Sony :: Vaio VGN-SZ780 NVidia 8400M GPU Failure
Aug 15, 2009
I have a Sony Vaio VGN-SZ780 that passed its 1 year warranty a few months ago.
My laptop was experiencing overheating and would either reboot suddenly after the blue screen of death or would just shut down in the middle when using the nvidia 8400 GPU.
From Sony's explanation, I read that the shutdown of the system is a normal behavior under high temperature and I assumed it was not a problem and just an inconvenience.
Just 30 minutes ago, my laptop screen turn white completely and froze so I shut down the system immediately and since then, my SZ780 DOES NOT BOOT when using the Nvidia GPU!
Sony's recent replacement annoucement of defective Nvidia GPUs EXCLUDE the SZ models so for me, I have no additional warranty that can cover this.
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Oct 27, 2009
Can anyone be kind enough to share a flash ROM copy of Nvidia Geforce 8400M GT notebook graphics display for
Sony Vaio VGN-AR61M? A backup copy done with Nvflash, NiBiTor or any similar flash app perhaps will do.
I need to flash my video graphics display which is no longer recognized. For some unknown reasons,
after installing and playing some high resolution games, my pc crashed and suddenly Windows 7 display won't accept any video driver except the standard VGA adapter
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Aug 26, 2009
I had assumed, but I want to make sure that my SZ6's problem is due to the Nvidia temp defect thing everyone's talking about.
Basically my computer is always very hot. Just downloaded SpeedFan and the GPU and both Cores are 78C and i've just been surfing the web for a few hours.
The problem happens when I play games (like Civ4 or Half-life 2) for a few hours or sometimes less if its a hot day. The laptop will abruptly power off as if I pulled the battery and power cord out.
When I reboot, I get that error message that says Windows did not shut down properly, do you want to reboot normally or in safe mode
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Jan 15, 2009
I only get 16bit color in xp but in vista there is no problem I have 32 bit. When I change
resolution to 32 in xp on next boot it rechanges itself to 16 again.! I have all fn keys working and power management and this is only issue I have with xp
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Nov 13, 2009
my graphic card drivers.
I have a Sony VGN-FZ38M (originnaly bought with vista) and I have installed windows 7 64bits
My graphics card is a NVIDIA 8400M GT, and I've tested a lot of drivers for this model but no one works. tried both drivers on sony [url] webiste but always same issue : "your system is not supported..."
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Jan 4, 2009
I just stumbled accross the thread about modding some dell with an 8400M GS vidcard, I was wondering if this also applied to sony as well.. or they did a good job adding thermal compoung to the heatsink.
I just wanted to know if any of you did some mod, if it's really necessary or my GPU will melt slowly while I game.
Some guy said about placing a copper sheet in between the heatsink and the gpu.. but I still don't get how much pressure should be applied when bolting the screws.
On the other hand has anyone mod their 8400 M GT to say a 8600 using rivatuner..
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Dec 30, 2009
I have a Sony Vaio VGN-FZ18M Laptop (Running Vista Home Premium) which I would like to update to Windows 7 Ultimate.
On running MS compatibility Checker it points out that the Driver for Geforce 8400M GT is not compatible.
When I try to find a new driver via NVIDIA I keep being referred to Sony who seem to have washed their hands of the problem See reply message below.
Can you point me at a driver that will work with Windows 7 or has anyone updated to Windows 7 with this Geforce 8400M GT driver and had any success.
I seem to be going round in circles trying to find a solution.
i.e. NVIDIA say go to Sony and SONY say go to NVIDIA
I note from searching the net that there are many people out there with Vaio FZ models having similar problems and that Sony seem to have created upgrades for quiet a number of their models but have stated “Please note that your computer is not eligible for the Upgrade to Windows 7.”
This I find disgraceful for a Company to completely wash its hands of supporting a machine that is barely 2 years old and the fact the New OS from MS is seen as an industry standard which they will be delivering in future. They refer to it as 3rd Party Software which their reply would infer they are not going to support in their machines. I wonder if that applies to their latest models?
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Dec 6, 2008
I recently bought a laptop and before it ships I have been looking around at how the 8400m GS performs. The video card is labeled at 128 mb but many people have been posting on forums about how they're cards are telling them they have 256mb instead of 128.
