NVIDIA GPUs Real Problem or Exaggeration?

[phidia]

I've been seeing/reading about the Nvidia 8400 & 8600 failures-story here (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/101451).

Generally people react to these kinds of stories. Which could be why they get published. Still there is evidence of problems.

This post can have two purposes then: 1) To let people who aren't aware of the problem know to be cautious in purchases and if you have one of these cards that there could be issues. 2) A format for people here to comment on what they think about the media coverage.

[phidia]

Ok the massive voting response to this so far (2) indicates those who've voted think this is just media created?

So news stories like this (http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/nvidia-says-significant-quantities-of-laptop-gpus-are-defectiv/) and this (http://apcmag.com/nvidia_disaster_thousands_of_gpus_faulty.htm) are just fiction?

I'm not particularly out to get nvidia but it seems something is going on.

[kevin11951]

i have a GeForce 8400M GS

its under heavy load 24/7 (i love my games!)

no problems here. :)

[bigbrovar]

my last laptop had a nvdia 8400 gpu and that laptop was the biggest mistake i ever made last year .. the system soo unstable .. sometimes it would just drag and slow to a crawl .. this was a core 2 duo 2.0 ghz 2 gb ram laptop running compiz .. something that an intel card with a 3rd of my ram would run seamlessly .. really its a shame .. in the end i gave the laptop to my little brother cus i just couldnt take it any more ..

[KillerSponge]

I have a 8400M G in my laptop, and no problems so far. GPU runs a little hot, but that is mainly the fault of the bad overall cooling of the laptop.

(I have had this laptop for about a year now, by-the-way)

[cocopuffz]

From what I've heard and read the problems are when those gpu's are in laptops. I have an 8600 gs in one of my Mint box's and it's running perfect.

[phidia]

From what I've heard and read the problems are when those gpu's are in laptops. I have an 8600 gs in one of my Mint box's and it's running perfect.

The problem shows up more with laptops but there are articles claiming design (particularly heat dissipation) problems are inherent with those and perhaps other nvidia gpus.

The article here (http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/burning_question_are_all_nvidia_g84_and_g86_parts_ bad) attempts to explore more of the issue.