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    GPU is on FIRE! How to fix/exchange?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by aznarcher, Sep 14, 2008.

  1. aznarcher

    aznarcher Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys! My GPU idles around 70 - 75 degrees Celsius. After gaming, my GPU reaches a max of 103 degrees Celsius. I believe I have a defective Nvidia 8600 GT graphics card.

    What are some ways to check to see if I do indeed have a defective graphics card? And if I do, what are the steps to getting a replacement from Dell?

    Thanks!
     
    aznarcher, Sep 14, 2008
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  2. bigspin

    bigspin My Kind Of Place

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    it's more likely you have defective fan or dust on heatsink problem. Make sure your fan is working correctly & try to clean your vents.
     
    bigspin, Sep 14, 2008
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  3. narci

    narci Notebook Enthusiast

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    narci, Sep 14, 2008
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  4. aznarcher

    aznarcher Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have been very skeptical about my fan, but I don't know how to check if it is working properly. How should I look into whether or not my fan is working properly?

    If I were to clean my vents, would that require me to open up my laptop >.< I don't want to void my warranty.

    Thanks for such a quick response!
     
    aznarcher, Sep 14, 2008
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  5. perrylyzr541

    perrylyzr541 Notebook Consultant

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    Forget that copper mod, you shouldn't put a band-aid on a arterial wound!!!
     
    perrylyzr541, Sep 14, 2008
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  6. aznarcher

    aznarcher Notebook Enthusiast

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    haha.. what should I do?
     
    aznarcher, Sep 14, 2008
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  7. perrylyzr541

    perrylyzr541 Notebook Consultant

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    I'd call Dell if it concerns you that much. Just out of curiosity what program were you using to monitor the temps?
     
    perrylyzr541, Sep 14, 2008
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  8. aznarcher

    aznarcher Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've been using HWMonitor. Hopefully its reliable...

    Thanks again for the replies!
     
    aznarcher, Sep 14, 2008
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  9. tenderidol

    tenderidol Notebook Evangelist

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    I agree with perrylyzr541... It will not cure the problem, it will only delay the inevitable (just like the BIOS upgrade). After reading numerous articles on this, the problem seems to be not how hot the GPU gets, but rather how many heating-cooling cycles it goes through, which cant be avoided until you keep your laptop on all the time :)

    If you are still under warranty, just call DELL and say that your screen shows random green bars, etc. Most likely, they'll replace your motherboard.

    The only thing we can hope at this point that the new replacement motherboards have "fixed" GPUs on them... If you have only few months left on your warranty, I would wait towards the end to have it replaced, since the chance of getting a better mobo with a problem-free GPU would be higher IMO.

    Good luck!
     
    tenderidol, Sep 14, 2008
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