More commonly, Youtube videos are all titled 8400m GS *256*. Is the 128mb version just really uncommon? Or is it really 256 mb. I also stumbled upon something called Turbo Cache (not sure if that's the right name for it) that has the GPU use some of my systems RAM...Isn't that what integrated chipsets do?
Anyway here's my system:
XPS M1530 Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
3 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz (2 DIMMs)
320 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
If anyone knows anything about Turbo Cache or how this card performs with World of Warcraft.
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Jul 19, 2007
How crappy is the NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS really? I am using a 7800gtx in my inspron 9300. Just ordered a 1330--- is the 8400 superior to the 7800gtx?
on a related note, is there anyway to upgrade the NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8400M GS to a different video card? Is any other nvidia card compatible?
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Oct 26, 2008
buying second hand, 2yr warranty left
however person said he had graphics problems and his computer was serviced (motherboard replaced).
I dont want to have it die on me later on, price is good compared to other systems where I live (same price as a new vostro 1310).
bottom line, whats the probability this would happen again ? any chance of a perm fix ?
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Oct 18, 2009
i have HP DV 2700 with nvidia 8400m gs. the laptop has 2 graphics chips intel gm965 chipset with gma3100 and 8400m gs. is it possible to switch between the two. i am having problems with drivers. i am not able to install latest drivers from nvidia site. it doesnt show on rivatuner saying nvidia driver not detected. the driver from hp works but its very old 176.xx. so is there a way out to install new driver and switch between graphics. i searched intel site but did nt find any thing related to this problem.The bios doesnt have any option like the desktop pc s have. Does bios tweaking...
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Jul 2, 2008
Dell XPS M1330 - nVidia GeForce 8400M GS - Copper Mod - Step by Step Guide
Dell XPS M1330 Notebook with nVidia GeForce 8400M GS GPU has an inadequate Thermal Cooling Assembly. It uses a Thermal Cooling Pad between the GPU and the GPU Thermal Cooling Assembly instead of a direct contact between the two with a Thermal Compound. This leads to overheating the GPU and damaging it along with other components. The solution is to replace the existing Thermal Cooling Pad with a Copper Sheet and a Thermal Compound.
Note: This Copper Mod does not solve problems arising from a weak die/packaging material set in certain versions of GPU. Their failure appears related to the combination of the interaction between the chip material set and the system design. The combination of limited thermal management and frequent power cycling is particularly challenging for the GPU. Dell is offering a 12 Month Limited Warranty Enhancement specific to this issue. However, this Copper Mod might help delay the failure by improving the thermal management.
Materials:
01. Copper Sheet. Recommended: Gauge 16 & Grade C106 - 14x14x1.5mm.
02. Thermal Compound. Recommended: Arctic Silver 5.
03. Thermal Compound Cleaner (Isopropyl Alcohol or Acetone).
04. Cotton Swabs.
05. Paper Napkins.
Tools:
01. Phillips Screwdriver - #0.
02. Utility Knife.
03. Thermal Compound Spreader.
Drivers & Utilities: (for Microsoft Windows Vista 32 Bit)
01. Dell XPS M1330 A13 - 1.02MB. (BIOS Firmware). Recommended.
02. Dell nVidia GeForce 8400M GS 176.44 A10 - 52.70MB. (Video Driver). Recommended.
03. HWMonitor 1.11 - 397.00KB. (Monitor GPU, CPU, Chipset and HDD Temperatures).
04. GPU-Z 0.2.8 - 410.00KB. (Monitor GPU Clocks).
05. I8kfanGUI 3.1 - 1.61MB. (Monitor Fan Status and Speed).
06. RivaTuner 2.11 - 2.30MB. (Monitor GPU Status on OSD).
07. 3DMark06 Basic Edition 1.1.0 - 413.00MB. (Benchmark GPU).
08. Intel Thermal Analysis Tool 2.05 - 3.31MB. (Benchmark CPU).
Procedures:
Before You Begin!
01. Disassemble the Module Cover by loosening the four Screws.
| 1 - M2.5x5mm Screw (1) | 2 - Captive Screws (3) | 3 - Module Cover (1) | Image: Dell Service Manual |......................
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Feb 19, 2009
This has been getting on my nerves lately. In the past, they never bothered releasing drivers for laptops but now that they do, I can't get it to work with my laptop, which is HP Pavilion 6670ee with NVidia 8400M GS...
I know that 3rd party driver will work with it but I am not able to get the PhysX support with those drivers for some reason and if I download Notebook driver from NVidia website, the latest which they released few days ago for example.
