Area 51m R2 Brand New Dead Pixel

Sigh,

Received my brand new Area-51M R2 Tuesday. Dead pixel on solid white and green and you can see it on the Alienware background as well. I'm pissed, disappointed, etc.

It's the 360hz screen too. The only option I see is to send it back and try to re-iremder and hope for the best on a second one. Can't believe there isn't more QC to catch that before it leaves the Chinese factory.

No, 1 pixel is not normal in 2020-2021 and it sure isn't normal on a brand new machine. Rant over lol.

 

Return it. Could be for the best if the R3 is round the corner.

 

So, I have the return label printed and spoke to Dell today. I requested that they send me an entire panel with lid that I can swap out. They refused and would only send a tech in 7 to 10 days. They gave me another option.

I can keep this laptop and they will order me another new one, with the exact same specs, and deliver it free without me paying again. There's one HUGE caveat. This one was delivered 7 or 8 days ago. The return policy is 30 days. The replacement they said would be 10 days and I kind of doubt that it will be that quick. However, it still counts toward your ownership period and return period.

So the new laptop would have MAYBE 5 days left to return and possibly zero. I don't like that a bit. I would think since it was shipped with a dead pixel, the return period and warranty would reset to 0. They say no because it's a replacement. So couple of questions,

1) They said it would be NEW not refurbished. Would you trust them?

2) I am fine with the specs, should I take the replacement and be done with it and HOPE the other one makes it with 0 defects or cosmetic blemishes.

3) Bite the bullet, be out of a computer for 3 weeks and return it and order another?

Thank you for any input.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

Wow, that's quite an unusual offer. I don't know, I would return it just because the release of RTX 3080 mobile is imminent, but if you can't cope without the laptop, then they will sort the screen out for you this way or another. If you go for the second laptop option, you will be pretty much locked out of the return. Shipping delays happen, you know, and there is no guarantee that there will be no issues with the replacement either. I know the return option is very painful, which is why buying computers from Dell is so annoying. They need to improve their QC so much.

 

Eternl4l,

I agree completely. I am going to return it and order another. Would you stay with the 360hz screen or go with the 4k? I doubt many people would even notice the difference in hz.

 

Depends on your usage. Unless you are a media creator, you will be better off with a FHD panel.

 

Christ.... Received the new 4k UHD Area 51m R2 today after waiting a few weeks. Guess what? A bigger group of dead pixels than the FHD screen. I can't frigin believe it.

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Something like this should be less likely than scoring a jackpot on a slot machine. Another sign that Alienware is going downhill unfortunately, although I'm not at all surprised given that both my AW machines arrived with issues. Good luck sorting this out

 

Etern4l,

I can't believe it. The only thing I know to do is return it again. I won't be buying another. I love Alienware, but this is unacceptable. While we're on the subject, what's your thoughts on the new Asus Strix coming in a couple of weeks? Has the 3080 card, the AMD Ryzen 5900X CPU. Also, the 165hz screen is cheaper than the 360hz FHD screen. Probably going to pre-order that unless you see issues.

I'm not up to date on Asus anymore.

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I presume you mean this?
https://rog.asus.com/us/laptops/rog-strix/rog-strix-scar-17-series/spec/

it says 360Hz screen, and the CPU is 5900HX

Anyway, I don't have any experience with Asus laptops. Looks good on paper, the CPU is a strong performer, especially given the 45W TDP, even has a big 90WHr battery so it could be more versatile than a typical DTR with a desktop CPU. On the flipside, there is no Thunderbolt, precluding any eGPU extension. Some details are missing from the specs, like the GPU TDP. Another thing is that I guess it won't be upgradable, like a Clevo.

 

Update!

Received the THIRD Area-51M R2 yesterday. I could have sworn there was another dead pixel in the new 4k screen. There was a piece of lint in the screen and it blew away after initially sticking. It was on the outside of the screen as well, not the inside. So I FINALLY received a perfect Area-51 just like I ordered. I went all out on this one with the exception of RAM. I can add that myself without paying 10 times what it's worth at Dell. Specs in signature. I am in the stages of testing now to make sure it's all ok.

Question, for TimeSpy, what should this system be scoring. I ran it yesterday when I first received it and it scored 10700. I thought that was low as I seem to remember these hitting almost 13k?

Oh and as another note, my first two had the 10700k in them. This one has the i9 10900k and most people say you can't tell the difference. The 10900k is absolutely faster in just every day tasks, games, etc. It's a noticeable speed difference for sure. The temperature is also a bit hotter as everyone knows. Mine does very well as it runs in the 80s gaming. I have Thermal Grizzly that I may repaste it with, but for now it is running just fine.

It might run even cooler with the Thermal Grizzly, so I might do that.