HP's Core i7-based Desktops Plagued by Problems?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2009/09/29/hp_core_i7_glitch/' target='_blank'>http://www.channelregister.co.uk/20...core_i7_glitch/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Hewlett-Packard customers are up in arms about a major glitch affecting the company's Core i7-based PCs. A HP forum containing a shedload of gripes about the technical cockup - that some suggest may have been caused by a defective motherboard - runs to over 100 pages. A Reg reader told us that HP's line of Intel Core i7 CPU-loaded computers were locking up, freezing and regurgitating blue screens of death. He added that the vendor's Elite Pavillion Series appear to be particularly hampered by the nasty glitch."</em></p><p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="360" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f5HfRT6nzUs&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f5HfRT6nzUs&amp;ap=%26fmt=18"></embed></object></p><p>It's sometimes hard to tell when a technology problem is wide-spread, because people with the problem tend to complain loudly while people without the problem quietly go about their business...but this seems like a legitimate issue with HP's Core i7 systems. Any Digital Home Thoughts readers bitten by this problem?</p>

[randalllewis]

I'll get back to you on this. The Pavilion Elite models that have had problems have been the e91xx series. An e92xx model is due to be delivered to my house tomorrow. I'd have some faith that HP didn't produce a second series of computers with the same problem because they have never treated me badly over the years, though I am very aware that there are HP horror stories out there.

[Doug Raeburn]

I also have an e92xx model being delivered early next week. I'll make a follow-up report as well.

One thing that seems to corroborate randalllewis' statement about the problem being with e91xx units vs. e92xx units is that the linked story lists the problem units as having Pegatron/ASUS motherboards. The specs for the e92xx units list them as having MSI motherboards. So if it is a motherboard problem, I wouldn't expect that it would affect other brands. And I've had 2 BYO units with MSI motherboards in the past and they were solid performers.

[randalllewis]

The new e9280t has been up and operating for over 3 hours now and there have been no issues at all. Set-up was a 10 minute process, but now using Easy Transfer and making other adjustments will take some time.

Doug, where did you find the specs for the e92xx motherboards? I can't find a mention of that component anywhere on my machine. I do notice that there is a new BIOS version installed compared to the e91xx machines. There is some debate in the HP forums about whether the e91xx problems are BIOS based or motherboard based or both.

I sure hope everything stays in working order on this machine because I actually like it better than I thought I would. It is pretty darn fast, with my 2Tb hard drives being my slowest components. I was also pleasantly surprised to see two eSATA ports on the back of the computer. There was no reference to that feature in any of HP's info on this model. Add these to the 2 1394 ports and the 7 USB ports, and the DVI and HDMI ports and all my connecting needs should be addressed for a while.

The documentation says the TV tuner card can play both analog and digital cable without a set top box. I need a splitter for that which I will have to pick up later, but I am eager to see if it works as advertised.

HP also appears to have improved air circulation in this model. There are more vents on the front and sides than I have seen in recent Pavilion Elite models. Anyway, so far, so good.

UPDATE: I learned about the motherboard in my unit from Belarc Advisor. The e9280t uses the same Pegatron Truckee motherboard that was used in the e91xx series. There are other 92xx models that use the Lynnfield i7 and i5 processors and use a different motherboard, but the 9280 and 9290 are using the Bloomfield versions of the i7. My 9280 has been operating now for 16 hours without any issues, so I have to believe that the issue HP was dealing with was addressed by the BIOS update they released earlier this month.

[Doug Raeburn]

There's the difference... I'm getting the e9250t with the i5 Lynnfield processor. Guess it was a bit naive to assume that all versions are using the same brand of motherboard.

The spec sheet was a bit hard to find. I went to the Software and Drivers page and looked up the model. On the next page is a link for Product Information. That leads to a page with a document named HP Pavilion Elite e9250t Product Specifications and Configurable Options... here's the link:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01911656&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&os=4063&product=4066662〈=en (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01911656&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&os=4063&product=4066662&lang=en)

The motherboard is listed as MSI MS-7613.

Here's the link to the same document for the e9280t:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01911661&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us〈=en&product=4066665 (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01911661&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4066665)

And as you stated, it has a different motherboard, model AND manufacturer.

Hope your experience continues to be a good one! :)

[randalllewis]

Ok, I am hoping Jason or someone with more tech skill than me can answer a question. My HP e9280t has been operating without a hitch for four days now...off and on, in and out of sleep, cold starts, all of the things that apparently triggered the serious flaws in the e91xx machines.

My model uses the same motherboard as the problem machines but with a new and updated BIOS. It certainly seems that the BIOS update has solved the problem. And that leads to my question.

An unhappy HP customer on their support board repeatedly has claimed he would not be satisfied with HP fixing his machine with the new BIOS because he claims this BIOS update "cripples" the computer, seriously impairing its performance. He essentially wants his computer with a new model of motherboard but the un-updated BIOS. I think HP owes him satisfaction, but he is asking for a model they don't make.

So what I want to know is: can a BIOS be changed so that it "cripples" a computer?

I know sort of what the BIOS does and I suppose it could somehow be written to not see all of my memory or turn off part of a processor. Diagnostic software I've run doesn't indicate anything like that is happening and I can tell you the combo of Win 7 and the Core i7 proc are noticeably faster than any PC I've ever owned.

I won't use the answer I get here to argue with this guy on the HP board. I don't do that kind of thing. I am just curious and this was the only place I could think of to ask a question and get an answer I'd trust. Thanks in advance.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

The customer needs to substantiate that claim. In what way does the new BIOS "cripple" the machine? It's very vague.

I'm thinking it might prevent overclocking (though an overclocker buying a HP?)... or even limit the clock multipliers so the CPU runs at a lower speed eg the 3.0ghz Intel part is now going at 2.66ghz instead.