dv6000 - Numerous Issues

I need advice on a big issue --

Where to begin - this is a problem that has quite a history with this laptop, so it'll be a long explanation. I bought this dv6424ca (see specifications in signature) from Future Shop as a replacement unit for my other faulty computer, the Toshiba Satellite A70. Future Shop had agreed that in accordance with my diligent research D) that the A70 was a horribly designed machine that warranted a replacement according to their warranty. I chose the dv6424ca as a replacement in Sept 2007.

All in all it was doing great, until about a month and a half ago - one morning the laptop would simply not post, instead issuing 4 beeps. According to HP's repair manual, the GPU had failed. Notice that this is an Nvidia card; it was also causing my wireless card to interminently fail every once in a while. Both of my issues were fully described here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01087277&lc=en&cc=us

I sent it in for repair, and I received the laptop 2 weeks later, only to notice upon returning home that the fan was not working; the system idled at 95C. I sent it back in for repair, and 3 weeks later I recieved it back again; it is now fully functional, however it seems that there are still issues:

- the BIOS has been updated to F.3E, which updates the fan algorithms to run constantly. Not only is the system loud, but the battery life is now significantly decreased.

- the system still produces tremendous amounts of heat; it idles at 55C and peakes at over 75C when playing Far Cry. To give you an idea of how hot it is, the laptop has very noticeably warped the plastic table it is resting on. While running Far Cry the exhaust vents and fan intake are extremely hot.

I am now considering whether or not to haggle Future Shop for another replacement; I know that this is an Nvidia issue, but Nvidia hasn't specified which models. I think I need to be able to prove that this laptop is faulty, besides the fact that it overheats and damages my possessions; actually, would that argument alone do the trick?

Some advice here, fellas.

 

Have you given the notebook a good cleaning lately..??

I remember a guy mentioning that in his DV6000 the bottom rubbers that were near the cpu fan and hdd were missing, seemed like the heat melted the glue and they fell off, maybe worth checking. He had similar temps of max 77*C at 100% load.

You can try reflashing F.3D (If that was the one you had before) or upgrade to F.3F and see if that solves anything..!!

I guess cleaning the notebook with canned air and reapplying the thermal paste will be a good idea, but if you have still got warranty on it, best to take it back to the dealer....

 

I'm typing on a dv6000t right now. The rubber supports that keep the notebook from slipping are held together with some awful glue. It would leave a weird residue on the table if I slid it around accidentally.

I would suggest getting a full refund or replacement since it's not worth your time trying to fix a broken machine that shouldn't have been broken in the first place.

 

It has already been in for repair twice and cleaned before I sent it in.

When the it was returned with the fan not working, it was sent in for repair for overheating.

Overall this seems to be a design issue; what I'm asking is whether or not I should pursue a replacement.

 

I would go back to future shop and ask to return it for credit on another system. The Hp seems to have a major cooling design flaw, which is why the gpu burned out the first time. I am sorry to hear of all of your problems. Unfortunately getting stuff fixed from hp is a crapshoot, so sometimes they fix it, sometimes you get it back the same way, and sometimes they give you a different revision of the system.

95C is really hot, and that is definitely bad.
Having the fans on full isnt all that bad, except for you, who has to deal with the noise and such, but it is better for the system.

I would try and negotiate with future shop or hp because the laptop seems to have some serious problems

K-TRON

 

It doesn't matter if it's a design flaw or not. You got a flawed product and you should demand a replacement.

Note: My dv6000t has been working without any problems for the past 2 years.

 

I just ran a stress test (Prime95) on the system with the new BIOS and increased cooling in place; the, temperatures peaked out at 83C. AMD's technical specifications state 85C as being an "absolute" limit without destroying the CPU or surrounding components.

With temperatures like this, other components are bound to fail sooner or later. What does it take to get reliable electronics these days? Damnit.

Well, thank you all for your advice. I think I will have to argue with Future Shop for another replacement unit. Luckily, I am very good with these kinds of situations.