My Gaming Clevo D900T died.

Whether the gaming gods "don't like me" or "I just have rotten luck". My Clevo D900T just died. I was have trouble with it recently, with power, battery would not charge and it would just die, even if it was plugged in, I notice that adapter was getting very hot, so I got a new adapter and tossed the old one. It lasted about 2 weeks or so, then, on the 13th, I was play "F.E.A.R." (the best shooter I have played), and 10 minutes into the game, the notebook crashes and then does not start up at all. Took the battery out, unplugged the adapter, let it sit for one day, and nothing, no power. Any advised on what the problem may be??

C. Espi

 

Well id get in contact with hwo made your laptop if its still under warrenty Probly will have to send it to someplace that repairs laptops if its out of warranty look to pay a couple hundred to get it fixed.

 

Well, it is over 1 year, i.e. "out of warranty", I was just wondering, if anyone has run into the same problem and if they "did" get it fixed, what was the cost, is is worth the effort to repair.

C. Espi

 

My Guess you got a motherboard issue probly so from others iv seen here needing their laptops fixed around 400 id guess. Id call places and get a quote on a repair.

 

Sorry to hear that Espi,

where do you live, I can recommend you a place near you that could check it out and estimate costs.

 

I am in Copperas Cove, Texas, I planning on taking it to a local computer shop, since I am in the military, I am hoping that the computer shop has dealt with this type of notebook. I know 5 other military personal that have the same notebook, I am guessing it is a military (Army) thing.

On side note, I am considering, if the cost is high to repair, considering most repair work is warrantied for 90 day at the most. I would like to replace it, would it be to much trouble to get a sort of barebones model, I would have memory and DVD drives, but I think that HDs could be used, but, since I would want the OS installed, I would like two new HDs.

Any ideas of any company (reseller) that could offer this??

Thanks, Espi

 

Where did you buy it originally, and under what brand?

 

I got it from a Texas based seller, cheap too, about $1800, Hybrid Gear, one of my friend found it for me, he ordered, since he knew alittle bit more then me. I have not had any issues with it until now. I did a quick search and found out this information.... http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Hybrid_Gear Apparently, they are no longer in business. So, I am out of luck.

Espi

 

Not really out of luck. Just email [email protected] or go Online at http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/tech_support.html to set up a phone call or email request for support.

They will either be able to trouble shoot it for you or arrange to bring it in for repair. They always give you a firm quote before they do any repair.

 

I doubt your local computer shop would know about this notebook, its a Clevo... meaning that its very rare... only a few enthusiasts would even recognize it. I would seriously email or contact Sager Notebooks or Pro-Star to see if they can do anything for you, they are the nearest and largest Clevo resellers with the best pricing and direct contact to Clevo.

If the cost of the repair is more about $1500, then I would say that its not worth... since thats the cost of the barebones.

 

EspiOne .... Does it have Imperial onthe outer casing??? I have One also and my video is shot in it. I cant get any help on mine because I am not military... I live in Belton Texas. Let me know what you find out.

 

Well, I got an email from Sager, they said it sounds like the motherboard, would a motherboard go after 1.5 or so years??? Anywho...I am taking it to a local repair shop to save on shipping. Sager is asking for $125 (estimate & labor) up front, not to include return shipping and parts.

pricem952, sorry, it does not have Imperial on the outer casing.

I will keep everyone posted.

Espi

 

Okie dokie.. i know my video card (so we think) is shot. Could have something to do with the mother board. I will keep you posted as well. I have a guy locally here who is going to check mine out as well. Good luck!

 

Well, it is confirmed, it is the Motherboard, , how long does motherboard last???? Anyways, the repair technician stated that he could not find the motherboard through his suppliers. So I am out of luck.

I am debating about sending it to Sager, as I need a overall cost, does anyone have a general idea of the cost of a new motherboard for a D900T and what would the life span of a new motherboard be??

I paid about $1800 for the notebook, so the cost of repairs should be less then half to replace, corrrect?? , about $900 to $1000, since a new one is over $2000.

Any comments would be appreciated,

Espi

 

Write [email protected] and you will get a quote that will be less than you might think, unless you want to upgrade to the latest motherboard/video card (which will be about $1,000 if you want to upgrade, or less than that if you want to just replace what you have).

 

I did contact sager and waiting on a overall quote, they only gave the above information. I also found information on R&J Tech for motherboards, if they have them or can get them, pass information to local repair shop.

What is the overall lifespan of a new motherboard?? Can I expect more life out of my D900T?? I saw on member stating he has replace the MB twice??

Espi

 

The Clevo D900T's are notorious for Motherboard failures. The heat they build up from having such powerful video cards and a Pentium 4 processor kills motherboards rather quickly.

