How do I fix my m1530 Grainy Screen?

I cannot believe the trouble you all are having. It's a damn shame. Y274C is simply the part# that relates to the "WSXGA+ LCD Replacement Kit". It does not relate to any particular model, only what's available. I looked at the pics nebber posted and that's just disgusting. There really IS a difference between some of these Samsungs because the one I had did not look THAT bad. My god, Dell should be ashamed to send out something that looks like it belongs in an entry level $599 laptop, not an XPS!

Now that I've used the LG screen for several hours it really is quite nice. So crisp and clear, a perfect picture...perhaps on the "cool" side vs. "warm" as it does favor blue a bit, but very very nice.

 

I thought I'd add to this discussion as I recently bought an M1530 in New Zealand and the monitor situation seems to be slightly different here, but easy enough to solve.

Mine came with the Samsung screen (WSXGA+) which I noticed was quite grainy, and later discovered this thread about it. I contacted Dell NZ/Australia support and they checked it out for me: I heard back that the LG is still in testing in this region (though the guy did know it existed) but they could send me an AUO brand screen instead.

They were going to send a tech out to replace it but I offered to do it myself and they were happy enough with that too (thanks whoever posted that service manual eralier!).

I can't vouch for the truth of the LG unavailability claim but the AUO screen is beautiful, very much better than the Samsung, so I'm extremely happy with it. One of the threads on the grainy monitors suggested that the highest resolution was only available as LG or Samsung. That obviously isn't true in NZ as I'm using the AUO right now - the hardware ID is AUO187b, same as this guy has.

They even paid the courier fees for returning the old monitor and it was all sorted out pretty quickly, so to anyone in this region; if you're not happy with the Samsung monitor (I didn't think it was that bad) have a go at getting a replacement. I could have just got a good tech, but we don't seem to have the problems with not being able to order specific parts etc like people overseas do.

 

Being in a similar situation and having spoken to the Dell Tech. Rep who will be bring in the replacement tomorrow (he confirmed today that the Y274C is the dreaded Samsung) and having two different XPS Tech. Support Reps e-mail the following:

From US_XPS_Ownership, Wed Feb 6:

" Dear XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX,

Thank you for your reply.

I understand from your e-mail that you are not happy with the level of service you have received from Dell. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you. I understand that we lose faith in a company if we face such problems. I will take the opportunity to address your concern.

I am concerned to read in your e-mail that you want the Samsung LCD replaced with LG LCD in reference to the order for XPS M1530.

I have looked through your account and it shows that a request was forwarded on 5th February 2008 to replace the Samsung LCD as you were facing problems with the LCD. I would like to inform you that that you will be sent a Samsung LCD as a replacement and not a LG LCD. If you want a LG LCD then you will have to return the system and place a fresh order. ..."

AND

From US_CAG_Customer_Care Wed Feb 6

" Dear Mr. XXXXXXXXX

The panel will be replaced with whatever direct-replacement part is available. There is no means to cherry-pick what vendor will be used. it is more an issue of availability since any vendor who has a direct-replacement specified part means the part meets all the specifications to make it so, so that any of them can be used interchangeably

We thank you for choosing Dell.
..."

my only options are:

1. Have the swap made and hope the new (??) Samsung LCD (Y247C) is better than the original Samsung component (RW985)

or

2. If it is still bad, then send the M1530 back and either get a refund or reorder a new system in the hope that it will be configure with an LG.

Personally, if even after the swap the display is bad, the system goes back to Dell and if at that stage Dell cannot supply me an XPS M1530 with a LG LCD at the same price that I purchased the XPS nine days ago, I will ask for a full refund.


More later, and good luck to you.

Aprilman
6th February 2008.

 

Cool. I'm glad some people got good results.

I returned my 1530 a couple days after I got it due to the screen. Strangely reading all these posts (good and bad experiences) makes me happy I returned it. If people have to go through all this trouble just to get a decent LCD the total "price" of the system is too high. I spent few hours just troubleshooting and finally returning my system. I can't imagine what some of the people on these forums "paid" with their time spent.

I fell very sorry for people who buy the 1530 without a steep discount if Dell continues to use these defective displays.

