M1330 Display Issue (Vertical Lines on Reboot & Crash & Vertical Lines)

Kreeeee> hmmm...said to here that.

 

I purchased the extended warranty because of this. £90 for 4 years total coverage next day service.

 

Okay, some final questions. I have now figured out how to run RivaTuner and the 3DMark software. I am startled by my numbers, which are--

Both CPU cores around 44C when doing web-browsing, like this.
GPU at 64-70C when doing web-browsing like this.
GPU between 92-97 for the first two graphics tests in 3DMark,
GPU around 75-80 during the CPU tests in 3DMark,
and GPU peaking at 100 during the Frozen Tundra graphics test at the end. (!)

This is my new mother board, mind you. On the positive side, I did not experience any lock-ups or blue-screens while running the tests.

My first question is, do these seem like normal (ish) numbers for this card?

My second question is, should I downclock the card to forestall future crashes? Is there a guide somewhere that will explain how to do this?

Traveller, you recommended this earlier: "If you're not a gamer, install RivaTuner and downclock the GPU and video memory by about 10-15%, for example: 360 core, 540 memory. I doubt this will alter the speed of VISTA's Aero or the effects of HW-supported motion compensation (of your favorite SW DVD player)."

My thinking is, if that would really help this computer run cooler, and I'm actually on the verge of trying to get Dell to downgrade me to the integrated graphics, maybe I would do just as well to downclock the graphics. As I said, I never do gaming, only watch DVDs. (And, like others, was doing nothing more graphics-intensive than word-processing when my computer froze/died.)

Thanks for any advice help.

 

Aren't you bothered at the hassle of having to replace it every few months or maybe even weeks?

 

WOW, so the tech person had just left and of course when he was here my new motherboard worked fine, now that he's gone I GET THE SAME VERTICAL LINES...wtf

 

so the tech guy is tryign to convince me its an lcd problem, and they're sending out an lcd replacement even though we ran diagnostics tests with the last guy and those said it was fine

 

should i call back and tell them its mobo issue and i just need another mobo or is that even pointless..

another half a day wasted

 

another thing, has anyone sent dell a link to this thread? can't we threaten to contact some consumer reporters or something?????? lol.

 

That's a good idea on getting this thread to Dell... they must know though. There are a lot of posts on Dell's own forums on this topic as well. I mentioned to the technicians that there was over 50 pages of posts here and several of the techs still didn't know what was wrong. The first one I talked to when this happened, I told him speedfan was reporting 126 degrees, he said that they just run a "little" warm.

My new parts were ordered by the more knowledgable tech today... he said he'd send mobo, heat sink, and processor. I don't see the heat sink listed, I really hope it comes with one of these items and isn't a separate part number.

CX062 SERVICE KIT..., ASSEMBLY..., PRINTED WIRING ASSY..., PLANAR (MOTHERBOARD)..., DISCRETE..., M1330 1

HR854 SERVICE KIT..., PROCESSOR..., T7300, 2.0, 4MB, CMER, E1 1

How do I know if CX062 is going to be the fixed mobo or not?

 

After more research... I have the Rev A01 (found on the sticker on bottom of machine) and what we need is the Rev A04. I hope that's what's on the FedEx plane right now.

 

Yes, but there's no point in complaining is there?

 

shelleyevans, my temps are:

68-70 idle
103c when playing half life 2
97c with notebook cooler playing half life 2
25.5c ambient temp

 

I just received my M1330 few days ago and I too have the A01 mobo. Should I worry?

My temps are:

CPU: 48-50 (when browsing)
GPU: 65-68 (when browsing)
GPU: 76-78 (when playing Simcity 4)
HDD: 35 (when browsing)

 

If you have the nVidia, I'd say yes you should expect that the chance it will fail is very high so keep your data backed up and keep your warranty. I hate to say that because I'm usually one who has faith that these things will run forever based on the luck I've had thus far.

 

Kreeeee, thanks for giving me your temps. Mine are slightly higher, but in the same ballpark (I'm assuming higher because I haven't actually played a game, only run the 3DMark tests, which are quite short-- I hate to think what would happen if I kept the graphics thrashing for longer!). I have now downclocked my card as Traveller suggested, and when I ran the 3DMark tests again I didn't hit 100C, just 98C.

Lao, your temps sound great to me-- wish I could say the same! I can't remember-- have you had any issues?

Msftjunkie, I know there are some threads that have suggested the A04 revision is the solution, but I have had the same/similar issures with that motherboard. I'm on my second A04, and if this is a heat issue, my temps haven't changed.

