The problem with a pay-yourself mainboard replacement is the cost - they are not cheap (think $300-400+ for the board). See if Dell will replace the board under the video warranty. If they won't, I wouldn't replace a mainboard in this system - too big a chance you'll wind up with another faulty nVidia chip. If you have to pay for the repair, replace the system (preferably with one using an Intel or ATI video chip - not nVidia).
Well, it's under warranty so I'm assuming they'll take care of it. However, I'm trying to do a support chat and they won't chat with me because they say it isn't under warranty. I guess I need to go sit on hold for a while.
It does have the nVidia gforce 8400m chip which appears to be at least one of the chips with a problem. I can't quite tell from the link what they are doing. The bios is already the latest listed for the Vostro 1400. It sounds like it needs a new motherboard. It's under warranty. From what I've read the problem may be with overheating. Is that the case or is it the hardware itself. If it's failed with the latest bios is there any reason it wouldn't fail again? Are they replacing it with something else? Finally, is the motherboard something that someone who has installed computer hardware can do or would it need to go to Dell?
I was pleasantly suprised by how quick I got through. This has been my experience with Lenovo also (who has replaced 2 hard drives, one dvd drive, and one keyboard under warranty). I guess they realize responsive and fast customer service is a competitive advantage these days. It sure counts in my book.
Anyway, they took control of my computer and couldn't definitively say that the motherboard was the problem but they're going to send a technician out to replace the motherboard. He was going to replace the memory too but I upgraded the memory after buying it. He said if the hardware fix didn't work they'd do a reinstall of the OS which I have not done yet. I'll post what the result of this is in case it will be helpful for someone else.
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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August 7th, 2009 19:00
If it will run the diagnostics, it could be a faulty video chip - a well known problem if you have nVidia video.
http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2008/08/18/nvidia-gpu-update-dell-to-offer-warranty-enhancement-to-all-affected-customers-worldwide.aspx
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 8th, 2009 08:00
The problem with a pay-yourself mainboard replacement is the cost - they are not cheap (think $300-400+ for the board). See if Dell will replace the board under the video warranty. If they won't, I wouldn't replace a mainboard in this system - too big a chance you'll wind up with another faulty nVidia chip. If you have to pay for the repair, replace the system (preferably with one using an Intel or ATI video chip - not nVidia).
amy55407
11 Posts
0
August 8th, 2009 08:00
Well, it's under warranty so I'm assuming they'll take care of it. However, I'm trying to do a support chat and they won't chat with me because they say it isn't under warranty. I guess I need to go sit on hold for a while.
amy55407
11 Posts
0
August 8th, 2009 08:00
It does have the nVidia gforce 8400m chip which appears to be at least one of the chips with a problem. I can't quite tell from the link what they are doing. The bios is already the latest listed for the Vostro 1400. It sounds like it needs a new motherboard. It's under warranty. From what I've read the problem may be with overheating. Is that the case or is it the hardware itself. If it's failed with the latest bios is there any reason it wouldn't fail again? Are they replacing it with something else? Finally, is the motherboard something that someone who has installed computer hardware can do or would it need to go to Dell?
Thanks for you help.
amy55407
11 Posts
0
August 8th, 2009 09:00
I was pleasantly suprised by how quick I got through. This has been my experience with Lenovo also (who has replaced 2 hard drives, one dvd drive, and one keyboard under warranty). I guess they realize responsive and fast customer service is a competitive advantage these days. It sure counts in my book.
Anyway, they took control of my computer and couldn't definitively say that the motherboard was the problem but they're going to send a technician out to replace the motherboard. He was going to replace the memory too but I upgraded the memory after buying it. He said if the hardware fix didn't work they'd do a reinstall of the OS which I have not done yet. I'll post what the result of this is in case it will be helpful for someone else.