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    M18x RGB Screen

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by revdiesel, May 4, 2011.

  1. revdiesel

    revdiesel Notebook Evangelist

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    I can't find anything confirming or denying that the M18x has a RGB screen or what Color Gamut it is rated at. Nor brightness levels.
     
  2. HSN21

    HSN21 Notebook Deity

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    That's because there isn't any just like the M17X R3, Don't know why they don't offer RNG screen as an upgrade for those who are willing to pay for it.
     
  3. revdiesel

    revdiesel Notebook Evangelist

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    Not one 2011 Alienware with a RGB screen.

    EPIC FAIL
     
  4. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

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    A high gamut WLED would be more than enough. I'm still curious to find out what M18x will have.
     
  5. FXi

    FXi Notebook Deity

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    WLED is going to have to do for a while. The hope of myself and folks ordering it is that AW did their very best to give us the best 18" available. It's probably not a wide gamut machine, or that spec would be posted. But there are specs out there on top 18" screens that suggest it could be 90% which would at least be very good. And if it doesn't satisfy that is what your 21 day review period is for, to judge for yourself whether you can live with the machine.

    There are workstations from Dell and HP with better 17" screens. You'll just have to pay more for workstation graphics and give up a 2nd GPU. It's a choice only the buyer can judge on whether that's what they want.

    You'll get a lot of opinions on the screen and the many features of the machine in a few short weeks when they start showing up for the first owners. That should give you more info if you are on the fence.
     
  6. The1TruJok3r

    The1TruJok3r Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah that is the one thing I wish they had. I have an RGB LED on my XPS 16 and it's the most beautiful LCD screen I've seen. That's the only thing I hate giving up.
     
  7. sticky

    sticky Notebook Consultant

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    Is it that big of a difference? The screen on the M17X I am using seems beautiful.
     
  8. harmattan

    harmattan Notebook Evangelist

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    This is the one deficiency that keeps me from pulling the trigger on purchase. Having moved from a w90vp to a G73 to a m17x R2 to an x7200, then back to an m17x R2, an RGB screen is almost a necessity for me at this point. Even with an x7200 (and twice the power of an m17x), I wanted to move back.

    Maybe the m18x "R2" version will get a better screen, but in the meantime I'm holding off.
     
  9. The1TruJok3r

    The1TruJok3r Notebook Consultant

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    I ordered anyway. Yes I do love the RGBLED and it was the best upgrade on the xps 16 I still am sure the m18x will have a decent LCD but in all honestly the RGBLED screen was really the most amazing laptop screen I've ever seen. It was a little warmer than the normal LCD screens and the colors were very rich and had more depth. The comparison I think is much like that of looking at an LCD TV and then looking at a new LED TV and you can see the depth of color and the contrast put the old set to shame, but again it's an ATI 4670 vs a xfire 6970m I mean come on I'm a gamer and yeah it was a nice LCD but this thing is gonna kick .

    Also I was like maybe I should wait but in all seriousness if you sit on the fence always saying maybe I'll wait for a screen or the 580x or whatever then well you'll never order the laptop.

    This one is gonna last at least 3 years for me and if next 18 months the refresh is worth it then I'll get another one and pass this one off to the wife.
     
  10. vzachari

    vzachari Notebook Evangelist

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    I have the Specs for the M18x 18.4 LCD:

    Dell - Help Me Choose: Display

    Brightness: 300
    Contrast Ratio: 400:1
    WLED
    Color Gamut 72%

    There is also some mention of a B+RG LED display but nothing substantial.
     
  11. 5150Joker

    5150Joker Tech|Inferno

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    That 400:1 contrast ratio is appalling. It's making me regret ordering it now. If they push out B+RG after people receive the WLED, what do they think will happen? Mass returns.
     
  12. MaynardLD50

    MaynardLD50 Notebook Consultant

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    wait, wait, wait, it says 400:1 MIN so what is the actual contrast ratio? Jesus that is pathetic.
     
  13. JCrichton

    JCrichton Notebook Evangelist

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    Uh oh.

    I didn't want to hear that. :(
     
  14. Sir_Gawain

    Sir_Gawain Notebook Consultant

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    The lower prices on release made me soort of regret not getting it....until I read this... Thats a shame especially if they do release an RGB shortly.
     
