nc6400 screen LCD is blocky (see pic)

Hello, thanks to all for the great info on this forum. I bought a Sony SZ340 and didn’t like to keyboard so I immediately bought the HP nc6400 with the standard screen with the 128MB ATI X1300 video card. I know there's been a lot of talk about the high-res screen WXGA+ having bleeding light and vertical viewing angle issues but I couldn't find any info on my problem.

When I look at the screen from a lower angle, I can see blocky artifacting in certain parts of the screen. This is not a dead pixel issue as the blockyness moves with the image. For example, when you look at the blue menu bar at the top of the screen, there is a transition from light to dark blue, its smooth on all of my many lcds except this HP. I am aware that some of this is normal, but this seems excessive.

Please advise if you think this is something that I should request an exchange of if this in a problem common to this LCD. Thanks!

Pics attached.

I'll post my comparison of the Sony SZ to the HP nc6400 shortly.

 

How long has it been since you bought this.Did you have the problem from the start?

 

I've had it for 4-5 days. The screen has been like this from the beginning.

Has anyone heard of this problem?

I'm starting to reconsider returning the Sony, I think I might return the HP. Thanks.

 

Sounds like a defective screen. I have the nc6400 WXGA (it wasn't clear whether you have the WXGA+?) and do not see anything like you are describing.

 

Its a WXGA. I should note that the pic taken is an extreme case of it because it's much more noticable when you tilt the screen back as in the pic.

jaholliday, if you have the chance, please tilt your screen back on the a blank webpage and see if you can see anything like what I have in the pic.

Thanks.

 

Can you try the following and let me know if it helps:
1. Update video drivers to the latest ATI ones posted on HP's web site.
2. Restart the computer.

I have seen this before in my nc8430 and the upgrade solves it. Can you also check if you have a Quanta display? I have a Quanta display and if I look closely, I can see some faint diagonal lines running along the screen on certain backgrounds (particularly the tab menu background when you select Properties from My Computer). I'm trying to get my screen replaced anyway (the first one was an LG and has 2 dead pixels).

 

Interesting...I think I see what you are talking about but only when I tilt the screen way the heck back. I would never look at it on such an angle so it doesn't bother me (this issue seems preferable to some screens on which you can't see anything when you tilt them back!).

 

Thanks for checking, I agree that you have to tilt the screen way back to see it the way it looks in the pics. But I think this shows what I see in some parts even at a normal viewing angle, although not nearly as bad. Honestly, if I didnt have a Sony SZ side by side I wouldn't probably care at all.


I guess we can assume that this is not unique to my machine. I'll post an update when I get the new nc6400 that I plan to order.


Edit: I installed the latest drivers after speaking with HP support and didnt notice a difference. How do you check what panel I have?

Thanks.

 

Right click My Computer > Properties. Click Hardware tab and open Device Manager. Select Monitor > Plug and Play Monitor. Click Details tab. Then select Device Instance ID or Hardware ID and you can see initials like QDS, SEC, LPL, AUO, etc. These represent the 4 main screen suppliers HP use, i.e. Quanta, Samsung, LG Philips and AU Optronics respectively.

 

Isn't the Sony a glossy screen too? That might have something to do with it since the HP is matte.

 

FYI: I have a QDS display.

Yes, the Sony is glossy but I believe its something beyond that.