Dell Grainy Screen Info and Guide

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 should I expect from a repair?
When a piece of hardware is replaced, Dell may opt to use a refurbished part. This is normal, and is part of the warranty contract. However, the part and the machine itself, should still look "like new".

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 you have an additional questions regarding the grainy screen issues, please post them in this thread. Please make sure you search the forums and Google before posting, you may get an answer faster that way.