  15. AirJordan

    AirJordan Notebook Evangelist

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    The screen is worse than the one in the M17x, that's nice...
     
  16. OoSchismoO

    OoSchismoO Notebook Consultant

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    what were the specs on the m17x R3 screen? both 60 and 120 MHZ. if this is really as bad as you say i may cancel my order. the screen is a very important part of a laptop...
     
  17. vzachari

    vzachari Notebook Evangelist

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    Dell - Help Me Choose: Display

    click on the compare side-by-side tab
     
  18. sticky

    sticky Notebook Consultant

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    If they do release an RGB can't it just be upgraded?
     
  19. Sir_Gawain

    Sir_Gawain Notebook Consultant

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    The mention of RGB on that link is in no way alluding that it is coming to the M18X as of now. It simply says "Currently, WLED and B+RG LED are backlights used in laptops" as description as to what backlight is.
     
  20. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    Those specs are very disappointing.
     
  21. Aranthira

    Aranthira Notebook Consultant

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    and the reality of the bean counters efforts to maximize advertising and minimize delivered quality.

    Overstate and under deliver....

    definitely keeping my M17R2 rgb led...
     
  22. SaosinEngaged

    SaosinEngaged Notebook Evangelist

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    Just so you're all aware, that makes the screen of the m18x inferior to the 1080p 60hz WLED of the m17x. The m17x is rated for 550ish:1 contrast ratio.

    That's honestly pretty appalling that AW can't even offer one "better than average" screen on their "high end" line.

    Very poor business decision, IMO.

    Oh well. I just got myself an XPS 15 with the B+RG LED and I'm loving it. Funny how I have a superior screen on an inferior laptop, but whatever. Apparently it's backwards year at Dell.
     
  23. JimmyC

    JimmyC Notebook Consultant

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    I recall clearly an advert for the M18X stating its screen was the biggest AND best in an Alienware laptop. I made a mental note of the additional 'best' tag since I know most people rate the R2's RGB LED as the best...

    That's the sort of claim that can get a company in hot water over here, dunno about the US tho.
     
  24. Sir_Gawain

    Sir_Gawain Notebook Consultant

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  25. NYC Drifter

    NYC Drifter Notebook Evangelist

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    That screenshot could come in handy if we all need to return them ;)
     
  26. JimmyC

    JimmyC Notebook Consultant

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  27. SillyHoney

    SillyHoney Headphone Enthusiast

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    I keep my R2 then. RGB LED FTW!!!
     
  28. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

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    Lol , but i7 2nd Gen Processor + 6970 xFire + 32GB Ram Max + Sata III? is owning r2 Badly [​IMG]
     
  29. anodize

    anodize Notebook Deity

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    Any decent desktop would slaughter the M18x if you put it that way. Some people care about visual more than others, just different values. ;)
     
  30. NYC Drifter

    NYC Drifter Notebook Evangelist

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    Well if Dell says its the best, it must be right? :rolleyes:

    Aside from the cost, the screen being suspect makes me a bit remorseful. I hope it turns out ok.
     
  31. BlazeGaj

    BlazeGaj Notebook Evangelist

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    I really hope one day they will offer a better screen. Those figures sound bad.



    If I had R2 I would be happy with it for now as well.
     
  32. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

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    Just compare with alienware laptops in alienware laptops topic , desktop is different materials ;)

    Just like Cars is different from Vans.

    In this video , it seem fine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPEIsPkq9XM , can't wait till someone receive m18x & make review :) (waiting Joker make his reviews)
     
  33. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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    I will cancel my order. Will reorder if we get better screen options. X220 will do for now... :(
     
  34. koag8087

    koag8087 Notebook Guru

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    gosh i want perfect laptop

    that has 3d and good gpu.

    im afraid that if i buy m17x r3 3d capable one, i wont be able to run games smoothly.

    is there any laptop that has good gpu but also has 3d capability?
     
  35. FXi

    FXi Notebook Deity

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    I suspect that the wording will refer to the 'best 18" model' when all is said and done, which in classic marketing style is the ONLY 18" and thus it's pretty easy and safe to say best.

    We will have to see how it measures up. Surprised Anand doesn't have one already to test.

    Oh and if you are "unsure" about the screen, don't be a first adopter :) Testing will be mad and furious over the next few months. You can be assured of that.
     
