How did you get Dell to fix your GPU??

A friend has the Vostro 1400 whose warranty expired in Sept. The GPU has failed him. At first, CS was not aware that Dell was offering an extension on warranties for this specific issue. After a few calls, it was finally confirmed. He had to send it in for repair. He just got an email stating that the motherboard needs to be replaced and they want to charge him 400 bucks for it. They claim he has NO gpu (he has the 8400). after looking around here, I told him his GPU is soldered onto the mobo, so that is why it has to be replaced. But to charge him for it when Dell is covering it??

I have sent him the links to the Dell forum where they offer to extend warranties, he had offered to send the link to the CS'. But he is currently getting the run around. The CS he called claims all they know from the tech people is that it will cost 400 and its the mobo. they know nothing about a gpu problem (again, they claim they have no IDEA what gpu he has because its not listed in their 'notes').

UPDATE: Dell CS is now claiming that their is evidence that something was spilled on the mobo which my friend assures me never happened. And since they have his notebook...

jorune

 

The GPU is on the motherboard, simple as that. Dell needs to replace it.

I'd file a BBB complaint and try to get the ball rolling on that.

 

Wow, what a terrible move by Dell to really screw their customers. They have known faulty video card and refuse to back up their guarantee to fix it. Did your friend purchase with a credit card? Most offer an extra year on products purchased with one.

 

That is unbelievable ! I can’t believe DELL would make up something like that….

 

yeah, dell is shady lately...

 

I just canceled a Vostro 2510 because it uses the suspect 8400GS (256MB) on board GPU. It was a great deal but I don't have a good feeling it will make it past a year of use.

 

Just another reason not to buy DELL.

I learned that DELL IT has blocked tabletpcreview.com in their network.

I had problems with my Latitude XT and I didn't want to repeat myself again and again I just gave him the link to what I posted on tabletpcreview.com. And I was told that site was blocked by their IT.
notebookreview.com might as well be blocked.

Dell doesn't want to hear their customer's complains?

 

You do realize that this video card problem is industry wide, not just dell. NVIDIA made the faulty chips and provided them to notebook manufacturers. Its not dells fault. The anti dell bashing should be moved to anti NVIDIA instead.

- That said, its the reason I sold my Vostro 1500. I wanted out before anything went bad.

 

how common is this problem... ? 5% ?

 

That sounds about right within the first 2 years. It also depends how hard you push the GPU. I have a Vostro 1500 that granted is only 6 months old but runs great. I don't play a whole lot of games on it and the GPU usually runs in the 34-39 degree Celsius range.

 

Mine is about 16 months running...

 

I barely pushed my GPU. Just office apps and Firefox and it went kaput after eight months. I am not sure how wide-spread this problem is although logic dictates that only the heavily taxed machines would go south. Overall, this is a cooling issue, as well. While nvidia may be to blame for the 8x00x GPU failures, Dell did us NO favors with their cooling design for the XPS M1330. It's pretty terrible.

 

You're right, unfortunately. That's why the Vostro 1500 and 1700 series notebooks does not have the failures that you see in the XPS M series laptops. The original Vostro's were great for cooling. Like I said the GPU in my 1500 runs between 34-39 deg Celsius.

 

Another user here with a M1330 failed GPU which has never seen a single game. About 16 months before mine went bust. I'll update you guys on how long and how much the repair process takes / costs.

 

My warranty has just expired last month and my gpu started failing 2 days ago BUT, when I called dell, I told them about the 1 year extension on the gpu that they have since they recognize the defective gpu...and so they're letting me send my laptop to their depot free of charge

Good luck!

 

phew!

crazy, i am happy with my Intel video, i can game on my frickin huge and ugly m1730... man, it is so big (just got it and i am kinda in awe)

 

What do you have X3100 or X4500? What kinda games to you play?

With all the bad press nvidia has gotten i'm looking at going Intel next time as ATi is not offered on the Dell business line notebooks. Nvidia must be giving Dell a sweet deal with all of the GPU problems and failures they're having.

 

Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 3100

no games on my m1330