G1s GPU Fried - Out of Warranty - Any Idea on Cost?

Well...If they still give out G50Vts(maybe now G51s?)...you could bug them for one of the ones that had an high-res screen,and just backup all your data...I feel bad for ASUS,it is not their fault that the 8600 fails,its Nvidia's.

 

Yes, but Nvidia admitted their error and compensated hundreds of millions of dollars to several companies. Dell also added an additional year to the warranty of their notebooks that were effected.

I dont care too much about the screen, I , as a student, just need something.

Asus' customer service was great the first time through, but replacing a fried GPU with another of the same may not have been the best call. Itd be great if I could use the notebook for more than the two and a half years Ive owned it; especially for the 2k I spent.

I have confidence in Asus to resolve this issue, its just a matter of time now. I shipped it off this morning.

 

still heard that they're giving the G50's out

 

That is correct. They received my faulty G1S in on January 29th. They e-mailed me, offering a G50VT-x5 on February 4th. I sent in the paperwork that day, and they shipped it out yesterday (the 8th). I will receive it on the 11th.

Since I shipped it Wednesday, January 27th, with all transit times included it will have taken them 2 weeks and one day that I have been without a notebook. Not too bad.

I will update when I receive the notebook on Thursday to let everyone know the condition it's in.

 

Thanks for posting, KaloPhoenix. Hearing that increases my optimism.

Id love to read an update, so please do post when you get it in.

My notebook is still in transit to Asus, but Ill post any changes.

 

I received my G50 today. I'd seen pictures, but wow is it tacky! It's a good thing it's an upgrade.

Thus far, everything's running well. I pulled the Home Premium x64 off of it and put on Ultimate x64 instead, hoping to get rid of the bloatware. It's quick and crisp...no real complaints about function yet.

From a visual standpoint, it's going to take a bit to get used to the size of the screen. The notebook is considerably wider than the G1S, and it's shorter in height. The thing is practically ice cold compared to the G1S, and the keyboard flex some have spoken about isn't as bad as they make it out to be.

No scuffs, scratches, or dents in the the thing. I know it's been refurbished (no static wrap or plastic anywhere) but I couldn't tell it visually.

So far, so good. I'm enjoying it!

 

How much did it cost? I'm thinking of trying to fake my notebook not working so I can get an upgrade =/

 

Please don't do that. Most of the people in this thread are having a honest hardware defect problem. Faking for the sake of getting a cheap upgrade ruins it for those of us with real issues.

 

Last time I RMAed, they severely downgraded my GPU from a 8600mGT with GDDR3 to a 9500mGS with DDR2 :<

 

Then you should have told them at the time that it was not an acceptable fix due to the downgrade.

 

They said that was all they could do.

 

My laptop reached the Asus Repair Center yesterday on Febuary 11th and the Repair Status Inquiry pane on Asus' website shows it as waiting for parts.

I called and spoke to someone to determine some of the particulars; apparently they are actually waiting for parts to try and repair my notebook. A repair that will replace the same, exact parts which fried the first time they attempted this. Furthermore, I must pay for it. Of course they will send me an email notification, according to the rep., in which I may accept the repair or no.

I don't understand. I have reiterated to every CS agent Ive spoken to that this is a common and well documented problem and numerous other customers, also out of warranty mind you, are being offered a replacement(usually around $250 though, which would be great, I dont mind paying). I will keep trying to speak with them.

 

Bare,

They also told me the same thing and I was under the impression that they would be replacing the motherboard and sending it back. However, I put up enough of a fight (and told them in my statement letter that I wanted a replacement) that they sent me an e-mail eventually.

Also, I've heard several who have sent their faulty G1S's in out of warranty and they had replaced it for free, even though everything pointed in the other direction.

I'd call again, make sure you let them know you don't want the faulty GPU put back into your notebook, and if they claim there's nothing they can do, ask to speak to their supervisor until you find someone who can.

They're aware of the issue, you've just got to get to someone who can do something about it.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks again KaloPhoenix,

Ill keep calling and try what you have suggested.

 

Today I received an email from Asus stating they will offer a replacement unit, the G-50vt.

This process took less than five business days and needless to say I am impressed. I intend on accepting the offer and am content to just have a functioning notebook again. To others having this problem, there is hope.

On a side note, I received this email without having to call and badger them or write nasty emails. Actually, I only called once to confirm that my notebook had indeed arrived at the repair facility.

Thanks Asus!

 

I'm also receiving a G50VT-X5 for my broken unit. Originally they told me that they would repair the mother board and that it was my only option. After explaining the situation and asking to speak to a supervisor if the issue could not be resolved to my satisfaction they offered the laptop for a fee. My laptop was out of warranty.

I'm very satisfied with ASUS's handling of this situation.

 

what was your fee... $250?

 

Yes that was the fee.

