Defective Nvidia chipsets in your current Vaio?

Lucky you! I have a VGN-AR51J with the NVIDIA problem and guess what:

To: XXX From: Sony VAIO-Link Support Team
Of: Pages: 1

Email: [email protected] Date: 24/08/09

¨ Urgent ¨ For Review ¨ Please Comment ¨ Please Reply ¨ Please Recycle
Ref. : 4107344


Dear Mr. XXX,


Following on from our conversation, the model of Sony Vaio that you own is not one of the models that

has been reported to us by nVidia as being affected by the issue with their graphics chips. We track all

affected units by their serial number's and yours is not one that has been affected. As of yet no public

statement has been released in relation the issue and we have no date for this release.

As requested the models that are affected in the European region are as follows:

VGN-FZ11x, VGN-FZ18x, VGN-FZ21x, VGN-FZ31x, VGN-FZ38x

VGN-AR11x, VGN-AR21x, VGN-AR31x

VGN-C1Zx, VGN-C2Zx

VGC-LM1xx, VGC-LM2xx

VGC-LT1xx, VGC-LT2xx

There are also other non european models affected but these would not be available to purchase in

Europe.



Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our VAIO-Link Response Centre on one of the following telephone numbers.
Within first year of purchase of your product, please call 0870 240 2408.
More than one year after purchase of your product, please call 0905 0310006 (£0.35/min).


Best regards,


Hugh Sheehy
SONY VAIO LINK SUPPORT TEAM
[email protected]
SUPPORT: http://www.vaio-link.com/


They just make it up as they go along!

 

well according to their systems.. my laptop is still in their repair centre being repaired! its a joke.

before it went fo repair, it did have the nvidia fault.. it would run Windows7 and ubuntu fine.. (w/out gfx hardware acceleration) you wouldnt know the laptop was faulty. But since its come back.. the problem is has been amplified. theres loads more lines on the screen.

will wait and see how it pans out..

I also found an intermittent fix that worked for me to make the nvidia gfx work again.. i basically taped up the fan vent hole.. yes the laptop got v HOT but i managed to install the latest nvidia drivers for both win7 and ubuntu.

My advice to those of you that have this issue.. and where Sony are not intrested is look into other operating systems.. I have had success with Ubuntu (1024x768), Windows7 (1200x800) and MAC OS X (iATKOS) (1024 x 768)

hope it helps someone

 

I'm no laptop guru. Why would using a different OS make any difference? It's a hardware problem or am I missing something?

 

you are right it is a hardware problem...but I am just suggesting alternative methods to get best use from your vaio. My vaio was running vista and would BSOD .. so it was rendered useless..by installing another operating system you are able to use the laptop (be it a graphically crippled state)

 

Graphically crippled is better that nothing. I HATE SONY & NVIDIA

 

It is a hardware issue. However any software (including the OS) can put additional demand on the graphics chipset. (You don't have to be actively gaming to use the graphics card.)

This problem is caused by the rapid heating and cooling , heating and cooling of the materials they used in the chipset. That usage may translate into power cycling the notebook multiple times a day or it could be a combination of applications (that utilize the GPU) (or even gaming) in cyclic patterns. It would have to be beyond normal use (whatever normal is).

Extended stress (like a six hour session of Halo) isn't as bad as playing Halo for 30 minute sessions over that same period of time.

55° > 85° > 55°

vs.

55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55° > 85° > 55°

(this is just an example but now apply to operations in ordinary applications (which use the GPU) that happen much more frequently.)

So no, those transparent windows and spiffy effects won't (alone) toast your graphics card. For users that are actively trying to manage those temperature ranges it's something to consider as part of a larger picture.

 

Well I have just got my Vaio back again from Sony repair..

and the problem is resolved!! they have replaced the motherboard with a working one this time..

I know the problem will happen again some time in the future.. but i'm going to keep 3D apps down to a minimum..