I get this error during installation:
The NVIDIA setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware. Setup will now exit.
It's NVidia's own 8400M GS - wth is it not detecting it?
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Sep 16, 2008
Tried a G.Skill 4GB module in the M1330 this evening.
It is not recognized in slot A or B. This was tested with BIOS A08 and A12. This unit was purchased in March 2008.
It's a no go for this model it seems.
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Apr 21, 2010
I own a Sony Vaio Laptop, VGN-FZ21M. This laptop comes with a NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT GPU Graphics card.
Originally, the laptop came with Windows Vista. I had no problems there. Once Windows 7 came out, I upgraded. Problems started there, with Windows not recognizing my video card correctly. It was displayed not as NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GT, but as a Standard VGA Graphic Adapter.
At the time, the problem was more or less easily solved. I downloaded the drivers from NVIDIA, but I wasn't able to do a direct install (an error would occur). So I updated the Graphic card manually, by browsing the disk and chosing the nvmt.inf file that came within the drivers given by NVIDIA on their website, as the file to update my Graphic card with.
This worked out perfectly. My Graphic card was updated and working as great as ever.
However, more recently, I decided to format my laptop, and give it a clean Windows 7 install. I did this because my laptop was giving some graphical weirdies. I thought a format would solve it. It didn't.................
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Mar 18, 2010
seems to max out at 84c under heavy wow dalaran stuff
ok?
using GPU-Z app monitor
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May 1, 2010
Will the new Z refresh ever get GT430M? The desktop version of Nvidia 4xx has already been released. I think it won't be long for the mobile version to be released.
I am planning to get a new laptop around August or September but I don't mind waiting for a couple of months if I can get GT430M. However, if the GPU will never get an update, I think I'll buy the Z earlier since I don't think there will be much of an update before August. From what I see on the old Z, the GPU never got updated. However this time the GPU on Z is a little behind with no DirectX 11 support.
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Jan 10, 2009
I've been eyeing a Vaio Z-series (555 or the the 590 online-only in Canada) but I want to make absolutely sure that it contains a nVidia card (9300M GS 256MB).
When I go to the stores to look at the store model (Sony store & Best Buy), in Device Manager and Display setting, I only see the Intel Mobile graphics chips. No where on the system does it appear to say that it contains a nVidia card. I tried using the Stamina/Speed slider to see if there was a different (setting it to Speed), and the graphics card still says INTEL.
For all those who own a laptop from this series, what do you see?
Do *all* Vaio Z-series have a nVidia or only certain ones? Is it just a driver/software issue for the ones at the stores?
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May 26, 2010
I have a VAIO SZ series laptop which got the typical video isue with Nvidia GPU (vertical lines). I was very disaponted from what I read and from the 750-1000 Euro repair cost that sony Greece (I live in Greece) offered me so I started looking for a motherboard on ebay. I was very lucky and surprised to find a company offering a repair service for my laptop located in Greece. I bought the service for 200Euro I packed the laptop and send them my pick up info.
Next day a courier picked up my laptop and 10 days later it was returned fully functional and they even solved the problem with the noisy fan! This happened one week ago and today they even refunded 50Euro of my payment because I am located in Greece and the offered price was calculated for shipping in EU! So it actually costed me only 150Euro in total!
Checing their listing I show that they are offering repair services for FZ series laptops for much less but they are asking to send them only half of the laptop. Anyway I prefer not to mention the company's name but if you check on ebay.co.uk for VAIO SZ video repair you should find them and maybe more proffesionals closer to you who could repair your laptop for a fruction of what sony is asking.
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Jan 24, 2010
my vaio z21wn/b with hybrid graphics (nvidia 9300m en intel gpu) wont allow me to output graphics trough HDMI on a 720p tv. However, when i connect the laptop to a 1080p tv trough HDMI it does work.. strange huh?
i've tried several drivers (Nvidia, sony presentation helper, sony control center) and display resolutions, but i cant manage to get it working..
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Nov 6, 2009
I recently installed Windows 7 Professional 64bit onto my UK Z21WN. Having first flashed the BIOS to R2170M3 I installed all drivers including the NVIDIA driver 8.16.11.8735.
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May 26, 2010
maybe someone who knows how to get through to Sony can send them this image link
this has happened about 50 times since the 2 months i've had the computer... and i know it has happened to a lot of you too.
in fact, then it doesn't recover successfully, you get the BSOD and a reboot
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Aug 24, 2009
my fz38m since march 08 and the average gpu temp using gpuz is 58 deg C.
