Oh ****, Its Worse Than I Thought

Overheal · 12-08-2008 11:27PM #1

Instead of going to bed thinking well maybe the Inquirer was wrong and it was only a few cards that were affected...

The Inquirer has posted a new article today, Blasting In addition to the 8400/8500/8600/8700s, They're also including the 8800s, the 9600 and 9800s

Last month, the Inquirer made the shocking accusation that every Nvidia graphics card with the G84 and G86 chipsets were bad (every 8-series card up to the 8800 basically). Nvidia said that's crap, but the Inquirer said it was all a big cover up. Now the Inquirer is reporting that "four board partners are seeing G92 and G94 chips going bad in the field at high rates." That would mean all of the GeForce 8800 GT, GTS and GS desktop cards, the mobile 8800s, and most of the 9600 and 9800 series graphics cards are defective. All summed up, the Inquirer is saying almost the entire run of 8 and 9-series GeForce cards are defective and "going bad in the field at high rates." More than that, they say that Nvidia will continue to cover it up because the cost of admitting the nature of the problem would be devastating, meaning we'll never know for sure. We'll just have to watch for anecdotes to pile up. We're really hoping they're wrong on this one—that's a lot of graphics cards, and if true, it could basically destroy Nvidia.

PogMoThoin · 13-08-2008 07:53AM

I'd take anything in the Inquirer with a pinch of salt. Not The best source TBH

Overheal · 13-08-2008 01:19PM

no its not but sometimes they can scare a good story out of its hole. They covered the John Edwards sex scandal a year before anyone else

Anti · 13-08-2008 01:28PM

I wouldnt believe it at all. They are always way off the mark. It was probably only a bad batch.

Cuddlesworth · 13-08-2008 02:10PM

I think Inquirer hit its high point when they registered the name.

AlmightyCushion · 13-08-2008 06:16PM

PogMoThoin wrote: »

I'd take anything in the Inquirer with a pinch of salt.

Really? I'd take anything the Inquirer says with an entire salt mines worth of salt. I've always liked the inquirer though, 'tis an entertaining read.

pwd · 14-08-2008 01:31PM

My m1530 gets hot a hell alright. I find that raising the back of it gives more space to the ventilation holes at the back and the bottom and helps keep it cool a lot. It seem especially important to keep the one at the back clear anyway.

Cuddlesworth · 14-08-2008 01:34PM

pwd wrote: »

My m1530 gets hot a hell alright. I find that raising the back of it gives more space to the ventilation holes at the back and the bottom and helps keep it cool a lot. It seem especially important to keep the one at the back clear anyway.

So the exact same as every other laptop then.

pwd · 14-08-2008 01:39PM

I thought someone would make a smart remark like that alright :rolleyes:
The same a other laptops with proper graphic cards in them - not the same as every laptop then, no. It's a more important consideration if it's more likely to have a system failure though so worthy of remark.

Overheal · 14-08-2008 02:55PM

Graphics: GPU-Z

CPU: Real Temp

Pre-Repairs I ran idle at 72 C
Post-Repairs I'm down to 44

Cuddlesworth · 14-08-2008 03:09PM

pwd wrote: »

I thought someone would make a smart remark like that alright :rolleyes:

The same a other laptops with proper graphic cards in them - not the same as every laptop then, no. It's a more important consideration if it's more likely to have a system failure though so worthy of remark.

If any laptop becomes too hot while sitting flat on a surface and needs to be raised in order to avoid failure then it is a very very badly designed laptop and should be immediately returned since it is incapable of doing the advertised role. That includes so called "gaming laptops".

Would you accept a desktop system that required you to have the side panel removed because it was overheating?

OVERHEAL wrote:

Pre-Repairs I ran idle at 72 C
Post-Repairs I'm down to 44

Could that not have been through bad mounting of the heatsink or thermal paste? It's interesting to see that chips created through the same process at the same voltage can read such large temperature differences otherwise.

I would have assumed the "newer" chips would have solved the flaws that caused them to break rather then a huge drop in temps.

