M17x R3 - Weird LCD Backlight problem (+Picture)

Hey everyone

Wondering if anyone else has had this..

This problem is very rare, infact it has only happened about 6-7 times since I had the laptop; I've had my M17x R3 for 4.5 months now. It has happened since 2011 but I never really bothered to tell anyone about it, because it was so rare and easily 'fixed' (see below).

Sometimes when I plug in my AC adapter, my LCD backlight gets a patch of 'darkness', that is where there is no LCD backlighting. Kind of like a big patch of bleeding. Look at the picture to see what I mean (it stands out most with a white background). Its always in the same place, although this time It seems a bit bigger.

Changing LCD brightness (Fn+ F4/F5) just makes the surrounding LCD backlight brighter/less brighter but the patch remains.

This only happens when I plug in my AC adapter.
To make the problem go away, all I have to do is anything that will turn the screen on and off; changing from iGPU to dGPU, changing screen resolution, putting the laptop in/out of standby, etc
Once I've done this, the LCD backlight is perfectly fine afterwards.

Some of you may remember me posting awhile ago about a faulty AC adaptor that got replaced, well this LCD backlight problem has occured whilst using both the faulty AC (when I had it) and the replacement (currently using).

So, anyone have this problem? Its probably my fault for not mentioning it before, but because I've been so busy and this problem is so rare + easily 'fixed' again I've never really bothered with it

Thanks

 

I'd assume it's just a very slightly busted backlight / adapter or something. If it bothers you, call Dell - odds are they'll replace your LCD and adapter without too much prodding. If you're still in-warranty it's probably a good idea; could be a symptom of something yet to come (potentially when out of warranty, which could be very expensive).

 

^^ agreed. Get Dell on that if you can.

 

Like the others have said, Call dell and get it replaced.

 

Ok will do, got a 1TB HDD on the way so gonna have a play with that before calling Dell up.

Thanks for the tips guys

 

Something else I thought I may as well mention, my hard drive (that came with the laptop, this problem has occurred since 2011) randomly makes clicking noises, like 4-5 in quick succession, this occurs whether or not data transfer is going on. I have put it in an external enclosure and it still makes the clicking noises; in fact even if it is powered up (plugged into sleep+charge USB port, computer is turned off) it will randomly make these clicking noises.

I'm guessing I should add this problem to the list a long with the annoying high pitched electrical noise I get at 100% charge

 

Woah woah woah... I'm having the same clicking noise as well. It comes and goes, and i've mostly ignored it. And Prank1, quick question, could you check if you HDD is "really" 7200? I have the exact same size HDD as you from Alienware and it's 5400 :O

 

Hhmm interesting...

I am currently trying to record the sound, but because its infrequent it will be awhile before I manage to get ahold of a recording of it happening.
The hard drive operates fine, even ran the Dell utility at startup to check for errors and the hard drive tests returned no errors.

My hard drive is a Seagate Momentus 320GB 7200RPM, ST320LT007.
It actually says 7200RPM on the hard drive itself.
Alienware have probably given you a different model if yours is 5400rpm. If they advertised it as 7200rpm and you definitely have a 5400rpm drive, I would send an email to Dell about it

 

Sorry to revive this thread..

But I had a dell technician come to my home and replace my LCD and AC Adaptor, and now when the laptop is turned off/on standby and plugged in there is a LOUD buzzing noise, which never used to be there at all! Also the LCD screen 'glass' hasn't been properly aligned with the chassis.

Is that what I should expect? Should I contact Dell again and ask them to send it to Depot?

Also, the buzzing noise that I used to get at 100% charge, well I'm getting it at 87% charge and ITS WORSE.

I can't believe this. This buzzing problem never ever goes away, I have emailed dell and told them the techinician visit has literally caused more problems than its fixed and that I want them to replace the whole laptop.

 

Usually, Dell won't replace your laptop until after three replacements for the same issue, but you're on the right track.

What the (old) buzzing probably was is what's called coil whine. It comes from graphics cards when they're under load, and unfortunately, there's not much you can do about it. As to what the new one is, I'm not sure.

As regards the LCD, I'd definitely get them to have a look at that.

 

Thanks for your input, im currently on the phone with dell. I am going to try and push for a replacement anyway, see what they say. Should I ask for a depot repair instead of on-site if they refuse replacement?

EDIT
They have decided to send another technician to my house to replace the motherboard and the LCD; after I sent them pictures showing the LCD misalignment and bulging out from the centre they also put in a request to replace the LCD.

This time I am going to watch the technician, and spend a good ten minutes checking the laptop is working fine before he leaves. I will also make sure the battery is fully charged so that any buzzing noises will be apparent from the start.

If the motherboard replacement does not finally fix this issue then I will be pushing for a replacement, as it will be have 3 unsuccessful attempts to fix a problem.

 

Unbelievable! He came, and replaced the LCD and motherboard, not only is the replacement LCD still have protruding glass, I can STILL hear the buzzing noise!!!

I wasn't home to check up on him, but he left me a note saying there is no buzzing noise.

I guess my ears are very sensitive, because my family members can barely hear it but they say it is not annoying.

Before it was tolerable but ever since he replaced the adaptor it has gotten worse (for me), yet still only I find it unbearable but others don't.
My old adaptor was so much better, I wish they never replaced it!

I really am at a loss of what to do here!

 

Damn

The buzzing noise, is it coming from the laptop itself? I can hear it from my video cards under load but you shouldn't hear anything when your laptop is just sitting there doing nothing.