Strangely I don't feel anything bad towards Dell. As long as my refund goes through as expected without issues they at least will be honoring their return policy. I'll probably still buy from them in the future too. I just won't expect a high quality product. I guess that was my problem. I expected the xps 1530 to be a better then average product.

 

This pretty much sums up my experience. The viewing angles (the main reason I decided to switch) were night and day. The LG is a great screen, and it is so much easier to look at for long periods of time. Good luck everyone, and please keep trying, it is worth it.

 

I'm getting the same part number. I'm already at my limit to start ranting them like that "you tube Dell video CSR". I'm not sure if I want to keep my cool on this.

Returning the system is a bad idea especially if you had a current ranting problem with them. They'll torture you new system or worst but the service wont be the same like the first time you bought it and smell them sweet-lovin talk like your a BF.

 

Have it swap instead, we both have the same part number. The grainy screen for me is the main problem, but I also have bad pixles showing when looking form the side. It might be a grainy one again but at least the bad pixels might be resolved.

I you want return the whole sytem remember that if you never had problems with it except the screen, you might get problems on the replacement new system. This can be a whole new ball game for you and dell. If you want to buy another brand return it for a full refund.

The Lg screen even if you return it and get a new system, you still wont get an LG because if they can't replace it now and everyone saying that it's the only compatible screen for M1530 on the Dell system. Then that's it...only a silly SEC again.

Would they say "sure return your system and get a new unit with an LG screen" I don't think they meant that...drops call. Packing new sytem same SEC screen and a Vista blue screen and a finger print that only uses the middle finger.

Sorry Aprilman just keep pushing on the replacement screen if I were you.

 

I still agree Dell Xps for me in comparison to other notebooks on price and specs is better than an average product. I'm starting to think now that I might keep the damn thing.

...and pls. to all getting the new LG screens let us know who, how and where did you get it from. I'm starting to think we have a dell employee here playing with us. Really paranoid on this, sorry lol!

 

I'm going to see if my country's Dell rep can help me swap the screen for me. Maybe they can be persuaded to order the LG part in my native language. If some calls are routed to my country I can maybe ask or he can provide my with his or her 800 number and direct extension for me to actually grab the screen and make an order.

Other than that I'm going to escalate this issue to other country's forum. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

No, mine was fine. I expected the right hinge cover (where it joins on to the main part of the laptop) to be loose as well but it's a solidly attached as the day it arrived .

Checking through the latest posts it seems some people are requesting a replacement screen for the sake of it, not because they have a real problem. If you read enough posts you will see that there are instances of good and bad in both Samsung and LG. I was able to compare the 2 brands side by side and for me there definitely was a difference, that's why I went down the replacement screen path. I will say the Samsung had better colours for me but was just too dark and lacking in contrast. The LG requires a little tweaking in the nVidia Control Panel to make it "warm" but the extra brightness out of the box was glaringly ovbious (pardon the pun).

I haven't seen quite as much discussion about AU Optronics (AUOxxxx codes) or Chungwa Picture Tubes (CPTxxxx codes IIRC) but some who received them were happy with those brands too. If you have a screen that is bright, has good viewing angles, no dead pixels, etc than it doesn't really matter which brand it is really.

 

It would be nice if most of you would take the "time" to go in your profile and put in what city or at least what country your from like you see to the left in my Avatar. Heck nobody is gonna come find you! With all this talk about the screen problems, it would be nice to see where you guys are from.

 

Makes sense! Done.

 

All this talk about different suppositions about what you can get now from Dell is very misleading. So yesterday people were being read statements about not being able to swap screens. Dell changes policy daily, and policy is applied differently at any time by different techs. Obviously the LG screens are not incompatible, because lots of us have them already. And just to reiterate, I don't think that there is much variation in Samsung screens. I've seen 4 in the last month, and they've all been equally grainy. What we're hearing is from people who've only seen one and don't think theirs is bad. I challenge you to find one person who had one grainy Samsung and then had it replaced with another Samsung and thought it was better in terms of graininess.

