Differences in screens.....

So I have the new 17 and when they shipped me this laptop as a replacement for my R4 the first thing I noticed was the screen seemed like a massive downgrade from what I had. For lack of an actual picture to show you guys it looks like I can actually see the pixels and on a white background I can see .... lines for lack of a better term. This usually only shows up on white background , I don't notice it while watching movies or while gaming at all.

While I didn't really have anything to compare this too until recently someone I work with also bought an almost identical 17 and while comparing the two, his screen looks much better, no grain , no lines on any color and just an overall nicer screen to look at.

Thinking back I did have a very similar problem with an older Inspiron laptop and they had to change the screen 3 times before I got one that didn't have that problem.

Has anyone else had this sort of issue? I want to call and get a replacement but it seems petty

 

I bet they are just different panels. I know the 1080p panels in the r3 were a cross between AU panels and LG ones. Could be the same thing with the newer models.

 

It is possible, I wonder if they would replace it if I called and complained about it , as it really does look a lot nicer, although I am looking at upgrading to the 3D option anyways if I can find a cable.

 

If you are planning to upgrade I wouldn't worry much. But if you are staying with that one then you could try contacting tech support to have it replaced. It could be just a different panel altogether though.

 

Don't know if it is of assistance but my 17 has the 1920x1080 LG Philips LP173WF1 panel, and it is pretty impressive, maybe use AIDA64 or some other tool to see what your actual hardware is; if other users do the same there may be a pattern if different manufacturers are supplying panels, and if your workmate has something different to you then that could just be the difference - or if they are the same model it could indicate a problem!

 

Main is also LG too

 

Mine is not found it is just a generic monitor apparently....hmm

Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor ID AUO219D
Manufacturer P9JNK_B173HW0

Google comes up with nothing for these

It also says it was manufactured in 2011

 

I've got the same results as you and the panel looks like garbage. But they have replaced it like three times for dead pixels and never saw a change in color quality. So I dont know what to do lol. But hey I use an external monitor anyway.

 

I have this panel too. To say it's pure garbage is really a huge understatement. The lines are super super super bad. Horrible display. I called Dell saying I want any display other than an AUO Optronics and they said right now that's the only one they have. They would replace my display but with the same one. They have no others in stock. I said I would call back in a month and see if they have any other models available.

This really makes this notebook look like garbage. I need to find a nice replacement. I can't stand it. I was wanting to go 3D 120hz but the cable is no where to be found right now. Hopefully I can put up with it until then. But it really makes this machine look like a horrible quality notebook. I thought the screens on the MSI GT70 and Asus G750 were bad, but this one is the worst I've ever seen on a notebook.

Thankfully it's pretty easy to swap the display on this model.

 

I came across this on the ASUS ROG notebook I returned before getting the Alienware 17 and it too has this weird faint vertical lines. in some instances i can see patches of it and it's annoying...especially when doing graphic and web design stuff. I am not sure if it has to do with both of them being WLED displays but then i've owned LED monitors and never came across this.

the one in my alienware 17 is the AUO panel.

 

AUO panels are garbage in general - you'll find the best panels are made by LG and Samsung. They do however cost around $2 more than the AU optronics ones which is why Dell have chosen to not use them!

 

is it possible to change displays?

 

Very possible, the problem lies in getting ahold of the display cable needed to go to the much nicer 120 hz 3d screen. The video cables that connect the LCD to the motherboard are not the same cable and as such the screen won't work with our current cables if we switch them out. We know the part number we need but there are very few and far between to get ahold of. Ebay will occasionally get get one but they are going for around $100 on there where as Dell will sell you one for $9.99 if you can ever get them to find any stock.

The screen itself can be found for under $100 on may websites including Ebay, the IR emitter is around $13 on ebay and the glasses are around $35 on ebay so all in all it isn't even an expensive upgrade it is just getting ahold of the damn cable lol.

 

ah ok, as much as i would like to change panels i don't think i can afford to do that right now

 

I got lucky with the LG one and I have no complaints, it amazes me though why they would chose to put a crap screen in that high end of a laptop...