Posted 07/28/08 at 09:38:25 AM by Chris Moody

Dell has issued BIOS updates for their notebooks with the troubled Nvidia G84 and G86 GPUs that have been dying in notebook computers at a statistically higher rate is exacerbated with GPU temperature fluctuations. If the GPU fails, you may see intermittent symptoms during early stages such as: multiple images, random characters, lines on the screen, or just plain no video. As Dell points out if you are already experiencing the issues you see above the BIOS update won’t fix them. Your GPU is on its way out.

Dell’s statement is pretty serious since it lays the blame right at Nvidia’s doorstep saying the higher rate of failures are because of a weak die/packaging material set.

Dell says it will provide support for customers “who have experienced GPU failure according to the terms of the system warranty”. In other words if you didn’t get the extended warranty and it’s after the standard one year warranty your S.O.L on your GPU, but I wouldn’t let that stop you from beating on their door. It may not get you anywhere but at least it keeps them from forgetting that these things are out there and causing problems.

What do you think? Is Nvidia in trouble with these thermally sensitive notebook GPUs?

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Posted 07/10/08 at 02:11:53 PM by Paul Lilly

When it rains, it pours, and Nvidia could use a good downpour to put out the flames. Perhaps literally. Just last week Dave Murphy reported Nvidia was setting aside $150 to $200 million to cover warranty and repair costs associated with an "abnormal failure rate" in its mobile graphics cards, news of which sent Nvidia stock spiraling downward. Now there's speculation that the failures might not be limited to just a specific batch of notebook GPUs.

Rumor, news, and review site The Inquirer is saying that "all the G84 and G86 parts are bad. Period. No exceptions." That includes both mobile and desktop parts. According to The Inq, both use the same application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and both ASICs are plagued by a heat related problem originating from an un-named substrate or bumping material. Because of this, The Inq surmises more failures are iminent. But are they?

Find out what Nvidia has to say about the failures after the jump.

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