Could anybody with computer experience explain why I experienced the lock-ups and blue screens associated with overheating but not the scrambled screens? My only thought is that (as many have suggested) it's a HSF issue, not a graphics card issue. In my case other heat related symptoms started to appear before my card got fried enough to show them. In which case there may be others who have experienced lock-ups and freezes and blue screens, but not scrambled screens, and therefore have never found this thread. Dell Technical support treats the lock-ups and freezes as software issues until you can PROVE to them that it isn't (ie, three OS re-installs, two different OS).

Is it at all possible that this isn't heat related? Meaning, are there people out there who are running these pretty hot computers without experiencing the crashes?

Please excuse my ramblings. I will try to restrain myself from now on. I have spent two months thinking about this in a vaccuum, so I'm a little too eager to share my thoughts!

 

Shelleyevans - did you also have your processor and heat sink replaced with the A04?

 

Regrettably I didn't find this thread until AFTER the technician left, so I didn't get a heatsink. I hate to seem ignorant, but I thought the CPU, like the GPU, was part of the motherboard. The phone tech guy told me that if I replaced the board, both the CPU and the GPU would be replaced by default. Is that not true?

 

Just upgraded my service contract by 3 more years. Phew. That feels better.

 

Nope, no problems so far. I just received it a few days ago. I hope I don't have problems with it.

So, it seems no mobo is better than other. A01, A04... doesn't matter.

 

Yeah, it's a pain but at least now I have piece of mind. If it goes belly up in 3 years they'll replace it with something else no doubt.

 

this is a dumb dumb question, i dont understand a thing about computers! but if my motherboard was completely replaced with a refurbished one...that's almost like getting a new computer, why would i experience the same vertical lines just hours later?

 

refurbished = second hand.

 

Or.......peace of mind that they'll replace the motherboard 6 times over the next 3 years.

People who are getting the problem, are your laptops stable in safe mode?

 

Assuming that my problem was the same (as I said, had lock ups and blue screens but no obvious graphics issues), it was not stable in safe mode, but it WAS stable when I used a dos boot DVD and ran dell diagnostics and memtest-- for over 15 hours. I could not work in ANY windows environment (Vista or XP) for more than three hours without a BSOD or freeze.

 

i know what refurbished means but i mean doesn't it have to pass some tests or something to check for that before they ship it out

 

First off, congrats on "mastering" RivaTuner and believe it or not, 2C's better than nothing Of course we'd all prefer the 25C drop from a properly-mated heatsink, but 2C's a start...

No one (here) knows the nominal operating temps of an 8400M GPU. Considering it's a 90nm build, I think that 100C is too high for any extended period. Thus hitting 100C (even 105C) on a benchmark designed to stress those components is not an issue but playing a few hours on a regular basis at those temps is certainly not desirable...

If I'm allowed to tweak your question a bit, then your temps are the norm for the M1330 equipped with the 8400M GS discrete GPU.

As for Lao's milder temps, it's apples to oranges: who can say what load Simcity 4 places on the GPU. If he wants to know how his unit compares against the norm, he'll have to install & run 3DMark06.

 

Do you have an external monitor you can attach it to? That should tell you pretty quickly (unless a tech has already been there) whether it's your LCD or your board...

It's also possible that the LCD cable got crimped or badly seated when the computer was reassembled, no? Years ago I had an Inspiron go bad like that, and once I replaced the harness everything was back to normal.

 

Traveller-- Nice to hear from you! I have read your replies so often on this thread I feel like we're already friends.

I'm glad (I guess) to hear the temps are the norm. Do you have any thoughts about why I might have had lock-ups BSOD but not any graphics wiggles or lines?

Oh yeah, and, regarding a question I received above, isn't the CPU automatically replaced when the board is replaced? The phone support guy at Dell told me that it was integrated, just like the GPU?

 

Yup, I know that Simcity 4 doesn't stress the GPU a lot. It's just what I had installed so far. Maybe I'll try 3DMark 2006 oane day. Right now I'm searching for some decent copper sheets or even aluminum. Both would work great on my HSF thermal modd.

 

As it turns out, the last mobo was in fact an A04. I seriously doubt that within a matter of hours that mobo was fried as well. So here is the scoop:

Last Friday: tech replaced LCD screen, wrong mobo sent so he asked I not use my machine over the weekend.
Monday: tech came and replaced mobo
Monday night: purple screen, black screen, vertical lines, hooyahh
Tuesday morning: new tech guy, says it might be cable that connects LCD and mobo but I don't have external monitor to test
Tuesday night: test with external monitor, looks ugly there too, so clearly not LCD
Wednesday: call tech, this guy knows exactly the problem, sends mobo (A04), new heat sink and new processor
Thursday (today): tech installs all equipment, says heat sink looks different than last one. He thinks heat messed up the proc because it was too coincidental that with new mobo same problem within hours

We shall see.... I have my fingers crossed that this will work because I am soooo behind in my work, it'll take all weekend to catch up.

