R70's graphic card problem.

I brought my R70 June 2007. It works fine in the first 7 months. From Feb 2008 the graphic card stop working some time, like double image / some random symbol / some vertical lines / no video signals. I used an external monitor it happens too. Although these kinds of problems happen randomly, I can still use it. From last month these problems become very serious. Most of the time I can not open the laptop and there is just a white screen but no BIOS screen. I contacted the customer support in Samsung. Unfortunately engineers there seems not quite helpful, all their suggestion is mail it back to the repair center. Since it is purchased over 12 months, it cost about 125 GBP or more depends how many parts need to be changed.
Well. I just want to know if any other people got problem with R70's graphic card or anybody knows what the problem is.
Cheers.

PS: This is my 2nd samsung laptop. But I will not recommend Samsung laptop to my friend any more. This product quality is not as good as it used to be, also the engineer is samsung is not really helpful.

 

what is your GPU? Nvidia 8xxx series are known to have a serious flaw

 

It is 8400m GS

so any suggestion about what I should do? Cheers

 

This looks to be the nVidia GPU problem. Some symptoms are described here. You can read the details of the causes here. nVidia have set aside US$200 against the costs associated with this problem.

Effectively, these GPUs can have an unacceptably short life span, depending on the operating conditions although the incidence, so far, of nVidia GPU problems in Samsung notebooks is small.

Depending on where you bought the computer you may be able to use consumer legislation to demand repair or replacement on account of a manufacturing defect. Both Dell and HP have provided a one year warranty extension for computers containing the affected nvidia GPUs. However, Samsung have been quiet.

John

 

Cheers John for your kindly reply.

Well, I have no idea if Samsung has got any plan for this issue. As far as I know the only way to solve this problem is mail the laptop back to their repair center and they will install a new graphic card and mail it back to me which should be done in 4-5 working days.

The problem is like what I said before, the laptop have been purchased 14 months already. I can not afford that 200 pounds repair fees. (That is what samsung engineer told me by phone, 85 pounds is labour fee and 1xx pound is for the new card).

Well, I know some local people who can repair laptop with a more fair price. My question is "Is there any place in UK I can buy a grapic card which fits R70" or "Can I claim any refund from Nvidia dircetly (or maybe a new card which without any problems)".

 

Your challenge is to get Samsung to fix the GPU at no cost so they send the bill to nvidia.

However, it may be that your initial claim may be against the retailer for selling you a product with a manufacturing defect.

You may want to consult with someone such as PC Pro's watchdog (watchdog at PCPro.co.uk) but they may want you to try harder before intervening on your behalf.

John

 

I contacted with Samsung again, same answer and Samsung have no plan to solve this Nvidia GUP issue. It seems they have never heard about it until now.
My last question is do you know if I can order a new graphic card or a new main board from somewhere in UK (except samsung who charge 200 pounds for it).

 

This FAQ here. lists Samsung's authorised repair agents.

That list has changed recently and now includes EET who seem to have a comprehensive set of parts. However, notebook motherboards don't come cheap. I don't know if you can get a separate GPU. You would need to find an identical part.

John

 

Cheers John,
I contacted with samsung engineer again. Told them not only Dell and HP but also APPLE announced this problem will be solved for their customers earlier today( http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ook_pros_affected_by_faulty_nvidia_chips.html.

They said they can not do anything and gave me an email address ([email protected]). I can send a complain letter there In fact I do not want to complain but just want to repair this laptop quickly with a reasonable price.

PS: This laptop works quite nice except the graphic card. Is there any Samsung staff also on this forum? Maybe they can help the R70 users a bit to solve this problem. To be honest, this is my last try to repair this laptop before I throw it away to the bin. /sigh

 

I suspect that the underling problem is that Samsung head office have yet to come up with an action plan for the nVidia GPU problem and, without this, the support staff have to pretend that the problem does not exist. They may feel as frustrated as yourself. Hence the address for where to escalate the problem (I'll edit that address so that it doesn't get hit by spam).

Samsung's generally good cooling systems mean that the nVidia GPU problem is surfacing more slowly than with some other brands. However, because it is time-related then we can expect an increasing number of GPU failures to appear and Samsung will have to acknowledge the problem.

Perhaps, at the moment, the best course of action would be to pay the repair cost and then claim it back from Samsung. Otherwise put the computer on the shelf and wait until Samsung come up with a plan. And do escalate your complaint. There needs to be a critical mass of complaints of GPU failure before a solution will appear.

I would also suggest to people with the R70 who haven't reached the end of their warranty period to consider investing in the extended warranty.

John

 

I have a Samsung R70 laptop and its GPU just died yesterday and when I turn it on, I get a white screen with some black shadows.

