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    M17x R4 display problem

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by V-Moda, Oct 16, 2014.

  1. V-Moda

    V-Moda Notebook Enthusiast

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    20141016_121913.jpg

    Hi,

    My Alienware M17x-R4 that about a week age suddenly becoming as shown on the attached picture after I bought travelling with me. There is no fall, trauma, damages etc, it just suddenly happening.

    May I know if the problem originated from GPU or LCD or connector?

    And most importantly how can I fix it?


    Regards :(
     
    V-Moda, Oct 16, 2014
    #1
  2. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    Hi, what GPU do you have? 120hz display?

    I guess you have to hope it's just a poor connection first. Find a teardown video so you feel comfortable since getting to the LCD cable is quite a task. Clean the ends of the ribbon cable with alcohol and carefully refit.

    Unless of course anyone else knows what causes this??
     
    MickyD1234, Oct 16, 2014
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  3. chopsy

    chopsy Notebook Consultant

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    The same happened to me a few times, but it went away after moving the laptop/lid or applying a small twist like pressure on the laptop.
    I'm 99% sure the problem comes from the lcd ribbon or it's connectors.
     
    chopsy, Oct 16, 2014
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  4. V-Moda

    V-Moda Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,

    May I know exactly where is it located? I suspect something wrong at the connector too, instead of LCD or GPU itself.
     
    V-Moda, Oct 16, 2014
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  5. V-Moda

    V-Moda Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello,

    May I know where does the ribbon located, specifically?

    By alchohol, you mean the same with the one we use to remove the old thermalpaste? Just drop a few and wait for it to dry, and plug them back?
     
    V-Moda, Oct 16, 2014
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  6. chopsy

    chopsy Notebook Consultant

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    The ribbon? You have to disasemble the laptop for that. The problem went away by itself in my case, just jiggle the lcd a bit :)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    chopsy, Oct 16, 2014
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  7. V-Moda

    V-Moda Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,

    The ribbon is on the motherboard is it. Should I jiggle the one inside the screen as well? Already disaemble the laptop now.
     
    V-Moda, Oct 16, 2014
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  8. V-Moda

    V-Moda Notebook Enthusiast

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    #UPDATE

    Tried disconnect and reconnect the display cable (the one on the left, besides the 3D cable which I don't have because using only normal monitor) AND already unplug and re-plug the GTX 660M.

    The problem persisted. I am stuck now.


    Any input is highly appreciated :(
     
    V-Moda, Oct 17, 2014
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  9. MickyD1234

    MickyD1234 Notebook Prophet

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    Hi, There's one more test you can do which should remove the card itself from the equation. Just remove the NV card altogether and start it up on the intel. If the problem is still there then you are looking at connections to the panel (yes, I see you've tried that), a motherboard problem - seems unlikely, or even the panel!

    I have seen only one machine that had a similar display issue and that was the dGPU flaking out :(.

    Good Luck
     
    MickyD1234, Oct 17, 2014
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  10. chopsy

    chopsy Notebook Consultant

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    Just connect an external monitor. If the image is fine the dGPU is fine and the problem lies somewhere else.
     
    chopsy, Oct 17, 2014
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    MickyD1234 likes this.
  11. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    OP's problem really looks like a faulty screen cable problem but best thing to rule the GPU out would be to test it as suggested above...
     
    TomJGX, Oct 17, 2014
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