How do I fix my m1530 Grainy Screen?

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll wait and see. So far, all it says in the part number is Y274C.

 

I wonder if one can detect any differences between the LG and the CMO screens. I got my Samsung replaced today with a CMO and oh my....

 

I got my replacement 1530 yesterday after the tech messed up my other one. I'm sure you can all guess.... yup the SEC3350 screen is in the new one.
Now I have to tell you, I am so tired of this ordeal that I tried -- really really tried -- to like this LCD. I am not complaining about it just to complain. This has taken up way too much of my time and I just want it to be over. But nevertheless the screen is SOOOO awful. The whites are just horrible. The backlight bleeding is severe on the bottom of the screen again. My keyboard is bulging in the middle and my left mouse button is not installed very well. I sent Dell customer service and email; however, I am not anticipating a successful conclusion to all of this.

I am glad to hear that others, though, are having success getting the LG panel installed properly.

 

Just wanted to give my experiences here too.

Received my new m1530 today, really excited pulling it out of the box. Wow, what a nice system! But uh-oh, grainy, glittery, smudgy screen. Whatever you want to call it, I got it.

So I called Dell. I decided to play totally dumb on this one and let them deal with the situation how they saw fit to do so.

Spoke with Jason, really nice guy, very helpful. He had me run diagnostics, and while that was running he put me on hold to "research the problem, in case there were any other known issues like this".

To my total surprise, he came back and SUGGESTED the LG screen!! He even mentioned that it was an LG versus Samsung. Yes I was also shocked, but I didn't let on that's what I was hoping for in the first place. He lined up the dispatch and service-call. Hopefully I'll report back in a couple of days with a successful swap and a good-looking display.

Completely unrelated, as I was attempting to transfer my World of Warcraft directory over my gigabit LAN from my old laptop, I just discovered the m1530 DOESN'T HAVE GIGABIT. What the CRAP -- 5 year old laptops have Gig, why would they leave it out of this one? I was really surprised, but confirmed here. Before I found that link I was swapping patch-cables for 10 minutes thinking I had a half-dozen bad ones. Sheesh.

 

i'll be receiving my 1530 tommorrow. how will i know if my screen is grainy or not? i'm not a video quality guru so i donno if i'll be able to tell on my own...

 

While my 1530 didn't have any build issues you described (minus the screen), I envisioned what the future would hold for me after I spent what turned out to be the 9th (NINTH!) overall hour on the phone with tech's and customer care (only to run into a brick wall again with trying to get some other screen than the Samsung) and the future I saw bothered me. It bothered me enough to say, "This is not worth 1,700 dollars."

Formatted the drive, boxed it up, shipped it back. It's sad too, I really liked it but Dell would not budge one inch with me on the screen. In fact, I felt like they were making it intentionally hard for me to get any screen replacement. It didn't start with me banging my head on Dell's brick wall but when I found out that my second service dispatch for a screen replacement - the first being the one where I had ordered the LG screen and it was mysteriously canceled - was mysteriously canceled and no order was made to take its place was what could be my defining/confirming moment: Sending it back was the easiest thing I could do.

I hope all of you have more success than I did, maybe I just quit to easily. I am now back on the market for a laptop. Whereas the 1530 was really nice hardware-wise except for the screen I am now enjoying the color and lack of grain on my 2 year old external LCD display, however, it is too bad the rest of the system is junk.

 

Thank you for validating my own shock. A lot of people aren't setup with Gigabit and some don't even know what it is or why anyone would want it.

 

At the risk of getting this thread too off-topic...

To anyone wondering about gigabit... A 4gb ISO file that takes 45 minutes to transfer over 100mbps takes about 4 minutes over Gigabit -- 4 MINUTES. And no I'm not talking about ripped movie's, I'm talking about software-DVD's that come in an ISO format for easy virtualization. Trust me, the gigabit is no longer a perk to me, it's a necessity. I don't think it's enough to make me send back the system, but it's enough to make me put another $50 into it to get an express-card NIC, which I just really don't feel like I should *have* to do on a current-day laptop.

