Alienware 17 R4 - Lightbleed issue

Is anyone still having the light bleed issue after dell released the statement on twitter that it had been fixed?


Im thinking of getting the 4k screen for this alienware laptop, but I am super worried about horror reports that the screen light bleed issue has not been fixed.

After spending the last few week for hours every night reviewing laptops I have landed at the R4 as the best for my design/work/game preferences.

Im a graphic designer and a 4K screen would be amazing to have, yet I am super worried that the lightbleed issue on this screen has not be actually fixed. (I know im a rare breed of design with a hatred for apple) I saw some horror stories that people just got their 4K screens replaced about halfway through last month (november) and that the "fix" did absolutely nothing.

I will be buying the PC directly from Dell, so it will hopefully have the newest tech on it with the latest fixes.

If anyone can give me some clarity on this before pulling the trigger for nearly ($2,400) that would be great. Thank you, to all who assist in this.

Photos would be much appreciated if your issue is indeed fixed

 

There's a chance you may receive one with light bleed issues, but based on forum feedback, it's a result of engineering and not components (i.e., the monitor and the panel itself are fine, but when you mix the two you create light bleed).

 

So there's a chance it could come defective, but they can fix it? Or would I have to mail it back and wait for them to send a correct replacement? What's the chance of getting a defective screen like that?

Does anyone know if the banding and color stripe thing is still an issue with these?

 

Thats pretty much always the case with lightbleed. Both the panels and Screenlid are perfectly flat. So once the pressure of the bezel comes on, lightbleed appears.

 

It depends on which level of lightbleed is ok for you and of course how much luck you'll have in the order lottery. I just got my AW17, ordered 28 November, assembled a week ago, 4k screen. With normal use and ambient light I just see a bit at start-up and then not really anymore. In a dark room, different story, see picture. Dell customer service says, it's fine. I'm not sure, asked in the owner thread about it.

 

In that image the top picture is in the dark of your desktop and the bottom is startup right? That screen looks perfectly fine to me if that's the case o-o

I would honestly call those two tiny white lights at the bottom of the startup screen fairly normal. I'm never in the dark either, it horrible for eyesight so if that makes it invisible were good to go.

So more or less dells statement on Twitter was true, that they have fixed Thier manufacturing error?

 

But more or less dells statement about fixing the issue was correct right?

I've gone into best buy and looked at the 2k screen and FHD and they are flawless. But not a single store in my city has the 4K

 

The top picture is the desktop in a dark room, yes. Strongest visible lightbleed is from the top right. Bottom is with lightbleedtest.com, basically nothing on the screen, in a dark room again. The 2 tiny white lights at the bottom are visible, but there is hardly a really dark spot on a screen that's supposed to display black. The top right is pretty light up again as well, plus some light from the top left. That's what's confusing me here, but I don't know anything about IPS screens or 4k screens, it's the first one of either for me.

 

Now that you mention it, the can barely see the little bits of white in the corners. The image of the screen isn't too high quality and from a photo it's hard to tell how noticable it is.

If I'm reading this right, the second picture is supposed to be completely black? Or is the red a reflection/light refraction from your environment? I can see the top left in the second image more clearly (if that's what it is).

It's a little concerning to me... Does it seem to distort colors at all? Can you drag an image around through those odds spots and see if there is a color variance at all?

 

I took the picture in a completely dark room, only the laptop lights were on. It was supposed to be completely black. Will try to make better pictures.

Keep in mind though that mine is just a single case. Your's might be worse. Or it might be better. Apart from the bleed, the screen is great btw.

 

In case anyone is wondering and even disclaimer above, I found this link.

I know it's a totally different screen and whatnot, but it is the exact same issue and I think for reassurance is worth a read. According to these people, the light bleed will fix itself over time and with a little bit of manual help here and there.

Personally for me reading this makes me feel much more surcue and I might just opt to buy this thing after all.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1554978/backlight-bleed-vs-time

 

just for the hell of it I decided to take a photo with the same test of my ASUS ROG G750JM (Its about 2 years old.
I got the Christmas tree effect too, so you're not alone there. doesn't seem to be lightbleed on it, just what I guess is LCD glow from the bottom. But my main point with this is that it seems to be inherent in these types of screens to do this, and that there must be a way to either bend or modify a screen to make it work better.

Granted doing this in a 100% dark room is not in any way a real scenario, I hardly believe anyone would ever use a PC like that, but its really interesting to have found about this test and sure enough my own screen ive been using for the past 2 years has some really strange color abnormalities! Ive even got a dark spot (Which i guess is what the screen is supposed to look like) in the upper right, than normally i cant even see in daily situations.

I looked at your screenshots on my PC screen, and its quite different than viewing it on my phone. I dont know if the calibration on my monitor is slightly too bright but the bleed (On your screen) I see are much more pronounced when viewing on this ASUS screen.

Extra test for you if youre up for it (Would be super helpful to have firsthand experience)
Since you seem to be so helpful disclaimer, do you think you could try something for me that ive been reading about? Could you try doing the same test but playing around with pushing and pulling on the bevel to alleviate the light spots? Ive been reading that this can show signs of improving the issue, and overtime might help the problem.
Could you maybe take a picture in normal light conditions too and share that? Id like to see how deep the problem goes with this (and since no store carries the 4K screen) this is my only way to see it in real life in action.

 

Sorry for not answering, very busy days.

I have decided to return the AW.

Lightbleed in my case is not terrible, but it's there. AW has now acknowledged it's a problem, they seem to be working on a fix. Given that it does not seem to be a good idea to buy before they have done so.

I also have been reading more on the IPS technology in general and given its problems with lightbleed and displaying blacks and greys I am not sure it's the optimal screen for me. The OLED screen from the AW13 seems to be much better - now they "only" have to make a 17" version...

In addition to all that I am also dissappointed in the noise required to cool down the laptop.

So I'll see how screen and temperature management will develop and then decide again what to buy.

 

Thanks for the response. I'll just have to hope when mine comes there aren't too many issues haha. All else aside I think this PC is best for me at the moment. I'll just have see what happens when it arrives.

Good luck with whatever you decide to go with or the new choice. Unfortunately for me a 13 inch screen is not possible as design work on such a small screen is asking for trouble.

I'm hoping there's some fixes coming with mine because even buying the premium shipping didn't change the delivery date until 2 weeks away. Makes me think there's something holding up a shipment, maybe some fixes?

 

Just received my Alienware 17 R4 today.

http://imgur.com/qg2T01a
http://imgur.com/TEXDQfv

 

Yikes, sort glad I cancelled mine after seeing those pics! Probably going to custom order a clevo tonight instead.

 

No lines and realt minor light bleed on my AW.
it shipped on the 20th Dec.
Will post pictures tomorrow.
But when connected to my OLED tv the difference is huge but really good for a TN panel.

 

On Jan. 5th I Received the AW17 R4, 6820HK, GTX1070, FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS...
Would love to hear about anyone's RMA experience due to the light bleed issue. The pics are all at 100% brightness.

 

When I was researching these laptops I came across a few of these types of pics, but that has to be one of the worst I've seen. You're not even in a dark room and it's that visible! That is for sure way beyond anything considered normal