Problem Video Issues and Dell Warranty Information

Some information about my computer:
Dell Inspiron 1520 (Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 2.0 Ghz
2 GB DDR2 RAM
nVidia Geforce 8600M GT 256 MB DDR2

I have been having issues over the past two months with my Inspiron 1520's video. The first problems started whenever my computer crashed and I got a blue screen of death telling me that there was a video memory crash. I went to Dell's support website and spoke with a technician via the online chat and downloaded all of the latest drivers and BIOS updates, and I hoped that the problem was fixed.

A week later I read a story in the NY Times that nVidia had made a press release detailing that GPUs from the last generation were defective. I proceeded to do some research and found this website along with the numerous threads detailing nVidia related woes. Suffice it to say when the Inquirer claimed that all G84 and G86 GPUs were defective I became very concerned: my GPU is a G84 revision A2 according to Riva Tuner.

Sure enough two weeks later I got the same error and called up Dell's technical support this time. After an hour of haggling with the representative (who claimed not to know anything about it), I again downloaded all of the latest drivers and BIOS updates; I also managed to clarify some warranty information and was able to get them to guarantee me a part replacement in case a video error occurred again. The problem was sure to occur again because I am convinced that it must be hardware related, but I haven't heard of anybody else getting these specific errors. Since then I have been monitoring my GPU's temperatures with Riva Tuner, and I have noticed that it will occasionally idle at 70 degrees celsius plus.

Now tonight the computer started pixelating while I was playing Civilization 4. The computer became unusable as my screen became a checkerboard of pixels that flashed white and other colors; rebooting fixed the problem but I know that other users have been having issues like this and that there was a news items from a Dell blog that users that start having this issue have a defective card. So again I got on the phone with Dell technical support and found them to be pleasant but completely uninformed about this issue. Eventually I forced a motherboard replacement after chatting with a tech support supervisor but even then I feel like it is a half-step. Given what people have said here about replacement motherboards, I'm nervous that the new one will break on me and that the new card will also be defective.

So this leads to my question: how can I effect a good resolution to my problem? My warranty expires in December and school starts in two weeks. I do NOT want to be stuck without come school when I have a 50 page senior thesis due. Is there a way to get a refund or a new computer? Does anybody see a means to extricate myself from this problem?

Thanks.

 

No you can't get a refund this late in the game, and you probably can't get a new computer without sufficient evidence that your computer is totally wrecked. I would recommend simply using an exterior harddrive (or flash drive) to consistently save work and if your computer does crash, send it back to dell and perhaps find a temporary computer to use.

 

I second the external hard drive/flash drive idea. Worst case scenario, you'll have to make do with a library computer at your school while your laptop is repaired.

 

Has there been any word from Dell about simply replacing the defective part with a non-defective part?

 

If I were you, I would monitor Lionel's thread over @ Direct2Dell on this issue.

As he stated,

Now, the thing you need to watch for is Dell adding the Inspiron 1520 to the list. As soon as they do, you have a legit case. If they don't, you'll probably end up going rounds with a Customer Resolution Specialist.

Hang in there

 

REC (Resolution Specialist Center) they will give you even a system exchange lol.

 

I had a similar problem with my 1520. Not only did my laptop consistently idle in the high 60s, low 70s and get up to mid 90s in-game, but I also had a screen/pixel issue that sounds similar to yours.

Like you, I had to live with this problem because of school, and didnt send the thing into get repaired until june (problems had been occuring since winter). They are actually pretty prompt: I got it sent, fixed, and sent back in about 1.5 weeks. In my case, apparently the heat was a mobo issue, as they said a chip had failed on it and the fan wasnt coming on. As for my screen problem, it seemed fixed when I got it back but it has returned once in a while (dont know if this has to do with the GPU, an 8600m). My heat has gone down, I now idle in the mid-50s (high 40s with a cooler).

As for a refund, I doubt, since it seems you bought it over 6 months ago. In the state your computer sounds to be in, I'd see if they can't fix it quickly, and if not, buy a dirt cheap lappy replacement, maybe one of those asus eee.

If you have any more questions about my experience with dell support, ask away.

 

Got two choices..

1. Keep it.
2. Return it and have it fixed.

It's still under warranty so I don't know why you're hesitating to get it repaired. I won't even bother trying to update all the drivers to see if it's going to work. If it worked before and all of the sudden it didn't then you know something is wrong. The more you wait the longer you won't be able to use it.

 

We had the fabled Nvidia Graphics Card failure happen on a Precision M90 (17" beast). It took 4 graphics card replacements before they said "It's just going to keep happening, we'll replace the system" and they sent out a brand spanking ne M6300.

Moral of the story, keep at it. If it goes away enough times, they may very well replae the system to a "newer" model.