Question Troubleshoot monitor / GPU

[jimthenagual]

Im trying to help a friend fix his computer. I think it is a GPU issue. Could it be a monitor issue?

Sometimes the picture is perfect, sometimes it only shows half the screen with the other half portion glitched out. It's random when it works or doesn't

It's an Acer Nitro 5 laptop. Has a (weak) dedicated GPU.

 

[Lutfij]

Sometimes the picture is perfect, sometimes it only shows half the screen with the other half portion glitched out. It's random when it works or doesn't
Can you replicate the issue on command? If so, would be a good idea to pass on pictures or a video of the issue. Hosting said content on a site akin to Imgur, then passing a link for us to see.

It's an Acer Nitro 5 laptop.
Acer is teh brand of the laptop while Nitro 5 is the series it's based off of. Please look under the latopp to pass on the SKU for said laptop.

That being said, is the issue compounded to the laptop's own display? Can you hook the laptop up to an external display? Check to see if the laptop has any BIOS updates pending. Use DDU to remove all GPU drivers(intel, AMD and Nvidia) in Safe Mode, then manually install the latest GPU driver from your laptop's support site(initially) in an elevated command,(assuming you're on Windows OS) i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Make and model monitor? Age?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

List of all connected peripherals.

Wired or wireless network?

= = = =

"Random" noted. Look in Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer for error codes, warnings, or informational events that may have been logged at corresponding "random" times.

= = = =

What troubleshooting has been done?

E.g.:

Reinstall the GPU drivers via a manual download, installtion, and configuration. No third party tools or installers. Does the glitching stop?

Use another known working video cable to monitor. Does the glitching stop?

Use another known working monitor. Does the glitching stop?

Objective simply being to narrow down the list of potential culprits.

 

[bignastyid]

Can you attach an external monitor?

 

[jimthenagual]

Attaching a 2nd monitor works. No issue on 2nd monitor. So that means it has to be the monitor glitching randomly?

Acer model is A20C1

I will upload a pic of the screen in a minute.

Thanks for everyone's help on this.

 

[jimthenagual]

Here is a video of the issue.

Video1

 

[jimthenagual]

Downloading latest driver now.

Will update bios next.

 

[jimthenagual]

Updated video driver no fix.

I also noticed it happening during bios boot. Before windows even starts loading.

Has to be the monitor right? Even though it works perfectly for 30 secs at a time

 

[bignastyid]

I agree that it's likely the display where it doesn't occur on the external, but I couldn't find anything on the model you posted just a N20c1. It has a dedicated gpu and an igpu, if that is what you are working with it could be an issue with the MUX chip.

 

[jimthenagual]

Installed latest nvidia driver, as well as a bios update. No change.

I think the model name might be AN515-55

Thank you very much everyone for your help.

 

[MEMOFLEX]

This may sound strange but if you press against the bottom of the screen bezel does this make any difference to the screen? I have had a laptop do something similar and it was due to a dry solder joint on a connector that connected the screen to the main laptop

 

[jimthenagual]

I've tried pushing and twisting the monitor in various directions(lightly of course), and it doesn't change anything at all.