Only Hp, Dell and Apple have recognized the problem?

What should we do so that Samsung provides a solution to this problem? Actually I am out of warranty

sorry for the english, bye

 

I suggest you contact Samsung about this issue, let them know lots of their customers have this problem on the Nvidia GPU. Maybe they will look into this issue as other companys did a month ago.

I know another guy whose R70 got a died GPU as well. Actually we are thinking about ask help from trading standard since Samsung still have no reaction on this issue. Well, if you need it urgent, you can call Digicare they charge about 125 GBP for the new mother board and 75 GBP labour fee as well.

PS: I have brought a DELL laptop, because I need a laptop for my Daily work. The quality of Samsung product is nice, but their customer service and engineers do need some improvement compared to other IT companys.

 

I think the redress against Samsung (at least for UK customers) lies in the Sale of Goods Act and its provision for latent defects. Here's an example ruling.

My concise Oxford Dictionary defiles latent as:

The nVidia GPU problem is, in my opinion, an example of a latent defect. The manufacturing process is inherently flawed. Perhaps Samsung can be prompted to take action by a few letters quoting the relevant legislation. Or there's the option to bear the cost now and then pursue Samsung through the courts.

I think they have been hoping that the problem would not catch up with them, but it has clearly arrived and will undoubtedly get worse.

John

 

well, cheers for you reply, john
The only thing I do not understand is why Samsung is so slow on this issue, since it is not their fault and they can claim all bills from Nvidia. Is it very hard to do the same thing like what DELL, HP and Apple already done? I hope they can make a quick solution before they find they have already lots some old customers. My friend called it "Lamesung" after he contacted with the customer service center. I have got Samsung laptop and mobile phone, I do not know if I will still buy their product next time.

 

The GPU problem has been slower to surface on Samsung notebooks than elsewhere. There is probably the same inertia as with the other companies but the process has started later.

It is also doubtful if Samsung can pass the total cost of the GPU change to nVidia. However, that should be their problem, not yours.

John

 

Seems some people in Ireland also got the same problem
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=57623609
"Samsung don't acknowledge there’s a problem with NVIDIA graphic chips.The NVIDIA chip failed on the Samsung R70 I bought for my daughter after 15 months. A month of calls to their Irish / UK helpdesk eventually gets the same reply ‘that they aren’t aware of any graphics chip problem and your warranty has expired’ so basically tough.Dell & HP both have a returns policy or extended their warranty period for this known issue but Samsung prefer to bury their heads."

I do hope Samsung will make an announcement in the near future about this problem since it is only one or two laptops affected now.

 

I have spoken with Samsung here in Spain and they told me the same

 

Well, I don't anyting about this issue. Does it means HP, DELL and APPLE they all spend their own money for their customers and give extra one year warranty for Nvidia's fault?

 

How much people have the same problem?

We could make a joint complain to Samsung to see if they take seriously the problem

 

I know at least four (including you). Well, I think Samsung knows how many people complained about this GPU issue better than us. The funny thing is almost all R70 which got this problem are around 14-15 months which just run out of warranty. lol

 

This does sound worrying, mines now out of warranty but no problems yet (Touches wood)
I'm very suprised at Samsung's response to this, it needs to be sorted out.

Ninja

 

Well, I recommend you buy an extra warranty for you laptop around another 1-2 years. It will save you lot of money and also some time on communication with Samsung.

 

If your laptop is out of warranty, you can't buy an extension for it

 

well, just found another unlucky guy with died R70.

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=74079&mode=threaded
His R70 died in June this year. And it is just out of warranty He got the same answer "The samsung customer service can not repair".I am so sad to see more and more R70 died.
I do hope Samsung can make an investigation on this issue, not for the repair cost of these laptops but for their own reputation!

 

i would of done if i thought that there was any chance of a problem, my fault really, ((you pay your money and takeyour chances)) just hope its ok

Ninja

 

Hi guys,
another case here in Spain.

I bought an R70, more than a year ago, and just two days ago it starts getting weird colours and lines instead of BIOS. It turns back on somehow arbitrarily. It looks like everyone else.

I'll be checking the post for further development on the case ;-)

 

I'm from Spain too, Where did you buy it? Something about the 2nd-year warranty?

 

HAHA Another fxxking R70 died.

I feel sad about this news that some more ppl suffering the same problem with me and loads of other peoples. What I want to tell you is get out buy a new laptop and that's it.

I have contacted with samsung about 2 months for this issue. I called the retailer, samsung customer service center and trading standard. Finally I gived up for this stupid company THEY SUCK!!!

