Nvidia G84m/G86m faulty chip happen to Vaio??

[6800gt]

I just wonder if anyone has the alleged graphic problem with your vaio series. I got AR51J with 8400m GT early this year. So far it works fine, but not sure it would die shortly :smileysad:. What's the sony's response?

origin story: All Nvidia G84 and G86s are bad
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/09/nvidia-g84-g86-bad

Channel Vendors Demand Graphics Cards Suppliers to Recall Potentially Faulty Nvidia GeForce Graphics Cards.
Resellers Want to Return Potentially Faulty Nvidia GeForce Graphics Boards to Makers
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/display/20080725123120_Channel_Vendors_Demand_Graphics_Cards_Supp...

[vicky4sony]

Hi,
I am sad to say that I am also in same situation as many of you with Vaio-FZ11L for restless 2 weeks. Here is brief discription of my story. Few months ago it was blacking out when moving lid. Now, started blacking out sudeenly even during work. I tried driver updates vai vaio-update, No help !! Formatted and re-installed, updated windows and everything.. no help... uninstalled nvidia and run on standard VGA graphics..It worked well a week giving warning of hardware acceleration is not working. But real problem started now, it started to show strange vertical lines of various colours (Became very artistic ), even it started to show strange symbols, colours and lines before coming to windows login page. I tried to install nVidia driver, it installs but fails to start after restarting. I tried to repair it from recovery disc then it started showing very bad graphics after logging on even in safe mode. Before it was okay at least in safe mode. Then I restored factory default from recovery disk. It again came with very ugly graphics with strange lines and then again went automatically for restart and showed problem of starting. I forced it to shut down and restarted and this time it stared some how with proper graphics (writing from this vaio only). Don't know what will happen when I will shut down and start again !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had bought it from sony centre in UK. I paid good amount of money for 2 years extra warranty so I am still under one year warranty. But I have moved now to Norway. I contacted vaio support few days ago they told that I have to send it for repair but asked for 168 euro just for transport. Is it worth to spent so much just on one time transport?. Even they did not cleared if I am covered in warranty in NORWAY and don't have to pay any extra in repairing. Now my point is : if we have been already sold a faulty product then why should we spent a penny for its replacement, even transport cost!! Please help what to do and how to get it working and heard!!!

[vicky4sony]

I forgot to mention that I have overheating problem from very beginning but it didn't became serious but now my battery does not lost even 10 mins just in 2 years use. Thanks to Sony for everything !!

[Thalamus.]

Hi all,

for those that are not aware, Sony have recently released a statement confirming that some Vaio models can have distorted video, random characters or blank screen issues due to failure of the NVIDIA graphics chip.

The models concerned are as follows..

VGN-FZ11x, VGN-FZ18x, VGN-FZ21x, VGN-FZ31x, VGN-FZ38x
VGN-AR11x, VGN-AR21x, VGN-AR31x
VGN-C1Zx, VGN-C2Zx
VGC-LM1xx, VGC-LM2xx
VGC-LT1xx, VGC-LT2xx

I suggest anyone with the who has such problems should contact Vaio support, use the following link to find the contact details: Sony Vaio Support

Click on the following link to read the Sony announcement: Distorted video, random characters or blank screen issues due to failure of the NVIDIA graphics chip OR if that does not work try this link: Distorted video, etc. due to failure of the NVIDIA graphics chip

[Wiaterek]

At last!!!

[vicky4sony]

Thanks Thalamus for info. I tried all the way to fix it with several days on internet but failed ultimately. I am really happy to hear the news from you. I contaced Vaio suppot but
they don't listen that it is a faulty product. I click on your link but it is coming
as blank page. I tried google to find Sony's statement but it did not appear anywhere
Can you or any other member please update it again? Thanks again..

[Thalamus.]

Hi Vicky,

here's how i found the statement for your FZ11L..

Open Vaio support, either by clicking Support at the top of this page or use the following link:Vaio support

Under Log-in option 2: Select your VAIO model, next to Select Model Category - Select your model from the drop down list, in your case VGN FZ.

Then next to Select Model - select FZ11L

Then click Log-IN

Once logged in copy & paste - Distorted video, random characters or blank screen issues due to failure of the NVIDIA graphics chip into the search box and click on the search magnifying glass.

Under the words Useful Links, click on Distorted video, random characters or blank screen issues due to failure of the NVIDIA graphics chip

You should now see announcement as attached below.

Hope this helps..

[vicky4sony]

Hello Thalamus,
Thank you very much. I can see announcement now. I will talk to Vaio support about this and let me see if they agree for transportation cost which z too much.
Thanks again

[Thalamus.]

You're welcome Vicky, hope all goes well could you please keep us informed..

[chokedup]

i have vgn-fz21m and have same issue. i used to have vertical blue lines and now its gone even worse! all graphics are mixed up with ines all over screen you cant see anything now!!!
i was quoted around 600gbp for repair!!! a guy on ebay can fix it for 100gbp but i dont wanna take risk! my laptop is only 15 months old and is not under warranty anymore!
thanks for the link to support site I am going to find out more about it!

[vicky4sony]

Hi Chockedup and all other victims of the model nos. mentioned on Sony's announcement,
Please contact vaio support and they will repair your laptop from 4 years of your buy (doesn't matter if under or out of warranty) free of cost including transportation for this crappy nVidia chip problem unless there is no other problem and any physical damage to laptop. If you have been suffering with symptoms of display then surely culprit is nVidia chip. I contacted vaio support and they agreed to arrange a courier to send laptop to France repair center and all free of cost even from Norway (I had bought it in UK)!! So hurry up to vaio support if your model is listed in announcement and it is suffering with various problem of display. I will keep posted about progress of my repair.

Cheers
Vikas