A gigabit switch can be had for $50 these days, really there's no reason to not have one if you're moving large files around a network.

/ end off-topic-rant

 

Great example. You should post that here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=207480

 

It became drastically obvious to me after using the laptop for 15 minutes, then swiveling my chair around to my desk and seeing my 19" display on my desktop -- I wanted to reach out and touch it because it looked so SMOOTH compared to the laptop. This is a really difficult issue to describe, but you'll be looking for "sparklies", "smudgieness", or "dirtiness" on the laptop; at least that's how I can best describe what I'm seeing.

And although I didn't mention it to Dell Support, I've got a large amount of backlight-bleed from the bottom of the display too. I didn't mention this because I thought it might have been mistaken for too much of a personal-taste issue, and not so much a "mechanical failure" that would warrant a hardware repair. The display quality to me seems like a bad batch of displays, like something was really wrong in the manufactuing process, NOT just personal-taste. There is something phsyically WRONG with them.

NOTE: I'm referring to my own m1530 with the WSXGA+ 1600x1050 display.

 

Update: Got the call from the designated service-tech today, so I went online to look at the dispatched part:

YES!! Assuming my repair/swap goes ok, and the display looks good, I will hopefully post back here a happy owner!

 

I have to say, I am jealous, since I went through so much crap even a tech getting very rude with requesting the LG. I hope this is a new operating procedure for them, though. Mine has been sent, but under the generic part number so manufacturer is unknown until they bring it out. When I talked to the tech he said it was in the trunk of his car and couldn't look at it to let me know the manufacturer. And he said he has to bring it out no matter what because he said he was required to call from the location. Probably has something to do with his billing actually.

 

Not true..

Beware of this technician sonic -- he sounds lazy. Lazy might = tearing up your laptop.

 

Well, he's supposed to come back tomorrow. I'm wondering what I should do if the screen is not good. I will be out of town until my 21 day period is up, so my choices are to go ahead and return it and start all over, or to trust the Dell will eventually get this right. Theoretically, since I brought the issue up over a week ago, they should extend the return period until they get it right or I give up, and probably with urging with me, they would. But I don't know if I want to go through any more crap.

 

Sounds risky. You could always request your replacement now -- it will build while you are gone. At the same time the tech can replace your current screen. If the screen turns out to be ok, you can then cancel your replacement order.

 

Since my replacement screen is on back order, I asked them to extend the 21 day return period for me and they did.

 

i also have just ordered an XPS m1530 last monday.. saw a good deal and never looked back. i hope to get an LG.. if not..

anyway, just would like to ask where you guys ordered your laptops from? coz i ordered from the Dell Singapore website, I believe the machine's shipping from Malaysia. I'm not sure if you guys are ordering from there as well.. but I'm trying to guess my chances of getting an LG vs a Samsung.

 

this theory that LG screens are the best and that all others suck is flawed! u can get a grainy LG, samsung or a screen for another manufacturer.popele have been scared by this soo much that the first thing they do when the get a comp is check the manufacturer not waiting to see the screen and decide if they like it.after see the manufacturer is samsung for example they get paranoid and start asking for a change from dell even if the screen is fine.

 

I disagree. Why would you go through this hassle if there is no screen grain? There are plenty of pictures out there. And if you can't figure out if you have it or not then you probably don't since it is so blaringly obvious.

 

I cannot comment on whether all of the SEC3350s are bad or not. But I can say that with my last one I got I did not look at the manufacturer first. I noticed right away how awful the graininess was. Low and behold it was the Samsung...

