Dell Released Firmware Updates for NVidia-based Notebooks

It is no clear that NVidia does not plan to make public the real impact of its manufacturing problem affecting GeForce 8400M- and 8600M-based GS, GT and other Quadro FX models and leading to the death of the GPU due to an inappropriate heat management (see our previous news about it). To reduce the rate of dead in notebooks, NVidia is working with manufacturers to modify the settings of the GPU cooling system to launch fan at lower temperature.
Dell is the first one to have released online new bios for its notebook while providing details on both symptoms of a dying GPU as well as the list of affected graphic chips:

The issue is a weak die/packaging material set, which may fail with GPU temperature fluctuations. If your GPU fails, you may see intermittent symptoms during early stages of failure that include:
- Multiple images
- Random characters on the screen
- Lines on the screen
- No video

According to first comments from users having installed those firmware update, the fan cycles on more frequently, questioning seriously the impact on battery life despite Dell's statement that BIOS updates will not have any noticeable effect on battery life or overall system performance.
This firmware update does not change anything regarding the manufacturing defect of those GPUs, and if one will have to analyze in the future if Dell will cover GPU death when the warranty is over... For sure in most EU countries the fact of known GPU defect, will force them to replace the affected notebook free of charge with no time limit as such event will be consider as a hidden defect.
For us Mac users, it confirms that some MBP and iMac might be affected, and one will need to know how many production lots have been using such cursed GPU. One will have to see how Apple plan to fix the problem, as turning the affected MBP into a noisy notebook will of course not be acceptable neither reducing the battery life. In addition, Apple will have to cover this defect (and ask for financial compensation from NVidia as they most likely already did it) as extend warranty/exchange program for the affected MBP and iMac, as it was the case for the iMac G5 and earlier iBooks. Customers will not have to pay for NVidia's mistake, especially when one consider that Apple will received financial compensation from the GPU manufacturer.