A major cause of frustration in the Nvidia notebook GPU fiasco–where “significant quantities” of notebook graphics cards are packaged with “weak” materials leading them to overheat and fail at a “higher-than-normal rate”–is that Nvidia is declining to identify exactly which chips are bad, as the WSJ notes today. So you’ve gotta find out from your notebook maker if you’re possibly stuck with a time bomb. Dell is extending its limited warranties by a year to deal with the issue in the following notebooks:
Even if, as Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang says, that different notebook configurations and designs affect how the flameout will rear its head, it doesn’t really excuse not disclosing the exact chips affected–widely believed to be of the G84 and G86 variety–and this effective silence is largely why rumours that most of their mobile GeForce 8 series is bad are able to gain traction, despite Nvidia’s protests. Some actual information would go a long way in quelling them.
In the meantime, a BIOS fix that will simply delay or reduce the chance of the onset of the problem by kicking on the cooling fans earlier is an incomplete solution. We hope Dell is “going to take care of [their]customers” as promised. Ideally, since they (presumably) have the information about which specific configurations are at the greatest risk, they would notify those customers and offer to replace the card entirely, otherwise those customers are basically waiting for their cards to die. [WSJ, Dell]
Justin Yoong
August 20, 2008 at 4:19 PM
I am extremely upset about this. I purchased a XPS M1210 just over a year ago and it has the exact same issue. As the M1210 is not as popular, it hasn’t been included in the list above. I can’t afford to spend $660 on the laptop, so it breaks my heart to have to throw it away. It’s only 1 year old and does not even have a scratch on it.
If I had known that the computer was not strong enough to handle Vista, I would have taken XP. I had no idea it would come down to a Manufacturing fault in 12 months time. :(
Report PermalinkJan
January 8, 2010 at 12:59 PM
My xps m1330 has just failed for the second time. this time all i can get dell to say is that it’s out of warranty. i believe dell should no be held accountable for this problem as we have all been left with useless computers. if your’s is working fine now it won’t be within a few months.
Report PermalinkAny aussie who would be interested in bringing legal action against those responsible can email me. this is a known problem and they just want it to go away.
Andrew E
September 9, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Dell have issued a Bios Update. I recently updated a D630 to the current Bios A13, it worked a treat.
Report PermalinkJustin, you may find a Bios update, then update the NVidia driver might improve your M1210.
Brian
October 15, 2008 at 3:29 AM
Justin,
Report PermalinkI have an xps 1210 that is also experiencing the same problem. I am almost certain that it is the same gpu failure. I’ve contacted dell and posted on the direct2dell blog and have urged them to include the 1210 in the extended warranty. So far I haven’t gotten anywhere, but I’m trying to get more 1210 users to report it. Mine is just over a year old and won’t even boot up now.
Donald M Pezoa
November 8, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Same Problem here, I’m stuck with a bad GPU nvidia chip m1210 xps dell laptop. My frustation is to see how dishonest dell and nvidia are toward loyal customers. I’ve been with dell for over 10 years, but this is it. THEY KNEW THIS MODEL WAS AFFECT WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY DIDN’T NOTHING TO ADVICE, NOTIFY OR HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. May be they thought we can save a some money. Well DELL you have one customer less in your database. I WON’T EVER BUY DELL AGAIN AND I WILL ADVICE TO ALL MY CUSTOMER TO DO THE SAME.
Report Permalinkagusrtin
November 30, 2008 at 1:13 PM
i have a dell cps m1210 with the same problem!!!
Report PermalinkKelly
December 14, 2008 at 2:47 PM
My son has the 1210. It is just over a year old and has also stopped working. I was going to buy my other son a dell…not now
Report PermalinkRaj
December 27, 2008 at 7:20 PM
I have got the same problem with my Dell M1210. It crashes with Parity Error Memory Failure. It does not seem to be related to OS, as it also fails during boot time. There also streaks visible on the screen when it fails.
