IFL90/Sager 2090 graphics problem: software or hardware?

So here I am on my laptop and its having issues. For some reason, its displaying a checkerboard pattern on all or some of the display. Each square is 16 pixels wide and tall. It alternates between red and whatever color it should be in every other column. If I scroll a webpage or something, the dots might go a light blue color.

It doesn't seem to do it during login, they look fine. It does happen in both linux(ubuntu hardy) and Vista.

So what do you think is wrong with it? Some kind of driver issue? fluke hardware problem? One of the bad batches of GPUs from Nvidia that has been in the news recently?

 

I would say your video card is going to die soon, contact your vendor right away.

[pardon the long response here, but I figure this might be useful to others]

Mine has done something similar to what you describe a few times in the middle of some intense 3d gaming (a weird checkerboard blinking pattern, text gets totally garbled, colors in the non-checkerboarded area look really weird. I think I experienced that maybe two or three times. In all previous cases, quitting the 3d game I was in always fixed the problem, and things went right back to normal. I keep the laptop elevated by a good half-inch off the desk for airflow (my cpu hasn't overheated since I started doing this).

Until yesterday, when that weird glitch happened again. I exited TeamFortress 2, and Windows looked normal. Figured I should shut down, so closed all my open windows, and then when I clicked on the shutdown button, the screen instantly turned all black, flashed on again with a garbled image of my desktop, then all back again. Windows never did shut down gracefully, so I forced power off. I let it cool down for half an hour or so, then tried turning it on again -- nothing on the display, no beeps or anything. Windows appeared to be starting up normally, judging by all the disk activity. I hooked up an external monitor, and restarted, but nothing on that display either. Tried the Fn+F3 combo, but that didn't switch anything over to the external monitor either.

So, I called my vendor (powernotebooks), who suggested the same things I'd already tried, and quickly concluded that the video card must have died. Supposed to get an RMA# on Monday.

 

If it is happening in both Vista and Linux, chances are it is hardware. The fact that it doesn't happen when the OS is loading indicates that the problem is not with the screen, so I would contact whomever sold it to you (hopefully you have a warranty...).

 

maditude,

when did you purchase yourIFL90 ? I was wondering if all these really expensive notebooks that we purchased are just ticking time bombs and how long we actually have before they die ?
I purchased mine back in October 2007, I use it every day for many hours and have had no issues yet. but I read all the problems with these 8600 GPU's and really wonder how this issue will be resolved, if at all ?

 

If you're talking about the issue with the cards not handling temperature changes correctly, then the only way to resolve the issue is to replace the card. The flaw is in one of the materials used to construct it and there is no way to fix it. That said, it is not clear which cards are affected and even if you have an affected card, there is no telling how long it will live (it varies from card to card).

 

Most folks here will recommend that you buy yourself a Cooler ... recommended one is ZALMAN.

If you don't want to spend the $60 or $70 ... go to WalMart and buy a 6" Personal Fan and set you laptop off of the your desk or table at least 1/2 inch all the way around (I use half inch door wood trim cut to 13.5" length) and turn on the blower on Fast speed. I have tried it setting in the front of laptop and blowing the air from front toward back where the exhust vent is on my 2092 and also on the left hand side where is closer to the GPU and blowing ... that drops my Temps way down. In IDLE my GPU temps are running all the way up to 85C and sits around 72sC ... go figure and I smell something smoking or melting ... you know like the rubbery thing. But with the fan my Temps drop to 58-60C in IDLE ... But, I wish that was the temps without my fancy fan.

G!

 

I've had my IFL90 for almost a whole year (since early August, in fact), and it has gotten extensive use. With any luck, nVidia has fixed the problem, and any new replacements they ship out will be problem-free.

 

Hi maditude,

Are you on Extended Warranty or the Standard 1 year one? Just Curious!!!

Thanks,
G!

 

Bought mine as a PowerPro 10:15, rather than the sager, so I'm covered under PowerNotebook.com's 3 year parts+labor warranty, including PNB-paid next-day fedex shipping both ways. Just dropped it off yesterday. The email I got from PNB with my RMA# told me to expect them to take four business days after they get it.

 

Hi Maditude,

Thanks for your reply. I just noticed your play on the word for your location "Snow" ... that is funny ...

Hey Madi ... may be when you get your machine back you can post back and let us know

1) if the "Replacement" part is the same nVidia card or something different!

2) Your GPU Temp readings as you turn on the Laptop AND in IDLE mode and then 15 minutes later & 1/2 hour in IDLE mode again.

G!

 

I think mine might be having issues as well. I can't game any kind of game (even then none strenous WoW) without having a cooling pad running all the time. System randomly shuts off or something no matter what if I dont have a cooling pad.

