M17x lcd

The panel does not have firmware that im aware of or anyone else for that matter . TVs are different and i think alot people think because if a TV is flashable then so should an LCD but its not the same thing sadly . The panels in Laptops are just that with no tech attached to them really that im aware of as i have dismantled a couple .

Both my Sony HDTVs have this same auto dimming feature and have had 4 firmware releases and none of had the option to disable it even though many people were vocal about it . Samsung TVs though do have the ability to disable it so since these are supposed to all be Samsungs maybe they could add it in somehow or just in the future not have it come with it at all.

 

I thought you were done with this thread a page ago.

I made a post about a week ago saying that I finally noticed it. You win.

 

Well im glad ? or maybe not that you finally noticed it . Might have been better if you never did because much like a stuck pixel once you know its there then its something you might think about all the time when using the machine .

 

laptop screens do not have anything that can be changed or flashed like lcd tv panels do..

 

To clarify, Notebookjournal and Notebookcheck have been providing reliable and objective measurements of notebooks displays for some time now, they know how to use a colorimeter and test displays as they should be tested. They don't use pink wallpapers with green dots to measure the brightness or anything like that, and the pictures that you see aren't supposed to show brightness tests, they are just pictures.

If you don't like the results, then your choice, just keep in mind that similar panels are used in a few other notebooks and the results are similar.

As to the uneven illuminations, it a widespread issues with almost all of the current Samsung displays, as I said it's a defect result of poor quality control, but they will probably improve them at same point, or at least that was what happened in most of the previous cases. Some people went through 3-4 screen replacements with the Precision models until they got a Samsung display with even illuminations, it's still a lottery though.

Bottom line: If you like your display and you don't see anything wrong with it, keep it and don't read this thread anymore. If you have some issues, request a replacement or return it.


Now I'm leaving... serious.

 

..I'm still waiting for our duel of dueldoms

I chose sub zero :>

 

Actually, not yet...

You know I really hate it when I have to change my opinion about people, but it looks like that I won't need to do it this time since my first impressions may turn out to be pretty accurate, thanks for making things easier. :wink:

See you around...

 

bu-bye :rolleyes2:

 

We don't know how notebookjournal/check/whatever tested the display, do we?

If it wasn't with a bright background then the results will be incorrect. It sucks, but the M!7x has an auto-dim feature (probably to boost/over-inflate contrast ratio numbers).

 

Yes what makes the illumination worse is that right where the start menu is, the screen is darker than then rest..

I dont know whey but on all three screens it was darker in that area...

I can only hope that they will change model numbers on the lcd at some point and I can get one of the new ones.

*crosses fingers*

 

Nm ill just stay out of it . Hate arguments with a passion .

 

..I think I intimidated him

*sniffs* *pulls up belt*

 

This is pointless to argue about until someone finds out how it was tested.

And what the heck happened to z?? He was supposed to give the M17x's LCD a nice, thorough testing.

 

The auto-dim feature or whatever is very annoying; at first I thought the brightness was extremely uneven but I noticed it changes under a lot of different scenarios. An easy way to spot it - use a dark background and then open up a web browser windowed in the center of your screen. Maximize and minimize the browser and watch the start orb. It happens with the start bar on the side or bottom of the screen.

I will see what I can dig up on this.

 

Im very happy to see you have noticed this annoying issue Chaz and if nothing it else you can make a big mention of it in your final review then maybe Alienware/Dell will take notice and try to offer a fix. What you described to do is exactly what i have been telling people to do since the moment i powered on the machine . Awesome screen marred by one huge flaw.

 

huge? barely noticeable.

 

I will make it easier: The ThinkPad W700 uses a Samsung WUXGA dual-lamp display that was widely advertised as 400-nit as well, but it doesn't have auto-dimming feature.



Personally, I would say that the same backlight is used for both, you could judge for yourself.

- http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-Thinkpad-W700-W700ds-Notebook.15275.0.html
- http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Alienware-M17x-Gaming-Notebook.18781.0.html


Regarding the auto-dimming, it just adjusts the brightness and has been quite a hated feature in general, so you probably should try to force Dell to do something about that. For example, start a petition first, see if there are enough people to support it, then you could even email Engadget if needed and so on.... it's not like people around here haven't done this before.

 

Yes exactly..

Is the area where your start menu opens up a little bit darker than the rest of the screen? It has been noticeable on all the screens that I have seen.

 

never got my hands on one for a long enough test... still looking for a test system.... any one in my area im still willing. i held off ordering because of the screen i cant stand a bad screen and i dont feel like playing the lottery again, from my quick tests i did do on the one i played with for a short time the screen WITH A colorimeter set to 6500k and standard gamma only measured in the center at 248nits. far from the 400nits advertised. that was with a eye one display 2 and the screen was set to max brightness with the eye one software.

i didnt have enough time to really do a full test and a good calibration since it was only in here long enough for me to upgrade the persons hard drive and ram. he dropped it off in the morning and i had maybe an hour to work on it and test the screen. but i took the time to image the drive with shadow protect, install eye one run a few tests then put his ssd's in and restore the original image back..

i can say though I AGREE with notebook check measurements though they were very similar to the ones reported from the eye one

 

I can see as well on my new (1 day old) m17x, darker "start area" but only, i have as well left side of screen darker, It can be easilly seen when I have a default black alienware wallpaper and standard icons, they are much darker,
how do You think, could the things goes better after some hours of working on m17x? or maybe call dell support to replace the lcd?