 

Im glad you got it resolved, Adamal; sounds similar to my situation.

Im still waiting on my tracking number and for the notebook to be shipped.
I submitted my credit card authorization form last Friday. I believe someone said it took them 4 business days to send the tracking number after he submitted the form, and then the actual shipping takes 5.

So I hope I get that number today, we will see.

 

That's just awesome. Really is, $250 to upgrade to an entire new system, granted the other had a GPU that was susceptible to sucking and bricking itself.

 

I submitted the form on Friday as well around 2pm PST. I had to follow up on it and I got my tracking number on Monday. I should have it by tomorrow.

I'm sure the time it takes varies by location. Also I always try to follow up (the squeaky wheel gets the grease).

 

As far as I can tell they are not new. They are sending out referbs. Personally I'd be happier if the laptop never failed, it was a good machine.

 

Just picked up my new (to me) G50VT from FedEx and it is in great shape. it booted up fine but it seems they forgot to give me a recovery disc, oh well, maybe Ill buy windows 7.

Only real problem seems to be the battery isnt charging. Maybe it takes longer on the first charge? I wouldnt think that to be the case and the battery icon in the task bar says it is charging but it stays at 0%, this is only after a few minutes so ill leave it plugged in and report back.

 

I thought I read somewhere someone else had a problem with the battery charging in Vista and when they upgraded to Windows 7 the problem was resolved.

It looks like mine was delivered today so I'll see if I have the same issue when I get home tonight. I will be upgrading to Windows 7 since I have a license.

 

Ok cool, good luck. I'd go ahead and purchase Windows 7 but I'm a little light on cash.

However, I did fix my problem through doing 2 hard bios resets by holding the little button down on the bottom of the notebook in 30 second intervals.

Now it is charging but very slowly, maybe it just needed a jump. And by slowly I mean 6% in 16 minutes; hopefully it will speed up.
I would call Asus about it but I think Im going to wait and do that as a last resort.


EDIT: The battery did charge to %100 so I think Im good for now.

 

Just letting you know it is a refurb unit. Appears new but they're all refurbs. Unless it comes in the original box (with the art), backpack, mouse, etc. its not new.

 

Greetings, I like to hear that people have resolved the issue with the G1S.. I wonder: can I count on a replace with a G50 in Lithuania? Customer service is not at the same level as in the US, you know, and an IT specialist said that it was better to give the notebook for a repair to any private repair center - cheaper, faster. But maybe I should try to RMA it too? I would agree for a replace for $250 or less, but I'm not really sure that they will offer it for an out-of-warranty unit.

This is a message to the ASUS Customer Care, actually, because I can't PM on this website so far. I look forward to any helpful replies though

 

Yep, I know.That is why I said "new(to me)."

Although I believe the battery is new and Im not sure why I didnt get the recovery disc, it was checked off as in the box on an inventory check list that came with it.

Also, I uninstalled the stock video card drivers and replaced them with the nvidia 186.82 of laptopvideo2go and the device manager now shows the display adapter as a 9800gt not a gs and I cant remember what it showed with the stock drivers installed; I just thought that was odd, games seem to play fine. Anyone else get this and does it matter?

 

Mine is listed as a 9800gs. I don't think there is any reason to use the laptopvideo2go drivers any more since you can get the official ones from nVIdia's site for mobile cards these days. Mine did come with the recovery DVD.

 

lot of talk about this, it is the 9800GS, its just that some drivers/programs were unable to recognize it as a GS and thought it was a GT instead.

 

I researched this more and you are right. Everest and CPU-Z show it as a 9800GS but when you right click->properties->display settings it says 9800GT.
I just thought it was odd, but I guess it doesnt have any real impact.

 

Sorry for the double post.


Hmmm so you got your recovery disc, I think I will email them about it.

And the only reason Im using laptopvideo2go drivers are because I read reviews saying the latest Nividia driver, 195.62 I think, wasnt better than the 186.62. Anyhow, the drivers are actual Nvidia drivers (albeit from laptopvideo2go), WHQL certified, and my card was on the list of compatible ones so in theory it should be reading as a 9800GS.

 

I'm having the same typical GPU issues as so many G1S users. I've been having the problems for a long time, but was able to remediate the impact by using a Zalman NC-2000 cooler and removing the bottom plates of the G1S. That helped for a few months, but it seems the heat has finally caught up to me, and I'm now experiencing random artifacting and color distortion. I had planned to contact Asus about a replacement, but I've made some hardware changes and I'm not sure how that would affect the process. I've replaced the default HDD and swapped out the T7500 for an X9000. Any thoughts on how that would affect a replacement/repair request?

 

I've had the same problem as everyone here. I sent mine in with a request for an exchange, hopefully they will comply.