 

I had the samsung 1680 x 1050 screen it took a month and 8+ calls to Dell and they shipped out 3 replacement samsung lcd's I kept returning them till I got an LG XK309.
It was the biggest hassle I have nearly ever had to deal with!
But, I did get the LG finally and it was well worth it! It is far superior in every aspect, colors, brightness, clarity, you name it the LG is better!
GET AN LG (XK309) YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!

 

My suspense is mounting. The tech is coming between 12 and 2 to install my supposable LG.

 

Good luck man, I've been following your story for a while and you definitely deserve for this whole ordeal to be good and done with. As for me, I plan on calling tech today and begging for an LG.

 

Would they get me an LG screen if I place a threat order. Begging might not solve it in ratios of people placing swap screens. Let me get an LG and I'll post all my details including the reps direct extension and name to help everyone else. That is after I get the screen installed, confirmed it's an LG and works well other than that SEC.

 

I agree and I have escalated this to another country who has not seen the difference on the screen and its issue. To those who see's their SEC screen not grainy at all they maybe just trying to diffuse the thread issue. I dare that this is a solid thread problem.

If you have an OK screen with SEC part, please don't post on this thread be happy with yours. This is for those who wants their screen replaced for preference reasons.

 

...unless the tech destroys your computer in the process.

Glad yours went well though, allshookup.

 

I have read about 20 pages of this thread and I have not met anyone who actually got the WXSGA+ LG (XK309) screen by default in theyr xps laptop.. .

It seems to me that XPS m1530 never shipped with another WXSGA+ panel than the Samsung one, and that the LG screen is actually used on Vostro and on other dell laptops...

Can anyone proove me wrong?!

 

Okay, I've got an LG WSXGA, now. I have to say I'm a little surprised, because I did the LG swap thing 3 years ago on a different Dell notebook, and it was only a little better on grain, and actually quite a bit worse on light leakage. Though, I don't find light leakage generally has any ill effect except while viewing a completely black screen, in which case, what are you doing on your laptop staring at a completely black screen?

So here is my reaction: The difference between the Samsung and LG screen is staggering. The LG has none of the grainy/glittery effect of the Samsung. Text looks liquid smooth like I had on a Sony notebook a while back. In terms of brightness, I don't think it's actually significantly brighter than the Samsung, it's just that the grainy/silvery coating is not there to mar the contrast. I can't tell about light leakage at present because I'm in a very bright environment where it wouldn't show much. But it looks fine and even with all black in a bright room.

I think that Dell has made a serious mistake in using both screens and considering them to be equal. And the trouble and sometimes even insults I have suffered in getting this screen on my $1700 XPS is very inappropriate. Even though I like my XPS now, my opinion of Dell, which was high, has dropped considerably. I'm a little ashamed I put myself through all this instead of just returning it on the first resistance from Dell to remedy the defect.

It is very satisfying to have finally "won" and actually see the difference and finding out for myself.

The LG is miles better than the Samsung, and in my opinion it's gross negligence for Dell to use the Samsung and sell notebooks with the Samsung installed and inhibit users from getting a good LCD for which they paid. It's also proof, of which I already knew, that Dell's claim that the sparkle is inherent in all LCD making process is false.

 

Congrats! Your journey was sure long and it sounds like it has a good ending?

As someone who returned their 1530 because they didn't want to go through what others went through just to get a screen that should have been used in the first place, it's nice to see people who did endure finally get what they want.

Still... it doesn't change my position on the 1530. Dell REALLY ruined a great machine by using those poor screens.

 

Just got my new m1530 today. Has the awful Samsung screen.

 

It may have been in another thread, but I recall seeing someone post they had received a new one with an LG.

 

There was someone on this thread too, but it actually was a vostro

 

no one from dell has posted in this? I think you might mean this link:

http://www.dellcommunity.com/suppor...id=Tech_Talk_XPS_Laptop&message.id=4967#M4967

 

Checking links they both open on the same page

I'll delete mine and edit yours for not to confuse people

 

Jimmyp said who ever got the "LG is just placating you", it means LG owners are liers. Would you take that, I haven't got my LG so I don't what he means

See Gfrsh thread above...

If I ever get my LG I would even post the images of the whole skeletal inside my XPS install including product numbers etc... like some have posted here.

 

Alright, I can finally say:

GREAT SUCCESS!