 

Well, I contacted Sager a second time and got this reply Christopher ,

Sorry, if that is not Sager’s Laptop we won’t support or repair

Daniel

Sager computer

So I don't have any other option, I have the repair shop trying to find a new mother board.

Espi

 

call Pro-Star, ask for Wesley if you have the chance.

 

Okay, I got the quote from RJTECH, $480.00 for a new motherboard, , I was hoping for less . Okay, now the question is, do I 1. Get the motherboard, ($480), but how long will it last??? or 2. Just ditch the notebook, part it out, save for newer model??


I will have to debate about it. Any suggestions?? Opinions???

Espi

 

Thats about the correct price for the motherboard.
A notebook should typically last at least 4-6 years.

Its a great notebook, if...
- you keep it cool (using notebook cooler and toggling the fans to max.. Fn+F2)
- if you like having 2 HDD and 2 Optical drives

Its not great, because..
- you dont like the weight (mobility)
- horrible batterylife (high-powered components)
- if you cant afford to fix it.

I know my Clevo D900K should last me another 3 years easily, since I can upgrade the videocard within when needed.

A new gaming notebook of its class would run about $1500-2000.

 

I have question that might, have caused the problem, I recently replace my adapter, Brand New Liteon AC adapter before this incident. Is it possible that I may have used the wrong adapter and fried the MB???

Or are adapters for the D900T standard?? Only one type available???

Well, I talked it over with my financial consultant (aka "the wife") and I think I will get the repair work done.

Espi

 

UPDATE: I got a phone call today, that the motherboard was bad, it would not interface (or something like that) with the HDs. So they would call on Monday to make arrangements for another motherboard. Has anyone had this experience, when replacing the motherboard?? They ordered it from: RJTECH.com. Any information would be appreciated.

 

this particular model of Clevo has had the most issues with motherboard failure due to the extreme amounts of heat from the Desktop P4 CPU and the GPU.

The newer motherboard revisions should fix it so that the Clevo Fan Feature (Fn+F2) should be functional so that you can toggle all fans to Auto or Max Speed... which is always recommended when playing games on such a system.

I have swapped a D900T motherboard for a my friend before, it was not a simple job, because of the huge amounts of screws that you to need to account for and some tricky parts in the chassis that require one to know what they are doing to remove correctly.

RJtech is a great and reputable Clevo Reseller, your notebook should be in good hands if they are going to do the swap for you.

 

Well, I am hoping that they don't give the repair shop any problem swaping out the motherboard for another one, considering, for some reason this "new" motherboard was bad . On the down side, I have been waiting 30+ days and now I will have to wait probably another 30 days . I am honestly thinking of jumping ship and going with a desktop . Which is a big step for me, got my first Notebook, (a Gateway 200 STM to replace my Gateway Essential), in 2002 and never looked back.

 

The Clevo D900T is a great notebook, but most users dont know how to take care of it, which should be a pre-requisite to even own such a powerful system.

I would get it repaired and make sure to watch out for heat (always keep it cool with notebook cooler and Fn+F2 to max out fans). I have been VERY adamant with cooling in my Clevo D900K, and it has not hiccup'ed yet.

This was one of the biggest investments for me and I will be d'ed if I am letting all of that go to waste.

This notebook should last me for 2-3 more years easily as long as I am not careless.

 

Gophn,
Thanks for all the advise, it has been very helpful, I guess I should be very cautious of it heating up. I will keep the forum as to the status of my D900T once I recieve it. I am posting another thread @ http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1836945#post1836945

 

Well, I got my notebook back yesterday, . It turns out that they did not know about the RAID setting, , and since I have two HDs, (100G & 80G). So they need to change the setting on the Bios and everything was fine. " I am as happy as a little on her birthday, 'Knowing she will get a pony' " I will keeping this notebook and hoping it will not go bad on my again. I am using some stands (from three IBM bay 2000) which raise the notebook about 1.3 inches which should give it some air circulation and I am running the fans at max when gaming.

 

You got your wish Espi, check out the new Clevo D900C.

Read it here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=110398

 

EspiOne,

Sendt it to these guy's my D900t died twice once on Warranty, mother borad replaced (fried while in Thialand) and a second time, would not crank up.

They are reasonable and are a Clevo Reseller, The tech guy's name is Danny, I only recoomend because I live in New Jersey and shipped my D900t to them twice.

You only pay for shipping if you don't want it fixed.

Media Wave
46725 Fremont Blvd
Fremont, CA 94538
510-490-6768 ext-106
510-580-1171 (fax)
www.mediawavepc.com

ask for Danny

 

My bad,

just saw you got it fixed already.