Sprayed all dust off i could get keep is clean and elevated and still shuts down all the time without some extra cooling. I don't think its dying... but whatever "issue" Nvidia is having... I hope they fix it or give people new cards...

Bought my Notebook early December 2007 Cept its the Powerpro version of the 2090.

 

Hi Snocker,

You should be home free ... doesn't PowerPro brand offer the 3 year Warranty!?!?

G!

 

Yeah, but I dont wanna send it in to only get the same model with the same issue on it is all. Or have they posibly fixed the issue in more recent cards?

 

Soon as I get mine back, I'll let y'all know how it went. I would think, if nVidia ever gets around to a full-blown recall, it might well be possible to SCHEDULE a gpu replacement, so that one isn't at the mercy of the repair backlog... Haven't heard boo from PNB yet, they had my 'puter since Tuesday morning.

 

Hi Maditude,

Have you e-mailed them yet for Status Check!!!

G!

 

Just a minute ago...

 

Isn't the 9500M something the same as the 8600M GT?

 

Hi Snocker,

According to Chaz Guide ... you are right ... they are the same ...

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=275056

I can't quite decipher Chaz's comment though .. he says is the same with different "Die Shrink" ... so does that mean that the 8600 Die problem has been resolved in this 9500 and therefore no HEATING problem!?!?

G!

 

Still no laptop back, not even a "it's on the way back" email. Last I heard (Monday), it was getting a new motherboard.

 

Did they happen to say anything as to why a whole new motherboard was needed?

 

If any PowerPro owner needs repair status, just contact our 24/7 Toll Free DOMESTIC Customer Service team. They are there to serve you, so don't be shy about contacting them.

Warranty repairs generally take 3-5 business days, and only occasionally longer if there is a temporary parts shortage. Please understand that we cannot disturb the technicians by asking for a Status Report until the 4th business day after it has been received (so they can get their work done!). However if you have not received an email shipping notice with the return tracking number by the 4th business day after it was received you are welcome to contact them with a request for status.

 

This wait is killing me...

 

Sadly, no one here can help you.

I can't even help you because I have no idea who you are. If you ever need help getting what you want from our 24/7 Support Team, just click on my email address in my signature and let me know what you need.

Actually, I thought I knew who you are, but that cannot be because that person's laptop was already shipped back and an email with his tracking number was sent on July 31st, and it was delivered on August 1st.

 

It arrived this afternoon! Minus any email notifications. Oh man, I missed my precious! The wsxga+ screen, the SPEED (DevStudio builds my current project in about 1 second, versus 1 minute on my old 'puter) -- it feels like I'm on a brand new computer all over again.

I was told via email at various times that the motherboard AND video card were replaced. Other than an odd DHCP message from the PowerOnSelfTest stage, I haven't noticed anything (ie, Windows didn't ask me to re-validate it yet).

Now, gonwk wanted temps...

Using 'Real Temp 2.60', right after startup, initial temps were 57 and 55 (core1 and core2). Doing some work, running a bunch of compiles in DevStudio, max temps shot up to 70 and 62. It's been on now for a good 30 minutes, and current temps are 58 and 57. That's maybe slightly cooler than they were before I sent it in, probably because the repair-tech did a better job of dust removal than I did.

Work interrupted for a bit there, now some 60 minutes later, current temps are 58 and 56.

Will update later, if I ever get off this conference call and get a chance to play some TF2.

-- updated --
Just got done playing about 45 minutes of TF2 on a full server. Max temps were 80 and 74.

 

Hi Maditude,

I can see you are Jumping with JOY! As happy as you are, one would think that you might have Hit the Jackpot.

Anyway, I am glad things worked out the BEST for you.

Maditude the Temps that you are quoting are pretty good ... something that would have made me happy.

Q1: Maditude are these Temps for your Graphic Card!?!? Or just the CPU!

Q2: Can you tell me using GPU-Z program (or whatever you use) what did they replace your faulty nVIDIA 8600 Video Graphic Card (GPU) with ... you know Model name and number?

BTW, I am so used to taking my Temps using HWMonitor 1.10 (latest version when I downloaded it) ... I have to try "Real Temp 2.60" ... 1st I heard of it.

THANKS for the Temps and the heads up!

G!

 

> Q1: Maditude are these Temps for your Graphic Card!?!? Or just the CPU!

Those were CPU temps only... But just played a good half-hour of TF2 on a 30-player server, and gpu never went above 69. (cpu's got up to 78 and 74).

> Can you tell me using GPU-Z program (or whatever you use) what did they
> replace your faulty nVIDIA 8600 Video Graphic Card (GPU) with ... you know
> Model name and number?

GPU-Z says it's an 8600M GT, gpu=G84M, revision=A2

I don't recall if my previous card was revision A2 or not.

 

Hi Maditude,

THANKS for the info guy!

G!