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**Force Flow** · 07-26-2008, 11:07 PM

I'm looking at mid-range gaming laptops for someone. A Dell XPS 1530 looks to be the best fit, but unfortuantely, it carries the faulty 8400/8600 video cards.

What other options are there? The studio 15 carries the underpowered ATi radeon HD 3450.

$1200 is the price limit.

***glc*** · 07-27-2008, 01:15 AM

Not all the 8400's and 8600's are bad. If you get a bad one, Dell should fix it, with help from Nvidia.

**Force Flow** · 07-27-2008, 12:21 PM

Should I spring for something longer than just the included 1yr warranty if this problem is potentially on the horizon?

***glc*** · 07-27-2008, 05:23 PM

Not a bad idea.

**thefultonhow** · 07-28-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glc

Not all the 8400's and 8600's are bad. If you get a bad one, Dell should fix it, with help from Nvidia.

That's what the official line is, but rumor has it that this is an actual design flaw with the 8x00 series mobile chips, and if you don't have the problem now, it will probably happen down the line. Note that Dell's BIOS "fix" for the issue just increases fan speed and keeps the fan on more of the time -- do you really think this is going to do anything more than delay failure (and probably often delay it just enough so that the computer is out of warranty and the user is forced to pay for a $500+ motherboard replacement)?

Sorry for the cynicism, but the upshot is that I would avoid buying any laptop with an 8400/8600 until nVidia comes out with an actual recall and/or replacement program.

Masaki 7-11 · 07-29-2008, 02:16 AM

I would take a look at laptops with HD2600 or HD3650 graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220303
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834101154

If you want to stick with nvidia, take a look at laptops with the 9500 and 9600 graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220340
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220342

***glc*** · 07-29-2008, 08:49 AM

You may want to look at the Lenovo T61. It's available with Nvidia Quadro graphics and the XP downgrade. I don't know how well the Quadro games, but it has to be better than the Intel GMA 3100.

**thefultonhow** · 07-29-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glc

You may want to look at the Lenovo T61. It's available with Nvidia Quadro graphics and the XP downgrade. I don't know how well the Quadro games, but it has to be better than the Intel GMA 3100.

The Quadro NVS 140M is an 8400 with different drivers.

Those Asuses that Masaki posted look good. I wouldn't get a Gateway, though.

07-30-2008, 08:10 AM

If you don't mind buying HP, try look at this: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto.do

07-30-2008, 08:11 AM

Sorry, thats a bad link, use this one: http://www.shopping.hp.com/series/ca...owse1/home_SDP

**thefultonhow** · 07-30-2008, 09:01 AM

It looks like that's a Montevina laptop. I would personally wait for the Montevinas from Dell and Lenovo if you don't want to go with an Asus (it looks like those Asus ones posted are Montevina as well).

**Force Flow** · 08-01-2008, 08:04 AM

After some consideration and looking at some of the suggestions here, I ended up going with a Dell Studio 15.

Thanks guys

07-26-2008, 11:07 PM	#1
Force Flow Barefoot on the Moon! Staff Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Northeastern USA Posts: 13,385	Since the nvidia 8400s and 8600s are bad, what other options are there? I'm looking at mid-range gaming laptops for someone. A Dell XPS 1530 looks to be the best fit, but unfortuantely, it carries the faulty 8400/8600 video cards. What other options are there? The studio 15 carries the underpowered ATi radeon HD 3450. $1200 is the price limit. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ There are two secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day, and you have to have a dream.

07-27-2008, 01:15 AM	#2
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,782	Not all the 8400's and 8600's are bad. If you get a bad one, Dell should fix it, with help from Nvidia. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-27-2008, 12:21 PM	#3
Force Flow Barefoot on the Moon! Staff Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Northeastern USA Posts: 13,385	Should I spring for something longer than just the included 1yr warranty if this problem is potentially on the horizon? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-27-2008, 05:23 PM	#4
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,782	Not a bad idea. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-29-2008, 02:16 AM	#6
Masaki 7-11 Member (12 bit) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,358	I would take a look at laptops with HD2600 or HD3650 graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220303 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834101154 If you want to stick with nvidia, take a look at laptops with the 9500 and 9600 graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220340 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220342 Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Core i7 2600K @ 4.2GHz \| Corsair H100 w/ Scythe S-FLEX 120mm Med. Flow & AC MX4 \| 4 x 4GB Corsair Vengeance PC3-12800 \| HIS 1GB HD6870/ HIS IceQ X Turbo 1GB CF \| Asus P67 Sabertooth \| OCZ Vertex 3, WD Velociraptor 150GB & Seagate 1.5TB in Tt iCage \| LG 22X DVD+/-RW \| D-Link DWA-556 \| Corsair TX 750W \| Coolermaster Cosmos 1000 \| Windows 7 HP 64-Bit \| LG Flatron L246WH-BN 3D Mark11: P8491\| 3D Mark Vantage: P30840\| 3D Mark06: 29912

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07-29-2008, 08:49 AM	#7
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,782	You may want to look at the Lenovo T61. It's available with Nvidia Quadro graphics and the XP downgrade. I don't know how well the Quadro games, but it has to be better than the Intel GMA 3100. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-30-2008, 08:10 AM	#9
usnavyretired Guest Posts: n/a	If you don't mind buying HP, try look at this: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto.do Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-30-2008, 08:11 AM	#10
usnavyretired Guest Posts: n/a	Sorry, thats a bad link, use this one: http://www.shopping.hp.com/series/ca...owse1/home_SDP Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-30-2008, 09:01 AM	#11
thefultonhow Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,918	It looks like that's a Montevina laptop. I would personally wait for the Montevinas from Dell and Lenovo if you don't want to go with an Asus (it looks like those Asus ones posted are Montevina as well). Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

08-01-2008, 08:04 AM	#12
Force Flow Barefoot on the Moon! Staff Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Northeastern USA Posts: 13,385	After some consideration and looking at some of the suggestions here, I ended up going with a Dell Studio 15. Thanks guys Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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