The best way what you can do not buy from them any more, do not suggest your family and friend buy from them. Let samsung die from this plant.
Btw, my friend got a Dell xps 1330 which got the same problem as my R70. Dell repaired it two weeks ago for free because they give all Nvidia 8 series graphic card laptops one year more warranty (as same as Apple, HP..)

Last word, for all R70 users whose laptop still works fine at the moment. If it yours is still in warranty, try ask samsung change the mainboard for you with whatever reason. If it is out of warranty, sell it on ebay before it crash down.

 

Oh man,
I bought my Samsung R70 a little over 15 months ago and mine died too
I had no idea so many other people had the exact same problem!
What the f*ck is going on?
It didnt work for a week (white screen with colorful streaks - no os) and then today it randomly booted up!
But if i move it alittle it freezes,
I've had someone look at it and he has told me that there is something wrong with the graphics card as well (nvidia 8600m)
What can we do at this point? Seriously..

 

wow, welcome. another died R70.

Seriously? Em....at the first couple of weeks I still think Samsung can listen to their customers and do some market research on their product quality response. Well, maybe someday they will tell me that they noticed that hundreds R70 died because the Nvidia Graphic card problem and they contacted with Nvidia they will fix all died R70 for graphic card fault and build a good reputation for their brand. But it is just what I supposed

If you read back, you will see something in common.

All R70 died around 14-15 months which is just out of 12 months warranty. I have asked Samsung customer service, "Is your pruduct only designed for 15months?" They did not say "yes" but only said I need pay for the repair bill even it is their fault. Samsung always suggest you change motherboard and charge for it, even you try to explain what happened and why it happened.

Seriously, I believe there is NO CHANCE to get this issue done and let samsung pay for the repair bill. All I hope is this thread stay here and gather as much died R70 here all around EU maybe even US. Show people how bad reputation Samsung got and let people reconsider their choice before they purchase any Samsung product.

PS: I have had enough with this issue, if any people want to make a formal complain letter to trading standard, I can give you all detail for my R70.

 

Someone has just posted this in the Zepto forum. Read it and any further discussion.

This Euro legislation should provide the foundation of a formal approach to Samsung UK. Should they not respond then it may become a matter for the courts (who tend to favour the consumer in these matters).

John

 

I´ve just joned THE CLUB!!!
My gpu nVidia 8600gs on samsung r70 just crashed yesterday after 19 months (I was lucky) and my warranty is far gone.
There is a simple solution for me:sell it for parts !!!
I will find a better laptop that´s not samsung, so fu*k them and their customer service in spain.

 

Hi Diavolakys. I just joined the club as well. I even complained to Samsung and this is their reply:

"The issue you describe regarding the Nvidia 8xxx series notebook
graphics chipsets is not applicable in Samsung notebooks as these faults
were related to overheating and it was found not to be an issue in
Samsung notebooks due to the advanced cooling systems used.
Please contact Digicare to get a quote and arrange a repair. You can
contact them on 0844 980 2125."

That is a blatant lie.

 

It's a half lie. Samsung's cooling systems are better than many and have therefore delayed the onset of the disease. However, that GPU has a manufacturing defect and, effectively, Samsung are acknowledging this.

You need to politely reply to Samsung pointing out that the superior cooling system can delay the onset of the symptoms, but not prevent them appearing eventually.

John

 

It did, they are still denying it and ignoring the problem. Doesn't bode well for buying any future Samsung products given the fact that this is not isolated but has been discussed all over the Internet.

 

Hi everyone,

Apologies for reviving such an old thread but i feel the necesity to join this discussion.

My R70's gpu died one month ago, after 2 years and 2 months of purchase. The exact model is an 8600M GS which is commonly know to be affected by the Nvidia Defect.

So far i've find a lot of posts of people sharing the same problem with their Samsung laptops but haven't seen anyone managing to get a repair or any acceptance of responsability from the brand.
After a lot of calls and emails i have got nothing but denial from their engineers and pr spokesman here in Spain, which claims to know nothing about this problem.

Right now i am trying to find an engineer capable of doing an independent report in order to prove that my laptop was affected by this latent defect. If i can get this done, then i'll proceed to demand the retailer, hoping for a partial refund or a free repair.

I would like to contact with as many Samsung affected users as possible, specially if they are spanish, in order to make some pressure against the company.

So far i've managed to find two more guys in a spanish forum, if somebody is interested, here's the link:

http://www.adslzone.net/postt220081.html

To any of the moderators, i would like to know if there is any possible way of contacting the 2 spanish guys that posted in this thread. I've tried to send them a pm, but seems it's not possible?

I'd appreciate any help on news on this subject.

Thanks and greetings!

Walter N