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    Questions about Sager ProStar laptop PWM

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by jtl999, Jun 11, 2015.

  1. jtl999

    jtl999 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi

    I'm looking at a ProStar P173SM-AS laptop for software development and things. All looks great.

    One question I'm wondering about is the PWM on the laptop screens and backlit keyboards of Sager 17in laptops. I am sensitive to PWM on monitors to the point where I get severe migraines that can last up to 48 hours if left untreated. I use a ASUS VE27Q monitor at home and at max brightness the PWM is either off or at such a high frequency I can't notice it whatsoever even if I sit more than 15 hours at my computer working.

    I asked ProStar what panel the laptop used. It uses a N173HGE-L11 panel. Here is a link to the datasheet of the panel.

    Here is a video of the panel in action on a Samsung laptop where I notice no flickering on camera, which is good for me. However I did more research and came across another video of an ASUS laptop that has bothersome looking flickering at lower brightness.

    Link to Samsung video

    Link to ASUS video

    I hope the ASUS flickering is just the implementation ASUS does and not something general that can be fixed by Sager. I am already in contact with Jeff from ProStar is being EXTREMELY helpful for me :) But I would like to hear the communities opinion about PWM flickering on Sager laptops, as in does it bother anyone? Thanks.
     
    jtl999, Jun 11, 2015
    #1
  2. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Hey JTL,

    I'm still hoping to catch the model we discussed as soon as one becomes available on the workbench. In the meantime, it would be great to see someone chime in here with any personal experience. :)
     
    Prostar Computer, Jun 12, 2015
    #2
  3. jtl999

    jtl999 Notebook Enthusiast

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    That was my point :)
     
    jtl999, Jun 12, 2015
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  4. t456

    t456 1977-09-05, 12:56:00 UTC

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    That panel has max. 2KHz pwm frequency, which is at the higher end (though 10KHz also exists). Seem Asus should pay closer attention to the manufacturer's documentation:

    [​IMG]

    Whether Clevo did it right ... this panel is a very common 17.3", ask users within the various Clevo owners' lounges to test brightness control for you:
    Or just search those threads for " brightness", of course ... Mind that most models offer several panel options, so have to verify the panel in question is, in fact, an L11. That Asus too, btw; it came with a 500Hz pwm AUO panel as well, which might explain where things have gone awry:

    [​IMG]

    If that is the case, then a simple resistor swap would fix it.
     
    t456, Jun 12, 2015
    #4
  5. jtl999

    jtl999 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the info.
     
    jtl999, Jun 12, 2015
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