Alienware 15 R2 display panel mystery

Ok I have been doing extensive research and as many of you know there is reports of poor color gamut with the new R2 model vs the R1 model. I have found some interesting information regarding the panel LG LGD046F 156WF6 , apparently the same panel model info is used in the Dell inspiron 15 5558 but the color gamut and brightness is both lower, specifically the brightness is around 200 nits which is close to what the brightness is in the new 15 R2. I am speculating that they used this cheaper panel in the 15 R2 but why would it have the same display model info. I am contacting dell to get the exact display info that shipped with my system to see if the panel information is the same.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Inspiron-15-5558-Notebook-Review.145836.0.html

I have found this information on notebookcheck.net review of the Alienware 15 (R9 M295X)
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Alienware-15-R9-M295X-Notebook-Review.144904.0.html

"Surprisingly enough, the version of the notebook with the R9-M295X does not make use of the same FHD panel as the GTX-970M version. Instead of a panel made by Samsung (SDC4C48, FYTXT_156HL), our review model is equipped with a display from LG (LGD046F, C3MWM_156WF6)."

The above info would corrispond with users reporting there 15 R1 to have different panels one with samsung and one with LG. However the LG panel above with same part number as the inspiron has a MUCH better color ratting and has over 300 nit brightness.

My guess is there using a cheaper variation panel which is found on the inspiron in the 15 R2. Doing more digging.

 

Thanks. I was looking for info on this.
After much thought I finally decided to pay the $200 extra for the UHD as opposed to settling for the obviously much inferior FHD.

 

Problem here is that LG panel sucks, and the other Samsung panel sucks now also. All being said the Samsung was meant to be the better of the two, but that is not to be, as it has been gimped by Dell somehow, who knows how, but that one is just a mediocre as the LG now.

Not sure what has happened, maybe different re-vision on in the panel number at the end, which you may only find on the back of the panels physical label, e.g. V4, V5, and so on. Only other thing is Dell may have restricted brightness output, but I cannot see how they would restrict color output. I am thinking some part number reported by software is the same, but the panel revision is different.

Here is the Samsung panel tested here.

http://www.gaminglaptopsjunky.com/alienware-15-r2-review-skylake-late-2015/#screen

In any case that brightness is down but a lot, and I could maybe live with that, but the color performing near around cheap TN panels which are 1366 x 768 is not acceptable.

 

The LG in my R1 is pretty good and doesnt suck in anyway. Is a bit brighter than the Samsung screen in my 2 year old Samsung Ativ book 8. THe colors on both the Samsung and LG are a bit too punchy and contrasty.

 

is it possible to purchase the IGZO screen and fit it in manualy myself?
that screen was not available to me here in Australia. But i might be able to purchase the screen from a re-seller.

 

If you talking about the earlier Haswell model release early this year, then yea that one is great. The model numbers of the panels are the same, though the actual panel performance is not with the Skylake later release.

 

I received my AW 15 R2 still playing around with it, the screen colors do look slightly washed out and the brightness isnt to bright on max setting but screen is very sharp and looks good overall. I will test out some games on it to see how they look and look for signs of ghosting and how the color is. The screen model is reported as the same samsung panel that people are finding in the R1 model. I do suspect though it is the the lower color gamut and 220 nit brightness maybe panel is a different revision or with addition to skylake it doesnt operate the same as the haswell. The dell part number is different from the R1 samsung screen part number. R1 [DELL P/N: FYTXT] and the R2 [DELL P/N: 4NDDJ].

 

If you can find the exact part number then i believe it is possible. Did it in the past with my old Vaio z13, it came with a 1600x900 panel. Bought for 75 euro the 1920x1080 original panel for it on ebay new. Exchanged it but opening the AW15 seems to be quite the pain.

 

Yes this is possible, I've replaced the screens on my old laptops (not Alienware) twice.

 

Hey guys I got off the phone with AW tech support and let them know about the washed out colors on my display. They told me that others have called in indicating the same issue and there engineer department is investigating it. They wouldnt however send me the R1 replacement panel as it may not solve the issue. He went ahead and sent off an email to the engineer department and await to hear about how to proceed on tuesday. He did offer to replacement my system for a new one and send mine in to there R&D department to investigate the issue. However I feel as though the new one will have the exact same problem with washed out colors as indicated by other users, and on top of that it would be a 2 week wait for the new computer.

 

Very strange, I think if they used the exact same panel as the R1 you would have the better screen properties. I wonder if they still even have stock of it.

 

They do I talked with there parts department chat before tech support and it cost $184!!

 

Aren't they ready to replace the current one with the R1 screen on warranty? You should insist on that since the current one is really ****ty.

