Dell Grainy Screen FAQ

Dell Grainy Screen FAQ

What is a grainy screen?
A grainy screen is a LCD that looks as if there are tiny specs of sand imbedded in it. It may slightly shimmer or sparkle, or look darker than a comparable screen. Grainy screens are usually noticibly off from what a normal screen is supposed to look like.

What does Dell have to do with this?
So far, there has been a trend of Dell laptops released with grainy screens. Dell contracts multiple companies to build their screens for them, including Chi Mei, LG, and Samsung. The Samsung screens tend to be the culprits that exhibit the graininess. However, this definitely does not mean that all Samsung screens are poor, nor does it mean that all other screens are perfect. The laptops most affected are the Inspiron line, the Vostro line, and the XPS line. The most affected screens are the WSXGA+ (1680x1050) screens present on the Inspiron 1520 and XPS m1530.

What is Dell doing about this?
There have been rumors that Dell is pulling the affected screens, and that new machines will not be fitted with them.

Should I stay away from Dell laptops?
Not at all. They tend to be very nice machines that are competitively priced. Even though it may seem from these forums that a lot of laptops are affected, defects are still the minority of laptops shipped. Remember, people are more vocal to speak against something than to support it. This is a technical forum and people usually only start a thread if they already have a problem.

What if I already bought a Dell laptop?
Great. I hope you enjoy it.

I mean, how do I know if I have a grainy screen?
Grainy screens are obvious to the user. If you didn't think about it until you read about it, you probably don't have a grainy screen. If you have to ask if you have a grainy screen, you probably don't have a grainy screen. However, if you did notice something was off when you first looked at your laptop, then you may have gotten a grainy screen. For a picture of what one looks like, view the attachment below.

How do I check who made my screen?
There's really no reason for you to check who manufactured your screen. This actually is detremental as it sets you up for the placebo effect in which you are more likely to think something is wrong because you've seen so many threads about grainy screens. Remember, don't actively try to find fault in your laptop. If something's wrong, it will be pretty obvious to you.

However, if for some other reason you want to find out, the sequence is:
Control Panel - Device Manager - Monitors - Generic PnP Monitor - Details - Hardware Ids
The Value you see will be either CMO for Chi Mei, LPL for LG, and SEC for Samsung.

What do I do if I have a grainy screen?
If you have a grainy screen, or are otherwise unsatisfied the technical aspect of your laptop, you should contact Dell support ( www.dell.com/support). If you are within the return policy for your computer, you can choose to get it replaced with another unit. If you are not under the return policy, but are under the warranty period, or if you choose not to get a replacement unit, you can either ship the laptop to Dell for repair, or if you have In-Home service, Dell can send a technician to replace your screen.

Can I request a certain model?
Yes you can, but don't expect much from it. Most Dell CSRs have no way to guarentee you a certain part. It will be luck of the draw again, and whatever screens they are using when your laptop is being built will be put onto your unit.

What if the replacement I get is also grainy?
Well, you have two options, you can either attempt another replacement, or it may be time to just return the laptop and buy from a different company. This is completely up to you and is part of your consumer rights to be satisfied with your purchase. There are many very happy Dell owners on this forum, that have experienced nothing but perfection from their Dell laptops. There have also been people who have endured many flawed replacements. So in the end, it's luck of the draw.

If there's anything I got wrong, or that I missed, feel free to mess with it. Otherwise, I don't know where you want this.

 

This is somewhat opinionated for a FAQ. "There's really no reason for you to check who manufactured your screen." I think people in general are better off with all the information available to make decisions about what they want.

Here's some information I would add or modify:

What is a grainy screen?
The grainy screens also do not display whites as distinctly, it's more of a gray in comparison to other screens.

What is Dell doing about this?
A Dell representative posted in the Dell forum several months ago that Dell was developing a device to measure the level of quality in this regard in order to improve monitor selection.

I mean, how do I know if I have a grainy screen?
I disagree with your tone and comments about this. If you've been eating s**t for dinner all your life, just because you never tasted an apple, doesn't mean you're not still eating s**t.

Can I request a certain model?
There has been varying success in doing this. If you're choosing not to return your notebook, you should definitely keep contacting Dell until you find a rep who is willing to send you the LG model, otherwise your chances of getting one are very, very low, if not 0. If you find yourself in communication with a Dell rep who is unwilling to help you obtain the LCD replacement you want, you should just politely end the call and try again until you find a rep that will work with you and preferably who is already familiar with the situation and will actually suggest the LG model. Don't let an unwilling rep initiate the process to send you a replacement that is not specifically the one you want, this will muck up and slow down your effort. You should also complete the process of taking care of this before your 21 day return period and don't let it go beyond, otherwise your chances of getting what you want are much sower.

I do agree that this process is not for everyone. Many people are perfectly satisfied with the Samsung screen. Many people are not willing to go through this process. Some people have expressed dislike of the LG screen models. It's up to you to decide if you like your screen, and if not, if you are willing to go through this rigmarole to get a "better" screen.

Myself, I am on my second M1530, as Dell could not replace my first one with a satisfactory screen within the 21 day return period, and I did not want to get caught with the unresolved issue without the leverage of being able to return my $2000 product for a full refund.

 

Dell also use AU Optronics for CCFL LCD's too - AUO in Device Manager.
Add Toshiba too for LED LCD's.

 

A grainy screen means that you can see blocky the pixels?

 

A grainy screen refers to a very low contrast, the image looks like covered by a light grey filter.

 

I think this issue has been beaten to death. If you previously had a laptop then you'll know if the screen doesn't stand up. Otherwise go to a store and compare screens especially of same make. Seems like the problem is random and does not affect all Samsung made screens. Mine looks fine.