Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 GPU Fan Not Spinning Windows 11

The GPU fan on your Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 is not spinning during gaming – temperatures climb to 90 degrees or more and performance throttles. Or the GPU fan does not spin at idle which is normal, but now it is not spinning even at high load which indicates a problem. This guide covers both scenarios.

This guide covers NitroSense fan control settings, fan curve configuration, and hardware fan checks to diagnose and fix GPU fan issues on the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 in Windows 11.

“Nitro 5 GPU hit 95 degrees in games and I could only hear the CPU fan. The GPU fan was completely dead at all loads. Turned out the fan cable came loose. Reseated it and the fan worked again.” – Izzudin, mechanical engineering student from Johor

Understanding GPU Fan Behavior on Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58

The Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 has two fans with a zero-RPM profile at low temperatures. The GPU fan does not spin when GPU temperature is below 60-65 degrees. This is normal and reduces noise during light workloads. If the GPU reaches 65 degrees and the fan still does not spin, or if the GPU fan does not spin at all even at 85-90 degrees, there is either a software or hardware issue.

• Zero-RPM fan profile normal below 60 degrees – fan not spinning at idle is expected
• Fan curve in NitroSense set too conservatively keeping GPU fan off too long
• Fan connector loose after transport or when bottom panel was removed previously
• Fan motor bearing seized – fan no longer spins even when commanded

Fix 1 – Set Manual Fan Control in NitroSense

Open Acer NitroSense (pre-installed or available from Acer Support). Go to Fan Control and switch from Auto to Manual mode. Set the GPU fan minimum speed to 30-40 percent. Click Apply. Under manual mode the GPU fan will always spin at least at the minimum speed you set. Verify in NitroSense that the GPU fan RPM increases when you raise the slider – this confirms the fan hardware is functional.

Fix 2 – Update Acer NitroSense and EC Firmware

Go to acer.com/support, search for Nitro 5 AN515-58, and download the latest NitroSense software and any Embedded Controller (EC) firmware update. EC firmware controls the fan curves and GPU fan profile. An older EC version may have a fan curve bug that keeps the GPU fan off longer than intended during gaming workloads.

Check Fan with HWiNFO64

Download and run HWiNFO64 in Sensors mode. Look for Nitro 5 Fan Speed readings. Play a demanding game for 5 minutes and monitor GPU temperature and fan speed. If GPU temperature exceeds 80 degrees and Fan 2 (GPU fan) shows 0 RPM, the fan hardware may be faulty. If Fan 2 shows increasing RPM alongside temperature, the fan is working and the thermal issue is a different cause.

Fix 3 – Reseat GPU Fan Connector

Power off completely and remove the battery. Remove the bottom panel screws (usually 8-10 Phillips screws). Locate the GPU fan (typically the fan on the GPU side of the heatsink). Find the fan cable running to the motherboard header. Gently unplug and re-plug the connector ensuring it is fully seated with a click. Loose fan connectors are a common cause of GPU fan not spinning on Nitro 5 after shipping or previous disassembly.

Fix 4 – Replace GPU Fan

If the GPU fan connector is secure but the fan still does not spin in manual NitroSense at 100 percent, the fan motor bearing has seized. Replacement fans for Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 are available from Acer or third-party suppliers by searching the laptop model and GPU fan part number visible on the fan label. Replacement is straightforward after bottom panel removal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is GPU fan not spinning on Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58?

Fan not spinning at idle is normal (zero-RPM profile below 65 degrees). If not spinning at 80+ degrees, use NitroSense manual mode or check the fan connector is fully seated.

How do I force GPU fan on in Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58?

Open Acer NitroSense – Fan Control – Manual mode – set GPU fan minimum to 30-40 percent. Apply to keep the fan running continuously.

Does Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 use a dual fan setup?

Yes – separate CPU fan and GPU fan, both controllable independently in Acer NitroSense. Both exhaust through the rear vent.

What temperatures are normal on Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 GPU?

75-85 degrees under gaming load is normal. Above 90 degrees indicates a fan or airflow problem.

Conclusion

GPU fan not spinning on Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58 at idle is normal zero-RPM behavior. If the fan does not spin at gaming load temperatures above 80 degrees, use NitroSense manual fan control to verify hardware function, then reseat the GPU fan connector if the fan does not respond to the slider. EC firmware update from Acer Support corrects fan curve bugs. If the fan does not spin at 100 percent manual setting, the fan bearing has seized and requires replacement.