Dell Issues BIOS Updates For Laptops - Important
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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.
4 Comments
Doug
July 26th, 2008
at 1:06pm
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.
Ron Schenone
July 26th, 2008
at 1:37pm
Thanks Doug.
Dell optiplex
April 20th, 2009
at 6:01am
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.
dell gx620
July 2nd, 2009
at 4:56am
Where did you put the jumpers on the harddisks? That often leads to surprises concerning bootability.