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7900GS Recall or Replacement Thread - Page 3  

post #41 of 97
11/11/07 at 10:01pm
Thread Starter 
foryour information I work and go to school. I'm working on the geek squad at best buy for a living and as an internship getting credit for school, and I take 15 credits of school for a total of 18 hrs a week of school. with my work, class time and homework I'm putting in 60+ hrs a week and I'm livng on top ramen and water pal. So don't f-ing tell me to get a job punk.
post #42 of 97
11/11/07 at 10:09pm
Thread Starter 
here's one in a different dell laptop with the EXACT same problem.

http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...=163101&page=3

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=26991

http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...sage.id=164352

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?s...=&#entry167270 (this guy thinks it's a driver issue... lol. that does bring up a good point though. Dell releases new drivers for this card once a friken year!)


Also, tell me why they made a dual pipe version of the 7900GS then huu???? Perhaps because the single pipe one was getting too hot??? here's one right here on ebay why would they need to make a dual pipe version if the single pipe was fine? I'd be willing to wager that the vast majority of the people having the thermal related problems with the 7900GS have the single pipe version.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Inspiron-25...QQcmdZViewItem


They have come to the same conclusion. This card does not have proper heatsinks for the memory. They use a crappy thermal tape attached to a paper thin plate for cooling with absolutly no fan coverage. I'd wager with the rest of the 7900 family the extra heat pipe cools the card down enough so that the memory doesn't heat up as much, or perhaps they will start failing in another 6 mo or something who knows.

The fact is these cards have an inherent design flaw that causes failure over time. and a very short time at that. The V-RAM cooks in there and can't cope with the prolonged exposer to the heat and they start to fail after a year or so, that doesn't mean ALL of them will but a good enough percent are failing to say this is a a recall situation.
post #43 of 97
11/11/07 at 10:49pm
Okay, get a better part time job. Even my office pays a part time admin (answers phones etc) atleast 20 bucks an hour.

I can understand you are having hard time working and going to school, but that's just how life is for many ppl (I went to (active) army, then worked at bars at nights to finish school), but it really doesn't mean it was Dell's fault your GPU crapped after a year.

Another tip I can give you is that it's best for you to get a cash paying job (which doesn't require for you to file every income you make - like... bars), and try to get financial aid out of it - this way, you really don't have to live off noodles.

GL with your school, it will be over sooner than you think. Hack, may be you will miss it one day.
post #44 of 97
11/12/07 at 3:07am
For what it's worth I have a REV 0 7900 which is second hand, and swapped out my 7800go. This has been O'ed 550/700 with the 1.25V bios for about 6 months, then flashed it to the 1V unlocked bios simply as a precaution. This is always used with IK8FanGUI - without this the GPU idles at 60 degC with it idles at 50deg C (fans on low)

Is the memory faulty??? who knows all I can see is that the cards that are failing due to memory errors indicating that this is the weak point.

Is this related to the fact that the memory uses pads to remove heat, and you can't AS05 the memory I don't know. All I do know is if my GPU died tommorow then I would go and buy a FX2500 or FX3500 and be done with it. This lappie has had a tough life and it's still going two years later - still being O/Ced up to 460/800 with the 1V mod and totally stable.

The bottom line is electronic stuff just dies - hell my Cowon A2 just died for no reason, $400 up in smoke no CC etc but thats life, as they say shit happens just move on - if you don't have the cash for CC then take the gamble - for me if the GPU dies then I'm up for $400 dollars - if I had CC that would have cost $400 so I'm even. If it lasts out then I'm $400 ahead.
post #45 of 97
11/12/07 at 5:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by philby View Post
For what it's worth I have a REV 0 7900 which is second hand, and swapped out my 7800go. This has been O'ed 550/700 with the 1.25V bios for about 6 months, then flashed it to the 1V unlocked bios simply as a precaution. This is always used with IK8FanGUI - without this the GPU idles at 60 degC with it idles at 50deg C (fans on low)

Is the memory faulty??? who knows all I can see is that the cards that are failing due to memory errors indicating that this is the weak point.

Is this related to the fact that the memory uses pads to remove heat, and you can't AS05 the memory I don't know. All I do know is if my GPU died tommorow then I would go and buy a FX2500 or FX3500 and be done with it. This lappie has had a tough life and it's still going two years later - still being O/Ced up to 460/800 with the 1V mod and totally stable.

The bottom line is electronic stuff just dies - hell my Cowon A2 just died for no reason, $400 up in smoke no CC etc but thats life, as they say shit happens just move on - if you don't have the cash for CC then take the gamble - for me if the GPU dies then I'm up for $400 dollars - if I had CC that would have cost $400 so I'm even. If it lasts out then I'm $400 ahead.
well I understood the part about the memory being bad but thats all I got out of that...

of course stuff goes out, I'm not saying nothing should ever go wrong or die... I'm saying that this ONE PARTICULAR card used in this case, is failing way too often and producing the same symptoms for this to be a "just sometimes electrical stuff fails" situation. This is no coincidence (spelling? lol)

It's a design flaw and should be replaced free of charge period. I mean, I got my fx2500 for $125 and free shipping, I got a better computer now. I really didn't come out all that bad but the vast majority of users are no doubt just calling dell and sending it in to be fixed for 600+ dollars and dell never tells any of them that this is a common problem. It's just wrong, not only is dell getting away with not fixing a design flaw in thier systems but they are making money off the fact that these laptops are all dying! It's criminal. period.