 

They are going to start by replacing lcd panel and video cable. After thank motherboard if still looks terrible. If that doesnt fix it then has to be just poor quality panels. If that is the case I will see if I can "downgrade" to an R1 model with possible higher specs.

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Replacing stuff that isn't broken isn't going to solve anything, freaking morons (Dell that is).

 

This is the only thing that stops me from buying it. Here in Italy it is a 2000€ laptop with 970m in a very base configuration and I really don't want to discover a mediocre display! I will wait some news from you guys

 

Dell tech just left, they shipped wrong part no lcd panel. So they are overnight the panel to me hopefully comes in time. Here is a picture of exact panel information in the 15 R2. Doing some searching it is advertised as tn in some places and ips in others. Lth156hl08-201 is exact model.

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Let me know if this one will be better (I doubt... )! I asked if I can order the new r2 with the old r1 display but I cannot. This is a really strange/shameful choice from alienware. I hope that after many reporting, they will make peace with their brains and will restore the old display

 

It's an IPS-type; all others in the series are IPS as well. Though that's no guarantee it's a good display, considering the best TNs can best most of the IPS panels. All you can say it'll have wide viewing angles, because that's all the technology does (at the expense of colour accuracy).

 

Must be a different version of panel.

The only way to be sure is to get the panel model number from the revision 1 of the R2, and then also install it in the revision 2 of the R2.

And if the above works, then people going to have buy their own FHD panel replacement.

Failing that the only other option is the choose the UHD option and pay mega dollars to get it.

 

It is a shame that Alienware does not admit they mounted a poor panel and that they don't replace it. In italy the 4k panel is a 380€ option !! I think I'll take the GS60.

 

It can't be the exact same LG panel as in the R1. The R1 had the exact same panel as the one in my Clevo N150SD, and that panel is a 300 nit panel with the following colour-space coverage.

sRGB:92%
AdobeRGB:71%
NTSC:69%

It must be a new revision.

 

Hell, my inspiron 17 n1070 with a 1600x900 screen has better color and brightness than aw 15 r2. It only suffers worse black levels and viewing angle because its TN.

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I dont know but I'm sitting here on mine right now in a dimly lit room with my 50" plasma directly in front of me and mine is plenty bright even at 70% brightness and f.lux running. Maybe I got lucky?

 

New info on the screen used in the AW 15 R2
The screen isnt even close to 220 nit in the R2, it averages 179 nit with maximum of 192. Adobe RGB is 38%.....compared to the 60% in the R1 screen and 308 nit brightness. As soon as I get home having tech support replace screen regardless of if "thats just how it is" because its advertised 220 nit and is not even close, they are going to replace screen until im happy even if it takes hours of my time on hold with tech support they need to do something about this its unacceptable.

 

87% total?? 82% display??!! Are they stupid (or paid...)?
A 399 Euro laptop has a better screen... You do well to replace it! I hope you' ll have a different one.

 

that is really bad, I cant understand why Dell chose to use these panels. I really feel lucky I have on of the last R1 versions with the good panel, even though I lack a skylake cpu. THe sreen is one of the most important aspects of a laptop in my opinion.

 

From my experience in Supply Chain Management, here's what I guess happened:

Dell orders high quality FHD displays from XYZ company for the launch of its All New Alienware 15 R2 series. XYZ says of course sir, why not sir, we will deliver sir. XYZ fails pathetically at the last minute and says Oops sorry we can't supply these for another few months, our machine broke down/ the batch we manufactured are all failing quality / we are inefficient.

Manager in charge now has to take a call whether to cancel the launch or choose an alternative. Canceling would mean his head rolls immediately, so he chooses an alternative display panel that is available on short notice, which is supposed to be slightly worse in brightness but similar in all other respects, or so he tells the management, and the extra profits from the lower cost convince them. No time to do extensive tests! The launch must happen on time! Hopefully people won't notice too much!

Disaster: the alternate display is atrocious and everyone notices. His head rolls anyway.

 

Hopefully Dell will make it right if that is the case.

 

Think you need to get the screen tested for color. Can't help but think you either happy with anything, or you got lucky and got one of the original panels by chance.

 

Didn't know I had already made an account... There are 2 panels (Samsung and LG) like the R1. The Samsung panel (SDC4C48 156HL P/N 4NDDJ) I found, tops out at 168cd/m^2, so that seems that is pretty consistent with what others are experiencing. The LG panel (LGD04B9 156WF6 P/N KFKV0) actually tops out at 221cd/m^2. I've had both displays and thankfully I got the LG panel the 2nd time (1st unit had a faulty webcam). To get 80cd/m^2, the LG panel only needed 36%. The Samsung panel needed 46%.

