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    [Alienware 17R4 / 15R3] - Panel Light Bleed Issue (Fix)

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by iunlock, Dec 2, 2016.

  1. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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    The light bleed issue isn't necessarily the panel itself. Instead it's the pressure of the bezel around the panel that causes the bleed, therefore if you were to replace the stock double sided tape with a thinner one, it will alleviate the pressure and reduce the light bleed significantly.

    Here's a video of my AW 17R4 (FHD) when taking pressure off of the bezel. (Again, it's not the panel...)


    Here's a photo of the 4K UHD screen with the bezel off. (No pressure)
    [​IMG]

    Here's a photo of the 4K UHD screen with the bezel on. (Light bleed / Pressure from the bezel.)
    [​IMG]

    Thanks @mobile1 for the 15R3 photos.

    More to come....please post pics of your light bleed!

    Go to: http://lightbleedtest.com

    -------------------------------copy/paste--------------------------------

    Model: 17R4
    Screen: 4K UHD

    Light Bleed Location: Mostly on the upper right and bottom left.

    *Post pic: Before and After if can.*

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Cheers
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2016
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  2. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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    BEFORE SHOTS (Stock w/ Bezel On):

    Here's @Mobius 1 15R3 4K UHD:
    [​IMG]

    Here's my AW17R4 w/ FHD:
    [​IMG]

    Here's @zergslayer69 17R4 QHD:
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2016
  3. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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    Screen Shots
     
  4. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    more pics to come (currently investigating)
     
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  5. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    reserved

    also to note that I have another 15R3 coming from a member here for service, the backlight bleed is much less severe


    thankfully if you need to do a screen swap it's not that hard with this laptop (entire display assembly lifts right off)

    alienware 15 r3 4K is LQ156D1JW04 (25ms, 60hz, 90%-ish sRGB)
     
  6. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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    We'll have data for the FHD, QHD and UHD (currently available) very soon...
     
  7. Xenrail

    Xenrail Notebook Consultant

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    You planning to post a picture/video tutorial to fix iUnlock? I know there was another user who had fixed it using blu tac and some tape
     
  8. iunlock

    iunlock 7980XE @ 5.4GHz

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    Yup that blue tac tape works well too. If anything we'll get some pics posted here and maybe a video.

    @Mobius 1 is currently working on investigating the issue on the 15R3 as we speak....

    Will update soon.
     
  9. spiralzz

    spiralzz Notebook Evangelist

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    does the bezel come off easily?
     
  10. DeeX

    DeeX THz

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    This thread is important. People think light bleed is a defect in the panel when in fact its just IPS glow just exacerbated by pressure from the bezel.
    This happens on all laptops, many TVs, many desktop monitors. It seems most companies have issues with this.
    Some are worse then others but its definitely not an issue with the panel itself as many have come to believe.
     
  11. ezzo

    ezzo Notebook Enthusiast

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    So it's Dell messing up an otherwise perfectly good panel ><
    I wanted to love you Alienware.
     
  12. Kevin

    Kevin Egregious

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    Bleed with the bezel off is still pretty unacceptable to my eyes. With it on is just atrocious.
     
  13. Spin360

    Spin360 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Any news to this? I really can't wait to take apart my AW15 R3 and repaste + fix light bleeding at the same time. Since I don't have much time on my hands, I'd like to do it in one go and know exactly how to go about it :)
     
  14. Enthium

    Enthium Newbie

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    does anyone have info about the 4K panel used in the AW 17 R4 like the model num?
     
  15. djfergi

    djfergi Notebook Consultant

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    Any more news on this fix?

    Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk
     
  16. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    alienware 15 r3 4K is LQ156D1JW04 (25ms, 60hz, 90%-ish sRGB)

    LQ173D1JW31 (Sharp SHP1446) Dell Part/Number: CK7T7 - no panelook datasheet as of now [Alienware 17 4K display] - seems to exist before this generation - 99% Adobe RGB coverage

    extra note on the 17: they use two supplier, the other is an AUO B173ZAN01.0, not really sure which one is better


    the 4K screen on the 17" sharp is just absolutely gorgeous in terms of color reproduction
     
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  17. QuillP

    QuillP Notebook Evangelist

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    I have Sharp SHP1446 display and I have a backlight problem. It can be fixed? How? Should we call dell for this?

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    call dell and say that display is defective, that spot on the bottom looks abnormal
     
  19. QuillP

    QuillP Notebook Evangelist

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    What a mess. Really in the picture it looks worse than it really is. I will call dell for support.
     
  20. Enthium

    Enthium Newbie

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    thanks dude u literally answered all my questions
     
  21. captn.ko

    captn.ko Notebook Deity

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    Here is my before and after. The bad one is an AUO and the New Panel LG

    Before

    [​IMG]

    After VOS

    [​IMG]

    1080 FHD
     
  22. Lozz

    Lozz Top Overpriced Dell

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    Great thread, without the panel pressure it's pretty good.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  23. Jonathan Blanco

    Jonathan Blanco Newbie

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    hello Friends. i have this problem how can i fix it? whit bezel the bleed light is fatal but without bezel don't have bleed light.

    thanks and sorry for my English
     
  24. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Call dell and say defective panel
     
  25. Princeofsrm

    Princeofsrm Newbie

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  26. Jonathan Blanco

    Jonathan Blanco Newbie

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    The problem is not the display, the problem is the foams where it supports the display. After changing the display 2 times and continue with the same problem, remove the foams and the problem disappears.