 

No. He's right. My screen actually looks great, even though it's a Samsung. There's no grain, it's very bright and everyone who sees it says "Wow!" But after reading these forums I want an LG. I really enjoyed calling tech support, waiting on hold for 30 minutes, arguing with a rude tech, then having my order canceled overnight. Then calling back to see what's up. I'm looking forward to having the tech come by and take apart my notebook and put it back together. I kind of like worrying about whether, like so many others, parts of my notebook will be broken afterwards, or that my resolution will be downgraded because Dell sent the wrong part. It's kind of like a thrilling adventure. I just need some background suspense music to fulfill the experience.

I keep plugging in my headphones and fiddling with my volume, because I want to have the audio problem, too. And I literally get out of the shower and go straight to the notebook, while it's plugged in and turned on, and type and use the touch pad with it in my lap, hoping I'll get shocked like others have.

Well, got to get back to reading the forums, XPS hypochondria doesn't happen all by itself, you know.

 

One thing a Dell rep has pointed out, when you go through to them, they don't have an option to 'replace with LG screen' as such. So its impossible to request an LG screen since it doesn't show up on their system.

You can request a new screen, but then its up to whatever luck for the panel you get.

 

I just had a new (actually the box said refurbished) Samsung screen installed. And it's as bad as the first one. I'm sad.

Edit: The tech called in attempting to order the LG for me, and was told by Dell that that part is not in stock or available and that I would have to contact customer support to order it if that is what I wanted. Funny, since a couple people yesterday reported getting an LG. I'm going to return it and keep ordering them until I get what I want, I guess. Because I'm not about to let my 21 day period expire with this hanging. Costing Dell a lot of money to not replace my screen, isn't it?

 

ROTFLOL!
:twitcy:

 

Not to be confrontational, but this is incorrect. I have done it twice with 2 separate Dell XPS techs. True, it is not the recommended default part when they start a service order. But, it is an option that can be entered instead of the default SEC3350.

 

WHAT!!first u say u have a great screen and then u say its very bad???

 

I beleive sonic was being sarcastic when he said the screen was "Great".

 

Sorry, I don't know if you read the whole post where I say the screen is great, but I say a bunch of other absurd things meaning to be humorous and sarcastic in reply to the person who claims that people only think their screens are bad because other people on the forum say they are bad.

Both the original Samsung screen that came with the XPS and the replacement Samsung of today have been bad. They both have a sparkly, grainy sheen to them that make the screen dimmer and make whites look gray and have a generally glittery reflectiveness that reduces the readability of text.

 

hope u get a better one next time!

 

I just had my display-swap completed this afternoon. Let me just summarize by saying the screen I have now is FRICKIN AMAZING looking. THIS is what it SHOULD have looked like out of the box -- I am COMPLETELY satisfied. I'm talking white-whites, totally crystal clear, amazing color, bright. I do have a bit of backlight-bleed if I display an all-black screen, but that is rare and not noticable otherwise -- well within acceptable margins.

I know that technicians, and replacement-parts for that matter, are a bit of a luck-of-the-draw as to what you'll get, so I'll be the first to say I must have gotten really lucky. The technician I had was excellent, very thorough, very careful and deliberate. I even had that "keyboard bulge" that I've seen other references too and he fixed it too at my request. I have no scratches, cracks, separated bezels -- everything is how it should be.

(off topic: the keyboard bulge is clearly due to a mass of cables directly under the keyboard assembly; if they aren't run VERY tightly they could easily cause the bulge right down the middle of the keyboard. It seems like something that would be fairly easy to fix and I could elaborate if anyone wants. Even for non-technicians removing the keyboard isn't that hard, I've done it plenty of times on other Dell systems.)

Color me completely satisfied -- except for that pesky non-gigabit ethernet, but that's a different issue.

I wanted to post my results here because I know not everyone posts about their positive responses once they're happy, and it's important for everyone to know it's possible to get a nice screen. I'll admit I may have gotten lucky, but keep trying, this is what your system should have looked like from the factory.

