Nvidia's Faulty GPU Settlement Being Challenged

By Marcus Yam
published

These people aren't happy with having a cheap laptop as a replacement.

The Nvidia GPU faulty material incident, while it's now in the past from a technological standpoint, still stings those whom it affected.

Earlier this year, Nvidia put into action its settlement efforts, in which it offered free repairs for Apple and Dell laptops, and HP laptop owners could qualify for a free replacement laptop of "like or similar kind and value". A free new laptop for your troubles – sound pretty good, right? Members of the class action aren't so pleased, as it feels that Nvidia isn't coming through in that regard.

Nvidia is offering a Compaq Presario CQ56-115DX in replacement for the affected HP machines, which Point of Law notes was sold at Best Buy for $329.99. While it's accepted that computers depreciate very quickly due to the speed of the industry, some feel that this replacement offering is still nowhere near satisfactory in the terms laid out by the settlement.

Class members have approached the Center for Class Action Fairness, which this week has filed expedited motion papers asking the Court to enforce the settlement.

Read more here.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
86 Comments Comment from the forums
  • LLJones
    It's not so much what the computer was/is worth, but are the specs the same.
    You can't really ask for a laptop of the same value as then you are asking
    nV to absorb the depreciation for you. If the specs are the SAME or better, be happy.
    Reply
  • fazers_on_stun
    Hmm, I filled out the online claim form for my Dell XPS some 2 weeks ago, and haven't heard a peep outta NV since then. I'm printing it out and sending via certified mail this time, since the deadline is March 14. However the deal with Dell laptops is that NV will pay for a replacement GPU, not replace the entire laptop which is good since the Dell is otherwise still an excellent machine with a really sharp 1920 x 1200 display.
    Reply
  • scrumworks
    lljonesIt's not so much what the computer was/is worth, but are the specs the same.You can't really ask for a laptop of the same value as then you are asking nV to absorb the depreciation for you. If the specs are the SAME or better, be happy.
    Well I guess they aren't because people are complaining. CPU might be around same speed with newer craptops but what about display, weight and battery life.
    Reply
  • rhino13
    I've only had one nVidia graphics card fail on me.
    When they work they work great, but the failure is making me lean toward AMD this round...
    Reply
  • verbalizer
    at first my unit was on the list, now it's not...
    wtf..?!
    Reply
  • Ciuy
    Compaq Presario CQ56-115DX is AMD cpu with AMD graphics :)) .

    Anyway this lawsuit is so typical in US, thats why US is number 1 in stupidity.
    Reply
  • The Greater Good
    CiuyCompaq Presario CQ56-115DX is AMD cpu with AMD graphics ) .Anyway this lawsuit is so typical in US, thats why US is number 1 in stupidity.
    What 3rd world shit-hole are you from?
    Reply
  • howardp6
    The range of HP computers was very large. A single core AMD equipted processor, with a 250 GB hard drive, with 2GB of memory is not of equal value to most of the computers involved. It was better than the HP V3000 I purchased, but is not equal or better in value than the a majority of the HP computers effected. I would never but a laptop with a NVidia PGU again, nor would I buy a NVidia graphics card.
    Reply
  • scuba dave
    The Greater GoodWhat 3rd world shit-hole are you from?
    Have you even been outside of the US in non-commericalized(aka cancun, etc) areas for any length of time?
    Reply
  • rohitbaran
    Well, I am kind of intrigued that nVidia is offering replacement laptops with AMD graphics. It was a good chance for nVidia to offer laptops with their own graphics to prove that it values its customers and that its cards are good.
    Reply