I don't know what to recommend besides getting the Dell tech out...AGAIN....but this time make sure you are there and watching..

Perhaps ask them to get the tech to bring another adapter to see if it changes the buzzing at all?

Sorry mate :/

EDIT:: Or try and push for a new laptop, don't know if it will get you anywhere but no harm in trying...

 

Hi
The buzzing noise is coming from the laptop itself. Since I am running an SSD, and my house is generally quiet I can always hear this noise. I can hear the features of the noise too, so when it oscillates or changes pitch I hear it and it is annoying the hell out of me. The noise wasn't as bad before but ever since they replaced my AC adaptor its become too annoying for me to handle. Note that I am sitting at my desk with the laptop here, I do not have to put my ear right next to it to hear it.

I have attached an audio file where I have recorded this noise. In one of the audio clips, my HDD starts to spin up (playing a 1080p film) and the noise changes/oscillates, which always occurs when when the screen changes (e.g. playing a video, opening closing tabs, playing a slideshow, even moving the mouse causes the noise to oscillate). In the other audio clip, the laptop is idle.

Also, the second LCD replacement they have given me has a bulge at the top-centre, about 1-2mm of glass is protruding out of the LCD above the camera. I had my second LCD replaced because of this protruding glass and this one (the third one now including the original) has this same problem!

So so far this laptop has had 2 LCD replacements, 2 laptop AC adaptor replacements and 1 motherboard replacement. Result? Crappy LCD and crappy AC adaptor causing the buzzing noise.
I think that would warrant a replacement, but for now I am hoping that an AC adaptor change will fix this problem.

EDIT
They have decided to take my laptop in for Depot repair. I asked them if they could just replace the ac adaptor and see if that fixes it, they said no they want to take in the laptop.. I insisted they take in my AC Adaptor as well.

Hopefully 3rd time lucky!

 

Just listened to your recordings and that is not normal.

I have an alllmmooosst similar noise with my video cards but I really have to get close to my laptop to hear it. And once the fans are powered up you don't hear it anymore..

Well, at least they are sorting you out. Hopefully at the Depot they have someone competant that knows what they are doing and also fix the screen issue as well.

Let us know how you go.

 

Thanks for having a listen
I'll tell you how it's going so far; they were supposed to collect the laptop yesterday or today, but nobody has come to collect the laptop. It would be nice if they actually collected it.

Also, I noticed that the webcam and microphone on the laptop doesn't work so I'll have to call Dell and tell them to add that on the list. I think the technician may have simply forgotten to connect them up to the motherboard.

 

Got the laptop back from depot

LCD problem fixed
Buzzing still present

On the phone to Dell now, to request replacement!

EDIT
They will be sending a technician to fix the laptop soon.

 

Sorry to hear it. At least the LCD screen is fixed.

Get them to bring another adapter. You don't have any mates with an adapter that you can borrow?

Hopefully they do a swap soon it is getting to that point...

 

Hi
No, no one I know has an Alienware

The technician came today, replaced the LCD (4th replacement now!) and Graphics card + Heatsink, buzzing STILL there although the technician said it wasn't too loud for him personally, but he was still kind enough to try and resolve the issue and has recommended a speaker replacement for the next (yes, again) technician visit next week.
The technician initially said it was the hard drives but I told him this is not the case since running the system on JUST an SSD which should be 100% quiet produces the same noise as a mechanical hard drive.

After he left I noticed the Microphone + Webcam was not working, it is definitely plugged in to the motherboard (I checked it myself) yet it is no longer detected any more (even in device manager). This happened with my previous technician visit, after he replaced the LCD they stopped working but once the laptop was at depot they fixed it.

With the amount of parts Dell has replaced they could have built a whole new laptop! Although I have to praise them for their persistence, I didn't even buy extended warrenty and they have already tried so hard to make it right. Regardless I will ask for a replacement if the next technician visit doesn't fix the problem, but to be honest I think that point dell would offer me a replacement anyway!

 

Good news, so the technician came today to replace the palm rest and speakers, the buzzing was still there and this tech confirmed the webcam was missing completely which is why it wasn't working after the previous tech visit. as a result dell instantly agreed a replacement was in order: just as well, this tech didn't clip on the media cover clips properly and the LCD is horribly misaligned after he took the LCD apart to find out about the webcam problem! dell called me and said that if I would like an upgrade this would be possible, so I am considering an M18x with crossfire X 6990s! Just waiting for dell to contact me with an offer now!

 

Nice man!

I know it has been a rough journey, but things seem to looking positive now

Fingers crossed for m18x with 6990s

 

Indeed it has, I knew Dell would come through though! Just proof of how much Dell has done to fix a problem. My only niggle is that the techs they send are not that great lol.

Just waiting for them to send me a quote for a base M18x with CrossfireX 69 90m GPUs.
They sent me an offer for my M17x R3 which has a slightly better stock CPU and stock HDD (750GB) which I will accept should their M18x offer be a little too steep. After today I will consider purchasing extended warranty too!

EDIT: Would be nice if Dell actually responded to my email and gave me a quote, its been nearly a week now with no response. I called them yesterday and was promised a call back and an email but still nothing..

 

Its been a week now, no update on the quote, called three times now and emailed twice. I've been promised an email / call back the same/next day twice but they haven't gotten back to me..
I just got off the phone (3rd call) and I've been told that they are very busy and they are not sure when they can get back to me.