Avoid the GeForce 8400M GS???

So, I was reading up on the Dell XPS m1330 for kicks, and stumbled into a thread where users were discussing 'vertical lines' and complete failures, etc.

I think there might be something wrong with the 8400M GS!!

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=204772

After reading a few more threads, I think that the failures with the GeForce are not the norm, but more like the exception. However, I'm not sure.

Should a potential laptop buyer be cautious of getting ANY system with a GeForce 8400M GS?

Does this apply only to the m1330?

BTW, is the nVidia Quadro 13m 128mb the same as the GeForce 8400M GS? Would it have the same problems.

If I'm being totally irrational, and blowing things out of proportion please forgive me. Still learning

 

Any thoughts?

 

It is suspected that all 8400 and 8600 cards have a material flaw at their core that makes them prone to failure due to temperature fluctuations. nVidia has confessed it, but has said it is not affecting all cards, but manufacturers reactions to it say otherwise. I'll link you to the thread in a second.

EDIT: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=270732

As far as I know the Quadro series is not effected. Only the 8400/8600 are. However I don't think Quadro are recommended for gaming.

If it's any consolation my friends m1330, my MBP, and my Inspiron 1520 all have said cards and are still running flawlessly. Been about a year.

 

Some Quadro are affected, see the Precision M2300 in Dell's BIOS update list:

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/07/25/nvidia-gpu-update-for-dell-laptop-owners.aspx

The wording "These BIOS updates will help reduce the likelihood of GPU issues. New systems are being shipped with the updated BIOS revisions. Here's the list of the latest BIOS versions." is another thing that really caught my eyes -- so if you buy a new laptop from one of these affected lines, you are just getting an updated BIOS instead of a trouble-free GPU.

I would definitely avoid nVidia for the moment -- if you don't mind some occasional warranty work, extended warranty can be another option.

 

i have the quadro 140m (8400 gt based) nd dont get any problems

40-50 idle nd 70 load

which is normal

but its the luck of the draw i suppose

 

It's really not that the temperatures are abnormal, it's that over time the constant cooling and heating of the GPU (either turning the laptop on and off, or going from a demanding program to nothing) can have a damaging effect on that weaker material. It's possible the problem may not show up for years.... and hell maybe it's possible it will never show up at all.