The tech just finished replacing my Samsuck screen with the LG and, dear. lord. it's. nice. My system actually feels like a premium product now.

1. Anyone who tells you that these two products are equivalent is either a liar or should up their glasses prescription a lot.

2. Dell telling you that it's impossible is a lie.

3. Dell telling you it's out of stock is almost certainly a lie. They told me to call back a week later to check if XK309 was back in stock, and I immediately went to the online XPS chat and after talking to people who were certainly halfway across the world for a little bit, they set up the dispatch as it should have been done the first time. The part shipped from exactly the same warehouse that the Samsuck came from with the previous tech six hours after they told me they had absolutely none in stock.

I'll try to post full details of my correspondences with Dell over this issue soon. Overall, there were two phonecalls, several e-mails, 3 chat sessions, two screens, and two techs to get this final result, and quite frankly, it was worth it. That's how big of a difference this is, and they're definitely, ACTIVELY trying to screw you with a cheaper product, hoping you won't notice.

We noticed, Dell. Fix this for everyone else.

 

I'm afraid Jimmyp is giving out false information. It may be that he does not know that he is doing it. I've got my chat log, and my Dell dispatch information on the Dell site that proves differently. Anyone in Houston, TX, US my come by and look at the difference in the screens. I'll meet you over at a Dell kiosk in a mall and we'll take a look at the difference. You have to buy me a coffee or a sandwich or something for my trouble.

 

@ttpmx

Good for you now, who got you the screen? we need answers. It seems no can provide the direct Dell rep who placed the LG order. Or Jimmyp might be right Lg owners are just placating us who don't have it yet and having trouble getting it.

 

Yes, he clearly is. It's my understanding from talking with several people that they've got a hotkey for ordering parts for a particular system, and I believe it just fills the field with the generic part number. All it takes is for someone who's not so indoctrinated by the corporate machine and still able to think as an individual who cares about the customer's needs to type it in manually. That's sad, but I think it's true based on some of the things that they told me in the phone calls.

 

Hey I'm in Houston too, so maybe that will give me some luck on the wearhouse having the LG "in stock". I spoke with a tech today and he said he made a note for the XK309. I also had him add that "Customer is willing to wait for specific part number" or something along those lines. Is this what happened with other people? I feel that the whole setup for the replacement was a bit shallow.

To all of those who had their LG swaps successfully carried out: Did the tech just add a note like mine did? Or was the dispatch directly setup at the time of the conversation FOR the XK309? I don't feel real secure that I will get the LG panel as requested right now. The tech seemed a tad reluctant because he said the XK309 is not specified by Dell as a replacement component to the XPS M1530. I told him it is fine and all, and he said he understands, but that this may cause trouble in obtaining the specific part number.

Here's to hoping. Oh, and congrats Sonic on the LG. Your post just makes me want it more

 

Here's an excerpt of my reply to JimmP's comment in the Dell forums. Use it as you will:

Code:

  DELL-Jimmy P wrote:


    Wow, the first time I've been called that, low blow.
    Since there are only two part numbers our tech's can order for this system:
    C931C 15.4WXGA LCD Service Kit, M1530
    Y274C 15.4WSXGA+ LCD Service Kit, M1530
    Anyone telling you they can specify a manufacturer is just placating you. My advise to anyone that has a technical issue is to contact support, that is the only way to get things fixed and one of the ways data on what is and what is not a problem is generated.

This is simply incorrect. Here is the related excerpt from my chat log:

Your session ID for this incident is 17114042.
02/05/2008 07:36:18PM (my name removed): "great. Please request that part #XK309 is used as the replacement."
02/05/2008 07:37:24PM Agent (XPS_Jody_140258): "All of your contact information such as address is the same?"
02/05/2008 07:37:34PM (my name removed): "yes"
02/05/2008 07:42:04PM Agent (XPS_Jody_140258): "LGP"
02/05/2008 07:42:39PM (my name removed): "is that the panel brand? LG Phillips?"
02/05/2008 07:42:59PM Agent (XPS_Jody_140258): "Correct."