For reference, my monitor hardware ID now is:
MONITOR\LPLF300

 

congrats, you got an LG (*jealous*)

I have my third replacement xps coming. I can keep this up as long as Dell refuses to give me a superior screen on their "superior" line of notebooks. I would think replacing an entire unit is more costly to the company than a single component, but hey, what do I know?

 

The Samsung screen I had sucked. I even took my 1530 to Best Buy to look at it next to other laptop screens to make sure I wasn't judging the manufacturer. Night and day difference... Night and day. As if my two external LCDs weren't enough to compare it to.

I am impressed by everyone that keeps pushing though. I hope you all can get what you are after. I've sent mine back and am looking forward to getting my money back. I may by myself a new road bike as my interest in doing a triathlon is growing the more I keep thinking of spring.

 

I'm with you man, if I don't get the better LCD panel on my third try, I'm done. I can wait on the laptop, or just go with a different make. Did you incur any "restocking" fees when you returned? I read something about a 15% restock fee but I'm not sure if that only applies in certain situations. Thanks.

 

I just returned a 1520 I bought before the XPS. Paid no fees, or shipping. If you are returning a notebook because of a defect, there is no fee, as long as you return everything in like new condition (disregarding whatever defect it arrived with or occurred.)

 

I just got my XPS M1530 back today after being returned to the depot in Newmarket, Ontario, for an LCD replacement. The sheet accompanying my laptop was marked as "Option 2: After performing numerous functional tests, we have found no faults with your computer.".

I booted the laptop and my desktop background was changed to a neon green colour, which, ironically, made the grain even more profound and apparent than before. I was immediately on the phone with tech support.

I'm returning the laptop to the depot again now. The techie asked a supervisor and was granted permission to demand a LCD replacement for my laptop. At this time I rambled off the part numbers of my current screen, explained the reasoning for wanting the LG equivalent, and gave him the LG part number. He entered the LG part number (NU763) into the system was the part was listed as an option, but out of stock. I told him that I would really like this specific part as a replacement and mentioned that extra wait time for the LG screen would be acceptable. He made note of this (or so he says...).

I then asked him what would happen if, once again, my laptop returned with a poor screen. He then said that the third time an issue is reported and not fixed, a Dell technician will come directly to my location to fix the problem.

So.. here's hoping that eventually I have a usable laptop. The techie who assisted me today was much more helpful (although I nearly had to learn another language to understand him!) than the original representative, who labeled my issue as 'distorted video', rather than a LCD hardware problem.

Will reply with results as I get them.

 

I haven't seen anything from Dell other than the emails they send me confirming my system made it back to them. No mention of restocking fees or anything when I set up the return as I was still under 21 days. They haven't refunded my money yet either but I hear it takes about two weeks for that.

 

I know this may be a stupid question but Ive got my XPS M1530 arriving this week, Im from the UK and have ordered it with the Hi Res screen that seems to be affected by poor brightness and grain. I have telephoned Dell who confirm it will ship with a Samsung screen. Is this the same model screen that is being used to supply orders from the USA ? The DELL rep I spoke to told me not to worry as screen would have to pass strict a quality control process before being shipped. Does this affect all Samsung screens or could I be lucky and have a nice bright one ?

 

I would never listen to anything that Dell has to say. The assurance of passing strict quality control processes is a joke at the least. As with any mass produced porduct, #'s are what win in the game, not control issues. I am waiting for my 2nd 1530 to be delivered tomorrow. My 1st 1 was perfect except for the screen. I allowed them to play there game twice for screen swaps, and both screens that were sent out were complete junk. It went as far as the repair dork screwing up my screen bezel, scratching my outer casing, and even having the "god almighty XPS tech support" swearing up and down that it must be a motherboard issue." Its like every other company, you get some good ones and then there are a lot of bad ones in between. Hopefully my new 1 coming tomorrow is a good one, since I upped the screen from WXGA to WXGA+.