Also,
Report PermalinkJeff
August 27, 2009 at 1:26 PM
I have just had this same error on my M1210…..hardware malfunction, memory parity error. This happened the day after Dell had me upgrade the BIOS to the A08 version because it was shutting down after the video chip got too hot from watching youtube videos.
Report Permalinkvan
December 31, 2008 at 3:29 PM
This is ridiculous! My M1210′s GPU just crapped out yesterday and I find it’s not on the list for extended warranty?
Lesson learned : DUDE, DONT GET A DELL.
Report PermalinkDan
January 13, 2009 at 12:20 AM
I have got the same problem with my Dell M1210 which is only just over 1 year old. There also streaks on the screen and it crashes with Parity Error Memory Failure.
Report PermalinkPete Anzo
February 4, 2009 at 6:04 AM
I have a Dell 9400 with Nividia 7900 geforce card. The video card crapped out a few days before warranty expired, so was lucky to get replaced after a few weeks wait cause their were no spares left in the counrty. The DELL tech told me mnost of his workload at the moment is replacing these cards cause they are so CRAP. Dell should provide better after sale support than this. What happens next year when these cards fail again?
Report PermalinkZac
February 13, 2009 at 6:51 AM
My vid card just crapped out on my M1210 too. Vertical lines on the bios screen, and driver crashes in Vista. It just hangs in linux, though less frequently than the Vista bluescreen crashes. Of course, the laptop isn’t under warranty anymore. I’m going to talk to Dell and see what they can do for me, otherwise I’m going to get one of those spanky new MacBook pro beasties.
Report PermalinkRana
February 24, 2009 at 4:18 AM
I have the exact same problem, i seriously cant believe how an organization such as dell would leave the XPS M1210 out the extended warranty scheme when they are more than aware of the issue. it pains me to think how many of us paid premium prices only to have our systems become worthless in 12 months.
Surely there has to be something we can do? (as i get the feeling that we are not the only ones)
Report Permalinkkevin vu
February 26, 2009 at 8:49 AM
I have the same problem with the xps m1210 and it’s just die after the warranty expired after 2 months
Report Permalinkgibbs ong
March 2, 2009 at 9:43 AM
I am a m1210 owner as well, like all the others, my machine is suffering from the gpu problems: “Parity Error Memory Failure”, “nv4_disp infinite loop”, overheating and etc……
I am of course very disappointed with the way dell handled the issue. I am just wondering if there is community or something similar for all of us (m1210 owner) to make an unified complaint? Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks.
Report PermalinkBryan Warren
March 8, 2009 at 4:04 PM
There has to be enough M1210′s with this problem now for them to fix them. Do you guys have any idea how it is Dell fixes the other two XPS’s? Were they overwhelmed with e-mails or was it Nvidia that was initially attacked? I’m holding out since I don’t have the money for a new motherboard right now.
Report PermalinkTom Power
April 24, 2009 at 2:22 PM
My M1210 has is also crashing with the “Memory Parity Error”, streaks on the screen, no external VGA. I bought the extended warranty but I haven’t heard a word from Dell about the faulty hardware they sold me.
Report PermalinkGerman
May 13, 2009 at 9:40 AM
I have a Dell XPS M1210 who is overheating and Dell already replaced the mother board twice.
Solution: get a new computer.
Report PermalinkLance Tharp
November 13, 2009 at 9:49 AM
I too have a Dell XPS M1210 and the other day the video card went out on it. Is there truly nothing that can be done? This is heart wrenching. Please post if someone comes up with a solution. Thanks
Report Permalinkymsio
November 24, 2009 at 5:40 PM
My Dell XPS M1210 is same! just within 3 years! This is ridiculous! possible change Intel GPU??