I'm not whining, I truely feel like dell is scamming their own paying customers. I can't stand when a company as big as dell and suposedly takes pride in their customer service pulls the wool over peoples eyes and scams money out of them or shirks responsibility for something they did wrong. I know dell didn't know this would happen I'm not saying they intentionaly put out the cards to fail, but they sure as hell aren't trying to do something to fix the problem now that they're making money off fixing these busted card are they? I don't see how you guys can continue to be such dell fanboys when they are doing somthing like this...

ohh ya and a comment to the post a few up, 20 dollar an hour part time job... whatever you're on I'll take two! You think 20 dollar PART TIME jobs are just that easy to get??? lol you need to think about what you type before you type it achilles. lol... sure I'll just march down to the magical company down the street that hires people for 20 bucks an hour to start part time... unless you have a skill you will never be able to find a part time or even full time job (ussually) for 20 bucks an hour to start. you have to work somewhere for year s and years to get toi that point, particularly if you're only part time! you're trippin... lol
post #46 of 97
11/13/07 at 2:08pm
When mine failed I ordered a 7950 do you think these will have the same problem? maybe I should underclock/undervolt the thing, i don't need all its power just got it cause it was a killer deal for the card: $250. (refurb not used btw)
post #47 of 97
11/13/07 at 2:14pm
there is alot of black screen cards going around.

I got 1 off ebay for 100 bux. 7900gtx. rev00

I blind flashed it back to life..

now I have an extra 7900gtx.
post #48 of 97
11/13/07 at 4:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mentaldelusions View Post
refurb not used btw
Just so you know, refurbished by definition means used.

Disclosure: I am an owner of a 1705 with a 7900GS and have had it since the beginning of summer. I bought it for $1100 from Dell (thank god for $500 off coupon) and never purchased an extended warranty because I figured I'd do it later, or not at all. After reading this thread, I'll definitely be buying one before the beginning of next summer.

That said, even with an extended warranty, I'd still be floored if I had to send my laptop back once every year because they didn't design it correctly. Like I said earlier, warranties are in place to protect the buyer against the unlikely event of defective hardware. In a perfect world, you don't buy a warranty knowing you'll be using it because you trust that the manufacturer has built and designed the product to withstand a decent amount of time. Of course we don't live in a perfect world, but at least Dell can try their best, which obviously they haven't. Ethics aside, sending the laptop back to Dell for repair is an unbelievably huge inconvenience. I should not be wasting my time for Dell's incompetence.
post #49 of 97
11/13/07 at 4:53pm
this is a small group of people. don't worry at all.

i know of a few that have had theirs for over 2 years now.

and they are fine.
post #50 of 97
11/13/07 at 5:06pm
My 7900gs died after 3 month.
Got a new one after three days.

This one is still working great after a year now.
post #51 of 97
11/14/07 at 8:31pm
It's seems pretty funny to me that the warranty issue keeps coming up in this thread. This issue has nothing to do with warranties or how much anyone here makes at their jobs.

I did not purchase the extended warranty, and while I now wish I had, it still does not resolve the issue.

My complaint is, I think, similar to mwitters in that, either the Dell design of the laptop is poor, or the design of the GPU is poor.

Even if I had bought the extended warranty I would not be pleased about having to replace a part every 9-12 months. It's ridiculous, and if Dell really stood behind their products, they would at least attempt to help their customers, extended warranty or not.

My other complaint is the fact that I only have 2 options for purchasing a replacement;

1. Dell Parts - refurbished (overpriced, because they can!)
OR
2. eBay - refurbished, or sold AS-IS

I cannot buy a NEW replacement anywhere, which really, is just pathetic. When a part on your car dies, are your only options to get a refurbished part from the dealer or from eBay? Of course not...
post #52 of 97
11/14/07 at 8:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphavegas View Post
It's seems pretty funny to me that the warranty issue keeps coming up in this thread. This issue has nothing to do with warranties or how much anyone here makes at their jobs.

I did not purchase the extended warranty, and while I now wish I had, it still does not resolve the issue.

My complaint is, I think, similar to mwitters in that, either the Dell design of the laptop is poor, or the design of the GPU is poor.

Even if I had bought the extended warranty I would not be pleased about having to replace a part every 9-12 months. It's ridiculous, and if Dell really stood behind their products, they would at least attempt to help their customers, extended warranty or not.