@everluck--I would take everything out that was not originally put in by Asus before considering an RMA. I told the CS rep that I reformatted the hdd to have Win XP and he said it was fine, but I'm pretty sure they'd point out that it might have been your fault for replacing the hardware even though you had every right to do so.

 

I have had issues with my G1S and my husbands since the day I got them, with overheating and shutting down. The situation has never been completely resolved despite sending them in for repairs several times.
We are now finally to the point that I can tell GPU failure is imminent. My husbands is getting artifacts occasionally and randomly shutting down at least once a day, mine is doing similar stuff.

We are of course out of warranty (We bought the notebooks in July 2007). The exchange for a fee thing sounds awesome, how do you do it?

 

@ kama--I went to http://asuswiki.asus.com/usaSupport/index.php?title=Notebook_Customer_Service and got their CS number:

Notebook Customer Service
Toll Free: 1-888-678-3688
Phone: 812-282-ASUS(2787) - option 2; option 2

You can also just fill out a RMA request form found on that same page.

I'm still waiting for them to offer me an exchange for a fee, hopefully they'll email me this week.

According to others in this thread, pestering them and escalating it to a supervisor seems to help.

 

Thank you, I will try calling them tomorrow and see how it goes. Let me know if they end up offering you an exchange for a fee. Did you already mail yours in?

 

@ kama --Make sure to detail everything when speaking with the CS rep. They'll ask you to type up what you've summed up to them in the RMA as well.

I'll post if they offer me anything.

I shipped them the notebook via UPS on March 1 and it arrived at their Indiana facility on March 3.

They CS rep confirmed it for me when I called them March 5. They are "working" on my laptop now, but the online RMA check wasn't working so I'm really not sure what's going until I give them another call Monday or Tuesday.

 

Hey Lucid, Just wondering what you heard back?

 

If you are not able to find a replacement for the GPU, try "baking" the GPU when all hope is lost.

 

Baking? Can you give me a link where I can read about that?

 

Tonnes of info about baking a GPU here:
http://tinyurl.com/yeo9968

 

Just thought I’d share my story and see if anyone has some kernels of wisdom for me...

Unfortunately I just joined the dead G1S club last week. I experienced some of the same symptoms that others have seen. For several months, my computer crashed randomly while running graphics-intensive applications. Then early last week the display froze at the Windows login screen. When I restarted the computer, I heard the distinctive Asus “boom,” but nothing appeared on the lcd screen; Windows did not start. Eventually, after turning the power on and off several times, the computer did boot seemingly normally (after I was prompted to start in “startup repair” mode). However, the display froze again the next day, and once again I was greeted by the blank screen when I attempted to reboot. After managing to restart it a few more times, now all I get is the “boom” and the blank screen, after which the computer sits idly.

I bought my computer in Sept ’07, and so I’m well beyond the warranty period. I wrote a fairly detailed message to Asus online technical service this past weekend in which I described the symptoms and also noted that I was aware that a defect was present in the 8600M GT GPU. I haven’t received a response from them yet. If I don’t get a response in a day or two, I’ll call the customer service number.

Anybody have advice on how to proceed with this? I don’t understand why some out-of-warranty owners have been told to take a hike, while others have been given the G50VT-X5 as a replacement without much hassle. I also don’t understand why some have been given this replacement for free, while others have been charged $250 for it. I assume that Asus is no longer actually replacing motherboards in the G1S.

 

New member of the "Fried G1S GPU Club" here.

Mine died yesterday (laptop was purchased Dec 2007).

Before I send it for RMA, I want to clear my HDD as I have lot of personal data files there.

I'm planning to access the HDD via a USB HDD enclosure, but I'm not to sure as to what type of enclosure I need. I'm pretty sure it's SATA right? And is it 2.5" or 3.5"? Can someone kindly confirm? Thanks a lot!

 

kidd636 -- The hard drive present in my G1S-A1 is Hitachi Travelstar HTS541616J9SA00 (160 GB, 5400 rpm, SATA, 2.5").

Please do post the result of your request for RMA. I plan to call the customer service # on Monday AM, since Asus has not responded to my written message yet.

I don't have high hopes...

 

Thanks Ugh. I actually ended up not sending in the HDD. The CS rep said it's okay to send it in for RMA without the HDD.

I'll keep you posted on how my RMA journey goes.

 

I just contacted Asus customer service to request RMA. The rep told me that my case would have to be considered an "isolated incident" until a technician has a look at my computer. I asked him if he was aware of the Nvidia GPU problem, and he responded, "not really." In my case, I was told that I must include the hard drive with the computer and that the hard drive would be wiped clean.

 

Just got an RMA for a dead GPU in my g1s. Paying shipping, I'll keep everyone updated with the repair.

 

ugh, P8ntbala,

Just out of curiosity, which RMA facility are your notebooks headed to?
Mine went to Jeffersonville, Indiana.

 

Its headed to the same facility, just shipped it today.