And here is a copy of my dispatch information:
System Summary
Service Tag: (edited)
System Type: XPS M1530
Ship Date: 1/30/2008
Dell IBU: Americas
Service Call Summary
Description: Gen Function/Operation Error Service
Call Number: 00099904616
Initiation Date: 2/5/2008
Last Updated: 2/7/2008 4:07:00 PM
Call Status: Closed
Call Type: Next Business Day
Service Ship Date: 2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM
Shipping information pertaining to this Service Call
Airbill Number Ship Date Carrier 21565104724 2/6/2008 12:00:00 AM Airborne Next day
Parts information pertaining to this Service Call
Part Number Description Quantity
XK309 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., 15.4WSXGA+, VIDEO ELEC. STDS. ASSOC...., TLF, LGP 1
XR857 ASSEMBLY..., CABLE..., LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., M1530 1

 

Jimmy P said "Anyone telling you they can specify a manufacturer is just placating you."

What he means is that the Dell tech is just telling you what you want to hear. I don't know if Jimmy P is just wrong or is in fact trying to subvert people from continuing to ask for LG screens. He wasn't saying anything specific about people, like me now, who've gotten LG screens.

If you take a look in this forum and notebookforums.com you will see that people have been requesting and getting LG with mixed success over the last 3 years since the beginning of Dell creating the "TrueLife" screens for notebooks. It makes me sick the information that is coming out of Dell now. I'm sure some of it is intentional misdirection. It's very bad business.

 

No, JimmyP's job is to save face for the company and tie up lose PR ends. Some of us (everyone here, imo) are just smart enough to know better than to believe everything we're spoonfed from a DELL rep about DELL itself.

Now to answer your question, I'd love to point you to the exact person who actually placed this dispatch, but it was through the chat applet and we all know that's the luck of the draw. The name of the CSR I got was Sushma and Sushma was very professional in listening to my case. I gave this person a synopsis of my experience, and then I was told that a replacement would be dispatched. I asked for the part number and Sushma read off the generic WSXGA+ kit part number, which our sample shows results in receiving another Samsuck screen 100% of the time. I kindly said, "No, that is not a specific part number. I was told that I would be receiving XK309". After another 15 minutes of reviewing my case notes, Sushma got the floor manager, Mohammed, to join the chat session. The manager was also very professional and he reviewed my case, confirmed my concerns about the quality of the one particular manufacturer vs. the other, and asked me if someone had told me there was a difference between the two makes. I told him that it was well documented and two people from Dell had acknowledged the problems (my tech and one of the people on the phone + my tech today).

After that, the dispatch was created (and expedited) and the correct part shipped from the same location the last screen came from less than six hours after the previous person told me none were in stock...

Yes, there was plenty of hassle, but as others have mentioned, if you remain professional and assertive in dealing with customer service people, you're much more likely to get the desired results. Don't lose your cool, but don't let them talk you out of something you know to be true, either.

 

So is it more effective to ask customer service than it is to ask technical support for the LCD replacement?

 

I don't believe it is, to be honest. I didn't go down that route, but it seems like they don't have as much power when it comes to individual parts ordering as the tech support folks do.

My next effort was going to be contacting customer resolutions, but fortunately I didn't have to take it that far.

Edit: Sorry if I wasn't clear, that chat session I was referring to was "XPS Premium Tech Support".

 

Ok, thanks for the information. One more question though. The technician will be the one in possession of the LCD so is there any way I can check the part number of the dispatch created? I know when parts are sent directly to you, then the information can show up in your Dell account order status, but the last time a screen was replaced (with a Samsung), the actual order never showed up in my Dell order status.

Can I request this information in any way (i.e. which part number I am getting?). I am not going to let a technician open my laptop just to put another Samsung in this time.

 

Well it doesn't show up in your order status because it's being sent to your local DHL hub awaiting pickup by the tech. There's a special section in your account called service call status. You put in your service tag or any of the other relevant information and it'll show you the pending dispatch along with the part numbers associated with it. I hope that helps.

Edit: You should also see an "Airbill number" or something of the sort when it ships. That's a DHL tracking number and you can watch its progress on the DHL site and see when it arrives and when the tech picks it up.

 

Yes, this is definitely what I was looking for. Thanks man!

 

No problem! I hope you find some good news waiting for you there.