Overheal · 14-08-2008 03:44PM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Could that not have been through bad mounting of the heatsink or thermal paste? It's interesting to see that chips created through the same process at the same voltage can read such large temperature differences otherwise.

I would have assumed the "newer" chips would have solved the flaws that caused them to break rather then a huge drop in temps.

Well, Yes. But I dont know:

I mean, Yes, according to some websites usrs have managed to repair their card performance significantly after a manual re-build of the heat sink and re-applying new thermal paste. So that would explain it if it were just one, maybe 2 manufacturers (Dell and HP) but there have been problems among other OEM laptops too afaik. All I know is my repair form says new system Board, New Heat Sink. And TBH I dont know how much of the heat before was attributable to dust: Without taking apart the keyboard and all that, my laptop does not have an easy-hatch to the CPU/GPU so its impossible to dust under warranty.

ressem · 14-08-2008 04:42PM

So far, it's cost Nvidia $196 million in one off charges, according to their last earnings report. So it looks like it should be manageable for them if it isn't repeated over 2 or 3 more quarters.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D92H09M00.htm

Though I wonder whether it's the same GPU issue that hit my NVS110 (7300 equivalent) based laptop last week, taking out the motherboard.

Silenceisbliss · 15-08-2008 02:42PM

pwd wrote: »

My m1530 gets hot a hell alright. I find that raising the back of it gives more space to the ventilation holes at the back and the bottom and helps keep it cool a lot. It seem especially important to keep the one at the back clear anyway.

OMG! jus by the way...if you open your window, or turn down the radiators...this will also cool down the laptop a bit :rolleyes:

Tigger · 15-08-2008 05:08PM

i'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest you are a virgin

get laid get alife there is no need to be so sarcastic

Cuddlesworth · 15-08-2008 05:56PM

Overheal wrote: »

Well, Yes. But I dont know:

I mean, Yes, according to some websites usrs have managed to repair their card performance significantly after a manual re-build of the heat sink and re-applying new thermal paste. So that would explain it if it were just one, maybe 2 manufacturers (Dell and HP) but there have been problems among other OEM laptops too afaik. All I know is my repair form says new system Board, New Heat Sink. And TBH I dont know how much of the heat before was attributable to dust: Without taking apart the keyboard and all that, my laptop does not have an easy-hatch to the CPU/GPU so its impossible to dust under warranty.

Tbh most Oem manufacturer laptops I have taken apart, I have been shocked at the contact between the chips and the heatsinks. I have always had a feeling that low power/heat chips for laptops are really just accommodating bad manufacturing process's in the design and application of heatsinks.

For laptops that are difficult to clean, I use a can of compressed air sent back through the heatsink against the normal direction of the airflow.

Overheal · 15-08-2008 10:54PM

Did that about 9 months into the purchase, but nothing came out. Its hard to visualise what the air flow is like without having any firsthand experience with the guts of this machine: I've got the HDD and Ram panels to play with but real-estate wise those are a mile off.

Silenceisbliss · 18-08-2008 10:07AM

Tigger wrote: »

i'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest you are a virgin

get laid get alife there is no need to be so sarcastic

that wounded me to the core man....*ouch* (oh crap....sarcasm again....OH NOES!

) just messing man, dont take it seriously:pac:.

but on a more serious note, methods of reducing temperatures. as i already mentioned, undervolting and the copper mod, I wanted to ask about just removing the plastic cover below the cooling assmbly. will that reduce temps significantly you reckon?, or am i gonna mess up the airflow?. the yoke usually just sits on my desk these days anyway, so damage in transit isnt really an issue

ps, there is ALWAYS just cause for sarcasm....always

Silenceisbliss · 18-08-2008 10:10AM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Tbh most Oem manufacturer laptops I have taken apart, I have been shocked at the contact between the chips and the heatsinks. I have always had a feeling that low power/heat chips for laptops are really just accommodating bad manufacturing process's in the design and application of heatsinks.

also meant to ask what ur solution to this is? you clean and re-apply thermal paste tightening the screws a bit? or something more drastic?