  36. JCrichton

    JCrichton Notebook Evangelist

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    For those really wanting 3D: do you want it for games or movies or something else like future-proofing? Or is it just for the 120Mz screen?
     
  37. koag8087

    koag8087 Notebook Guru

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    for me, its for games and movies.

    but clearly, m17x r3 doesnt really have good gpu to run 3d games
     
  38. SaosinEngaged

    SaosinEngaged Notebook Evangelist

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    Not entirely.

    2630QM is just about = to the i7-950 desktop processor.

    XFire 6970m's is about = to Xfire 6850 desktop cards.

    I'd say with this generation, top end gaming notebooks are about equal to a decent desktop.

    No "decent" desktop is going to slaughter the m18x, to put it another way.

    The stigma that you're making a huge sacrifice by gaming on a laptop has got to go away.
     
  39. anodize

    anodize Notebook Deity

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    Performance wise, it should definitely blow the R2 out of the water, however, my point was some people care about the screen more than others do. The M18x is so big and heavy I had to compare to desktops. Don't see many people carrying their M18x around so I see it more as a "Van."

    Okay, I wasn't exactly looking to argue about laptop vs desktop, but who wouldn't OC their desktop nowadays? I am not going to make any verdict regarding if M18x can truly live upto its hype until I receive mine and put it to test against my desktop. TBH, I'd be surprised if it performs 1/2 of my main.
     
  40. JimmyC

    JimmyC Notebook Consultant

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    In general I fail to understand the constant comparison between desktop and laptop power because they are so very different, but why is this being discussed in a thread about screens :confused:
     
  41. KillerBunny

    KillerBunny Notebook Evangelist

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    A desktop for the same, or just under the price of a m18x will of course slaughter it. The tradeoff, is the ability to carry the m18x around with you, and no need to haul around a screen as well.

    That pretty much sums up the whole argument.
     
  42. SillyHoney

    SillyHoney Headphone Enthusiast

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    Anodize has his point. Honestly I always want games to beat the cr@p out of any of my laptops so that I could satify my purchases. However PC game industry is ruined by consoles already so the 5870s will do for a while. And beside gaming I also need to do graphic related stuff a lot so I care about screen quality. Even in gaming, I would pick 35 FPS + RGB over 100 FPS + poor WLED any day. And I guess it will take quite a while until my 5870s can't do a game at 35 FPS.

    Believe me, I clearly had a plan of purchasing M18x months ago. But the recent news about its screen is scaring me.
     
  43. redbalrog

    redbalrog Notebook Consultant

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    Does anyone have the specs of the RGB in the M17x R2? Just for comparisons sake.
     
  44. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

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  45. FXi

    FXi Notebook Deity

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  46. redbalrog

    redbalrog Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks guys...yeah quite a large difference in quality.
     
  47. SaosinEngaged

    SaosinEngaged Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah, unfortunately it is.

    Didn't mean to go off topic, just that I feel this generation in particular greatly increased the power of mobile computing. SB is a huge leap from the last generation, as is the 6970 or 485m.

    Staying on topic, I found a trick that worked really well on the m17x R3; you bump the saturation up because at default the screen is undersaturated. It's kind of like the poor-man's way to make the screen more like the brilliant RGBs, but it really helped on my R3.

    It may help on the m18x also.
     
  48. chewietobbacca

    chewietobbacca Notebook Evangelist

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    Indeed, SB brings the CPU up to par with the high end last gen desktop CPU, which is a significant jump - and the GPU is now at the same level as the lower end of the performance desktop GPUs as well, also a big jump
     
  49. OoSchismoO

    OoSchismoO Notebook Consultant

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    i might just buy this screen as well and when im home just use the m18x as a desktop tower. theres the best of both worlds :D portability and power/ pretty screen
     
  50. eYe-I-aïe...

    eYe-I-aïe... Notebook Evangelist

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    I had an M17X R1 with NVidia inside, and an M17X R2 with ATI inside.

    With both of them, I've bumped the saturation up because I felt the colors were washy, insipid, tasteless and savorless.

    With ATI, it's called saturation, while with NVidia, it's called color vibrance. In both cases, I've set it to the max, 200%, which to me looks like what 100% should look like...

    I guess those who did that trick with their M17X shall do the same with their M18X.

    I would be so sad if I couldn't get that 200% that looks like what 100% should be...

    :D
     
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