Ron Schenone

Dell Issues BIOS Updates For Laptops – Important

Posted by on Jul 26, 2008 | 4 Comments

If you own a Dell laptop system, I would highly recommend that you check on the source link below, to determine whether your computer is in need of a BIOS update. It appears that NVIDIA GPU may prematurely fail on select Dell systems, if the BIOS fix is not done. If you are already experiencing video problems, a BIOS update will not help. Hopefully your system will still be under warranty or the repairs will cost you to a fix. In their blog Dell states:

Though this issue is not unique to Dell, some of these affected GPUs are used in certain Dell laptops. That’s why I wanted to take a few minutes here to explain the issue and to let customers know what to do next. The issue is a weak die/packaging material set, which may fail with GPU temperature fluctuations. If your GPU fails, you may see intermittent symptoms during early stages of failure that include:

  • Multiple images
  • Random characters on the screen
  • Lines on the screen
  • No video

Dell recommends that you flash your system BIOS (see links in the table below). Each of these BIOS updates listed in the table below modifies the fan profile to help regulate GPU temperature fluctuations. Note: if you are already experiencing video-related issues like the bullet points above, updating the BIOS will not correct them. Dell will provide support for customers who have experienced GPU failure according to the terms of the system warranty.

These BIOS updates will help reduce the likelihood of GPU issues. New systems are being shipped with the updated BIOS revisions. Here’s the list of the latest BIOS versions. Click on the links below to download them.

Dell Product Name BIOS Revision Date Update File Name
Inspiron 1420

A09

 7/14/08 1420_A09.EXE
Latitude D630

A12

 6/22/08 D630_A12.EXE
Latitude D630c

A06

 7/11/08 D630CA06.EXE
Precision M2300

A07

 7/11/08 M2300A07.EXE
Vostro Notebook 1310

A10

 7/10/08 V1310-A10.EXE
Vostro Notebook 1400

A09

 7/10/08 1400_A09.EXE
Vostro Notebook 1510

A10

 7/10/08 V1510A10.EXE
Vostro Notebook 1710

A07

 7/10/08 V1710A07.EXE
XPS M1330

A12

 7/9/08 M1330A12.EXE
XPS M1530 BIOS will be available before the end of July

If you need help flashing your system BIOS or experience any of the video-related issues listed above, please contact Dell Technical Support. Our teams are committed to working with affected customers to resolve issues on a case-by-case basis.

If you have not updated a BIOS before, may I suggest you contact Dell before trying the procedure. If the BIOS update fails, your system could be rendered inoperable.

Comments welcome.

Source.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/dabrace1984/ Doug

    I can’t confirm this because I don’t have a Dell laptop but based on what Engadget commenters are posting at the URL below, it seems that Dell’s “fix” to the NVIDIA GPU issue is to simply keep the laptop fans on all the time. I wouldn’t call this a “fix” unless Dell is going to be sending a free second battery and a free external battery charger (sort of like a dock).

    http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/26/dell-explains-nvidia-gpu-issues-throws-out-bios-updates-to-help/

    I know that this isn’t necessarily Dell’s problem but NVIDIA doesn’t provide warranty replacements for products that are purchased through a reseller or OEM, so this is Dell’s problem. I don’t know what I am going to do about this… kind of stuck between a rock-and-a-hard-place.

    – flash the BIOS and deal with the fans allegedly running at full blast

    or

    – don’t flash the BIOS and claim that I didn’t know one was available when I receive a laptop from a client of mine that experiences video problems

    These are questions/experiences that are also being commented on at the Direct2Dell source article. It is going to be interesting to see how this effects NVIDIA. They supply GPUs for pretty much every OEM, including Apple, in the market.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks Doug.

  • http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com Dell optiplex

    Can anybody help me with my problem? I bought a Dell
    laptop last May 08. Since I got it, it regularly shuts
    down and goes to the blue screen of death. I contacted
    Dell almost immediately and was told that they would be
    able to fix it “100%”. Since I had confidence in their
    abilities at the time, I patiently went along with their
    updates, restores, replacements, etc. Finally, 10 months
    later, I said enough and asked for another computer.
    They informed me that I could only get a “refurbished”
    computer. No one is interested in helping and there is
    definitely no customer relations to go to. Any suggestions?
    I was basically told to take the refurbished
    computer or they would close my case.

  • http://www.dellgx620.com/ dell gx620

    Where did you put the jumpers on the harddisks? That often leads to surprises concerning bootability.