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    Help! m1330 RTD? I think I have a failing GPU

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Freelancer332, Dec 22, 2008.

  1. Freelancer332

    Freelancer332 Notebook Evangelist

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    [UPDATE: Dell actually extended the GPU warranty by a year so I was able to get XPS technical support even though my warranty was over. They're letting me send my laptop to their depot to get it fixed for free. :)]

    I'm really disappointed with the quality of my m1330. One year ago, I purchased this laptop for over 2,000 dollars and the it has already racked up a huge history of needing repairs:

    2nd week- mobo replaced
    3rd week- m1330 replacement
    This summer- mobo fried, thus replaced

    And now just yesterday, I think I'm getting the symptom of a failing nvidia GPU. (NOT completely failed yet there yet because my computer will still work some of the time...like right now, I typed all this using my m1330...)
    At first, my computer screen would just get all flashy, spazzy, squarish at parts, and wiggly, flashing grains (I really don't know how to explain it..I've gotten the vertical lines problem once or twice) and then it would restart
    OR
    It would recover from it and I would get this message: Display Driver Stopped Responding and Has Recovered
    and then a few minutes later, it would all happen again

    This just started happening yesterday and it continued to happen today
    I've tried updating the gpu driver, uninstalling it, etc. and it's still a problem.

    My dell xps service warranty just expired last month so the only thing I have is the Return to Depot service.
    If I understand correctly, I'll have to call dell, pay 50 dollars for the diagnostic charge, then ship my laptop to them and they'll ship it back in a week...and they'll incur costs of replaced parts? I'm afraid they might charge me a ton for replacing the mobo or gpu or whatever they need to replace.

    Should I call them and do the RTD service? I don't really have any other options.

    Thanks in advance guys and happy holidays,
    Freelancer
     
    Freelancer332, Dec 22, 2008
    #1
  2. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    Well, if its saying the Display Driver Stopped Responding, that means it a driver problem, not defective problem.

    Even though you have done it, make sure you have the latest drivers, or uninstall completely again, then install latest drivers from www.nvidia.com
     
    ahl395, Dec 22, 2008
    #2
  3. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    Display Driver Stopped Responding could be a sign of impending GPU failure, as it was in my case.
     
    mystery905, Dec 22, 2008
    #3
  4. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    Oh, ok. I may be wrong then. :eek:
     
    ahl395, Dec 22, 2008
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  5. wodstock

    wodstock Notebook Evangelist

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    didnt dell extend the warranty a year on these gpu failures??
     
    wodstock, Dec 22, 2008
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  6. Freelancer332

    Freelancer332 Notebook Evangelist

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    I've heard something like that...I hope that's true
    Doesn't that mean I can call them up and get the RTD service free?
    I really hope I don't have to spend more than I've already spent on this computer.


    Freelancer
     
    Freelancer332, Dec 23, 2008
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  7. BruZZi

    BruZZi Notebook Guru

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    BruZZi, Dec 24, 2008
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