1.6G processor heat issues.

[Guest]

[kyone]

I am considering buying another 02 from Hugo with a 1.6G version processor.

Can anyone give a definite answer as to what the problems were with the faulty motherboards?

We all assume it is heat related and more specifically processor, but is that the actual problem?  
If you cap the processor speed at 90% will it greatly reduce the chance of failure?
Were later model 02s reengineered to reduce the problem of occuring?

In the past OQO were quick to rectify problems with other issues, namely antenna covers and touch scrollers, maybe they made modifications to heat dissipation.

[charlieboy]

THERE IS NO FAULT ON THE "1.6ghz  MOTHERBOARD"!!!!
OQO USED THE SAME BOARD ON BOTH THE 1.5 + 1.6

You are far more likely to have a unit still working this time next year if you buy a 2nd hand 1.5 on ebay.  I personally would not consider buying another 1.6 under any circumstances. I use my 1.6 very carefully for short periods, rarely longer than 60 minutes at a time. My 1.6 has NHC installed. I am, based in the UK where the weather is colder and I guess the units are a little cooler than in most other countries.

To dissipate more heat would have required a a major rebuild of the entire unit and this would have been a massive cost and disruption. I suggest you Google "VIA C7 1.6 heat failures" and you will see that a number of other manufacturers had serious reliability issues with the via 1.6. Take a look at the HP forum for example. This is not a problem that is just about OQO it has affected several other manufacturers as well.

What I find really weird here is why no one has actually made any public comments about the failure rate of the Via 1.6s on multiple platforms. I wonder if somehow the reason OQO has not gone bankrupt is that a payment was made by Via to the shareholders at OQO for their silence in this whole affair. This payment would have to have been sufficient to compensate OQO for their losses and pay all the debts and clearly would have had non disclosure clauses.

The more I think about this whole affair the more odd it is. The management team and financial backers have "committed career suicide" in what they have done here. No one is going to rush out and hire someone that was in senior role at OQO. I cannot see them being that shortsighted unless they had a good reason. Something just does not add up.

It is also odd that HP have made no official statements about the failing 1.6 Via chips in their hardware. All HP did was replace them with different models.

What ever the reason behind the silence the combo of an oqo 02 and a via 1.6 is a complete disaster. Steer well clear.

I know this a very controversial post and I am sure that I will be shot down by many of the other forum members. But I there you go. I stopped believing in Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy many years ago.

[2disbetter]

I don't think your post is all that controversial... I mean it's seems like a fair guess at the current situation.

Concerning the validity of a 02 1.6 purchase, I'd say if you have the choice to get a 1.5 that is what I would go for. I mean if you can only get a 1.6, I would do as has been suggested, throttle down performance, and use in short burst (an hour being the longest amount of time be used). For me this type of use is ok, but for others who use the 02 as their main computer, I can see that this would be unacceptable.

2d

[kyone]

THERE IS NO FAULT ON THE "1.6ghz  MOTHERBOARD"!!!!
OQO USED THE SAME BOARD ON BOTH THE 1.5 + 1.6

That's like saying it's not the processor its the ALU.  If the processor fails the motherboard needs to be replaced. 

And both 1.5 and 1.6 processors failed on both.  I had a 1.5G and like a lot of others it failed.  OQO replied to me that it needed the motherboard replaced.

As you have stated no one has released an official statement on the issue.

It is technically possible that the problem is with a capacitor next to the processor on the mother board (a common failure of older generation 90s computers)

I would assume that it is simply a heat issue which would explain why 1.6G fail more often and that it is specifically related to the processor 'but' this has never been confirmed only deduced.

[kyone]

My OQO is a 1.6 and has had two board failures (each time being returned with non-related repair center generated problems).

The second repair was in early January 2009.  At this time I spoke at great length with the customer service supervisor.  I was told that OQO had recognized these failures were occurring too frequently.  Thankfully, they had discovered the problem and designed a solution.  I was told that my repaired machine should not have the same issues.  However, OQO would not tell me the nature of the fault.  The OQO was returned with a 1.6 board.  While the machine has been back for repair once more, this was not for a board failure.

I found this in an earlier discussion about the processor failures.  Interesting !

[atsar]

Hey,my unit just died this morning after it freeze up couple times.I'm not even seeing the screen coming on.I have the 1.6ghz 120gb sprint wwan.I'm just seeing the is power on and the fan blowing.Just been over a year,it really sucks now that my unit died!!     

[sandydlc]

Hey,my unit just died this morning after it freeze up couple times.I'm not even seeing the screen coming on.I have the 1.6ghz 120gb sprint wwan.I'm just seeing the is power on and the fan blowing.Just been over a year,it really sucks now that my unit died!!     

I have the same configuration and when my motherboard died, it had the same symptoms.  Are you still in warranty?