 

Jimmyp is nothing more than a Dell employee that monitors their forums. His job is to assure that his answer's are in the best interest of the Dell Corporation and quite honestly, he's just doing his job and if he worked for me, I would expect him to do just that.

I received my M1530 on Monday. I had support on the line an hour later, and had the rep manually input the LG part #....there was no argument, no issues. He has worked in this position for about a year. He had a European accent and I asked him where is was from, he was originally from Holland...very nice, and was up to the challenge of getting me what I requested. It was sent that night and installed yesterday. The more I use it, the more I love it. It's probably one of the nicest screens I've used....very comparable to the top Sony models. Not the brightest LCD on the planet, but great viewing angles, and excellent display-ability in office fluorescent lighting (the Samsung was awful in both those areas). Anyway, I feel bad for those of you who cannot get a good screen. The M1530 is really an outstanding product. I've heard so many different things I don't know what to believe anymore... "Dell has stopped using the Samsungs at build time", "The XK309 part number can no longer be requested", "Dell Managers have forbidden reps from putting in part #'s manually", "LCD can only be replaced with the same part# that is currently on the unit", etc. etc. I would guess that most of it is crap. I cannot believe that since Monday, the entire Dell support staff has been ordered to change their procedures. There are just too many different stories, too many different results. I'd like to know from someone ordering a new M1530 today or in the future... if they get the Samsung or the LG. At least we'd get an answer to the rumor that Samsung is not being used in new builds!

 

I didn't know they could manually type in a part number. My tech just added a note; I'm not sure if this is the same thing? Doesn't sound like it but we will see in a few days how my luck fares.

 

That was me! I actually received my Vostro 1500 with a LG screen on my initial shipment. Unfortunately, it had a stuck pixel, so I am receiving a replacement system which is already in the boxing stage.

I was wondering what my chances were of getting another LG screen, but it seems as if you are saying that LG is on most Vostros. Is that true? The screen minus the stuck pixel looks beatiful by the way.

 

I find it ironic that Dell would fit the Vostros with the LG and not the XPS line of notebooks lol...

 

No, the part that comes up by default is the Y274C. According to the rep I dealt with, this is the standard WSXGA+ LCD replacement kit for the 1530M. In the end it could equate to whatever is in stock, unfortunately, it generally ends up being the same part you have in the system, and for most, that means another Samsung. I had him manually enter the part#... when he got to that point he asked me.. "OK, what's the part number". I gave him the XK309 and what do you know.. he says, "Yup, there it is, I'll get that sent for you". Then, I had him specifically comment the record that this is the only part# I would accept and it is not to be substituted with another, even if I had to wait in the event it was not in stock. It seems that all the support orders are reviewed by another department afterwards. Many who have been fortunate enough to get their agent to put in the LG end up with the Samsung because the reviewing department looks at the original part # on your machine and "thinks" the agent made an error and replaces it with the same, matching part#... they don't understand that the problem is with ALL the Samsungs, not an isolated bad LCD. Anyway, 15 minutes, one call...I had no problem and did not deal with the horror stories some of the others have dealt with... 3 or 4 bad screens, back and forth, or just an outright "NO". The poor folks want, and rightfully expect a premium product and are all excited to use their new machines only to be sent an bad screen... which, on a notebook, is one of, if not THE most important part! It's just unacceptable for this level of product.

 

I'd have to disagree. I would not want an employee posting information as a representative of my company that could be so easily demonstrated as being false. It just makes the company look devious, untrustworthy and cheap. Not to mention I would not want an employee posting anything false just because it is morally wrong and it is my desire to run a company built as much on ethics as quality products and services.

 

My XPS is coming tomorrow before 3pm via FedEX.
If I find I have a Samsung instead of a LG as I requested the day I ordered it, I will demand a LG.

Question is, I can't hear phones, so, I can take care of this via "chat" like you did? I'm just getting prepared ahead of time.

 

Yes.

I thought it would be better to get my previous notes together (in fact, they had them all already) and talk to someone there rather than waiting in the hold queue for some more awkwardness talking to one of these people. I deal with a lot of e-mail correspondence in my job, and typing is the best way I can communicate anyway. Turns out it worked out just fine that way. I was able to present my case and everything worked out fine.