NVIDIA GeForce 8400M timebomb?

Dear NBR community - please help! I've just purchased my HP DV-6974CA and while I'm happy with its look and performance, I was very disturbed by the following article suggesting that my NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS video card may be a timebomb!

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/101451

So far, the HP DV-6974CA is not included on HP's list of affected computers (which have been given an extra year of warranty protection)... however from what I read, this problem is not limited to one batch of bad chips, but to an engineering problem that can therefore affect every single card in the series! I've chatted with HP technical support, and they say that they'll pay for the motherboard and gpu to be replaced if something goes wrong, but who wants to deal with that!?!

Fortunately, I bought the laptop from Futureshop just 4 days ago, and they have a 14 day return policy, so I could just take this computer back and get something like this to replace it:

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?webid=752575&AffixedCode=WW

I would appreciate it if some knowledgable poster(s) could give me an opinion as to whether this is as serious enough to return the notebook or whether I'm just freaking for nothing.

Thanks in advance,
Ayre.

 

What are your uses? The problem is heat related. Are you going to be stressing the GPU? If you don't get Nvidia it really lessins your options. If you could find similar with ATI I would consider. If I didn't really need dedicated I would consider IGP. If you watch your temps and don't overstress good chance card will be fine.

 

Powerpack is being too nice here.

I'll be the devil's advocate here and I'll say this. HP has 1 year warranty, and nothing more than that. Nvidia's problem is a diepackaging problem; ASICs have a rather terminal problem with unnamed substrate or bumping material, and it is heat stress related. So if indeed your GPU is affected with this problem, it won't show up the first couple months or even the first year. Basically you won't know that you've purchased a timebomb, and when you do, you might not be so lucky and have your warranty expire.

Purchasing extended warranty for doesn't make much sense considering that you could get something else that has better performance for the extra money.

Personally I would avoid any 8400 - 8600 - 9300 GPUs at the moment, and go with either a higher end model (where they would have to cater you) or ATi.

 

It may be a time bomb, but one which never goes off during the life of the computer. The "clock" is driven by certain conditions of thermal cycling (= temperature variations) which depend on usage, the notebook's cooling system and how the BIOS controls the fans. So perhaps it's a bit more like plants which need the right combination of growing conditions in order to produce fruit.

I believe HP (among others) has updated the BIOS in order to reduce the third factor but, as you have noted the HP DV-6974CA does not appear on the list of affected computers. Perhaps the growing conditions were already unfavorable?

John

 

Hi all - thanks for the responses... they largely echo the many voices in my head. The laptop isn't for heavy gaming, so maybe it will be ok. But then again, maybe it won't. Maybe the laptop will still be under warranty. Maybe it won't. I considered updating the BIOS and praying... after all, so far the problem hasn't been observed with the DV6974CA... on the other hand, maybe it just hasn't been around enough. Updating the bios basically has the fan running more often = more noise and less battery life... not very appealing.

So far nobody has posted a "this is all bunk, don't worry be happy" response... perhaps this means I should be unhappy and worried.

More discussion welcomed.

Thanks in advance,
Ayre.

 

Even HP has admitted that the BIOS doesn't really fix anything, infact it just turns on the fan sooner and faster(louder) to prevent it from overheating. So basically it's not a fix but a unfortunate patch that has many cons that go with it. Sorry, didn't want to bring that up but you should ought to know.

 

You want more bad news? I heard a guy who is a PC tech talking about HP's run hot. Do not remember if your model. Sorry.

 

is this all dells or just a few? I use my laptop for gaming and have it OCed. Now I'm really worried and I'm wondering if I should send it back to dell.

 

It is all Nvidia's out now that have thermal cycle issues (heat) in their application (notebook model). The real flaw the fundamental problem is the Nvidia cards. Not the Dell model per se. Or the HP model or whichever.

 

So maybe I need to stop OCing my GPU. I have that 3 year warrenty so maybe that could be my safety net.

 

I saw that and thought that but well who am I? Watch your temps.