 

I belive Sony is using the updated version of the Nvidia chips. After the issue was uncovered Nvidia switched to a different bonding compund that had the same expansion characteristics as the rest of the chip. That eliminated the issue. So hopefully you should be good!

Gary

 

Good luck to those who’ve had their machines fixed....Just I feared in my last post the engineers at the Sony European repair centre have managed to figure that my machine has had the GPU re-floated and therefore repaired by others – they are now refusing to take my repair any further until I cough up £740.00 for a new motherboard, plus the cost of a new fan (not faulty but modified to stay on always) – probably they will want to charge me for the diagnosis fee too.....there may even be VAT involved.... If I end up paying it’s likely to cost me as much, if not more than the original cost of the machine....Really not sure where to go from here...might just tell them to keep my machine and stick it where the sun don’t shine!....after all it’s no good to me as it is.

I tried to explain to the customer services people several times that the machine was out of warranty by two months when the GPU first broke down....and due to their lack of support I had it fixed at a local repair shop...whilst out of warranty...they’re not in the least bit interested....I even had one customer services guy hang up on me....very unprofessional indeed.

I can partly see the situation from Sony’s point of view but I am absolutely appalled at their lack of initial response to the well known GPU problem, as well as what seems to be a total disregard to customer relations.

For what it’s worth, In my professional life I am a technical designer...I design TV studios and high end edit suites for a living...I shall in future boycott Sony over alternative manufactures wherever possible in my designs, and will never personally buy a Sony product again...and of course if others seek my advice (as they do) I shall urge extreme caution if they are considering a Sony purchase....I think that’s all I can do to hit back in my small way....

Bitter?.....You bet!.....Bye bye Sony - a total waste of £970....You won't rip me off a second time.

 

Just thinking, is there a smallclaims courts in your country?
That may rattle them a bit...

Also, read the small print.

Was the repair centre authorized to repair Sony's?

 

Isn't that standard policy for most companies that once you've had your notebook "internally" modified/fixed/repaired by a third party, any kind of warranty (even if it is added on later) will be voided? No?

However, I suggest that you try your best to get through to someone at Sony that can grant you a free repair "as a good will gesture." I mean you have nothing to lose & since you've already had it repaired once through a 3rd party service provider, it all comes down to how nice Sony wants to be. Just hope & pray that they're nice enough to grant you that "special" exception. Good luck.

 

I think yes, but what happens if the repair center is authorized to do repairs.

In this case the warraty should not be voided.

 

Yep. You're right.

However, from reading through what paulmick had written, it seems like he/she got the Vaio notebook fixed through a non-Sony authorized repair center. I could be very wrong though. Maybe paulmick can clear this up for us so that we can offer better suggestions.

 

Thanks all for your replies...the repair centre was unofficial - just a local repair shop...I’m told by Sony that there are no official repair centres in Europe other than Sony’s own repair centre in (I think) Belgium. But since I was out of warranty and Sony at the time were not offering us any help other than the option of paying for a very expensive motherboard replacement I thought I had nothing to lose....how wrong could I be eh!

I guess I should have just put the laptop away in a cupboard for nine months and waited for Sony to make their minds up as to whether they may or may not decide to do something about the growing problem.

Sure I can see Sony’s point of view but their reluctance to take action on the GPU issue has been pretty p*** poor up till recently.

Well....I’m in the same position I was nine months ago really – faced with an expensive repair bill due to goods that were faulty from the day of manufacture and out of warranty. I fully intend to write to Sony and see if they are prepared to at least meet me half way as a good will gesture...or I might just cut my losses and never buy Sony again.

 

Not for the GPU issue, thats NVIDIA who cheated, rather i will never buy NVIDIA gpu again, i bought dell recently with ATI, no more NVIDIA for me. I have an HP laptop with NVIDIA that died in 2 years and HP says they had extended warranty but mine died after the extension expired ... hah cool so i have a defective laptop which i bought for 1000$ in 2007, i thought yay i have NVIDIA its good... and yes i crapped.

