Dell support question

davb

Someone I know has a Dell laptop that has been regularly freezing from day 1 when running a 3D graphics app. It originally had Vista, but they have tried XP, and now have Windows 7 64 on it, still with the same problem.
It sounds like hardware, so they have called Dell support who say it is a software issue - which they can put right for £180, and involves changing some security settings and adding some user settings!!

Has anyone come across this before, as it sounds a bit odd to me.

MikeWhitehead

Never pay for vendor support - their prices are over the top. I'm an IT Engineer and needed to source a hard-to-find Dell motherboard - £360 was the quote, when I could pick one up for £100. What is the issue/the software/etc? I assume they are currently out of warranty and the software maker hasn't been able to help?

santer_2

Have you contacted the 3D graphic app maker?

AHAR

santer wrote: »

Have you contacted the 3D graphic app maker?

I guess the OP means any/all 3D apps?

Which model is it? Which graphics chip has it got?
There was a flaw in the design of some NVidia chips made a few years back but the problems with those usually developed over time as they were related to contacts breaking after many heating/cooling cycles.

MikeWhitehead

If it is indeed all apps and not a specific one...does the issue happen on apps using both OpenGL and DirectX? Individual would likely point to software, both would likely point to hardware.

davb

Thanks for the replies.
The laptop is a Dell Precision M6400 with Nvidia Quadro FX3700M graphics. It is used almost exclusively for a high end 3D modelling package (OpenGL only), and the software vendor has no clue what Dell are saying either.
The only legit thing I can think of is that Dell support have access to some info specific to their hardware which they won't give up without payment - not good.

santer_2

You might like this then, free until 31/07/2011

http://www.daz3d.com/i/3d-models/-/?item=12194&trid=197803285

When you click check out.....look on the right side...There are more free programmes you can add to your shopping cart. As you add them to your cart, new ones will be added..just keep adding to your cart until only 2 are left..They are paid programs.

AHAR

I assume he's got the latest driver?
I had a quick look at what was available from the Dell support site and noticed the one before the most recent one fixed "nVidia M3700 graphics corruption / freezing."
Latest one from Dell is here.