As for screens, I know the Gateway 17" gaming notebook that Best Buy is selling comes with a Samsung panel. However, it did not look like it had the weird viewing angles that the Dell panels have. Might be a different coating which I doubt, but you never know. Its kinda funny though as my local Best Buy's 1530 has the Samsung WXGA screen on display and looks dismal compared to all the other lappy's on display. Even the el cheapo Gateways look brighter and more clearer.

 

I already posted in this thread but in case you didn't read through the whole thing, I got a beautiful and bright Samsung WSXGA+ screen with no noticeable graininess or sparkle (my only tiny complaint is side viewing angles). I have 4 other notebooks in my house to compare it to (two dells, a hp and a sony). I've seen posts by two other people on this forum that said their Samsung looked nice. The odds don't seem good but it can happen! In the other thread that shows the two side by side, mine looks like the LG...

 

Frankly, with the odds of a getting a decent Samsung screen being what they are, I would consider cancelling your order immediately, and re-ordering another one and checking whether the screen is the dreaded Samsung screen before its ships (I think someone said you can check the screen part id number online before it ships). It would save your time and the risk of damage from screen replacements.

What do you guys think, would this be an over-reaction? Is it even possible?

Apparently, there would be a restocking fee if he refused delivery, and presumably also if he cancelled his order after it is built and bought another brand. However, I wonder if he could cancel and re-order without a restocking fee.

 

I'm pretty sure this is an LG screen but not 100% positive can you guys confirm. Thanks.

This is the description of the replacement screen for my m1530.
"I am unable to see the manufacturer, however, the part number is: XK309 LCD, 15.4WSXGA+, VIDEO ELEC. STDS. ASSOC., TLF, LGP"

 

That's LG.

 

The Samsung WSXGA+ screen I got wasn't as bad as the pictures in these forums but still very bad. I sent it back. I did try to talk to tech support and customer care and even gave them the part numbers everyone has been listing. Everyone I talked to said they know of no issues with the samsung screen. Tech support said that the only part that can be shipped to me would be a samsung. The only LG screen he had listed was for the WXGA+ resolution.

So, yes, if I were giving advice I would cancel orders for the 1680x1050 screens. It sounds like the chances of getting an LG are slim to none.

 

I think you'd have better luck having tech support order you a replacement screen, that's what I did. And i got lucky enough to get an LG. It's worth a shot, you can always cancel the order.

 

I posted this in another thread, but I wasn't sure if anyone here was still anxiously waiting for their system to arrive and wondering if it was fixated with the substandard LCD.

If you haven't received your system yet, you can still get your service tag. Just find "My systems list" under technical support, and click "add my new systems".

I just found that myself, and once it's entered, you'll be able to see the parts list when you click on the service tag. Unfortunately for me, my m1530 that's scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday had this glaring at me:

1 RW985 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY..., 15.4WSXGA+, VIDEO ELEC. STDS. ASSOC...., TLF, SAMSUNG...

I'm going to keep an open mind, but seriously... for all the documentation on the quality or lack-there-of with these screens I'm amazed and appalled at the same time that Dell can continue to mount garbage LCD's in their flagship systems.

 

is it a 50/50 chance whether you get samsung or LG initially, or does it lean more towards samsung?

 

It appears as though it leans heavily towards Samsung with the current batch of them and ones that have shipped recently.

 

It definitely leans more towards Samsung. I'd say there's about a 1 in 10 shot of getting an LG screen. Samsung was the original supplier, hopefully they changed it due to all the problems with the Samsung screens. It does happen though, I am getting a replacement LG screen.

 

What to do?

I have just got of the phone to Dell technical support. Was told I could change my SEC3350 with the LPLF300.
I'm unsure whether to just return the entire notebook and just wait until the m1530 is released with the wled display or go with the LG display.

Any suggestions?
Cheers,
Hewi

 

By the time the LED display comes out for the m1530, I'm sure the $619 sale will be over. I'd just go ahead and order with the LG, but if money is no obstacle, it might be worth it to wait and see.