My brothers laptop is sony vaio, it has intel GPU, but it too died in less than 6 months .. SO i would stay away from SONY VAIO and NVIDIA and HP.

Let see how my life with DELL goes, i have lenovo just hitting 2 years and it seems to be working fine

 

Let see how my life with DELL goes, i have lenovo just hitting 2 years and it seems to be working fine

Of the computers I've owned over the 20 years, Lenovo (ex-IBM Thinkpad) have been the best....but even then, I had to send one in for service and another was so far gone that it wasn't worth the cost of repair. Dell has been problematic for me as well.

 

Yeah, just keep bugging them with your issue. You've got nothing to lose at this point. With patience & some luck, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone at Sony willing to help you out. Good luck.

 

For more information about this topic, please visit the Sony Tech Support web site, directly at: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?mdl=VGNFZ140E&news_id=349

 

Hello Everyone
My sony VAIO FZ-180-E died few months ago,now i am thinking of repairing it so i could give them to my parents as they are new to the whole computer world.

I'm living in UK and i would like to buy a new motherboard, i checked ebay,there are quite a few.
Can any one suggest the best mainboard for FZ180-E currently in market?

*my laptop does have blue-ray drive too, will i be able to use the blue-ray if i replace it with one of those mainbaords?

Please write down the full name and Model number of the mainboard and possibly a link to a thrusted retailer.

Many thanks

 

What died? The video? If so Sony has extended the warranty for your model for any issue related to the video card. You may qualify for a free repair.

Gary

 

The Nvidia Chipset died,i was using integrated chipset for a few monts but now its just full of lines.
The warranty was only for one year and its already finished.
Thanks

 

Contact the shop or directly Sony support, your are entitled to free repair, independent on your regular (expired) warranty, for 3 years from the date of purchase- note, this extension, covers only the Nvidia chip.

 

Thank you so much Aviray.
maybe i should have checked this forum more often.

 

Oh well, Sony are still refusing to fix my Vaio VGN FZ11Z – It’s been to the top, and they stick by their stance that since I had it repaired by my local laptop repair specialists it has been tampered with by a third party....even though (in my view) it was out of warranty at the time and they (Sony) were refusing to admit that there was any GPU issues with that model at the time and offering no real support....so I appear to have reached a dead end.

In my opinion they’ve used this as an opportunity for wriggle out of the deal they’ve offered on the recent recall of affected models.

What they have offered me is a discount repair...£150 pounds off...thanks a lot Sony that still leaves me with at least £740 for the motherboard itself....all you’ve really done is just let me off paying for the diagnosis fee. It’s not worth the repair bill - I could get a higher spec brand new Sony for that price these days.

So I’m still left with an un-well laptop.

I’m thinking my only other option is to try to source a new replacement motherboard...anyone know if this is possible?....or economically worth it....

Anyone have any ideas?...Do I just cut my losses now and give up?....I have been quoted £70 if I want to sell it for spares!

 

Did you document the date that the repair was done by the third party, to show that it was AFTER the warranty expired? That might have a bearing on Sony's decision. When you think about it, they DO have a point that it was "tampered" with and they can't be held responsible for what that might have done. Having just said that, even if you can document when it was worked on, there is no way to document that it was NOT worked on prior to that. So even giving Sony such documentation might be fruitless.

Sorry to hear this, if only you had known they were going to extend the warranty.

Gary

 

paulmick, I'll also suggest that if possible, dig up the date, time, & better yet, even the Sony support call handler's name when you made the call to seek support/repair quote after you've first encountered the GPU issues. This call info should be the one that is before you sent your notebook out for 3rd party repair (& also before Sony did a U-turn with their stance on the GPU "free" repair). More info to prove your case may help you out a bit better.

I think that you may want to give it one last try to see if Sony will be generous enough to grant you this "good will" gesture. I sincerely hope they do & I wish you the best of luck.

 

I'm very sad. About two days I've got that problem as well. Full of blue lines on the screen. Have to disable my graphics card in order to go on. I'm about to reach two years with my Sony VAIO VGN-FZ21E.

