Studio 1555 - 720p to 1080p LCD replacement problems

hi guys,

I hav a 3 months old Studio 1555.
T6400
4GB RAM
320 HDD
256 MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
1366 x 768 LED screen.

When I had bought this laptop, 720p was the only screen available in my country but now they are providing 1080p too.
Dell has agreed to upgrade screen from 720p to 1080p. Ironically the remote diagnostics technical guy himself was only 99% sure of success, not 100%.

When the screen was changed last week, the newer screen looked too white and faded, right from the system boot up. When Vista loaded, it first showed the older 1366 x 768 resolution then automatically adjusted to the native resolution 1920 x 1080. however the screen looked same i.e. very white, faded, not so clear and colors almost washed out. Screen was checked twice but showed same result So i had to keep the original 720p only. Technician thought that the screen was faulty so sent it back.

Today I received another 1080p from Dell. The technician changed it and guess what.... same problem again. blurry, faded, extra white display. Right from the first screen of "Dell logo and F2/F12 options". After booting with Vista also, same problem is there. Technician had no idea. This also ruled out my suspicion of the first replacement screen being malfunctioning LCD. I dont think two successive replacements would be faulty.

My query is, do 720p and 1080p work on same hardware configs like motherboard and Lcd voltages etc. My studio 1555 is only around 3 months old and Dell still sells the same configuration and has only added new options for 900p and 1080p. Can they be providing different mainbaord now according to screen selected by the buyer, while GPU being the same? My 720p screen is from Samsung and the malfunctioning 1080p was of AUO.

I do understand that ATI supports 1080p. only concern is, Can motherboard be a reason, not to show the 1080p display correctly? I really dont find reasons that my almost new 1555 may not be compatible with 1080p that too when the new 1555 is available with same GPU but 1080p screen. 1555 was launched in india just 4 months back. so why would they change motherboard just to match with 1080p.

Has Dell changed the motherboard in last 3 months on 1555? Seems unlikely to me. But the problem is very much there even after second replacement. My BIOS is A06 and Drivers are latest too. The laptop is practically unusable as display doesnt make sense on 1080p.

Guys I am in dilemma. Please HELP me out. My original 1555 came with samsung 720p and this AUO 1080p is sent as free upgrdae. I really need 1080p for my work needs( Designing softwares 3ds max, Autocad). Do check thumbnail pictures in full dimensions. How should I put the matter forward to Dell and what are their options now?

I read somewhere about video chip BIOS. Can this problem have something to do with that?

have a look at these pictures taken by a DSLR. view them in their full dimensions.




Pleae share your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks.

 

no one? any ideas?

 

Plug the 1366x768 screen in and see if looks normal. Definitely not anything in windows since the bios and boot screen look so bad. I'm pretty sure they would all use the same hardware, but the video bios might be different, or at least just newer on your laptop since the higher resolution screens became available. Unfortunately as of now there is no known way of flashing the video bios. You can also check to see if you have the latest motherboard bios. I can switch between screen resolutions on my Inspiron 1545's without issue though.

 

That definitely seems like an issue with either the display panel itself, or the cables that connect it to the motherboard.

 

But he said he has tried two different ones and the chance of getting a single malfunctioning display is very unlikely. This is also not really a problem I've every heard of on any LCD display, that the contrast is cranked down so far.

 

Hmm...have you played with the contrast settings in Windows?

 

If all else fails you can sell this one and buy a new one with the 1080p screen from the factory.

 

Yes I also think they wont have changed anything major in the hardware( mobo or gpu) except the video bios perhaps. I could nt find any solution video bios thing. 1080p was introduced here 2 months later since my purchase. so my GPU's video bios can be older one.

Yes, 1366 x 768 works just fine when connected. my motherboard bios is latest i.e. A06.

 

Two different 1080p display panels have been tried (but same vendor). both resulting in same problem. Also the connection cable works fine when used with original 720p.

Do you think 1080p and 720p panels may require different cables of same connectors?

Yes buddy, I tried many things including contrast/brightness in Ati Catylist application and even played with some custom studio 1555 color profiles available from internet. All in vain. I am pretty much sure its some hardware thingy as the very first Dell logo VGA screen is also so much washed out.

Thanks for replying guys.

 

I'm shocked that the technician wasn't more helpful to be honest. I'd get back in touch with Dell and send them the photos you took. It's unlikely to be the display as you've said; possible that it could be a problem with the GPU or the cabling (they wouldn't have replaced the cabling, just the display).

 

yes, they only sent the display panel. same cables were used which earlier connected 720p to motherboard.

onsite technicians here, dont seem to know much about the machines itself except how to change parts or run Dell diagnostics.

 

Guys,

I need a help. Can someone with Studio 1555 having 1080p screen and 256 or 512 MB Ati 4570 Radeon, check and write me the following information.

BIOS Version
BIOS Part Number
BIOS Date

You can get it in Graphics Hardware Tab of " ATI Catallyst Control centre" on Studio 1555. Thanks.

 

BIOS Version: 011.021.000.007
BIOS Part Number: BR32787-001
BIOS Date: 2009/4/17

Used the driver 9.7 with mobility modder.

 

thank you Streetmagus.
BTW, whats ur LCD panl's manufacturer?

 

AUO panel.

 

Got anotherr replacement today. This time LG panel and the connector cable. It works now. excellent

 

Do you think it was the panel or the cables?

 

It was the cable. 720p's cable didnt do justice to 1080p. dont know why.

I noticed one thing...

LG panels are too good, better then Samsung and AUO. Rich colors and greater viewing angles.

 

I'm glad you got it straightened out.

 

=D I see.

How can you know the LG 1080 is better than the AUO's if you never saw the 1080 AUO working correctly with the right cable? =P

 

Bro, Couldnt I have had seen another Studio 1555 with AUO panels My earlier 720p was Samsung made.

Actually my friends have got factory fitted AUO 1080p panels on Studio 1555. So that was the basis of my comment on quality of LG panel.

 

I've been looking to do the exact same upgrade for the same reasons, I was wondering if you were charged for this upgrade and if so, what was the total cost?

 

@ Solaris1990

I was NOT charged anything. Only a sincere request and a regular followup to the senior levels, did the trick.

All the best.