Problem with M15x Screen I think

Hi guys,

Just need a little bit of advice. Recently I wanted to upgrade my m15x. Bought a 920xm and installed it fine. Also bought a 240w psu and a right angled adaptor. Will overclock later when I have the chance.

Over the weekend I also installed an SSD which has improved bootup times and speed in windows alot. Overall very happy with the machine as it serves my purposes fine.

Anyway recently I have noticed that when I boot up the machine and when in windows, that I am getting red artifacts all over the screen. Even on bootup when the Alienware logo appears right at the start. The red artifacts look a lot like a red mist it is most prominent on black backgrounds. Initially I thought my GPU was gone. It is a ATI 5850m.

I went onto Ebay and bought a replacement. Sadly it was DOA so I am am going to send it back and get a refund. Anyway I was this close to just ordering a 970m brand new. However I wanted to double check that my old gpu was causing the problem (I thought the video memory was failing). What i did was connect my m15x to my monitor via display port. There was no red artifacts.

Logic dictates that therefore it cannot be the 5850m. Am I right in thinking that it must be screen related somehow? I did some research and found some other people with m15x's having the same issue. I think there are even some threads on this forum. I just wanted confirmation that is the screen that is gone (it is 1080p). Is it the actual screen or the cable that is connecting the screen to the motherboard.

I quickly checked on ebay and some replacement screens are pretty cheap, around £30-£50. I also searched for video guides on how to install a new screen and I think I should be able to handle it. Looks bit fiddly but I am sure if I take my time it can be done.

Can anyone offer any advice. If it is indeed the screen I will order one off ebay but check with you guys that I am actually ordering the right one.

Has anyone had to replace their screen.

Hopefully I can fix this red artifact/misting problem and then get a 970m!

Thanks in advance

 

Doubt it is the cable. Given the issue isn't present externally, I GUARANTEE it's a LCD issue.

I've done a number of LCD replacements, and it very seldom is the cable. Generally, if the cable is at fault, it would be where the hinges are located. You should be able to provoke some effects if you articulate the screens position by opening and closing it. I just did an HP DV 7000 here recently and they are known to have bad panels that'll get lines vertically. The owner figured it was the cable because when it moved it the lines would shift, multiply and even go away. This is where you need to be careful as the LCD assembly can "flex" from you using only one side to open and close the system, which in effect was twisting the LCD, not because of the cable. But our systems are pretty solid so you may not be as prone to this "false positive".

Swapping the LCD panel is pretty easy. Pop your bottom off, remove the indicator panel and keyboard, disconnect the LCD, auxillariy and antenna cables. Remove the hinges screws and remove the LCD assembly from the system. Then all you need too do is remove the screws along the bottom of the assembly, it'll slide up as it's interlocked and lift. Rest is just a few screws and cables. The biggest "issue" is getting dirt stuck between your LCD and the glass.

 

I was just about to suggest it might be the connection, still worth checking. I would also remove your GPU and check the backplate isn't making contact with any capacitors or something similar. Also make sure its fully inserted into the MXM slot. Obvious stuff!

Hope its a cheap fix

 

I need to point out to you that this can still be a fault of the GPU. There are two parts to the GPU, One part drives the internal screen and the other drives the external one. If the part which drives the internal screen has gone flakey then the other part can still be working perfect. I had the red mist problem personally on my M17x a while ago and it was the GPU at fault!

 

Hi guys,

Thanks a lot for your input. So it can either be the screen or the GPU. Just my luck that it cannot be narrowed down exclusively. Also a shame that the replacement 5850m that I ordered was dead on arrival.

Hmm. I can either replace the screen first which is cheaper but a bit more fiddly or buy a 970m which is more expensive but easier to install.

I think I will order the screen first and give that a go.

I just searched and found this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-LAPTO...567?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c1d08ba6f

Also found this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-ALIENW...D-left-connector-Screen-LCD-LED-/141375768241

But this one is a glossy finish. I think I would prefer a glossy finish. Are either of these suitable?

Thanks

 

Be careful with screens make sure they are quality. I have a 768 screen you can have for testing. just cover shipping. I've bought two 1080p screens and both eventually had several dead pixels in a short span of time. I bought this one last and it's been great so far.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400796176116

I will say that the screen alone is fine but it requires that you cut through the plastic retaining the screen inside the plastic screen cover. I used a hot knife to cut through it and I scratched the screen 2 times. So I bought an original replacement just to avoid the trouble.

 

EepoSaurus,

I have ordered a 1080p screen and it should be here on Friday. I decided to do more research and realised that there is glue holding the plastic together! Then I read your post. Oh boy, this is going to be harder than I thought. How did you secure everything together once your had replaced the screen. Do i need to go buy some glue!?

edit:

Found this link, except it is with a m17x r2 but same kind of thing. Christ it looks brutal to get the thing open. I am scared now!

 

Its really not that bad. Just takes a steady hand. Don't even try a regular knife though you'll have to use a lot of force as its tough plastic and the slightest slip and you've punctured your plastic screen protector.

The screen itself won't just come off once you remove the enclosure. It's actually glued in and if you aren't careful you'll break the screen or damage it but it can take a bit of flex before that happens. If you aren't to worried about your old screen then just yank it out of there and install rhe new one. If you use just the right amount of glue I'm sure it will work fine and wont run but I didn't bother. I just put in the new screen with what glue was left in on the protector and then I placed the plastic piece back in place and used masking tape to secure it all.

It was a bit of a hack job but it worked just fine. But like I said I eventually just replaced the whole thing.

 

Thanks for the advice. I am just checking ebay for a replacement for the whole thing but they seem pretty rare at the moment and it has to be a 1080p and not 900p etc. I search for a bit longer and see if I can find anything.

Thanks again for your help.

Actually they are pretty common in the U.S, just have to see if they will ship to the UK. Another option i guess is to buy the top lid and the actual front and place the screen inside and glue it together myself. Might be less messy and less chance to damage something.

My existing screen should hold up til then. I might try tomorrow to at least reseat the cable connecting the motherboard to the lcd. See if that removes the red mist. If it does at least i have a spare screen i guess on its way int he post!

 

Where did you find the angled adapter??

 

Hey Mana,

I had the same issue but with green mist instead of red. I replaced the GPU and nothing changed. I bought a whole new LCD, the entire thing, installed it (very easy by the way) and it didn't help. That's when I stopped trying. I never found out what was the cause, I'm assuming it was maybe the motherboard. Just thought I'd let you know so you're not surprised if your new LCD doesn't work out.

 

Hi guys,

Thought I would update this thread. I went and bought a whole new screen that included the bezel etc. (Thanks EepoSaurus for the link by the way). Took my time this evening and installed it. Initially when I started to boot up I got a blank screen but quickly reseated the lcd cable and everything went fine. The red mist has now gone away so it was indeed the screen.

Am finally very happy. The quality of this screen seems very good and when it was delivered it was packaged very well.

I think now the only thing left for me to do to this laptop is upgrade from the 5850m to a 970m! Might even go from 8gb to 16gb but we will see.

Just happy that I can now work and watch youtube videos at work without this damn red mist! I am lucky I didn't go and buy a 970m before I changed the screen otherwise the red mist would still be present.

Very Happy.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice in this thread.

 

I just upgraded to 16gb of ram last week, well worth it, especially as a transferable upgrade if you ever get a new machine.