HP and Dell woes, Nvidia's fault

After diagnosing over a dozen HP computers with the same problem, it's amazing that none of the numerous friends, family, & clients are taking heed of the warning:

• HP admits 38 desktops have defective Nvidia chips
• Ten Dell models have defective Nvidia GPUs
• Nvidia in defective-chip class-action suit

The issue is not only for desktops, but for laptops as well, which poses an even greater threat because of the lack of space for fans that dissipate heat.

The List of "affected" models

• HP's list of defective products - link
• Dells' list of defective products - link
  

The Issue
"Arising from a weak die/packaging material set in certain versions... of MCP [motherboard] and GPU [graphics card] products used in notebook systems" (and desktops as well), Nvidia has basically created a family of products that do not efficiently transfer heat from MCP/GPU. Dell and HP, being 2 of the biggest computer retailers in the world, used these products in a majority of their previous generation line of computers.

The "Solutions"
1. HP's Solution - They have issued an free "Limited Warranty Service Enhancement" for it's defective products as well as a BIOS upgrade for those who haven't been affected yet. Please check to see that your unit is covered and:

• If you are unable to turn on your pc, experiencing a dead wifi connection, or no video please follow the instructions on the link above for sending your laptop in for a free repair
  
• If you are not experiencing any of the problems, initiate the latest
• And please join the class action lawsuit here.
  

2. Dell's Solution - If you are experiencing major problems, the repair should be covered under your warranty or the Extended Warranty, otherwise please perform the BIOS upgrade.

3. NVidia's Solution - Don't buy their defective models, buy the newer ones!

The Issue with the Solutions

• BIOS Update. The solutions listed above are band-aids for a bullet wound. The chips will inevitably fail. The immediate solution is to boost fan speed via BIOS upgrade to help prevent the chip from overheating. This upgrade is at the expense of the user, sacrificing quietness & battery life and does not ensure that the product will not fail. "First of all, it isn't a fix, it simply delays the problem to the point where the warranty is (hopefully) expired, then it isn't the problem of the OEM, and therefore not Nvidia's problem. " Read more here: Link 1 - Link 2

• Cover it up. "Basically they are trying to delay the failures until they can disclaim liability." Hundreds of posts have been made on their support forums that have mysteriously disappeared! To view a sample these deleted posts click here. Click the original link above and you get this message "The Message you are trying to access has been deleted. View more here, or type motherboard defective nvidia site:hp.com/psg/board into google.
  

I am 100% positive that there are dozens more models affected by this issue, but won't be covered for a defective replacement. If you notice the list of defective laptop models, most of the models are the best selling or most popular models. Since it accounts for approximately more than 75% of their defective model list, the other 25% is left out to dry. People who technical support will tell, that is not covered under their "Limited Warranty Service Enhancement Repair", because they are not part of the majority. I have to admit it's quite a strategy:

1. Deny it.
2. False security by a "fix" that only slows the problem down.
   
3. Offer a warranty to only the majority.

The minority of those not covered by a replacement will have to either replace it themselves, purchase an extended warranty to fix it, or wait until a class-action lawsuit is settled. Why?

My Theory.

• You get rid of the 75% majority by offering a free fix, and you appease the majority and stall a potentially huge, institution-killing class-action lawsuit and mandatory recall.
  
• HP's technical support and legal team can fend off the other 25% minority until they convince the consumer to purchase an extended warranty or until a class-action is settled.
• By that time, a mandatory recall will probably be issued and it will be years from now. The technology will be semi-obsolete.
  
• HP, Dell, & NVidia will have had time to mass manufacture a plausible "fix", which would have costs hundreds of dollars per unit now, and will probably only cost them less than $50/unit to fix it in the future.

I am appalled that none of this news has made headlines. I guess you can get away with anything short of murder nowadays: steal money from hard-working Americans by selling them loans you know they can't afford, or beg Uncle Sam for money to save your environment-destroying car company. Pretty soon NVidia will ask for a part of the bail out, and they will gladly issue a recall to fix their problem- WITH OUR MONEY.

Thank you lying, cheating corporate America, thank you.