    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  27. slimpsy

    slimpsy Newbie

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    Anyone willing to link me a step by step on this or write one? :)

    Mine 17R4 FHD -

    [​IMG]
     
  28. Atomka

    Atomka Notebook Enthusiast

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    Mine is not that terrible but i noticed that if i slightly unglue the plastic where the light bleed is, it lowers the effect.
    For a 2600€ laptop, this is unbeliveable.
     
  29. rasmusj78

    rasmusj78 Notebook Enthusiast

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  30. Ezio99

    Ezio99 Notebook Geek

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    What is VOS? I don't understand what you did to solve.

    To the OP, what is bezel off? In your bezel off pic, I still see you have the bezels. What are bezels? Aren't they just the outside frame?
     
  31. Quicklite

    Quicklite Notebook Deity

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    Have the AW 15 R3 with Premium Support - was watching a film - the backlight bleed is pretty bad (panel is a sdc894f). Pretty shocking to have a premium system arrive like this. Hopefully will give them a call and they could repair the issue.
     
  32. fire3element

    fire3element Notebook Consultant

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    I'm looking into moving to the 4k panel on my machine. But, I have 2 very important questions that is holding me up.
    Currently Dell only offers the Sharp panel (from what I can tell), so I want to make sure I am not going to be disappointed if I decide to go 4k.

    1) No Optimus with the 4k panel? Am I reading the replies here right?
    Or is this only if you buy a panel and install yourself, meaning it did not come directly from Dell/AW. I've seen mention that the EDID on a non-Dell supplied panel would be stock (not flashed by Dell), and because the EDID on the panel does not report as a Dell part, it would keep Optimus from working?

    2) Is the Sharp panel really that bad vs. the AUO panel?
    Several people mention the Sharp is much worse, but do not really explain why. The one thing I did see mentioned was that the refresh rate was worse, making movement in fast paced games laggy.
    But, all the info I have seen so far shows the AUO has delay of 25ms vs the Sharp at 27ms. How is a measly 2ms making such a difference. I mean we are talking 25 to 27 here, not 2ms TN vs 8ms IPS. What gives?

    What about color on the AUO vs the Sharp? Does the Sharp have significantly less "pop", or appear dull in comparison to the AUO? Does the Sharp appear less *ahem* " sharp" than the AUO?
    No panelook spec sheet for the Sharp, but the info I have found at various places claim the Sharp SHP1446 has 95% AdobeRGB vs the AUO has 100%. That cant be a huge difference to the average person.
    Someone please share why you feel the AUO is superior to the Sharp. Just saying it is better does not give any insight as to why. Thanks.
     
  33. fire3element

    fire3element Notebook Consultant

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    Edit: Does anyone have part # for the original AUO panel that Dell used in the early 17R4 units?
    Or possibly the part# for the entire display assembly (includes the whole top half of the laptop, the entire lid/screen assy).
    Part# for the current complete assembly w/Sharp panel is H8PK4

    Brand - AU Optronics
    Model# B173ZAN01.0
    Dell part# ???

    Brand - Sharp
    Model# LQ173D1JW31 (SHP 1446)
    Dell part# CK7T7
     
  34. QuillP

    QuillP Notebook Evangelist

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    [​IMG]
     
  35. fire3element

    fire3element Notebook Consultant

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    Thank ye kindly, sir. Now, to see if I can find one available anywhere...

    Do you happen to have any opinions/experience with these 2 panels?
     
  36. QuillP

    QuillP Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, i have both... Sharp It's a piece of crap... There is no way to calibrate it correctly even using a colorimeter and spectrophotometro. AU Optronics I found it much easier to get a 99% calibration. The colors and the grayscale are amazing.

    But it's a matter of luck. Other people with AUO did not like them.

    LG display were always better. In fact I have 2 Oled tv and a 17r3 with LG Ips display and I never had a problem.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2017
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  37. fire3element

    fire3element Notebook Consultant

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    I am kinda in the same boat with the current 1080p AUO panel. It's already been swapped out by Dell once, and this is the worst of the 4 1080p panels I've experienced so far.
    My original machine was the previous 17R4 with the 6th gen Intel. Bought it from BestBuy. That machine had so many issues within the first 3 days, BB ended up ordering me a brand new 17R4 w/i7-7700 as a replacement. The new machine had bad keyboard, and the display was poor. Keyboard was not available at the time, so Dell sends me a brand new unit. New 17R4 has even worse display.
    Had to return my faulty uint, and then scheduled with Dell to replace the panel. Replacement is a tad better in one aspect, but has the same issues in other areas, just as my previous machine did.

    So now I have had 3 machines in my hands, and 4 1080p panels. My original laptop w/i7-6700 had the LG display, and it was GOOD. No issues, great colors, etc.
    I've been round and round with Dell trying to get that LG panel, but it simply is not available anymore. So I am forced to look for another option. The QHD 120Hz isn't an option because my laptop has the 60Hz mobo. That leaves the 4k panel.
    I chose the 1080p initially because I just did not see me needing more res than that for gaming, and for the improved battery life. Yeah, I know, batt life on a high end gaming laptop... blah blah blah.
    BUT! the machine can achieve on avg about 8hrs, which is just insane for the specs inside. Also I don't end up gaming that much, so a higher res screen will prob serve me better.

    I did not think there was a good LG 17.3 4K display available? Do you have more info on this?
    As for getting the AUO panel from Dell, to replace my crap 1080 panel, it's not looking so good right now. And if decide to swap it myself, the non-Dell EDID mismatch could be an issue.
    Swapping the panel is not a problem. I am afraid I will lose Optimus and kill my batt life. I figured worse case with Dell replacing my 1080 with a 4k is that I would just run it as a 1080p display all the time, hoping I would not lose too much batt life that way.