randalllewis
11-08-2009, 10:11 PM
Sadly, my new HP Pavilion e9280 is heading back to HP. It ran fine for over a week, but in the last few days it has repeatedly refused to go past the boot screen on cold start ups and has frozen solid twice. I haven't seen the BSOD's that other folks have reported in e9xxx units with the Pegatron motherboards, so perhaps the BIOS update HP released last month addressed that.
If I hadn't been aware of the types of issues the other HP units with the Pegatron board have had, I might have just continued to put up with the e9280 and written off the glitches as just typical computer stuff. But because I was aware and because my unit was within the 21 day return window, back it went.
I have done a search on the HP forums and no one has complained of issues with the e9250 or other units that use the MSI motherboard rather than the Pegatron that was in e91xx units and in the e9280 and 90. There doesn't seem to be much debate on the forums that it is the motherboard that is at issue. The BIOS update was probably an interim step to fix the problem, and it may have helped. It seems though that something else is at hand. Ordering an e9280 now gives you a build date of a few weeks out which may indicate new components are on order.
I have to say that I am disappointed in HP but have to add that they continue to treat me well. When I called to send the e9280 back, I got no hassles, no arguments, no check with tech support first, nothing like that. I told them what the problems were and that the unit appeared to have the same issues as other e9xxx units. They expressed regret and processed my return authorization.
It was only after that step was completed, that I told the rep that I wanted to order a new unit- the e9250, which can be configured to almost the exact specs of my e9280. A slightly slower i7 processor and 1Gb less memory and a smaller power supply are the only differences. The e9280 was originally a bit less expensive, but the savings aren't worth the hassle.
If I hadn't been aware of the types of issues the other HP units with the Pegatron board have had, I might have just continued to put up with the e9280 and written off the glitches as just typical computer stuff. But because I was aware and because my unit was within the 21 day return window, back it went.
I have done a search on the HP forums and no one has complained of issues with the e9250 or other units that use the MSI motherboard rather than the Pegatron that was in e91xx units and in the e9280 and 90. There doesn't seem to be much debate on the forums that it is the motherboard that is at issue. The BIOS update was probably an interim step to fix the problem, and it may have helped. It seems though that something else is at hand. Ordering an e9280 now gives you a build date of a few weeks out which may indicate new components are on order.
I have to say that I am disappointed in HP but have to add that they continue to treat me well. When I called to send the e9280 back, I got no hassles, no arguments, no check with tech support first, nothing like that. I told them what the problems were and that the unit appeared to have the same issues as other e9xxx units. They expressed regret and processed my return authorization.
It was only after that step was completed, that I told the rep that I wanted to order a new unit- the e9250, which can be configured to almost the exact specs of my e9280. A slightly slower i7 processor and 1Gb less memory and a smaller power supply are the only differences. The e9280 was originally a bit less expensive, but the savings aren't worth the hassle.