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Inspiron 9400 LCD or Video Card Go Boom?

post #1 of 7
10/18/08 at 10:28pm
Thread Starter 
Hey all.

I haven't posted here in ages so first up hello. =)

Got home from school this afternoon and powered on my I9400 and walked away. Came back and had no image on the screen. Thought it was nothing and just reset and looked away again. Same thing. Finally I reset it AGAIN and actually watch it this time and I notice right away in the BIOS bootup, graphical errors!





Then all of a sudden I get this message saying there is some hardware error and it wont let me get into windows at all. The only way I can get into windows is through safe mode.



Obviously there is a problem so I called Dell. I have a 3 year on site warranty I got about 6 months left on and I've never had to use it, so in an odd way I'm glad this happened. Ha ha. I guess Dell's system is down so they couldn't open me a ticket, but the guy thinks it's the screen. Call me crazy, but I am definately leaning towards video card not the LCD.

Anyone have any thoughts? I'd love to get a newer Video card in this sucker, though my Luck Dell has tons of 7800 GOs laying around for stuff like this. Still though...new video card be nice if that's indeed the problem.

Looking at the pictures, what do you all think?
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post #2 of 7
10/19/08 at 7:42pm
That issue is the video card producing graphical corruption. Since you're under warranty it should be replaced. If Tech support is uncooperative, I'd say at least let a service tech come out once to see it. A good service tech should see it's the video card and not bother replacing the LCD. HOWEVER, if he's like a good chunk of the hacks out there repairing Dells for people he'll probably insist on replacing the screen. If that's the case, Contact Dell_RichardB, is our official Dell person that hangs around here and has been very helpful in the past.

However, a good field tech should see that that problem is the video card straight away and be able to order the video card.
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post #3 of 7
10/20/08 at 2:49pm
Thread Starter 
That is weird I replied to this last night but it isn't here now. Maybe I didn't hit post or something.

Anyway the short version: I called Dell once there systems were up and got my case going. Had a more helpful rep this time who deduced pretty quickly that my Video card is indeed the problem right after I told her I had hooked my 9400 to an external monitor and still had the graphical corruption. She said a onsite tech will contact me soon. She even said they will replace my RAM too since I was getting Memory Parity errors. (See last screenshot above.)

I hope the onsite thing works around a work schedule because I do work and missing isn't a good idea right now.

Not good to get my hopes up, but I am kind of hoping for a newer model video card. Are my odds of that good at all?
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post #4 of 7
10/21/08 at 9:27am
No way of telling and no way of selecting one either. All service parts say refurbished. Now if Dell is smart they will have made any necessary alterations to the card (or had them done) in order to make sure the GPU chips don't un-seat themselves. Some of the newer boards where the GPU is integrated to the mainboard (rather than a seperate card) the newer systems have some reinforcing adhesive applied around their perimeter.

As for scheduling around work, shouldn't be a problem as long as you're not keeping the technician much later than 7pm. That's usually my cut-off time for appointments. I wouldn't hold up hopes for getting a Saturday visit either. However if the tech does offer don't hesitate to take him up on it.
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post #5 of 7
10/21/08 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
Well my system is over 2 years old and I'm pretty sure my video card is a separate entity inside, it being a GO 7800. This is the first time I've ever had to use the Tech at all for this system so...not too bad. But I hope this isn't something as simple as the card unseating! It never did that before.

Good news if they will work till about 7. I get off work at 4pm so that'll work well it seems. I haven't gotten a call for the service guy to meet me yet. The dispatch email was sent yesterday afternoon so he is probably waiting for the part.
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post #6 of 7
10/21/08 at 1:59pm
Gosh, that's disgusting. The exact same thing just happened to my 9400 with the 7900 GS in it. I've been running with the graphics card disabled and it's been a huge pain. I'm a graphic design/photography student and this really bites. Photoshop is pretty much unusable. I bought the laptop new from dell May of 2007 and I can't believe the graphics card crapped out already. Is this a Dell hardware thing or the whole line of Nvidia cards?
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post #7 of 7
10/23/08 at 7:49am
nVidia's already admitted they've had problems with several of their mobile GPUs. I beleive the 7900GS was one of them.
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