HomeComputers & InternetPC LaptopsDell Inspiron 4150 Series Notebook Computers
Opinion Summary
Not a reliable product
by baohl140 | Apr 21 '03
Pros: Worked for one and half years.
Cons: Defective motherboard.

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OVERALL RATING
Product Rating: 3.0



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Dell Inspiron 4150 - Overheat issues & burnt motherboard (Reply to this comment)
by satay_hut
I agree with you 100% - Dell should issue a recall for this product, I believe the next step for us is to file complaints to the FTC and BBB so it becomes a widely publicized issue. I have purchased my 4150 back in Feb '03 and was hoping to "squeeze" a few more months out of it before getting a new Dell 600 or 700m. Instead, the motherboard was fried by the overheating flawed design of the original system.

It just completely died and calls to Dell, aka Hell, technical support was met with repeated refusal to acknowledge that it was their design flaw. The admit that the notebook can get quiet hot but said it sould not affect the product. Lies! They quoted a new mother board plus labor would set me back around US$800 - wtf, at that level I might as well get a new laptop!

Both my Mom and girlfriend have the same Inspiron 4150 and I decided to swap my hard-drive with theirs and it worked with no issues. Subsequently, I took it to an expert friend and he opened the whole thing up and confirmed that it is indeed the motherboard. It looked like the secondary fan, the one at the back and not the one at the bottom was dead and I didn't even notice.

That let to the motherboard heating up to over 70 degrees celcius. More than enough to fried a couple of eggs. That strain cause the main one at the bottom to fail occassionaly and the fact that it was built at the bottom constricted the airflow. Hence, the motherboard fried and it's completely D/Hell's fault.

Bottomline: I will NEVER recommend any Dell products to anyone, ever.

Caveat emptor
Jan 27 '05
12:29 am PST