However, I always had some problems with this GT 8400M. My system used to freeze a lot both when I was trying to use some video edition software or play some games.

I bought it in Ireland. Now I'm living in Brazil. What should I do, guys? May I send it to a local Sony's support center?

Very unfortunate fact.

Thanks, guys.

 

My nvidia 7400 Go recently failed in my SZ-483N. I bought the laptop about 3 years ago and therefore the warranty was long expired. I took it to a local authorized dealer in Beijing to have the motherboard replaced, which cost me about $300 CAD. This was all before I read some of these threads relating to the GPU. Do you guys think I have a case here with Sony to have the cost reimbursed to me?

 

Sony extended the warranty on certain models by an extra two years to cover just the Nvidia problem. The also offered reimbursement for those who had their machines repaired by SONY. You need to go to the Sony site and see if this applies to your specific model or not.

Gary

 

Hi fellow sufferers!

I live in London, England.

I have a Sony Vaio VGN-FZ21M - the graphics card is Nvidia GeForce 8400M GT.

A few days ago my display developed these faults:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1527486/nvidiafail1.JPG

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1527486/nvidiafail2.JPG

I contacted Sony on their customer support website, the page you need is here:

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/index.aspx?m=0&l=en_GB

I sent them the pictures of my screen and also included a link to the announcement by Sony that they would repair the affected Vaio's even if the warranty has expired. The announcement by Sony can be found here:

http://genesis.sony-europe.com/instranet/ccil_sony/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=35880

The next day (today) I got this response from Sony UK:

I definitely have a fault, and there is no physical damage, so I think I'll be getting it fixed for free. I've heard some bad stories about Sony support but this Nvidia issue is well known now so I think I'll take my chances and accept.


Hope this helps others, the more of us there are, the stronger the case we have.


.

 

Thank you Sealbhach for a very helpful posting. My Vaio FZ21S has just developed the same problem. Have contacted customer support and sent them images. Hoping for a favourable response.

 

I am having this issue for a while now but manage to get it to work for a few days until it comes up, but now it's happening much too frequently for it to be usable. I'm thinking of sending it for repair, however, I really can't be bothered to go through the hassle of backing up my hard drive (I have upgraded to Windows 7 and have far too many customizations to bother to reinstall and reconfigure and re customize everything from scratch). Would Sony still repair the laptop without a hard drive i.e. if I take the drive out of the bay and keep it and send the laptop?

Or alternatively, if I purchase a small cheap SATA drive and stick it in and keep my original one with me??

Also sorry if it has already been answered in the 84 pages before, but is the extended GPU warranty to two years or three?

 

I just got mine repaired (fan and DVD drive replacement) and I sent it without HDD.

 

Hmm that's interesting. Thanks for that. I guess I'll double check it with Sony as I don't want to have to pay return charges and what not.

 

Could you provide me with an E-mail address you contacting, cuz mine one is US series and i live in UK now, as i enter my product number, i dont get any suggestion or contact email and i dont want to pay 35p per min lol.
Thanks

 

Hi Guys,

Just one question for the people who have had their VAIO succesfully repaired by Sony. What exactly do they change?

I mean if the problem is inherent to the nvidia chips, it is very likely to occur again if they simply repalce it with an other one.

Would be great if some can tell exactly what repairs were made.

Thanks

 

Well Sony changes the motherboard.

The NVidia cards have been "modified" and the current design is safe (as of now) - the question is wether the "cards" on the motherboards are chagend, and that may be difficult to determine.

Ideall maybe people who had a repair done by Sony could run GPU-Z and list all the details and someone who knows a bit more could fill in the gaps?

 

hmm yeah wud be great to know the specifics...


for e.g. what if they somehow limit the proccesing capabilities of the 'modified' GPU i.e. it is essentially lower spec than the previous model.

anyways I am sending my vaio over next week, exactly the same problems.

Occasional laptop freezes first, than blank screen every 2 hours of use..

n now strange images on bootup and frequent vertical lines when Windows is loaded and blank screens.