Report Permalinkencomax
December 19, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Dell just sucks I will never buy from again and have talked so meny others out of buying a Dell piece of shit I have the same XPS M1210
Report PermalinkJan
January 8, 2010 at 2:36 PM
I have just spoken to Dell again for the third time in 24hours aobut the failure of my xps m1330 only this time i spoke to someone at xps technical service. i pleaded my case and they came through for me and have agreed to repair my computer once again (as a once of service) for free. my faith is restored as this has given me time to plan so i don’t find myself in this situation again however in the future i will not consider buying a new computer until i have read all the blogs. Still unsure if i will use dell again but xps support was fantastic.
Report PermalinkNathan
April 13, 2010 at 11:32 PM
*AGHHHH* I’m going nuts, after speaking to 4 different people, complaining like a nut, I’ve been trying to nudge out some warranty for free but with no luck!
I told them about the faulty nvidia chipsets and they said that finished last year somtime, and there was nothing that could be done for me, and I would just have to buy the parts!
Mobo $390 Ex GST!
LCD Screen $280 Ex GST,
My god.. I bought this laptop back on the 20/3/2007 and it’s a lemon now.. For $1,998 u would of thought it would last longer ?? Heck my friends Insprion laptop that was purchased before mine months before still works..
They tried to get me to flash my Bios But!! Because my battery is dead. it wont let me flash because it says I need more then 10% plus have it plugged into the wall.. *Hits head*
They then tell me to get the drivers off there website for my videochipset. They don’t work with Win7! *hits head again*
I told them the laptop was working fine with windows 7 and there wasn’t any problem! They seemed to of thought it wouldn’t work.. =/
Got told to hold D while pressing power.. All I Get is a black screen thats backlit! and I can adjust the brightness etc, I was informed that it’s dead and needs replacement? I can hook the laptop upto external and look at a 640×480 picture in 10bit colour no problem! haha.
Windows has disabled the card because it reported problems is what device manager says..
I’m disappointed no one could help me with my problem.. and was told the only way is to buy the part.
Anyone else have any suggestions before I recycle this laptop. http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/dell_recycling?c=us&l=en&cs=19
Total call time: 1hr 20mins my ears sore :(
Report PermalinkXPS NOT GOOD
May 21, 2010 at 3:26 PM
MY XPS M1210 is with same problem now !! Black screen, When I called DELL support,they told me it need to replace the whole mainboard cost about 500 dollars !! With the same price I can a brand new no-dell laptop.
Report PermalinkWhy
June 10, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Interesting twist to the same story. I too bought a M1210. Originally, I did not buy the extended warrenty. It failed after 13 months. After haggling with Dell and failing, I forked out $580(AUD) for an extended warrenty to get the motherboard replaced.
Just over another 14 months later, the second motherboard failed (but still withing the extended warrenty period). Dell are now replacing the M1210 with a very nice M15X. If Dell had done the right thing the first time, they wouldn’t be paying through the nose the second time.
Still, I am not buying another expensive Dell again. More like buying the low end laptops and treating them as a disposable item.
Report Permalinkbloxta
August 17, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Vostro 1510 just crapped out here as well yep it’s the NVIDA chip. $400 to replace this. The fan doesn’t seem to be cooling it down all that well. As soon as the CPU heats up under load it looks like it affects the cooling on the GPU, which is before the CPU on the cooling tube. I blew out the filter with compresed air and it seemed a bit better. Also added abit of CPU paste for better contact Just wondering if the GPU is fried and will eventually just quit or if better cooling will keep it going. Going to try consumers affairs to see what can be done.
Report PermalinkAl
September 12, 2010 at 7:58 PM
Yep, mine has just gone, I will look forward to the nitwit I will get on the phone in the morning, I will remind them that my company spends close to 11M per year and looking at reviewing the supply vendors, I think a class action should be taken out against Dell, they can blame Nvidia all they want, Dell are the company that has taken our money and supplied the product. They are at fault and liable not Nvidia, Dell can take all the legal action they want against Nvidia but that is their problem. AB
Report Permalink