 

the lcd as much as people like to believe it will not "get better" people just get used to it. the bulb may change a small amount in the first few days but its not going to get any brighter. the color may change though during the bulbs initial burn in, it may either give off a more cool color (blueish) or a warmer color (redish)

 

Exactly.. That is all I noticed on all three of my screens..

The darker area never improved.. Its kinda like, its either lit or not lit well... That doesnt change... Disappointing that all three screens were like this.. I am still debating if I am going to play the lottery again and get a replacement or just wait a while and see if a revised lcd comes out in the future for it. I dont have high hopes for the latter...

 

there will most likely not be to many screens if anything else ever for this system. lg is not longer producing on to fit this system, and there are only 3 dual lamp 16:10 left as far as i am told in production... dell will almost for sure not go to auo and sharp is a possibility but its rare dell has used sharp also..

 

Lol

It was a small glimmer of hope... now you have crushed it completely and now I have nothing...

/cry....

lol

 

All I can say is I am glad I am not picky about the LCD as that seems to have really ruined your enjoyment of this otherwise excellent note book

cheer up everything is going to be all right...

 

You are correct.. The only flaw that I have with the system is the screen.

The rest I really dig..

I will be feeling better tomorrow morning when I have a chance to install the QX9300... YAY...

*Crosses fingers* to have a "lucky" chip

 

I am working my but off to get 3.2 out of mine.....I want the problem to be the ram, but I am pretty sure I just am not going to get 3.2 (3.15 worked though - not that that is bad lol)

 

What exactly do you mean by "flopped all over the place?"

 

The M17x is most likely the last 16:10 laptop we will see from Alienware/Dell. Unfortunately even a company with as much buying power as Dell cannot change panel maker's minds.

I'm going to try some games and other applications to see if I notice the auto-dim stuff.

 

I mean the hinge on the whitebook was not as tight and smooth. If i picked up the notebook with the screen open, the screen would wobble. It is rock solid on the M17x

 

There are only 5 in existence. It comes in a golden wrapper. lol!

 

Or you can play the odds and buy several then sell the ones that don't oc as far for profit haha

 

ROFL

Aww man... I didn't get a golden wrapper..

 

mine had an orange sticker...lol

edit: and now I have the lyrics for "I got a golden ticket" stuck in my head...dam you

 

almost as good. those will only get 3.15Ghz.

 

haha...I hope not

 

You could always change panel maker's minds as long as you pay them enough, that's how some brands get exclusive displays. The same goes for the aspect ratio, there are still 4:3 rugged and semi-rugged notebooks. However, it probably wouldn't be justified for a gaming notebook as people will be buying it regardless.

Something interesting in this case is that both Dell and Lenovo have decided to source the displays from a single supplier, which is not their typical policy. Lenovo even said they had originally rejected the display for this specific reason, but then they had reevaluated that decision. I could only imagine that both companies have got great discounts from a major LCD supplier like Samsung.

People usually hate the infamous "panel lottery" typical for most brands, but apparently there is a worse case scenario - a "panel lottery" with a single option.

It also annoying that the M17x was released a year after the W700 and has virtually the same backlight, which unfortunately means that Samsung isn't interested in improving their quality control at all.

 

People will never know what they want lol

Give them options and they complain that they have to choose. Take away options and they complain that they cannot choose.

I do agree with what you said about Samsung not trying to improve though, that is a shame - kind of like nvidia naming the G92 12 different ways lol because they can instead of actually innovating their design some

 

Mandrake i have huge respect for you but saying its barely noticeable when even Chaz said its very annoying is not what i would call barely. I personally think its huge as do others . Again not looking for whos right or wrong in this instance but some view things differently is all i guess.

 

I guess the matter is subjective. It took me a long time to notice it. So for me it is barely noticeable.

 

It also may be where you panel does not have the effect as profound as others do . Since it took you so long to even notice says alot about your screen as where mine its a night and day difference and something everyone who i showed saw it.

 

exactly what I said a couple pages back....at the end of the day the screen is completely subjective

 

Yeah, my WXGA screen was VERY noticeable with the auto-contrast "feature"...

 

Light up the middle portion and notice the darker portions of the screen sure. The screen is a total piece of garbage IMO. Grainy, uneven backlighting. Makes me want to puke. I should be receiving my full refund soon though.

 

"Shakes head" I've been gone for two weeks and your still spouting about that?

 

Keep an open mind, we're all entitled to our opinions

 

Is the screen really that bad? I am planning on buying a M17x, but if the screen is really as bad as some of the comments suggest...

I currently have a Samsung Syncmaster 206BW 1680x1050 screen for my desktop, the 1920x1200 on the Alienware should look better right?

 

Some people are just making it to be worse than it really is.

It's also sort of a "lottery"... some get nicer screens than others.

 

The screen is a beauty its just the auto dim/contrast feature thats a tad annoying .

 

This is true with ALL screens LCD or otherwise. In the case of tv's, there's a test pattern you can buy to check out the quality of your screen.