 

I get my today, no issues to talk about.¨I cant see any wrong at all ! No schretch...No..outstick...No..

The Fans go on a bit when the machine i started / booted

The tempature...is so low/ cold..if i compare to my HP ( 20 Screen )

Have they change anything last week? fan or cooling system?

 

Hey Guys,

Glad to see some of you rectifying your problems (or for now, at least).

I had the same problem, and got a mobo and screen replacement. However, i am concerned it will happen again. Rather than hassle dell for a component-downgrade, could someone please tell me the price of extended warranty, the cheapest one where they come to your place to replace the parts?

I am looking for preferably 4 or more years, and in the UK (£s).

Thanks guys, and good luck to those with persisting problems,

Shonak

 

No, the CPU is not soldered onto the motherboard like the GPU. The CPU sits in a so-called ZIF socket just like in a standard desktop PC.

This is geat news for both Dell and us because aside from the panel, it's probably the most expensive component but it's also [relatively] easy to replace and many of us will be able to upgrade the CPU to a Penryn (for example)

Have a look at my motherboard pics. The ZIF Socket is pink on the M1330.

p.s. Glad you're enjoying our thread: sorry for all of us that we even need it...

 

Hang in there and good luck to ya!

 

Yeah, I would imagine so, but I got nailed with a poor-contact problem with my firewire port.

When I asked myself why the problem wasn't caught, I figured it was because the motherboard gets tested outside of the [Notebook] chasis - which could change the quality of the connection with an external cable (for example).

 

Everything's relative-- before this thread, the only people who I could talk to about this were Dell techs. I'd rather be fishing.

 

It's now been 72 hours of runtime without any problems. Apparently the new HSF may have done the trick...

 

They've changed the fan design?

 

How has it held up? Good so far? I should get a phone call on monday as to when is it a good time to replace the motherboard. I replied to the email reminding them to send me a new HSF as well.

cc123, I'm also interested in this question too...

Definitely going to extend that warranty.

 

Yes, the guy who installed my new parts said that the new heat sink looked different than the old one. I'm on 36 hours with machine running great... keeping fingers crossed still.

 

36 hours and still going good... maybe it's just wishful thinking but when I type the hand rest area seems cooler. But no sign of problems. Logical deduction says that although the mobo may have been affected, the heat sink and/or processor obviously had an issue as well. In hindsight, I would ask that if the tech doesn't know about the problem ask for escalation.

 

Hmm, interesting..it looks like they are changing the HSF. Can you describe it between the old one and the new one? Or even better yet, a photo? Thanks in advance..

 

The new heatsink is the same old A01 revision but there is a new fan. It has no effect on temps though.

 

Although not directly related to our humble 8400M GS, I'm "window shopping" for a new card for my main Multimedia rig and while reading a few reviews on the 'net, I came across this interesting statement over at Tom's:

"Despite a limit that’s traditionally set at 105°C (the temperature at which the frequencies drop in order to protect the GPU), the rotation speed of the 9800 GTX’ fan has clearly been set fairly high in order to stay as far as possible from that temperature. We registered no temperature above 71°C during our tests - only a few degrees more than the temperature at idle. You won’t have to worry about this card overheating."

The point being that if aynone's still not convinced that 100C's not a good constant* operating temp for any GPU, well...

*while working with 3D apps, i.e., gaming... .

 

But does the new heatsink still have those lame thermal pads? I'd figure that better direct copper contact would be much better (with a wee bit of thermal paste).

Thanks guys! It looks so far that people are still holding strong with their fixes.

 

this laptop's such a joke, im never trusting reviews on this forum again..lol

 

It's not the review's fault. Reviews can't predict these problems happening especially if they occur half a year later. If anyone is to be blamed, it's Dell.

Can't say I'll ever look to Dell again when looking for a new computer.

 

Well, anyone...?

 

If you look through the thread (hah!) you will find one person, can't remember who, who got 3 extra years next day onsite for, I think, 97 pounds. I upgraded mine with three extra years for 350 USD and 75 dell dollars which you can spend on toner and paper or extra memory, etc. If you call the extended service department they will give you all the info you need. Beware, they are as hard-sell as any phone soliciter I have ever come across. To find the proper contact number, go to Dell Forums and search for "extended warranty" and/or "extended warranty UK" and you should bump into a post that supplies it. That's how I found the US number.

 

I extended my 1yr into a 3yr for €99 (regular is €120 but the Sales rep's a nice guy, an M1330 owner and also a *member* of our little club...).

I figured if it survives three years with the current mobo (and/or Dell ships out a new & improved cooling solution with the next replacement mobo...) that I'll be safe and anyways in the market for that 2010 next-gened notebook!