop will freeze for a few seconds and make the Windows device connect noise when starting and closing games. In the last month, however, when I try to start more recent and graphically intensive games (ie: Need for Speed: Unbound, Horizon Forbidden West, and Assassin's Creed Shadows) the display will freeze, the disconnect sound will play, then the connect sound, and then a second disconnect sound, and then the display will stay frozen. Audio, however, will continue to play despite this.

Eventually the laptop will restart itself or I will have to hard power it down it by holding the power button. I have tried rolling back my drivers, doing a clean install of my drivers using DDU, installing the most recent stable BIOS, and nothing seems to work. I'm kind of out of ideas at this point and any help would be appreciated.

Specs:
OS: Microsoft Windows 11 Home
OS Version: 10.0.26100 Build 26100
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
GPU Driver: 566.36
CPU/Integrated Graphics: AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS w/ Radeon 760M Graphics
CPU Driver: 25.3.1
Ram: 16GB

I don't know if it's relevant or helpful, but I also have an external Samsung 5TB SSD. Also the Nividia app says there is no display connected to the GPU but in the Nividia control panel the prefered graphics processor is the Nividia one.

Edit: I have reinstalled Windows 11 if that helps.

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Regarding DDU, you're advised to remove all GPU drivers(Intel, AMD and Nvidia) in Safe Mode, then manually install the latest version sourced from Nvidia's support site.

I would disassemble the laptop and see if the vents on the laptop are clogged or restricted with dirt/debris. While doing this step, I'd look into replacing the thermal paste and pads with something higher in quality. Following that, I'd reinstall the OS in offline mode. While in offline mode, install all relevant drivers with the latest versions in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.

Moved thread to Laptop Tech Support section from Systems section.

 

[gendermutt]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Regarding DDU, you're advised to remove all GPU drivers(Intel, AMD and Nvidia) in Safe Mode, then manually install the latest version sourced from Nvidia's support site.

I would disassemble the laptop and see if the vents on the laptop are clogged or restricted with dirt/debris. While doing this step, I'd look into replacing the thermal paste and pads with something higher in quality. Following that, I'd reinstall the OS in offline mode. While in offline mode, install all relevant drivers with the latest versions in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.

Moved thread to Laptop Tech Support section from Systems section.

Thank you for responding! Sorry for the late response, it was getting pretty late and I don't like to mess important stuff after dark.

I have checked the vents and there was nothing clogging them, and I will have to replace the thermal past and pads at a later date. I have reinstalled my OS and reinstalled my drivers in offline mode and I still seem to be having some issues. Assassin's Creed Shadows had multiple performance issues, despite having none before hand, and my GPU driver crashed when trying to load into a game in Need for Speed Unbound.

Edit: I am starting to think this may be a hardware issue with my Nvidia GPU.

 

[dooh]

It is not a hardware issue, just created an account to answer you. Latest Nvidia driver is bad and breaks something on the switching between the iGPU and the GPU. Downgrade to the December driver by following the advice of @Lutfij to uninstall from safe mode.

During my research I think the issue is more related to the Nvidia App than the driver, and as soon as you reopen the Nvidia App with the downgraded driver, the issue reappears.

Unfortunately I have not seen many reports regarding this issue.

 

[gendermutt]

It is not a hardware issue, just created an account to answer you. Latest Nvidia driver is bad and breaks something on the switching between the iGPU and the GPU. Downgrade to the December driver by following the advice of @Lutfij to uninstall from safe mode.

During my research I think the issue is more related to the Nvidia App than the driver, and as soon as you reopen the Nvidia App with the downgraded driver, the issue reappears.

Unfortunately I have not seen many reports regarding this issue.

I reinstalled just the driver without the Nvidia app and it seems to be working so far! It's only been a few hours so I don't know if it's all fixed just yet, so I'll be back in a few days to report.

 

[gendermutt]

Okay after a few days, I am still having issues with my GPU, so reinstalling the drivers without the Nvidia app wasn't a complete fix.

 

[burali]

Hey. I registered just to say same here (i have nitro an16-41).Problem from Nvidia drivers as a temporary solution need reinstall. For me the problem recurs when I reinstall the driver and reopen the laptop after playing games and shutting down the laptop