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Jul 31, 2009
i have managed to install Windows7 in my 3years old Vaio VGN-FE31M laptop. so i just need the nvidia graphics card driver now. i have tried the latest one from nvidia website, but its not compatible. my nvidia is Nvidia Geforcego 7600.
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Aug 25, 2009
I'm trying to install the latest driver for my Geforce 9300M card. But when I find the driver dowload page from the Nvidia site, they invariably state that...
Quote:
The following notebooks are not supported in this release:
Sony VAIO notebooks (please contact the notebook OEM for driver support for these notebooks)
The Sony site does NOT contain drivers for the gfx card.
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May 6, 2010
My question:
What i have;
I have, as the title sais, a Vaio VPCZ11Z9E with the hybrid graphic system. The drivers i use are the latest ones published by Sony.
The problem;
When i have my computer on stamina mode ie. not using the nvidia geforce card and i right click my desktop to reach the meny for personalize, create new folders etc the meny shows up instantly, no delay at all.
When i have the switch to speed, using my nvidia geforce card(which always use while at work and plugged in) the right click on desktop has delay/lag to show the meny, the windows 7 thinking animation shows up, for up to 3 seconds before it actually pops up.
My conclusion is of course, that it has to do withe nevidia card/drivers.
Are there any solution to this? Does anyone else have the problem? Should i do a total reset with the recovery tool?
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May 18, 2009
this might've been asked but do the new unibody macbook/macbook pro gpu's (9400m, 9600m gt) have the same problems in manufacturing that caused higher than normal gpu chip failures in the last generation of nvidia gpu's (8-series)?
i've heard so much bad press about those chips but i'm not sure if nvidia has fixed the issue with their current 9-series chips.
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Jul 22, 2009
One of the most troublesome consequences of downgrading your VAIO to Windows XP is not being able to adjust the screen brightness using the F5/F6 keys.
This tutorial aims to (i) resolve that issue, and (ii) retain the ability to adjust brightness when you update to the latest LaptopVideo2Go drivers. The below methods have been tested on VAIO FZ, FW, and NS laptops with NVIDIA GeForce 8X00M cards, and they are working flawlessly with the LV2G 190.15 driver.
Part 1: Enabling Fn Brightness Control
Skip this step if your brightness control is already working
In order to be able to use the brightness control on a XP-Downgraded machine, you need:
1. VAIO Event Service Hotfix (Which updates the VESConfig.ini file for the VAIO Event Service)
-> You can get this at[url].
-> If you have an FZ, you can use the VESConfig.ini I have attached
2. NVIDIA Driver with Customised nv4_disp.inf (Refer to Part 2)............
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Sep 18, 2008
from [url]
There's been plenty of coverage surrounding Nvidia's admitted "abnormal failure rate" among what remains an unknown number of GPUs, but in case you missed it, here's the Cliff Notes version: Earlier this summer, Nvidia announced it would take a one time hit of $150-$200 million to cover warrany and repair costs associated with a bad batch of mobile GPUs. The chip maker insisted (and still does) that the failures were an isolated incident, but that's come into question. News and rumor site The Inquirer has been particularly vocal in its questioning of how widespread the problem really is, bringing up the possibility that the defective parts could be affecting both mobile and desktop parts, including G92 and G94 based GPUs.
Now that you're caught up, it's TGDaily who's bringing more speculation to the table. Referencing industry sources, the news site claims that Nvidia's future 45nm GPUs that have recently entered the qualification stage are being built with high-lead solder bumps. Earlier speculation pointed to Nvidia having made the switch to eutecic solders in reaction to the GPU failures, and if that's the case, the switch to solder bumps raises more questions than answers as to what's going on, and whether or not the problem has been solved or is ongoing.
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Jan 21, 2010
I would like to update my graphic card drivers on my VAIO. For the life of me, I just can't find a link to an updated graphic card driver on the Sony website. Yet when I let nVidia scan my subsystem, it states that the following: "The manufacturer of this system requires that you download the driver for your GPU from their support site."
It then goes on to say that they do have some notebook drivers, but I may lose some notebook specific features if I take that path. To be honest, I don't think that there is any feature to lose here, but just in case, does anyone know if Sony has updated any graphic card drivers in the last few years (mine is dated 2007)?
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