The Nvidia GPU Problem
Sunday, December 28, 2008
There is a lot of finger-pointing. There is a lot of information online, some accurate, some inaccurate. There are a lot of bad Nvidia chips in laptops, slimline desktops and maybe desktops, depending on who you ask.
Certain Nvidia video chips will prematurely fail. When they fail the computer will have distorted video, lines in the screen or no video/no boot. Certain computers that have a video problem will produce 1 long, 2 short beeps when powered on.
HP, Dell & Apple computers are affected and are being fixed for free, for a limited time. But are the defective parts being replaced with more defective parts? We're having a difficult time trying to find out for sure, as there is more conflicting information online and companies are lying or incorrect. For example, here on Apple's site it says that NVIDIA assured Apple that Mac computers with Nvidia 8600M GT GPUs were not affected but after an Apple-led investigation Apple determined that some of them are defective and offered a free extended warranty.
The Enquirer says all G84 and G86 GPUs are affected in an article here.
Reports are popping up online about desktop graphics cards using the G92 & G94 GPUs are failing at abnormally high rates. The G92 chip is used in the 8800GT, 8800GTS, 8800GS, several mobile 8800, most of the 9800, and a few 9600. The G94 is basically only the 9600GT.
If you own an affected model there will be an available BIOS update which will make your fans run more often. From what we could find online this will simply delay the failure if you have an affected chip, and with the warranties being time sensitive, what are you supposed to do?
Anyways, we'll be following up with more news here as it becomes available. As of December 2008, computers under recall or having an extended warranty include:
DELL:
Inspiron 1420
Latitude D620
Latitude D630
Latitude D630c
Latitude D820
Latitude D830
Precision M2300
Precision M4300
Precision M65
Vostro 1310
Vostro 1400
Vostro 1510
Vostro 1710
XPS M1330
XPS M1530
HP:
DV2000
DV20xx
DV21xx
DV22xx
DV23xx
DV24xx
DV6000
DV60xx
DV61xx
DV62xx
DV63xx
DV64xx
DV9000
DV90xx
DV92xx
DV93xx
DV94xx
Compaq:
V3000
V30xx
V31xx
V32xx
V33xx
V34xx
V6000
V60xx
V62xx
V63xx
V64xx
MacBook Pro:
Laptops using the 8600GM GT graphics processor
A list of HP slimline desktops may be foun on HP's site here.
If you own one of these computers please visit the manufacturer's page for more information:
Dell's coverage: "Limited Warranty Enhancement"
HP's "Limited Warranty Service Enhancement" for laptops.
HP's "Limited Warranty Service Enhancement" for slimline desktops.
Apple's KB T2377
Other references:
CNET's coverage.
Tom's Hardware coverage.
UPDATE 08/19/2009: Sony has problems with some VGN-FZ11*, VGN-FZ18*, VGN-FZ21*, VGN-FZ31*, VGN-FZ38*, VGN-AR11*, VGN-AR21*, VGN-AR31*, VGN-C1Z*, VGN-C2Z*, VGC-LM1**, VGC-LM2**, VGC-LT1**, VGC-LT2**. For more information on the Vaio laptops affected please see our Sony laptops with defective nVIDIA GPU page.
Labels: nvidia
posted by AbsoluteRaleigh @ 7:10 PM,
10 Comments:
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At 7:47 AM,
Aliengamer said...
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I own an Alienware M5550 laptop and the Nvidia geforce go 7600 has failed in it. I was wondering if you could tell me which other laptop cards fit in my laptop and where I could purchase them.
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At 10:05 AM,
AbsoluteRaleigh said...
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Not sure, usually once an Alienware breaks you have a big expensive paperweight. I believe those also shipped with the ATI Radeon x1400. If you're the original buyer your best bet would be to contact Alienware- they usually won't help unless you're the original owner. If you find out any more info please et us know.
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At 11:03 AM,
John said...
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I have an Hp dv2214us notebook that powers on but has no display. Called Hp and they said the warranty enhancement for this problem had ended in may and it would not be covered. I am trying to decide to send it in for repair. I was told if it was the motherboard, it would cost $425.
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At 11:34 AM,
AbsoluteRaleigh said...
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John: Sounds like you have the GPU problem as well. We're hearing about it daily now. That is aka RP412UA, which was affected by the defective GPUs. Anyways, we can replace the board here @ $325, beating HP's price by a hundred bucks. If you fix it you could get some more use out of it, but to be perfectly honest, it will break again.
We do buy DV2000s for cash, too. -
At 12:51 PM,
Seth said...
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Hello,
I have an Asus M50VM running an NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GS. Is that an affected GPU?
BTW, I have an older HP laptop that has lost a key on the laptop. How much would you guys charge to fix that. Is there a chance that the only way to repair it is to replace the whole keyboard? Normally these keys pop right back on but in this case the little L brackets for the key seemed slightly bent and I could not get it to go on and eventually broke the key.
Thanks for the info. Love your blog.
Seth -
At 1:49 PM,
AbsoluteRaleigh said...
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Seth: Does your Asus w/ 9600M GS have a problem? The 9600* is G94 based. We've seen them bad but at this point in time they seem to perform great with no excessive failures.
As for keys- if you're local drop by one day and we'll replace the key for $20. We stock 99% of them. -
At 2:25 PM,
Seth said...
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Thanks for your reply.
No...I have had no problems with my asus. But I just couldn't get firm bead on whether or not the model I gave was based on the bad gpu. Glad to know its solid. For the record this asus is the best computer I have ever owned. I love it.
I am not local...I am in greenville, sc but I am willing to ship it. Will let you know when I am ready to do that.
Seth -
At 2:03 AM,
crazycanadian2k2 said...
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I just repaired a friends DV64XX laptop. using a basic trick, and a dangerous tool. a propane torch.
there are no visual burns to the board, but so far its performing flawlessly.
Absolute raleigh, you guys should hire me. i need work and i've successfully performed critical hard drive platter swaps, and all sorts of silly things most people would never in the right mind attempt. -
At 3:26 PM,
AbsoluteRaleigh said...
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crazycanadian2k2: LOL! That was the funniest reply we've had. We can't tell if you're serious or not but we can agree that you are crazy.
A propane tool itself isn't dangerous, unless a crazy person is using it.
If you reflowed the GPU using a propane torch that is hilarious. We wonder if this is possible. Most people use a hot air gun. You're almost on to something here. "reflowing" these GPUs may be possible but the problem lies in the solder balls for the BGA package which means they're going to come loose again. Even if you used the proper tools this won't last very long if it even really did work in the first place. "Reballing" would be the proper solution but it is so time consuming even for someone with the equipment it isn't even worth doing in the first place.
Anyways, thanks for the reply and if you can become good at repairing bad BGAs you will not need a job. -
At 9:22 AM,
AbsoluteRaleigh said...
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Bad GPU victims on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46942696034