[Picasso]

THERE IS NO FAULT ON THE "1.6ghz  MOTHERBOARD"!!!!
OQO USED THE SAME BOARD ON BOTH THE 1.5 + 1.6

That's like saying it's not the processor its the ALU.  If the processor fails the motherboard needs to be replaced. 

And both 1.5 and 1.6 processors failed on both.  I had a 1.5G and like a lot of others it failed.  OQO replied to me that it needed the motherboard replaced.

As you have stated no one has released an official statement on the issue.

It is technically possible that the problem is with a capacitor next to the processor on the mother board (a common failure of older generation 90s computers)

I would assume that it is simply a heat issue which would explain why 1.6G fail more often and that it is specifically related to the processor 'but' this has never been confirmed only deduced.

No official statement will ever come, But Ive been told its 100% CPU fault. The same failed 1.6 MB will work fine again reflowed with a 1.5. No other changes made.

[mjlaris]

I have thought about this thread a lot over the past few days.  I have a 1.6 GHz unit w/ SSD and I use it extensively.  It is generally on from the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night.  I use it both for work as well as pleasure.  I was thinking that I should be more careful and only use it a little every day so it'll last.  However, then I thought that the best was to keep it from breaking was to not use it at all; then it would never break.  Then I realized that there is no difference between having an OQO that I can't use because it's broken and one I don't use because I'm afraid it'll break.  Therefore, I've decided to continue using my OQO as much as I always have; if it breaks, it breaks but I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

Mark

[roger]

I have thought about this thread a lot over the past few days.  I have a 1.6 GHz unit w/ SSD and I use it extensively.  It is generally on from the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night.  I use it both for work as well as pleasure.  I was thinking that I should be more careful and only use it a little every day so it'll last.  However, then I thought that the best was to keep it from breaking was to not use it at all; then it would never break.  Then I realized that there is no difference between having an OQO that I can't use because it's broken and one I don't use because I'm afraid it'll break.  Therefore, I've decided to continue using my OQO as much as I always have; if it breaks, it breaks but I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

Mark

You are spot on. I use my OQO 1.5 all the time. When it wears out I will have to look for something else. Until then '[bleep] the torpedoes, full speed ahead !' JPJ USN.

NHC temperature warnings and switch off settings are available for precise selection by adjustment of selected values by OQO users (ie you can set any value you wish). I can't find any reference in the respective CPU and HDD manufacturers' specs for appropriate values for these parameters.

Perhaps I haven't looked hard enough !

[roger]

No official statement will ever come,

I live in hope that OQO Inc. is presently secretly setting up offices next to SAE in Byron Bay to take advantage of the generous Government assistance for innovative companies ... not to mention the great surfing !

[kyone]

I have thought about this thread a lot over the past few days.  I have a 1.6 GHz unit w/ SSD and I use it extensively.  It is generally on from the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed at night.  I use it both for work as well as pleasure.  I was thinking that I should be more careful and only use it a little every day so it'll last.  However, then I thought that the best was to keep it from breaking was to not use it at all; then it would never break.  Then I realized that there is no difference between having an OQO that I can't use because it's broken and one I don't use because I'm afraid it'll break.  Therefore, I've decided to continue using my OQO as much as I always have; if it breaks, it breaks but I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

Mark

when did u buy your OQO ?  I'm banking on the hope that OQO changed something and made the 1.6 more reliable.

The 2+ would be the ultimate but an 02 with SSD and HSDPA and Win7 is good enough for me for the next 18 months.

[atsar]

Hey,my unit just died this morning after it freeze up couple times.I'm not even seeing the screen coming on.I have the 1.6ghz 120gb sprint wwan.I'm just seeing the is power on and the fan blowing.Just been over a year,it really sucks now that my unit died!!     

I have the same configuration and when my motherboard died, it had the same symptoms.  Are you still in warranty?

No warranty at all.My one year warranty just ended last month on the 13th,but try I try purchase extended warranty back in February at OQO website but it never went thru,it was saying some thing like processing.I call but they keep saying I will receive soon it never happen!   

[Securix]

Seeing as though there's no direct proof (but all fingers seem to point to) heat failure...do models with SSD run any cooler considering there's no mechanical hard drive in there to generate additional heat? I mean, the SSD probably generates some heat, but not close to what a traditional hard drive would generate.

I have thought about this thread a lot over the past few days.  I have a 1.6 GHz unit w/ SSD and I use it extensively.

[mcoqo]

Seeing as though there's no direct proof (but all fingers seem to point to) heat failure...do models with SSD run any cooler considering there's no mechanical hard drive in there to generate additional heat? I mean, the SSD probably generates some heat, but not close to what a traditional hard drive would generate.

I have thought about this thread a lot over the past few days.  I have a 1.6 GHz unit w/ SSD and I use it extensively.

Mine has SSD and it died and I did not use it as much as most.