 

I doubt they'd lower performance - if they did then that would mean they ae using the old still defective chips.

 

I'm guessing they either give you a motherboard with integrated graphics, or you get the old faulty chips with improved cooling.

You want your notebook to last, improve cooling or get intel graphics.

 

They can't give you Intel graphics because the heasink and cooling design is different.

Improving cooling alone may not be enough either - its not heat, its heat cycles - you need ot avoid heat cycles, thus keep the temperature constant.

This means running it at full power continously (no shutdowns) should be better than turning the laptop on and off.

I fear by the way that you get another "misdesigned" chip that will fail again

 

The problem never was with the cooling. It was with the heating and cooling cycles. The problem was that the bonding material for the chip expanded and contracted at a different rate than the rest of the chip. This caused small cracks to develop eventually causing the weird screen problems noted here. The solution for Nvidia was actually quite simple. Just use a different material. They did this and subsequent release of the chip seem to be fine. Sony is using these re-engineered chips in the motherboard replacements.

Gary

 

thanks to this thread, thanks to Sony
i have Sony FZ290 with Geforce 8400m GT for 2 years now, the screen started to show some strange vertical lines when i boot up the os. i called Sony on monday, they sent a tech today and changed a new motherboard for me. everything is great now. no more lines. no more overheating!

 

I hate to break it to you, but unless they replaced it with a chip that's NOT one of the old ones, it's going to break again.

I've had mine replaced three times, and now my warranty is up.

 

I have exactly the same problem with my SZ as other posters. It showed the same symptoms exactly as theirs, only mine went one step further and after powering itself down after 40 minutes or so, over several days, the nVidia chip set then DIED. stopped. the Sz will now only boot in stamina mode and I cannot find any trace of the nVidia in device manager. its as if it no longer exists. regardless of the position of the stamina/speed switch the intel graphics chip is all that works. the sz is of course now running much cooler.
I have been fighting with Sony to try and get a repair because of course I am now out of warranty. - bought late 2007. They swear that the problem is not the nVidia despite their problems with all the other models. To me its obvious that it is the nVidia that was running too hot! or was exacerbating the overheating problem (cycles or not, it was getting f***ing hot!) and has probably now burnt out.
As it is an integral part of the mother board (according to Sony) apparently, they are saying that they want € 850.00 before picking it up to repair. OUITRAGEOUS!!!
I refuse to buy that. I can go to PCWorld and buy a new MacBook for the same money.
ANybody got any further news on how to pressure Sony into doing the honourable thing with our SZs. As some other poster said, this was the top end expensive model and because there are fewer of us they think they can treat us like sh*t!!
I am so so angry about this!!

 

Wasn't that precisely what happened when Sony finally made their announcement acknowledging the issue with the Nvidia chips? By that point Nvidia had isolated the problem to being a mismatch in the expansion characteristics of the bonding material and the substrate and switched to a new material. Sony was to use these chips in the replacement program.

How can your warranty be up when Sony has extended the warranty on the affected machines by an additional 3 years?

Gary

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Sony had some mainboards lying around and used those initially...

 

Prior to the warranty extension, they probably did. After that, they would have no monetary incentive to do that knowing full well that the machine would likely be back before the extended warranty ran out. The bean counters would have seen to that, and we all know its the bean counters who make these sorts of decisions.

Gary

 

well, i have noticed 2 things after few days of use, first, the battery life is longer than before(around 20 to 30 mins more). Secondly, the overheating problem on the left hand side of the notebook is gone.

i dont think sony is still using the old NVIDIA chip, and i dont think NVIDIA is still selling old chips. i bought this FZ 2 years ago, this is the first time i experienced such problem with my FZ, and i believe they have replaced a new motherboard with new NVIDIA chip

i think your case is unique. if sony has to replace each customers notebooks 3 times within warranty, they would be out of bussiness by now lol

 

What chip did you get?

Thay probably just improved the heatsink and used good thermal paste.