Any Way to Tell Which Display a M11x Has Without Opening the Box?

So I'm finally ordering an Alienware system, the M11x. I found a good deal, so I'm going to purchase two (one for myself and one to sell/trade, PM me). Is there any way to tell which display each system has without opening both boxes? Obviously I would keep the system with the display that's reportedly better. I'm purchasing from a retailer (not Dell). Thanks.

 

No, there's not. A few months ago we all compared line item numbers on our invoices and weren't able to find anything that indicated which panel you're getting. Welcome to panel lotto.

 

What about things I may be able to find on the sealed box, like a serial number or something I could check online?

 

You won't know until you fire it up and check device manager.

 

As a new M11x-R1 owner I was unaware that there were different screens being put into production, could you elaborate?

 

If you buy it from Alienware don't you get a part list when you receive the system, and one of the parts is the specific display on the M11x? I think I read that in another thread here.

 

Most laptop manufacturers use different displays made by various companies in their laptops. I respected Alienware's decision to only use one display so there isn't a panel lottery the past, but that part consistency seems to be gone. For a discussion on the different panels you may find in the M11x:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...s-m11x-lcd-displays-samsung-vs-lg-vs-auo.html
(forum thread)

 

Yes, you do get one and no the panel isn't specified. We've already tired cross referencing part numbers to see if there was any correlation to panel model. There isn't.

Start reading this post where we see that the part numbers do not match panels.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/493140-m11x-hinge-screen-touching-keyboard-discussion-r1-r2-74.html#post6642682

 

There's also some evidence of variation within the same models. For example, some owners who have had multiple AUO panels have reported that one looked significantly better than the other. The bottom line is that these are all low to mid-range, run-of-the-mill panels that Dell is using in all of their 11.6" notebooks.

The general consensus is that the Samsung and LG panel are marginally better than the AUO in most cases.

EDIT: Also keep in mind that this is largely based on people's subjective observations rather than side-by-side or measured comparisons.

 

AUO's non 1080p panels have a wide variance in quality. They are a rather new offshoot in Taiwan, so they might improve in the future, but right now, their lower end panels have serious QA and manuf. tolerances (serious is a poor choice of words... wide and extremely varing is better).

 

For anybody wondering - yes, it is possible and easy to check which display the M11x has before opening the box. Just enter the service tag on Dell's site, click original configuration, then in the parts list it cleary says mine has a Samsung! The other M11x I ordered will arrive tomorrow, but there's really no need for comparing the screens before opening one of them, I already have a M11x with a Samsung display. (The service tag is on the outside of the box on the label.) I will check the service tag on the other as well out of curiosity, maybe Alienware did improve the display quality due to the complaints.

 

What does the part number show on the original configuration?

 

1 9MGG7 MODULE..., LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., 11.6HDF, WLED, TLF, SAMSUNG...
1 DWVMD Liquid Crystal Display, 11.6HDF, White Light Emitted Diode, True Life, Samsung

(Copied exactly as Dell had it.)

I haven't opened my M11x yet due to not having the time to set it up right now, so I'll just open it and look for a more specific display part number in Device Manager in a few hours so I can dedicate the rest of my night to my new Alienware M11x!

 

Mine doesn't. I also have a samsung, but the dell config says "230-11341 Display : 11.6in WideHD 1366x768 (720p) LCD".

 

Hmmmm mine shows the following under the service tag list:

V1V85 Liquid Crystal Display, 11.6HDF, White Light Emitted Diode, True Life, Au Optronics Corp

Curious to see a Samsung next to it, once I did a basic color calibration it hasn't been too bad all things considered... I think I got lucky with the screen on this R1 for an AUO model, though some of the blue shift is still present.

If I do decide to get an R2/R3, this will come in handy.

 

Wait a second. Device Manager says I have an AUO105C display. Not cool, Alienware. Which one is it, Samsung like my service tag states or AUO? Most likely the AUO. It's not bad, and it's quite vivid after a simple calibration. Still, if there's a better panel out there, I can't help but want it. Especially since I'm not fully satisfied with the AUO.

 

There's the rub eh? You can't guarantee WHAT quality you might get since there seems to be variance in both AUO and Samsung (less in the latter from what I gather - yo). The AUO is a cooler (blue shift) screen, the Samsung is a warmer (red shift) screen... it is distressing though that the build sheet shows one thing and you get something else though.

 

Yeah, same panel here but Samsung spec'd in service tag info. What gives?

Can't complain about this AUO though. After some adjustments in NCP, it looks pretty good.
View angles are kinda lame. But then again, I could care less if other people
can't see what's on my screen anyways, lol.

For me, it's just not worth the trouble to try and switch it out. I guess I have one
of the "better" AUO panels, so I'm quite pleased with it for now.