My other complaint is the fact that I only have 2 options for purchasing a replacement;

1. Dell Parts - refurbished (overpriced, because they can!)
OR
2. eBay - refurbished, or sold AS-IS

I cannot buy a NEW replacement anywhere, which really, is just pathetic. When a part on your car dies, are your only options to get a refurbished part from the dealer or from eBay? Of course not...
you are so wrong.

they had a NEW 7900gs for under 100 bux on ebay last nite.
post #53 of 97
11/14/07 at 8:43pm
refurbished by dell, is pretty much new.
post #54 of 97
11/14/07 at 8:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphavegas View Post
It's seems pretty funny to me that the warranty issue keeps coming up in this thread. This issue has nothing to do with warranties or how much anyone here makes at their jobs.

I did not purchase the extended warranty, and while I now wish I had, it still does not resolve the issue.

My complaint is, I think, similar to mwitters in that, either the Dell design of the laptop is poor, or the design of the GPU is poor.

Even if I had bought the extended warranty I would not be pleased about having to replace a part every 9-12 months. It's ridiculous, and if Dell really stood behind their products, they would at least attempt to help their customers, extended warranty or not.

My other complaint is the fact that I only have 2 options for purchasing a replacement;

1. Dell Parts - refurbished (overpriced, because they can!)
OR
2. eBay - refurbished, or sold AS-IS

I cannot buy a NEW replacement anywhere, which really, is just pathetic. When a part on your car dies, are your only options to get a refurbished part from the dealer or from eBay? Of course not...
I might have to disagree with you as well. Dell actually did some decent homework on this, by giving us ample room and the right amount of parts necesary to keep the parts inside cool. If you look at say the new Vostro line, Dell has caught onto our 7950GTX/FX-2500 mods and we see this in the new line as they have limited us modders to the hardware we can put in.

Its all about marketing, like why Dell cant get a 7950GTX in a 1705. Its not ture, its got the same general chassis as the 1710 but they dont offer monster cards in budegt laptops becasue they want us to upgrade to teh XPS line which have a base price of like 2k.

If i have some wrong facts in there sorry im on my way to dinner, just flame me and correct my errors.
post #55 of 97
11/14/07 at 11:23pm
Thank you for reiterating my point, alphavegas.

Quote:
Originally Posted by diefool View Post
refurbished by dell, is pretty much new.
This is completely wrong as well. Dell is neither a semiconductor manufacturer nor a board manufacturer, therefore they do not have the means to refurbish semiconductor equipment. Refurbished by Dell merely means that they pulled it from a used system and tested that it turned on and showed some graphics. Diefool, Please refrain from commenting to this thread as all you're doing is flamebaiting and
spreading misinformation.


Ghazgull013, although your comment about the new Vostro line may be true, it doesn't change the fact that Dell used us 9400 owners as essentially guinepigs.
post #56 of 97
11/15/07 at 3:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ericww View Post
Thank you for reiterating my point, alphavegas.


This is completely wrong as well. Dell is neither a semiconductor manufacturer nor a board manufacturer, therefore they do not have the means to refurbish semiconductor equipment. Refurbished by Dell merely means that they pulled it from a used system and tested that it turned on and showed some graphics. Diefool, Please refrain from commenting to this thread as all you're doing is flamebaiting and
spreading misinformation.


Ghazgull013, although your comment about the new Vostro line may be true, it doesn't change the fact that Dell used us 9400 owners as essentially guinepigs.
flamebait yourself .

I was posting what I know.
120183791379

^item #


brand new 7900gs.
post #57 of 97
11/15/07 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by alphavegas View Post

I cannot buy a NEW replacement anywhere, which really, is just pathetic. When a part on your car dies, are your only options to get a refurbished part from the dealer or from eBay? Of course not...
You're a bit wrong there. It depends on the age of your vehicle and how willing the manufacturer is to make parts available. On an older vehicle there's lots of parts that you can only get as remanufactured from AutoZone or O'RLY which are EXTREMELY inferior to OEM parts. On newer cars, the problem is there's lots of parts that are dealer only (and alot of times the dealer will only carry it remanned). No auto parts place carries them, and if you don't like the Dealer's high price your only alternative is the pick'n'pull or hope someone has one on eBay.

Still, this doesn't seem to be as widespread a problem as alot of you folks are making it out to be. I don't think I've EVER had to replace a video card on an E1705 since they came out. That's 0 out of 1,000 machines I repair each year. The most common issues on E1705's for me are motherboard and LCD. Due to broken jacks or abused LCDs. Quite a number of those systems have had the 7900GS.
post #58 of 97
11/15/07 at 4:15pm
Over the years I've bult many desktops and from time to time parts just don't work or stops working after a while. I'ts not specific to dell.
Seeing how many has posted complaints in theese forums I'd say its a good product. Must be less than 5 % of all the 9400/1705/1710 that have tihis problem.
post #59 of 97
11/15/07 at 4:53pm
careful die no links
post #60 of 97
11/15/07 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghazgull013 View Post
careful die no links

sorry sir, won't happen again sir
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