Also the white point of the Samsung panel is significantly warmer so I had to calibrate cooler to match my desktop monitor. Contrast ratio after calibration for both are similar -> LG - 830:1, Samsung 900:1.

FYI I used the X-Rite i1Display Pro.

 

The weird thing is that the newest MSI gs70 also has a similar problem. Low brightness ****ty colors.

 

Thats good to know that the R2 also has an LG panel your the first one with LG panel I have heard of. Could you run color measurements of the LG panel with your X-Rite for us? I still do not know why both panels have the same model # in the R1 and R2 aside from different dell p/n. Clearly the panels are far different from each other. Also did you notice any backlight bleed the samsung or lg panel? My R2 has bleed on the bottom right and parts of the bottom of screen and is annoying solid black background.

 

No backlight bleed from either panel. I don't think I can check gamut with the i1profiler software unfortunately... This is all it tells me after calibration.

 

Hmmmm, I put the Granger rainbow into photoshop and checked the gamut warning for the respective profiles and got this. Note that the U2414H supposedly has a 96% sRGB rating. Both were calibrated for 6000K @ 120cd/m^3.

 

That looks bad never heard of the Granger rainbow though. Doesnt look right though because there is no red or green showing in top right image.

 

Think it just means the monitor cannot display those colors accurately. Also it is supposedly quite pessimistic in displaying what isn't accurate.

 

What was wrong with your Webcam?

 

It came misalligned... It was visibly out of place. Not sure how it passed QC but i think the webcam is secured with adhesive

 

Mine isnt perfectly aligned either but doesnt effect its usability and doesnt bother me as its not noticable unless you get really close. What bothers me is my massive backlight bleed on top left of screen like 2-3 inch down the screen and on bottom right! Getting it replaced anyway because of bad colors and low brightness.

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I'm confused - which panel do you have now? is it the LG one or the one of the Samsungs? and did the Dell support team provided it for you as a result of the RMA?

 

I am following this as well. I purchased two AW 15 R2 - one from a big box retailer with a 970m and the other from outlet with a 980m. The one with the 970 has a Samsung, and others have pointed out, its low nit and feels a bit warm. The other one from outlet, has a LG. Since I am able to compare the two side by side, I can say the LG does appear to be brighter and a bit better with color. However its also grainy in some aspects and looking at certain icons appears that its from a dot matrix printer. The Samsung doesn't have that issue.

I am on the fence, and I kind of wish I had the UHD option instead. However I would miss the better FPS on the the FHD vs the UHD.

Here is the partial EDID dump of the data from the LCDs:

Samsung:

(8-9) ID Manufacture Name : SDC
(10-11) ID Product Code : 4C48
(12-15) ID Serial Number : 0
(16) Week of Manufacture : 0
(17) Year of Manufacture : 2015

(90-107) Detailed Descriptor #3: ASCII String Data

ASCII String Descriptor: 4NDDJ?156HL

LG:

(8-9) ID Manufacture Name : LGD
(10-11) ID Product Code : 04B9
(12-15) ID Serial Number : 0
(16) Week of Manufacture : 0
(17) Year of Manufacture : 2015

(90-107) Detailed Descriptor #3: ASCII String Data

ASCII String Descriptor: KFKV0?156WF6

 

A quick update for yall, waiting fr parts to be shipped from dell to replace screen. Believe motherboard on backorder so there is a delay

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I may take the plunge and get a AW15R2 but add in the screen from the MSI PE60 Presitge (Samsung LTN156HL01), http://www.notebookcheck.net/MSI-PE60-2QE-Prestige-Notebook-Review.145525.0.html

Pretty amazing sRGB coverage and color accuracy. I'm assuming since it's nearly the same model number as someone posted on page 2 that it will fit? Please let me know if it won't in fact fit and I'll have to come up with a plan B.

 

Can i replace the r2 screen with this one ?

http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=18798

 

My screen is also garbage and hoping to switch it out.. Looks like the 30 pin connector is right but I am unsure about the location of the actual ports if they are aligned correctly

 

I just bought a refurb 15 R2 and the Samsung LTN156HL01-102 from ebay. Fingers crossed it will actually fit, I'll know by the end of next week.

Does anyone have a link with instructions how to replace the screen? If it ends up working I highly recommend the screen I'm getting if you do photo editing or the like, as good of color specs as you can get for the price.

 

Try the service manual here and please let us know the result
http://www.dell.com/support/Manuals...-us/GUID-5B8DE7B7-879F-45A4-88E0-732155904029

 

please keep me updated!

 

looks like a 300nit screen, with 30 pin connector if it works on the r2 I'm buying it and installing also