Cuddlesworth · 18-08-2008 10:21AM

Silenceisbliss wrote: »

also meant to ask what ur solution to this is? you clean and re-apply thermal paste tightening the screws a bit? or something more drastic?

I don't do anything since I care little about what happens to the laptops. If they break I get the parts and repair them.

Silenceisbliss · 18-08-2008 11:49AM

work ethic and pride in your job FTW!:pac:

kaimera · 19-08-2008 07:42AM

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/08/18/nvidia-gpu-update-dell-to-offer-warranty-enhancement-to-all-affected-customers-worldwide.aspx

no 1500 on that list unless teh 1510 is it..

Silenceisbliss · 19-08-2008 08:40AM

how long would it take to get it replaced after sending it back to dell? is it worth my while?

im in germany, so i have to send it back to ireland, get them to send it to my house in ireland, then get my parents to send it to me in germany...pain

should i bother?

and if i redo the thermal paste myself, is that defo a warrenty VOID?

god dammit, this sucks

christophicus · 19-08-2008 09:31AM

kaimera wrote: »

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/08/18/nvidia-gpu-update-dell-to-offer-warranty-enhancement-to-all-affected-customers-worldwide.aspx

no 1500 on that list unless teh 1510 is it..

I think it is not on the list simply because they do not sell it anymore. You will notice that they no longer use the 8600m GT. They did with the 1500, I am assuming it was because the 8600m GT was not stable enough.

kaimera · 19-08-2008 09:57AM

christophicus wrote: »

I think it is not on the list simply because they do not sell it anymore. You will notice that they no longer use the 8600m GT. They did with the 1500, I am assuming it was because the 8600m GT was not stable enough.

I must call Dell and see what teh craic is then.

my 1500 year warrenty runs out soon i think.

Cuddlesworth · 19-08-2008 10:00AM

Silenceisbliss wrote: »

how long would it take to get it replaced after sending it back to dell? is it worth my while?

im in germany, so i have to send it back to ireland, get them to send it to my house in ireland, then get my parents to send it to me in germany...pain

should i bother?

and if i redo the thermal paste myself, is that defo a warrenty VOID?

god dammit, this sucks

Depending on who you get on the phone, you can try to convince them that you are capable of doing it yourself. If they give you the green light then it won't void the warranty.

Silenceisbliss · 19-08-2008 11:04AM

right, need to become convincing so.... right.... eh... jaysus, its easy to reset the bloody heatsink like, but ive no computer credentialls to throw at them, its just a hobby really, a life consuming hobby... could just say, "IM AN ENGINEER FOR CHRIST SAKE", should fly

how do they check a warrenty breach by the way? do they check the force in the screws to see if they have been tampered with or is it just the sticker?

christophicus · 19-08-2008 11:08AM

kaimera wrote: »

I must call Dell and see what teh craic is then.

my 1500 year warrenty runs out soon i think.

Let us know how you get on.

Cuddlesworth · 19-08-2008 11:26AM

Silenceisbliss wrote: »

how do they check a warrenty breach by the way? do they check the force in the screws to see if they have been tampered with or is it just the sticker?

Most I have seen they have nothing. But any replacement of the TIM would be noticeable.

kaimera · 19-08-2008 11:32AM

christophicus wrote: »

Let us know how you get on.

bleh, on the phone now.

so far, all I got is that it while the card 'may' have probs the 1500 model might not be affected and thats why it's not on that list but I'm waiting on word as to the extended warrenty just because.

A pre.emptive call is what this is. I've no probs but I dont want to end up with aa dead laptop cos Dell ****ed me around.

christophicus · 19-08-2008 02:45PM

kaimera wrote: »

bleh, on the phone now.

so far, all I got is that it while the card 'may' have probs the 1500 model might not be affected and thats why it's not on that list but I'm waiting on word as to the extended warrenty just because.

A pre.emptive call is what this is. I've no probs but I dont want to end up with aa dead laptop cos Dell ****ed me around.

Yup I am going to do the same. I am going to email them and phone them up. Hopefully they will extend it to a 3 year warrenty. I would be happy enough with that.

Oh ****, Its Worse Than I Thought

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